It seems that If your name is Tony and also a Jr.... You're bound to be a world class drummer...

that dudes feel is impeccable. He treats the drums as in instrument instead of something you just hit. He makes sure every hit counts. Hes got serious skill

Clean clean clean! Such a solid performance, especially in a room full of drummers- literally judging your every note. Some impressive confidence and execution Tony!

no lie, this has to be the best grand winning performance ever.

Congrats Tony! It was a pleasure to meet you and hear you play that night! You definitely played well and executed. Keep up the great work and looking forward to seeing your success/career grow. Bravo! The future generation is in good hands people. #respect

Damn, his right foot is outrageous...

Footwork is off the charts!

After watching the other finalists i can say im pleased with the winner, fantastic!

Extremely clean performance. Every note incredibly well executed!

The only time you can truly count on the audience to clap in time and not lose the beat.

his right foot...holy shiiiiiit.

One of the best GC winners in my opinion... amazing coordination and groove, and he is able to replicate a double kick with a single foot.

it's gotta be the Jordans

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="80">1:20</a> He fixes the hi hat without hardly missing a beat! Mad skills to be able to do that on the fly!

I absolutely love the Chris Coleman vibe near the end, this guy is great!

Here's my dream for 2016's drum-off. Some long-haired ginger with corpse paint and studded arm bands plays lots of syncopated pianissimo jazz fills on the acoustic kit, gets the back tap and then blasts at 260 bpm for a solid 55 seconds using only the octopad.

His right foot is the best I've ever seen or heard.

Here come the "Get rid of the Octopad" comments

Tony Taylor Jr. You are an excellent drummer and deserved that win. All I can say is WOW. Cant believe I am just now discovering you and your smooth drumming style and the great use of the Octapad. I started playing in bars and clubs at 13 yrs old. I'm 52 now. And you are incredible. Smooth sticking, definitely gave me some great ideas for my octapad, I had an original octapad, and octapad 2. And 16 piece set roland electronics. Not like these today but old school. Anyway I recently retired, bought new set of the new Tama star series all maple shells 7 piece, great sound and the new Alesis electronics 2 sets of those. But man I am sure glad that I found your videos. I give lessons and now have some homework for some to go home and study. Cant say enough about you buddy. You've been blessed with an incredible talent, and very relatable to some of the kids i teach, they probably already heard you before me. But just keep doing what your doing that's a God given talent. Would love to no what's been going on in your career in past 4 years. I'm sure the stars are with you. This ol Hillbilly Drummer bows and congrats for the win. Thank you. And Keep The Beat Going For All Those That Love To Play. Your an inspiration for all. HillbillyDrummer out. Have a blessed night my friend. 👍😎🤝🤘🥁🥁🥁🥁🤘🙏🙏🙏

man his chops are so solid and his time is even...

THAT WAS DOPE...Are u serious..Great performance man..Very unique style & he sets himself apart from other drummers with his identity..🙌🙏✊🗿

he killed it!!!

Well done young man. Such a great gift and examples to other young folk out there. Pushing the boundaries and taking drumming in another direction. Well done 👍

Ive known this guy for a few years now. he is SO AWESOME! YOU GO TONY!

I love the Octapad! Especially when guys like Tony, Juan, and JP have used it in years prior to make a VERY musical solo! Most people are just salty about it because they don't know how to use it well, can't afford it, or because most finalists abuse it...totally understandable! BUT, when used properly, (as demonstrated above) it totally takes your solo to the next level! You're not JUST playing drums anymore, you're making music!!

Been watching his youtube videos and periscope. Seems like a really nice dude. Super clean on the drums too. Nick Smith style fo sure

That's someone that spent a lot of time working on every aspect of the craft. Enjoyed the performance. Also, two thumbs up to the sound engineer. Those drums and all around mix sounds marvelous!

honestly one of the best i've ever seen in the youtube drumworld...

the drum off has turned into a sound board competition

Guitar Center's 27th Annual Octapad-Off

that was insane. dunno how I missed this over the years!

His dynamics sets him apart and above the majority of drummer s. Simply impeccable

Plus, the kid's only 18. You know for a fact he's gonna chop a lot. Let him have fun

the negative comments on here are ABSOLUTELY hilarious...you can tell immediately who plays drums vs who plays at drums LoL...Tony is an incredible drummer...he beat out 4,000 + drummers proving so and all you guys can do is talk about an Octopad....technology is here people....its not going anywhere....wishing it away won't change anything either. KEEP KILLIN TONY!

Good goddamn wtf did I just watch?!😳😳😳... I haven't seen a performance and actual drumming in the drumoff in YEARS!! That was just awesome!!!

Fuck I am always blown away at how crisp the kits sound on the drum offs. Sound guys and drum techs are on point, that snare is God-like.

Not that this guy isn't awesome but I feel like the drum offs were better before they added the octopad.

The OCTOPAD and TRIGGER are no longer allowed in the competition. GC finally woke up and realized the purists were no longer paying attention. It was a terrible idea to begin with. Nice solo btw, very talented kid.

dude, that was impressive ! you played really clean, very balanced performance, every note you did perfectly! great man :)

This was AWESOME!! He's awesome!! I liked this better than some of the past winning performances, even though those are good too.

I've about had it with the Octapad. Great drummer! Probably well deserved winner. But, damn that Octapad!!

yo i met this guy at namm he is crazy with that foot man

Seriously Awesome Performance... You know its good if it gives you chills.

Loving this solo and especially how u spilt that naningo beat awesome congratulations Tony Taylor on your win as the guitar center champion!!!

His triplets and quadruplets are on the money!!!

That "Beat It" version sounded like some track from Crash Bandicoot soundtrack

Wow man!! I have no other words.Tony has the Rhythm. Blown away I was...Mic Dropped

that right foot kick is awesome!

Pad or not- this dude rules. Bravo.

that groove at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="160">2:40</a> had every hip hop artist in the room taking notes

Finally a drummer worthy enough to listen to

Wow! Amazing performance!!

Lil home is a beast, for a young cat he's playing like he's seasoned, and yes his right foot is ridiculous

I like that nick smith groove.

holy crap...amazing footwork and very clean off-beat hits.

Very nice, Tony. Chops galore. Innovative ideas using the Roland.

All the drummers that make it to the Drum Off finals are really good drummers. It just saddens me that we really can't see their true voice on the kit because they are hand cuffed by the Octopad. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have one myself, but for this competition, I think it robs the drummers of showing off their true stuff.

This guy's Octopad sequence starting at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="187">3:07</a> has practically the same notes as Juan's in 2012. Just sayin'

the speed of everything hear is so amazing...nice one

Tony is an awesome drummer, his fills and combos are great, nice solo arrangement...

To those complaining about the octopad..... It takes a lot more skill to create music with it while still maintaining a steady beat. If you ask me, it's a brilliant addition to the kit. Any drummer can play a beat....but try do that while playing something musical on the octopad. Technically speaking...you could also say that you only need the ride and the crash... the extra cymbal isn't necessary. If they add an extra tom, nobody says anything lol...but God forbid them adding an octopad LOL...Learn to adapt.

The guy is a killer drummer no doubt, I just can't help but feel like the octopad is getting in way of the craft.

Excellent!! Enjoyed watching!

I am late to see this, but still .. amazing! Some of the smoothest playing I have seen. Very cool.

great drummer. do you know what drum off needs? more octapad and bad MJ riffs

Why does everyone hate the Octopad?

What a sick footwork!!! Hats off, guys!

Love that groove that starts at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="188">3:08</a>. Super tight solo!

extremely solid drumming, there's no doubting that. but whatever happened to just "drumming"? you and your kit; no gimmicks. I've seen John Bonham performances more impressive with a 5 piece kit and two bongos.

Better than Shariq for sure.

congratulations from Boston, Tony you are fantastic, good luck with your future.

This left me in chills.

oops. I thought they said Tony Royster, Jr. my bad

Rolling my eyes at those covers bits on the octo. Lame!

Drumming from another planet! TALENT!

The tuning of his kit is amazing!!!

Eh, aside from the end, a little underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, this killed and I could probably never do it, but it seemed kinda bland compared to previous years. But then again im sour on anyone using the octopads

Tony "Royster" Taylor Jr.? 😂 He even has the same Snapback Hat Royster used in his opening performances on the 26th Annual Drum Off! Any resemblance is a coincidence. Just stayin...

Absolutely Fantastic!!!!!!!

Very clean!!! Strong solo, he is already one of the best.

More of the same! Great Technique and creativity. But where's music? Where's groove? I can't imagine a music like that! BENNY GREB, PLEASE!!!! PLEASE SAVE US!!!

Dear octopad haters, Music Directors are going to see his use of the octopad in addition to his skill set and be reassured that if they hire him, they are also hiring a drummer that has a high skill level, can a play a pocket AND CAN PROGRAM! Also, playing melodies on an octopad while playing drums is indicative of great skill. Get over it.

Nice Job, Tony. Very musical, very creative, very engaging. Congrats!

Oh. My. God. INCREDIBLE! I have a new person in my "Favourite Drummers List"!

Not a fan of the octopad honestly.

hmm.. black guy, generic gospel chops, over use of playing octapad (especially playing a michael jackson bassline on the octapad) the past 4 winners basically played the SAME solo

You're great drummer and the solo was great.Love the sound of drums.

This kid is nasty. With that said I am getting tired of gospel chops.

Beautiful kit.

This was awesome.

this dude is a beast his footwork omg

Awesome!

This was so enjoyable

Not sure how you could possibly give this a thumbs down. Solid!

Outstanding, young man..

Timing and musicality is on-time!

Ridiculously talented. Tasteful and chop rich. Amazing!!

I knew I recognized him from a drum video that he did awhile back, had to do with drum shedding. To be honest, he was my favorite out of everyone in that video. It's good to see that he won.

awesome kit and really amazing playing dude

great solo! clean, musical and creative. nicely done