He deserves the respect and accolades he's earned for decades... We drummers who have jammed to him In Vishnu or Miles view him as a super man of drums... He's one of those drummers you start playing to and quit about a minute in when you realize you're wasting your time... : D .... Monster talent...

Not even Buddy can match Billys tom tom rolls for sheer speed and power unreal

When you're in Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the whole band sits to watch your solo... that means you're pretty good.

Billy one of the best of all time

I'll be so lucky to live in the this time with a Drummer like Billy Cobham . A good Friend and listen so often to the Music and the Drumsoli from Mr. B.C. that it is unbelivabel . Thank you so much for all

He is clearly one of the great drummers of all time, never fully recognized for his contributions. His speed, technique, stick work, and appreciation of earlier drummers' work are all incorporated into his playing. His sense of dynamics are what made me a better drummer.

Billy Cobham set the standards for Drummers to follow. Though his passion for his art and the rythem Dexterity of his craft..

Just when you think you've figured out what he does (sort of) by listening to him, you watch this and feel like you're asking your parents for your first drum set again. I don't care. No one can touch him from this period. Period.

Most drum solos make my ears and eyes glaze over, but Billy Cobham gets my attention.....frackin' amazing!

Love Billy's Olympics 1972 t-shirt. Billy could easily have been the US representative for the drumming olympics had they existed.

Never seen anyone play left handed traditional grip. Cobham is amazing and never really got the credit he absolutely deserves...

He is by far one the most amazing, powerful drumming talents to ever grace this planet!! I see a lot of drummers doing these youtube "shorts", but not many would have had the "stamina" to keep up with Billy Cobham. A "short" for Billy would not have even been a decent "warm-up"!!

Normally I hate drum solos. I saw Cobham in the mid 70's and he exceeded his recorded chops. Phenomenally gifted human. I switched to matched grip after seeing him.

@ 7:20 he's rocking so hard he knocked the technicolor all out of whack.

Legendary drummer! 1st clip he's playing traditional grip but left handed style on right handed kit! True powerhouse drummer but can do the soft too. Forever Great.

Back in the 70s and 80s when I was listening to him on records in my country the Philippines, I thought he had four arms. And now that I finally SEE him play, it's even more incredible because of his unique mix of right- and left- hand leads. It's like he learned to play the rudiments with both hands and then managed to mix them freely into one awesome, unique sound. And the speed!!! He needs those gargantuan arms!

He is one of my favorite drummers together with Jack deJohnette.

Untouchable in his prime!

Yeah-1973---Princeton U---backup band was Return to Forever--A friend and myself made a gift for the band(a collage)---the roadies let us sit backstage for the concert so we could present it to them--true story!

Nothing touched Billy Cobham when he was with the Mahavishnu Orchestra I saw the Bird ogf fire tour in New york and billy was incredible wearing a white toga and playing fibes.!! His long solo was in One word!! Billy Cobham is also an excellent composer and also ,plated piano on total eclipse!

This has to be one of my favourite phases of Billy Cobham s development; during and directly after the "CTI" period where he was virtually one of that labels drummers in residence.

there is the best drummer EVER....JUST WATCH!!! SORRY BUDDY R.!!!!

Reminds me of why he is one of my top 5 all time. Just beautiful.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS BEST OF B..C.

What a legend.

Saw Billy with mahavishnu 3 or 4 times...had a chance to sit behind him while on stage(long story).....he was absolutely mind blowing

What an amazing collection. Now I have something to show non or new drummers when I'm trying to explain to them how this instrument can be played. HAS been played. Someone on here mentioned that Billy never dabbled in drugs of any kind, an amazing feat for any musician, but especially for one who toured in the 70's and 80's. For me, I'm not sure whether his song Puff N' Stuff is about him staying away from all that, or wanting to GET away from it. "Puff N´ Stuff, Puff N´ Stuff, got to get away from that Puff N´ Stuff. Puff N´ Stuff, that smokin' stuff, Got to be free so that my mind can breathe the weed that's all around me. All this huffin' and a puffin' and a puffin' and a huffin' and a blowin' and a snortin' and a coughin' and a snortin' Is foolin' with my mind. Can't have that. Oh no, won't have that. Uh, uh!" Either way, I'm glad he stayed healthy. I do wish he hadn't moved to Europe when he did. His playing changed drastically after that. Not for the better in my opinion. All that edginess and power just seemed to drain out of him. I always attributed it to hitting the weed too much as it coincided with his writing of these lyrics, but I'm not sure if that's it. Injury? You can't play like this and not pay a physical price over time. I don't know. I'd love to have an intimate, honest talk with him, but who am I to even presume or judge? He's definitely one of the most gifted players ever to sit down at a kit. Maybe the greatest of all time for raw, explosive, brain melting talent. He'll always be my hero, and he's earned the right a thousand times over to lay back a bit.

That's so great. I admire him very much

I love the sound of FIBES DRUMS !

any drummer who thinks rudiments are unnecessary think again, this playing is based on rudiments, rudiments are the language of drumming. unless of you want to play like Travis Barker or Justine bieber.

A monsterdrummer. I had the pleasure of seeing him live in my small hometown once.

Talk about dynamics! I LOVE it!

Billy Cobham was touched by the gods.

The Master of Drumming!!!🥁🥁🎶🎶👍💯💯

If he is not the greatest drummer, he is without question the most athletic. Amazingly fast, hard hitter, and looks like a tight end. And I didn't know he played with Horace Silver---you can see the Elvin influence. Great tribute. Thanks for the post.

I first saw him with Dreams on a set this size. I am guessing that was after this video was done. Nothing short of amazing!

Great!!!Very Modern!!!

Unico ineguagliabile semplicemente fantastico

The GREATEST !!!

billy is the best drummer ever. i saw him in 2014 at the blue note in n y c. he still has it. i think he has to be about 70 years old now. god is blessing him. i first saw him live in 1975. he had with him the brecker brothers. the 11th house opened the show first. i took 9 of my best friends with me that night. it stays on my mind to this day. i am now 60 years old and i am still listing to fusion music.

BLACK POWER - Billy Cobham Most innovative Drummer ever rhythmically and technically, Unsurpasssed !

Billy is E.T. !! 😎😎💙💙

deep deep deep joy

Power speed precision and endurance !!! simply amazing 😮

Proud to have seen Billy C at the Chestnut Cabaret in philly back in the day...Miles and Chick like him so you know He's the best...:)

BC as mind blowing and life changing as usual... Thanks so much for putting this together. Unreal.

Billy cobham inspires....

LOVE Billy!! THANKS!!!

Great drummer...Saw him with his band in 86 at the Chestnut Cabaret in philly ...Small venue, great show...I had loved his work with Mahavishnu for many years...It was cool seeing him on his own...Saw Vushnu with Danny Gotlieb and Jonas hellborg with Weather report at the Troc in philly...Those days are so long gone...These groups were on the way out back then...I think tickets were like 15 bucks...smh...

LONG LIVE A BILLY COBHAM. TOP OF TOPS

I was around 12 first hearing BC & GD, and later Mahavishnu, couldn,t believe what i was hearing. Nice to finally see him play on his top... thanks for uploading this clip... His Speed and Power are Unique!!

I've been playing drums for over 40 years and Billy was one of my original major inspirations. I first saw him in Detroit in around 1976 with Mahavishnu Orchestra/John McGlaughlin. He played very much like in this video and I remember thinking "how the F is he doing this for so long"? It was one of the most incredible displays of drumming I have ever seen and I've seen a lot!!! Thank you Billy and John! Incredible stuff!

04:08 I was there, great Mahavishnu Orchestra concert!

Most excellent , these drum sticks are on fire ,,,,

I am bassist and take percussion beats from Mr Cobham...the g.o.a.t.......

Fills and feels

When I said "before this video was done" I was referring to the Horace Silver segment (the first segment). Horace Silver, Dreams, then Mahavishnu.

Billy Cobham has always been my idol drummer!!!! Going to see him Oct. The 3rd at the Space in Evanston,IL.two shows 7:30 pm 9:30 pm Come all you drummers!!!!!!

thank you

Just a Monster

My main man

with those hands and moves Billy would be a great boxer..

awesome drummer

The drums in the first clip are Hollywood drums made in Italy!!! If you notice Billy is playing a floor tom that has a mechanism just like a tympani which has a pedal to change the pitch of the drum!! Quite unique for 1968!!!!!

Super

Note that stick drop at about 33 and calmly and collectively draws out another without a blemish and back to the bombastic bashing banging boldly . No other PERIOD !!!

Those tom rolls man!!

the greatest!

He is the best ever, I think he is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously a legend and of the greatest ever. I always wondered whether he keeps time in his solos though.

New favorite drum video. Thanks for posting. The first clip is awesome for a four piece Hollywood kit with an adjustable floor tom tone.. The rest on the huge Fibes Acrylic set are a different beast of a solo with so many more drums to choose from.

no 1

Just Incredible :-O

Billy like many others made the music moved on.That is where we are now ! Michel (France)

Un capo eterno..

Finally some old cobham vids with decent audio

Best in my book

Billy is playing a Hollywood drum kit here made in Italy .. The floor tom had a mechanism that had a foot pedal to be able to change the pitch of the drum.. That's what you're hearing!!

Thank you for doing this.

fabulous ..thanks!

The Best Ever !

Billy Top 1

exceptionnel!!!

At 4.23 my brain almost fell out of my nose.

great post thanks

Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, and John Bonham are the greatest drummers ever!

Quelle maîtrise !!!!!!

Spectacular !!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting well done!!

unreal

28:50-29:15 makes me laugh with delight. He loves them drums. Love the bit where he lobs his duff stick and doesn't miss a beat. Gonna put this on a DVD if you don't mind.

wow...all this beauty and that's what you come up with to say?

@6:32 I read somewhere that it was John McLaughlin that urged Billy Cobham to add a second kick drum to his kit when performing with The Mahavishnu Orchestra.

that's wha 'm talkin' bout. crazy rudiments, dynamism

5:45--------unfuckin real!!!

Thank you for this amazing post..:)

Dormia com os 40 rudimentos e treinava dormindo!... se tá doido!!...animal!

what a monster

thxs for posting excellent compilation obrigado gracias

15:50 WHAT?!

Billy's arms are like vipers.