Drumometer
Encyclopedia
A drumometer is an electronic device invented by Boo McAfee and Craig Alan that is used to count drum strokes.
and the WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming
organization as the official device used to determine the World's Fastest Drummer. WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming describes the sporting event that utilizes the Drumometer.
became the first person to break 1,000 single strokes in 60 seconds, claiming the title World's Fastest Hands and recognition from the record keepers at Guinness. McAfee and Alan then officially sanctioned their events and copyrighted the phrase World's Fastest Drummer. This was followed by ads in Drum! and Modern Drummer magazines touting Rabb's accomplishment and their Drumometer device. Subsequently they created new classes of speed drumming: fastest feet (for two-footed bass drumming), bare hands, and tag team, among others. Drumometer orders then followed, and the race to best Rabb's feats began. Musical genres - death metal, country, jazz, screamo - have since battled for dominance in the various categories.
In 2001 WFD acquired its most recognizable competitor when Steve Vai
and Berklee College of Music
professor Mike Mangini
joined its ranks. Initially Mangini was hard pressed to surpass Afanador, but eventually became the first drummer to surpass 1200 single strokes in one minute, and has since dominated the sport, holding several world records at any given time including fastest hands (matched and traditional grip) and a 15 minute bass drum endurance record.
Beginning in 2002 WFD world championships became a biannual affair (winter and summer), and were permanently stationed at National Association of Music Merchants
conventions beginning in 2003. With the retirements of Rabb and others from active competition, the sport witnessed a new era of second generation personalities. These included Matt Smith
, who at 16 became the youngest WFD champion, and two bass drum competitors Tim Yeung
and Mike "Machine" Mallais. Yeung (a star of metal drumming) was instrumental in popularizing the sport within that genre, while Mallais demolished all the existing bass drum world records at the Winter 2007 world championships. Along with Waterson, they helped usher a new found popularity in the bass drum division.
Official status
The Drumometer is accepted by Guinness World RecordsGuinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
and the WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming
WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming
WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming describes the sporting event that surrounds self proclaimed speed drummers and a mechanical instrument called the Drumometer, an electronic device invented by Boo McAfee and Craig Alan that is used to count drum strokes...
organization as the official device used to determine the World's Fastest Drummer. WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming describes the sporting event that utilizes the Drumometer.
WFD competitions
The primary goal of most WFD competitions is to determine who can play the most single strokes in sixty seconds. According to author Josh Davis, "the Drumometer uncovered a deep well of competitiveness." After experimenting with various WFD competition formats in the southern United States, the event achieved international prominence when respected studio and clinic drummer Johnny RabbJohnny Rabb
Johnny Rabb is a professional live/studio drummer, author, inventor, and instructor. As a Product Specialist for , Rabb performs around 70 international clinic dates per year...
became the first person to break 1,000 single strokes in 60 seconds, claiming the title World's Fastest Hands and recognition from the record keepers at Guinness. McAfee and Alan then officially sanctioned their events and copyrighted the phrase World's Fastest Drummer. This was followed by ads in Drum! and Modern Drummer magazines touting Rabb's accomplishment and their Drumometer device. Subsequently they created new classes of speed drumming: fastest feet (for two-footed bass drumming), bare hands, and tag team, among others. Drumometer orders then followed, and the race to best Rabb's feats began. Musical genres - death metal, country, jazz, screamo - have since battled for dominance in the various categories.
Noted competitors
Early stars of the event in addition to Rabb included a veteran jazz drummer named Art Verdi (first person to break 1100 single strokes), Jotan Afanador, the first drummer to regularly perform near 1200 single strokes in one minute, and Canadian Tim Waterson, the first person to score over 1000 single strokes on a bass drum, and the first identifiable personality of the bass drum division.In 2001 WFD acquired its most recognizable competitor when Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
and Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
professor Mike Mangini
Mike Mangini
Mike Mangini is an American drummer, and the current drummer for the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He has played for Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai, among others. He lectured at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and is also known for his work as a session musician...
joined its ranks. Initially Mangini was hard pressed to surpass Afanador, but eventually became the first drummer to surpass 1200 single strokes in one minute, and has since dominated the sport, holding several world records at any given time including fastest hands (matched and traditional grip) and a 15 minute bass drum endurance record.
Beginning in 2002 WFD world championships became a biannual affair (winter and summer), and were permanently stationed at National Association of Music Merchants
NAMM Show
The NAMM Show is one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center...
conventions beginning in 2003. With the retirements of Rabb and others from active competition, the sport witnessed a new era of second generation personalities. These included Matt Smith
Tom and Matt Smith
Tom and Matt Smith are father and son jazz musicians best known for their work in the United States, Eastern Europe and China.Tom Smith is a long time American university professor and multiple Senior Fulbright Professor of Music at the Romanian National University of Music, the University of...
, who at 16 became the youngest WFD champion, and two bass drum competitors Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung is a prominent extreme metal drummer. He was born on November 27, 1978 in Rochester, New York and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Tim started playing drums when he was 11 years old.-Biography:...
and Mike "Machine" Mallais. Yeung (a star of metal drumming) was instrumental in popularizing the sport within that genre, while Mallais demolished all the existing bass drum world records at the Winter 2007 world championships. Along with Waterson, they helped usher a new found popularity in the bass drum division.