2012.08.06 - Twitter/Blabbermouth - Matt Sorum Defends His 'November Rain' Performance

Former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum has defended his performance in the classic GN'R track "November Rain", insisting that "drumming isn't all about fancy drum fills and splash cymbals."

Ex-Dream Theater and current Adrenaline Mob drummer Mike Portnoy, who normally doesn't shy away from his two cents on any music-related discussion, took to his Twitter account on August 4 to pose the question: "'November Rain' is an all-time classic song... but why on Earth did Matt Sorum play the SAME EXACT fill every 4 bars? (23 times, to be exact!)"

Two days later, Sorum finally replied to Portnoy, writing on Twitter, "That fill was Axl's idea as a musical phrase that carried on through the trilogy, 'Don't Cry' and 'Estranged'. Those albums UYI 1 n 2 Have sold 20 million combined."

He added, "remember kids drumming isn't all about fancy drum fills and splash cymbals ask Charlie Watts, Ringo and Phil Rudd

Portnoy then replied, "Agree 1000%!! Ringo is one of my greatest heroes!! No disrespect meant, bro... Just making an observation of that song. Peace! : )"