Sex, Drums, Rock 'n' Roll | Kenny Aronoff | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Kenny Aronoff shares his journey from being inspired by the Beatles as a child to becoming one of the most renowned drummers in the industry, emphasizing the importance of hard work, self-discipline, and staying relevant.

Transcript

NICK: To kick us off, the first thing we're going to do is actually watch a quick video about the Kenny Aronoff experience before Kenny comes up here. [VIDEO PLAYBACK] [MUSIC PLAYING] - To have him performing right in front of you, along with being a motivational speaker, is such a unique combination. It was absolutely remarkable. - And I realized ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Self-discipline, hard work, and teamwork are fundamental to achieving success in any field.
• 🎼 Adapting and staying relevant is crucial in a constantly changing industry like music.
• 🉑 Mediocrity should not be accepted, and striving for greatness requires constant practice and improvement.
• 🥺 Recognizing the importance of collaboration and supporting other members of a team can lead to greater success.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Kenny Aronoff become successful in the music industry?

Kenny Aronoff attributes his success to self-discipline, hard work, teamwork, and communication skills. He emphasizes the importance of creating a plan, executing it, and adapting to stay relevant in the industry.

Q: How did Aronoff approach laying down drum parts in the studio?

Aronoff prefers recording with the entire band in the studio to capture the interaction and energy. However, if that is not possible, he works with demos and programming to ensure that his drum parts align with the vision of the songs.

Q: Has Aronoff seen the documentary "The Defiant Ones" and does he have any thoughts on it?

Aronoff has not seen the documentary, but he recognizes the hard work and persistence of Jimmy Iovine, who shares a similar journey of working hard to achieve success in the music business.

Q: Is Aronoff frustrated that drummers often receive less recognition compared to frontmen?

Aronoff understands his role as a drummer and is content with it. He acknowledges that frontmen or frontwomen often receive more recognition for songwriting and vocals, but he takes pride in making the whole band look like rock stars through his drumming.

Q: How does Aronoff motivate himself to continue working hard in a field that demands so much?

Aronoff's motivation comes from his fear of failure and his unwillingness to settle for mediocrity. He reminds himself of the importance of self-discipline, hard work, and constant improvement to reach his goals and stay successful in the music industry.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kenny Aronoff started his musical journey after watching the Beatles on TV and being captivated by Ringo Starr's drumming.

• He shares the seven ways that have led him to success in the music industry, including self-discipline, hard work, teamwork, and communication skills.

• Aronoff emphasizes the need to adapt and stay relevant in an ever-changing industry and talks about the challenges of working in a business that has drastically changed over the years.