[Diff_Drummer]

PG,

I have taught drums/percussion at different times in my career, and it has been my experience that the self taught players that want to play their favorite bands material really won't put much effort into working on anything but that. You don't have a country band drummer practice jazz and you don't have a heavy metal drummer try to play symphonic tympani.

If he is not interested in taking lessons, learning to read music, being shown proper technique, then he is probably best off just bashing away along with Dragonforce and whoever else he likes. The sophistication and subtleties of a Neal Pert, Carl Palmer, or Bill Bruford will either bore him or go right over his head. That is not to say that you shouldn't recommend stuff for him to listen to. You never know what might catch his ear. My son is a self taught heavy metal bass player who loves Avenged Sevenfold, but he also likes Kansas and Dream Theater. He can't stand ELP, Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd. So it's hard to say.

Just put together a list of great albums with great drummers for him to listen to, not necessarily play along with. If he takes to them, he will work on them. If not, then at least you tried. I would suggest ELP Brain Salad Surgery, King Crimson Red, Rush Permanent Waves among others.

Good luck,

DD