{"id":52876,"date":"2025-04-11T06:58:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T13:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=52876"},"modified":"2025-04-15T09:06:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T16:06:11","slug":"gear-breakdown-johnny-keefe-hears-sepultura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/gear-breakdown-johnny-keefe-hears-sepultura\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear Breakdown &#8211; Johnny Keefe Hears Sepultura For The First Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What happens when a pop-punk<em> drummer takes on one of metal\u2019s heaviest anthems?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny Keefe has spent his career bringing tight grooves and big energy to the stage with <strong>Boys Like Girls<\/strong>. So when we invited him to react to a heavy, aggressive track he\u2019d never heard before, we expected fireworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what we didn\u2019t expect? That it would take <strong>seven songs<\/strong> to find one he hadn\u2019t already heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We ran through a gauntlet of tracks \u2014 from <strong>Nine Inch Nails<\/strong> and <strong>Alice In Chains<\/strong> to <strong>Van Halen<\/strong>, <strong>James Brown<\/strong>, <strong>Marilyn Manson<\/strong>, and even <strong>311<\/strong>. Johnny knew them all. Finally, we hit play on <em>\u201cRoots Bloody Roots\u201d<\/em> by <strong>Sepultura<\/strong> \u2014 and struck gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VL5oBbriJuQ?si=hJTfKVx2zaxV0e-H\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>What followed was a reimagining that fused punk energy with tribal heaviness, turning a legendary metal anthem into something fresh and unexpected. Here&#8217;s Johnny&#8217;s gear breakdown of the <a href=\"#drums\">Drums<\/a>, <a href=\"#snares\">Snares<\/a>, <a href=\"#cymbals\">Cymbals<\/a> and <a href=\"#heads\">Heads<\/a> that powered his take during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VL5oBbriJuQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Drumeo YouTube<\/a> performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"drums\">\ud83e\udd41 The Kit: Vintage Acrylic Thunder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To deliver the kind of low-end wallop this track demands, Johnny sat behind a <strong>1976 Ludwig Vistalite<\/strong> \u2014 the kind of kit that looks as bold as it sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>24\u201d x 14\u201d Kick<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>13\u201d x 9\u201d Rack Tom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>16\u201d x 16\u201d Floor Tom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>18\u201d x 16\u201d Floor Tom<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The big sizes gave Johnny a thunderous foundation to build from \u2014 especially crucial for mimicking the tribal intensity of the original without losing his punk edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83c\udfaf<strong>Modern Option:<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/zxP56m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ludwig Vistalite Zep 4-piece<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/ludwig_vistalite_probeat_set_amber.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe &#8211; 3-piece option<\/a>) offers the same massive acrylic sound and sizes inspired by the Bonham-era setup \u2014 making it the closest current production model for anyone chasing that same tone and presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"snares\">\ud83e\udd41 Snares: Two Flavors Of Snap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny alternated between two snares to shift between textures: one for a deep, authoritative backbeat, and one for tighter, higher-end definition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/4GyxZ1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ludwig SupraLite 14\u201d x 6.5\u201d<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/ludwig_14_x65_supralite.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)\u2013 fat, metallic, and cutting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/yqjPnD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ludwig Carl Palmer Signature 14\u201d x 3.5\u201d<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/ludwig_lw0414cp_carl_palmer_snare.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)\u2013 crisp and articulate for fast fills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cymbals\">\ud83d\udece\ufe0f Cymbals: A Wall Of Zildjian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To deliver both impact and atmosphere, Johnny reached for a carefully chosen set of Zildjians that gave him fast crashes, dirty accents, and plenty of wash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/QjAXPY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">16\u201d A Avedis Hi-Hats<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/zildjian_16_k_sweet_hats.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/store\/detail\/K1066--zildjian-k-constantinople-crash-cymbal-16-inch?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">16\u201d K Constantinople Crash<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/zildjian_16_k_constantinople_crash.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/e1e2vg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">21\u201d Zildjian Paper Thin Crash<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/zildjian_21_k_series_paper_thin_crash.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/xLrvEO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">22\u201d Zildjian Paper Thin Crash<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/zildjian_22_k_series_paper_thin_crash.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/DyOm0q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">20\u201d Zildjian Crash of Doom<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/zildjian_oriental20_crashofdoom.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>16\u201d FX Stacker (comparable option: <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/QjAXPz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10\u201d Spiral Stacker<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/zildjian_10_fx_spiral_stacker.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>))<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This cymbal setup let him move from quick jabs to enormous splashes of sound \u2014 great for both punk chorus crashes and atmospheric tribal moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"heads\">\ud83e\udd41 Heads: Controlled Power<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny used <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/APnQ0D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Remo Controlled Sound Clear Drumheads w\/ Black Dot<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/search_dir.html?sw=Remo+Controlled+Sound+Clear+Black+Dot&amp;smcs=60090b_1406?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>) heads across the toms \u2014 delivering balanced tone with extra durability, perfect for hard-hitting passages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These Remo Controlled Sound heads gave him the projection needed to cut through the wall of sound without overwhelming the groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\udd18 The Verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not every day you hand a pop-punk drummer a Sepultura track and get a version that grooves this hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny Keefe may have come from a different world sonically, but his instincts for rhythm, space, and feel made his performance not only compelling \u2014 but surprisingly faithful to the spirit of the original.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tribal. Pummeling. Groovy. Punk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/10150851\/Screenshot-2025-04-10-at-4.08.22%E2%80%AFPM-1024x556.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52882\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to recreate Johnny&#8217;s massive sound, you can find this gear at <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/9LnZWQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sweetwater<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thomann<\/a> if you are overseas. If this video lit a spark to start drumming (or sharpen your chops), take the next step and click the link to try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/trial?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=&amp;utm_term=drumeo&amp;utm_campaign=johnnykeefe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Drumeo, free for 7 Days.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*This article contains affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission from the product seller if you make a purchase. For more info, check out our<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/privacy#affiliate-disclosure\"><em> privacy page.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What happens when a pop-punk drummer takes on one of metal\u2019s heaviest anthems? Johnny Keefe has spent his career bringing tight grooves and big energy to the stage with Boys Like Girls. So when we invited him to react to a heavy, aggressive track he\u2019d never heard before, we expected fireworks. But what we didn\u2019t [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":52881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4019,4020],"tags":[9,4082,4084,4089,4087,585,252],"class_list":["post-52876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drummers","category-gear","tag-drumeo","tag-gear-breakdown","tag-hears-a-song","tag-johnny-keefe","tag-ludwig","tag-remo","tag-zildjian"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52876"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52892,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52876\/revisions\/52892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}