Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has played through Black Sabbath‘s “Fairies Wear Boots” as part of his program titled “Legends of the ’70s” via Drumeo and Musora.
The program features Smith playing through and breaking down iconic songs, drum parts, and fills of ’70s drum legends throughout the rock canon.
Smith’s performance of “Fairies Wear Boots,” along with much of his commentary, focuses on the amount of swing within the track. His immense comfort in the shifting tempos of the swinging shuffle that drives the song is palpable as well as how well he catches the groovy fills that punch up the instrumental sections of the song.
“This is Black Sabbath’s shuffling at their finest,” he says of the song. “When they go into that verse, the sound, the feel… so simple. But you know it’s coming.” He then explained how Ozzy Osbourne would break down the song for him, explaining the structure as two passes of the instrumental riff before another verse.
We named Paranoid, the album “Fairies Wear Boots” is taken from, as the second greatest sophomore album of all time as well as the greatest heavy metal album of all time.
Chad Smith played in a drum-off at Black Sabbath’s final show “Back to the Beginning” alongside Tool’s Danny Carey and blink-182’s Travis Barker.
Aspiring drummers and other musicians who want access to more of Chad Smith’s videos, among other clips, can check out a free 30-day trial for Drumeo or Musora.
Watch the full video of Chad Smith’s performance of “Fairies Wear Boots” by Black Sabbath below.
