Dorothea Taylor has made a name for herself by sharing flawless drum covers of rock songs.
Most recently, the Godmother of Drumming absolutely slayed blink-182’s ‘What’s My Age Again’ – effortlessly executing Travis Barker’s parts (which is no easy feat).
After she was done playing, Taylor explained how she loved that song because of Travis’ ability to incorporate drum rudiments (flams, five stroke rolls, pataflaflas) into “punk rock drumming.”
Taylor, who is in her 70s, then challenged him to a drum battle.
“You’re never too old, and you’re never too young, to start playing drums,” Taylor said.
“You probably never would have expected someone like me to play along to blink.
“I’ve learned my rudiments over the years and was able to incorporate and understand what Travis was playing.”
“So, Travis Barker, are you watching?” she asked. “How about a drum battle?!”
Dorothea Taylor started playing the drums at 13 when she joined a drum and bugle corps in her hometown in Michigan.
She got her first set of drums in as a junior in high school and joined a band after she graduated, playing five nights a week.
She started teaching drumline for her school’s Feeder Corps when she was 17 and has been teaching on and off ever since.
