Everybody's opinion ofcourse
![Smiley :)](https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/smiley.gif)
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But I disagree that what Ian does is boring or not good. I'm an drummer as well for 18 years and I love what Ian does, no I'm not amazed by it, but he does it all good. And there is also an difference between live and a studio album. Usually on the album "live concert playing" is not working for the songs, thats why I also think it sounds to some people maybe boring. Live I really like Ian Thomas a lot, I have to say.
And how Ijnijn is describing it, sounds you would love to hear a lot of fills and drum changes. But then I think the albums from Mark Knopfler AND Dire Straits are drumwise not your thing. I mean after Pick Withers, all the drummers hardly did any fills or special stuff on the studio albums as what you described as "what should have been".
I think Chad Cromwell did some (Metroland, What have got to do) cool stuff. But also not so much, and thats what I think, Mark wants. Where I'm fully okey with, on the albums. Chad Cromwell is also the first drummer where it got my attention that this guy is just a metronome, like he would NEVER of his live fall out of his tempo
![Grin ;D](https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/grin.gif)
, pretty cool. Live he did some cool stuff as well. But thats what I think, Mark really wants and is looking for
![Thinking :think](https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/think.gif)
Also on the On Every Street album, he even had a few drummers just to try out wich one he would like the best for the songs. Kind of a battle without them knowing
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/rolleyes.gif)
. And if you listen to the album now, you hardly notice it, that that was SO important. I mean yeah, maybe in Calling Elvis, but thats kind of it. And Yeah the sound of the drums, thats important and always have been in Marks career. I also love in general the drum sound in Marks music, except for Brothers in Arms, sorry I LOVE the album but I hate 80s drums
![Laughing :lol](https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/icon_lol.gif)
. But as example, listen to the snare drum of Danny Cummings in Cleaning my gun, love that sound
![Clapping :clap](https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/eusa_clap.gif)
And usually when people think drums is more in the background, that is for sure the mix and usualy not the drummer.
But ofcourse this is my opinion, I don't mean it offending Ijnijn
![Thumbs Up :thumbsup](https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/tup.gif)