Mike is the Official W.F.D. World's Fastest Drummer Champion & Current World Record Holder in five categories.

As of July 2005, Mike's #1 ranking of the Matched Grip Single Stroke Record is 1,247 hits in One Minute. That is approximately 20.8 consecutive alternating beats per second.

As of July 2003, Mike's #1 ranking of the Traditional Grip Single Stroke Record is 1,126 hits in One Minute.

As of April 2002, Mike's #1 ranking of the Bare Hands Single Stroke Record is 1,138 hits in One Minute.

As of July 2005, Mike's #1 ranking of the Single Stroke Foot Record is 13,222 hits in 15 Minutes, and the #1 ranking of 5,222 in 5 minutes.

Official World Record Certificates
Official W.F.D. Website (see video clips of records)
Official Drumometer Website (get info on the Drumometer)

From Mike: "The camaraderie of anyone who truly knows the fun of being in the World's drum community is, by nature, true of the W.F.D. events. To be able to improve at a mechanical thing, then use it to express an artistic idea is to have incredible peace as far as I'm concerned. I wish this on everyone who wants it."

The term "World's Fastest Drummer" cannot be used without the approval of the W.F.D. (who owns it.) There is one lawsuit pending as you read this.

10" Hihat Machine Sounding Part on "Lost"
(Track 05), James LaBrie "Elements of Persuasion"
This clip's special move is the whacking of the snare on the back beat along with all the notes on the closed mini-hats. The left hand is playing consistent pulses on another closed hihat; 13" ontop of a trashformer.

Double Snares & 3 Toms Left Hand Percussion Simulation on "Thanks for Nothing" (Track 4),
Tribe of Judah "Exit Elvis"
The 'ride' parts, played on 3 china stacks (hi, med, & low pitches,) are split between both hands as well as all the percussion and tom hits. The toms are being whacked very hard while the china stacks are not.

Hihat Verse on "His Voice", Mullmuzzler
"Keep it to Yourself"
As there is no choice due to the positioning, the hihat part is played with the right hand.

Anvil Part on Cowbell edge on "Am I Ever Going to Change", Extreme "Running Gag" Live in Japan
The left hand is playing the 'Anvil' part from the studio recording while the right plays the 'drum part' exactly as recorded.

Snare & ChinaStack Transition from Each Verse to Chorus on "Tell Me", Mullmuzzler Keep it to Yourself

Death Metal Tom Melodies on "Rage Absolute"
(Track 7), Annihilator "All for You"-

This one is more about the velocity as the speed is 4 hits per second slower than the world record. All the strokes are hard hit wrist strokes.

Go toPage for Non-Speed Playing Overview or Recordings

MULTI-LIMB SPEED APPLICATIONS TO MOVES

Wrist technique applied to blast beat
w/4 16th's @290bpm

Single-Hand around the toms blast 32nds@ 143bpm
... a little slower as the distance between toms is huge.

Mike's "Lopping Shears" move named by tech Magee This clip starts on closer toms, then explodes faster to further floor toms. The feet are hitting in between the hand singles ala "blast".

The "Crow" named by Gary Cherone
The feet are playing all the notes not in between like the"blast" beats. The feet are not tapping, the are really hitting the kick drum at 138 bpm (32nd notes). Triggers are on the shopping list.

Footage of a long run of foot singles at this speed will be seen in the solo from the upcoming "Drum Pad 20thAnniversary" DVD spring06 release.

See Last 30 Seconds of this Bare Handed Run

Stick weight affect on speed

Objectivity of use of speed

A sentence each by: Boo McAfee & Rikki Rocket about events

TO ANSWER 'THE' QUESTION OF HOW:

"My hand records are all set with a technique that is mostly wrist. There is no "finger only" motion although there surely is a mix of fingers and wrist. Making my point, you can believe the bare hand one is ALL WRIST because there are no sticks used; those are all full single stroke hits. Learning this has allowed me to express more ideas on recordings without worrying about hitting too lightly to 'go to tape'.

Personally speaking, an all finger technique seems like a good idea, but I feel sharp pains from it, so I just stay away as much as I can. That's all I have to say about that.

Every once in awhile, an innovation comes along in music that helps shape the future of the industry. Still, people fear change. Many view the advancement as an attack to the establishment. They try to resist for as long as they possibly can until it becomes accepted by the majority thus making it mainstream. When Rock & Roll came about, many thought it would lead to the downfall of America's youth. When Ray Charles combined gospel music with R&B, many said it was blasphemous and degrading God's work. Yet, Ray Charles is now considered one of the greatest music innovators of the 20th century. Enter speed drumming. Not immune to the same criticism, this latest craze is taking the drumming world by storm and creating quite a stir. Although it's been embraced by many drummers young and old, others see it as an infringement upon their revered tradition.

http://store.drumbum.com/drums/speed-drumming.htm

Editor's Note: I've noticed other parties out there creating speed drumming events and organizations, and calling it their own. It's unfortunate because it's not only wrong, but it discredits Boo McAfee and Craig Alan and all their hard work over the years to bring speed drumming to the forefront of the drumming community. I urge drummers and industry leaders everywhere to support the original WFD movement only and speak up when necessary to help fend off copycat organizations. - Mike Donovan

A bit of seriousness & dry humor...

It seems the following words used in the past to describe drummers the double pedal or "big" kits are still used today, but for the drumometer device and the contests. Here they are for your review unless you know them all and don't need to look them up: speed, musical, drummer, ignorance, stupid, editors, writers, professional, wrong, correct, envy, opinion.

Here's a good one: intention.