What happens when a drummer known for groove and feel takes on Mike Portnoy’s progressive metal masterpiece with a brand-new lineup of SABIAN cymbals?
J-Rod Sullivan has built his career around pocket, feel, and musicality.
As the drummer for Janet Jackson, Jeffrey Osborne, and 4 Korners, J-Rod is known for bringing energy, precision, and personality to every performance.
But there was one world he hadn’t stepped into yet.
Metal.
So naturally, we gave him a nearly 10-minute Dream Theatre song.
Watch J-Rod Sullivan take on Dream Theater’s “Night Terror” here.
Before J-Rod could hear the track, there was something else waiting for him.
A fully covered drum kit.
“You won’t have me play the cymbals with the cloth on them, are you?”
No, we weren’t.
Hidden underneath was the complete lineup of SABIAN’s brand-new STRATUS Dry cymbals, fresh from SABIAN headquarters in Meductic, New Brunswick.
And J-Rod was about to become the first drummer to play them.
“Wow, man.”
No pressure.
The STRATUS Dry lineup was created for drummers looking for a different kind of voice behind the kit.
Explore SABIAN STRATUS Dry cymbals here.
Fast response. Controlled sustain. Focused attack.
These cymbals aren’t designed to disappear into a mix. They’re designed to add another color to your sound.
For J-Rod, who spends most of his time in the world of R&B, pop, and fusion, the Dream Theater challenge became the ultimate test.
Could these cymbals handle a completely different musical environment?
There was only one way to find out.
After experimenting with the full STRATUS Dry lineup, J-Rod started making the kit his own.
He brought in some familiar cymbals from his usual setup, but there was one STRATUS piece he decided to keep exactly where it was.
“I’ll leave this one from the STRATUS line. Leave the hats. I like what’s going on right here.”
With their crisp response and controlled sustain, the STRATUS Dry Hats gave J-Rod another texture to work with as he tackled the complex grooves and constant changes of Dream Theater’s “Night Terror.”
The rules were simple.
J-Rod would hear a drumless track with no information about the artist, drummer, or song.
Then he had to create his own part.
The song? Dream Theater’s “Night Terror.”
The drummer? Mike Portnoy.
But J-Rod didn’t know that yet. After hearing the song for the first time, he immediately noticed one thing:
“It’s a lot of changes. It’s fun. It’ll be fun as a drummer to play, for sure.”
Instead of jumping behind the kit right away, J-Rod spent nearly an hour doing what professional touring drummers do. He charted.
“When I chart the music while I’m listening, it gives me a visual image of what the song looks like.”
“When I’m playing the song, I can see the chart.”
Considering “Night Terror” is packed with odd-time sections, transitions, and classic Dream Theater complexity, that chart was about to become very important.
The STRATUS Dry crashes bring a focused attack and quick response that creates a different type of accent around the kit.
For a song like “Night Terror,” where every transition matters, cymbal choices become part of the arrangement.
Not just something you hit.
Something you use.
After the first take, J-Rod started experimenting. Rather than choosing between his usual setup and the STRATUS Dry lineup, he blended both worlds together.
“I would probably mix in and blend them with my normal setup.”
“Some songs may require a drier sound regarding the cymbals. So in addition to my normal setup, I would have those set up just in case.”
That’s exactly where the STRATUS Dry series fits.
Sometimes you need power. Sometimes you need brightness. And sometimes you need a completely different character.
After multiple takes, it was finally time for J-Rod to learn what he had been playing.
“This is Dream Theater. This is Mike Portnoy on drums.”
His reaction?
“You motherf*****s.”
Fair enough.
After hearing Portnoy’s original part, J-Rod immediately noticed the differences between their approaches.
“Amazing. It’s very different from what I played.”
But that’s the point. Two world-class drummers can hear the same piece of music and create something completely different.
After playing through the entire STRATUS Dry lineup, J-Rod was asked a simple question:
If you could take one of these cymbals to your next gig, which one would it be?
His answer?
The 22” STRATUS Dry Ride.
“It sounds nice to crash on. And the bell is big enough to where I can play a ride on it as well”
With clear stick definition, controlled wash, and enough versatility to move between roles, the 22” STRATUS Dry Ride became the standout voice for J-Rod.
After surviving Dream Theater, J-Rod left drummers with a reminder.
“I didn’t start out playing like I play now. I had to practice and I had to go through that process.”
“Don’t try to compare yourself to someone else’s journey. Just focus on you.”
Great advice from someone who just jumped into a completely unfamiliar genre, learned a Dream Theater song, and tested cymbals the world had never heard before.
Want to learn more about the SABIAN STRATUS Dry lineup?
Explore SABIAN STRATUS Dry cymbals here.
Drumeo Team - We're professional, award-winning drummers and drum teachers, coaches, recording artists, and content specialists who are passionate about drums and helping drummers around the world. This post was written and/or edited by Brandon Toews, Jared Falk, Dave Atkinson, or another pro on our team (which has a combined 1000+ years of drumming experience). Are you looking for inspiration, education, and support to take your playing to the next level? Join the Drumeo community today!
By signing up you’ll also receive our ongoing free lessons and special offers. Don’t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.
