On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with drummer Pat Steward for a wide-ranging conversation about groove, feel, listening, and the experiences that shape a musician over a lifetime. Pat has spent decades behind the kit, including a long history with Bryan Adams, and I had the chance to see him perform in St. Louis shortly before we recorded this conversation. Watching him play reinforced something I have always admired about his drumming: there are no wasted notes. Everything serves the song, the singer, and the musicians around him.
We talk about the current Bryan Adams tour and what allows a highly produced arena show to feel still spontaneous and alive. Pat explains his evolving relationship with playing to a click, the importance of supporting a singer, and why feel can be difficult to reduce to a technical formula. We also get into the band's current four-piece configuration, with Bryan handling much of the bass playing himself, and how that change has created a different rhythm-section dynamic.
Pat takes me back to his beginnings as a young drummer, from hearing The Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival to learning songs by playing along with the radio and records. We talk about Bad Company, Linda Ronstadt, KISS, Rush, AC/DC, jazz education, school bands, and the value of learning to function in as many different musical situations as possible. That curiosity has never left him. Our conversation moves naturally through Tony Williams, Steve Gadd, Jim Keltner, Elvin Jones, Vinnie Colaiuta, David Garibaldi, Bill Stewart, and the drummers and records that continue to inspire him.
We also spend a lot of time talking about recording: drum tuning, microphones, engineers, producers, and the difference between capturing music and overworking it. Pat shares stories about recording with Bob Rock, discusses the influence and meticulous approach of Mutt Lange, and makes a compelling case for trusting musicians, listening to the drum kit as a complete instrument, and recognizing when the best performance may already have happened in the first couple of takes.
Ultimately, this is a conversation about experience. Pat and I talk about knowing when to use the pencil and when to use the eraser, how songs change after decades of performing them, and why great musicianship often comes down to listening carefully enough to understand what the music actually needs.
Key Takeaways
- Pat approaches drumming by putting groove, feel, and the singer first, with every part designed to support the song rather than draw unnecessary attention to the drums.
- Playing with a click became less about restricting feel and more about creating a dependable framework in which Pat can still push, pull, and shape the music.
- The current Bryan Adams band has developed a different rhythmic identity with Bryan playing bass on portions of the show and keyboardist Gary Breit covering other bass parts.
- Pat's musical vocabulary grew from playing along with radio and records, studying everything from Bad Company, AC/DC, KISS, and Rush to bebop, jazz ensembles, and big-band music.
- His early experiences in rock bands, concert bands, stage bands, and jazz education taught him to adapt his playing to the music around him rather than force a single approach on every situation.
- Pat sees live performance and studio recording as related but distinct disciplines: live music benefits from energy and spontaneity, while recording often demands patience, restraint, and attention to the larger sonic picture.
- Decades of experience have reinforced the importance of trusting musicians, preserving the energy of early takes, and knowing when additional notes—or additional production—actually help the music.
Music from the Episode
- Cuts Like a Knife - Bryan Adams
- Truth Untold - Odds
- I Thought I'd Seen Everything - Bryan Adams
- Into the Mystic - Colin James
About the Podcast
The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams, featuring thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and other creative people. Each episode explores the experiences, decisions, collaborations, and musical ideas behind a life spent making music.
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Questions, comments, or guest suggestions:
The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams, featuring thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and other creative people. Each episode explores the experiences, decisions, collaborations, and musical ideas behind a life spent making music.
Connect with the Show
Questions, comments, or guest suggestions: