menu Home chevron_right
MUSIC VIDEOS

The Iconic Drumming Behind “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” | Journey

Drumeo | November 8, 2025



“‘Separate Ways’ was a song we put together knowing we were going to be playing in large arenas and stadiums, so we wanted a song that had a powerful hook, a big sound, and had the effect to really rock the house.”

Steve Smith wrote and recorded the drum parts on the track back in the early ’80s. It’s since become a legendary song (it even got the remix treatment in season 4 of Stranger Things) with a ton of different fills. In this video, the former Journey drummer breaks down each part and plays through the full tune.

You’ll see:
0:00 – Intro
0:51 – Melodic motion
3:02 – Big fills
4:47 – SONG: “Separate Ways” (Worlds Apart) by Journey

You can get the note-for-note transcription of this performance inside Drumeo – plus two full courses from Steve Smith (“The Art Of Drum Soloing” and “Beyond The Books”) and so much more. Click here to learn more and start your free trial: https://www.drumeo.com/trial-yt

_______________________________________________________
►Learn Drums Here: https://drumeo.com/
►Free Lessons: https://drumeo.com/free-lessons
►Our Favorite Music Products: https://www.drumeo.com/jared-recommends/
_______________________________________________________

Follow Steve:
►Website: http://www.vitalinformation.com/
►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevesmithdrums/
►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitalinformation

Follow us:
►The Drumeo Beat: https://www.drumeo.com/beat/
►Facebook: http://facebook.com/drumeo/
►Instagram: http://instagram.com/drumeoofficial/
►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drumeoofficial
_______________________________________________________

#separateways #stevesmith #drumeo

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Written by Drumeo

Comments

This post currently has 38 comments.

  3. @ciriloschuch3640

    November 8, 2025 at 5:20 am

    O jazz fodeu com a vida deste cara! Transformou ele de um baterista de música pop em teórico de bateria que aplica técnicas e tirou toda a pujança e vivacidade na tocabilidade do cara. Neste caso, a técnica é inimiga do play!

  5. @joemiglionico6527

    November 8, 2025 at 5:20 am

    I saw Journey a couple of times right when Escape had come out and managed to get right behind the drums at one show. Then Stave did a clinic at a local music store, apparently right after that tour ended. SO I went, and got there early, and the owner told me to go ahead in. There was a guy setting up the drums who I didn't recognize, but figured he was a roadie or tech or something. He worked and I sat in silence for maybe 20 minutes then he left and people started coming in. Finally the clinic starts, and out walks, you guessed it, the guy who had been setting up the drums. He had completely changed his look. Hair different, no mustache, just unrecognizable. To this day, I feel like an idiot that I basically had him all to myself for like 20 minutes and was too introverted to speak. But he was very nice and I did get a chance to meet him after the clinic. I saw Journey again several times after that as they just got bigger and bigger, but was always mostly there to watch this guy place.

  14. @billymoretti8437

    November 8, 2025 at 5:20 am

    My band recorded at Normandy sound in Warren Rhode island in 1983/84 (I'm old now so not sure what year lol) we were in the studio and Bob the engineer said"Hey you guys want to see something cool? So he opened a door and it was filled with flight cases that said "Journey -Steve Smith" we were really excited and we said "Journey is here? " he said No it's Steve Smiths Jazz band..so we thought was really cool we were recording on the night shift and Steve had the daytime..Good memories. Steve is an awesome drummer!

  15. @4oulf4oulhy

    November 8, 2025 at 5:20 am

    本当にこの曲は、ドラマティックで好い曲ですね。キックドラムとタムタムの叩くタイミングと溜めがある感じの8ビートが堪りません。

  20. @mattwuxx3888

    November 8, 2025 at 5:20 am

    Steve Smith's drums were a symphony orchestra. So much more workhorse, lush and intricate than meets the eye placed in legendary songs from 2 decades that just had too much eternally great music. His work with Ross Valory as a rhythm section from 78-on, is nearly unrivaled in rock/pop. Ridiculous and shockingly inspiring that he still has these kind of chops at 68.

Comments are closed.

Related
How a New York Hotel Collapse Led to the Legendary CBGB’s
Poetic Wax | April 17, 2026
Related
catching up with the 2025 grammys
Mic The Snare | April 16, 2026
Related
Hawkwind (Interview) New Album | Ginger Baker | In Search of Space | ...
Classic Album Review | April 16, 2026

This area can contain widgets, menus, shortcodes and custom content. You can manage it from the Customizer, in the Second layer section.

 

 

 

Go to album
  • play_circle_filled

    92.9 : The Torch

  • play_circle_filled

    AGGRO
    'Til Deaf Do Us Part...

  • play_circle_filled

    SLACK!
    The Music That Made Gen-X

  • play_circle_filled

    KUDZU
    The Northwoods' Alt-Country & Americana

  • play_circle_filled

    BOOZHOO
    Indigenous Radio

  • play_circle_filled

    THE FLOW
    The Northwoods' Hip Hop and R&B

play_arrow skip_previous skip_next volume_down
playlist_play