The folks at Drumeo really put drumming sensation Nandi Bushell to the test when she stopped by for a series of video segments. In the latest clip to be unveiled from the session, the young teenager was tasked with playing along to the Dio classic “Holy Diver” as she heard it for the first time (minus the drum track).
We previously saw Nandi nail Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as part of the same “For the First Time” series, but “Holy Diver” definitely presented her with a more difficult challenge.
The video shows Nandi struggling during her first take, with host Brandon Toews asking her, “What would you say is the hardest part about learning this song, ” to which Nandi replied, “That I’ve made it difficult for myself.”
Nandi added a number of fills to her version of the drums, saying, “I do that Neil Peart style.” Her final take was a lot smoother, even if she looked absolutely exhausted at the end.
She was then played the original song with its drum track in place, and admitted, “I think I went too far,” realizing that Vinny Appice’s playing on the 1983 metal classic was a lot more straightforward.
“I was expecting Slipknot/Jay Weinberg/Joey Jordison style, double pedals everywhere, huge drum solo,” Nandi admitted.
Watch Nandi Bushell playing Dio’s “Holy Diver” for the first time on drums below.