Drummer goes from school band to breaking multiple records with quick stick flips
Eric Carr (USA) fell in love with drumming in high school and turned that passion into a string of record-breaking successes.
He was actually looking for content for his YouTube channel EMCproductions when he stumbled on to the idea of breaking a world record.
And before he knew it, he had 12 to his name.
“I am a very competitive person,” Eric confessed to us.
“You know, I want to be number one, I want to be the very best, and I strongly believe that that mindset is mandatory when you’re trying to break a Guinness World Records title.
“You need to have the drive and also the discipline and motivation to really push yourself.”
Eric, from New Jersey, has claimed records by flipping and spinning his drumsticks, drumming at an incredible speed, and even by flipping wrenches and hammers.
On his YouTube channel, Eric takes on drumming challenges, plays drums on unusual instruments like bread buns, and even once had a virtual drum battle with his namesake, late Kiss drummer Eric Carr.
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And of course, he’s chronicled his journey to becoming a multiple record holder.
It started on 29 December 2020, when he broke two records:
- Most drumstick hits in one minute – 722
- Most drumming backsticks executed in one minute – 215
The other 10 all came along in one day, on 6 July 2024:
- Most drumstick flips in one minute – 128
- Most drumstick spins in 30 seconds (one hand) – 88
- Most 720 degree hammer flips in one minute – 51
- Most drumstick spins in one minute using one hand – 165
- Most drumbeats using drumsticks in three minutes – 6,334
- Most wrench flips in one minute – 109
Eric in his elementary school band
- Most bass drum beats in one minute – 1,346
- Most drumbeats with the hands in one minute – 1,342
- Most drum stick flips in 30 seconds – 66
- Most alternate fist bumps in 30 seconds (team of two) – 406 with Nicole DeBonis (also USA)
Eric told us: “So, in my search for the next hit video, I decided to take on some world records.
“I’ve been drumming for 26 years, I started in the elementary school band and just fell in love with it right away.”
Eric went on to study for a masters degree in music performance before joining the United States Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps and then becoming a content creator, specializing in “some of the wildest and craziest drum solos you have ever seen”.
Sharing some tips, Eric said he trained for his record attempts by setting off a metronome at 100 beats per minute and trying to flip his drumstick in time.
He’d then increase the tempo and keep going and going until he was going as fast as he possibly could.
“Consistency is key when practising these records,” he said, “getting all my flips in time, as fast as I possibly can go without making mistakes.
“The hardest one to break was definitely the most drumstick flips in 30 seconds. Now, this was actually a record that I had previously broken with a score of 55, but then somebody else broke it was a score of 65.
“That is quite a lot faster so I had to really work to get my stick-flipping up to par. That one was tough, but I got it.”
Eric went on to challenge other drummers to take his records.
He added: “I am very proud of all 12 of my Guinness World Records titles, but I’m still hungry for more.
“I honestly think that most experienced drummers could break any of my records if they really put the time and commitment into it.
“I challenge you all to break my records!
“I do believe that everyone has at least some drive to be the best, for me, breaking all these world records, it’s a huge sense of accomplishment.”