Overkill Double-Bass Freight Train — Mikkey Dee (Motörhead) Drum Lick | MetalForge
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Learn the Overkill Double-Bass Freight Train drum lick by Mikkey Dee of Motörhead. From Overkill (Overkill (2008 re-recording)). "Overkill" is famous for one of the most influential drum parts in heavy metal — the relentless doub...
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1. Mikkey Dee's Signature Licks — "Overkill" is famous for one of the most influential drum parts in heavy metal — the relentless double-bass pattern that rumbles like a freight train and is widely credited as a foundational moment for double-bass drumming in the genre. Phil Taylor created it on the 1979 original, but Mikkey Dee re-recorded the song in 2008 and made its thundering double bass a highlight of Motörhead's live shows, including the famous false endings where the band stops and the drums roar back to life. Mikkey's interpretation is a powerhouse: he drives the iconic double-bass roll with even, controlled feet and a huge backbeat, then unleashes the dramatic stop-start dynamics that make "Overkill" so thrilling live. His signature here is the combination of stamina and showmanship — sustaining that pounding double bass while milking the song's theatrical structure. In the isolated drum track you can hear how steady the double bass stays under the chaos and how precisely he hits the song's dynamic shifts. For drummers, "Overkill" is a classic study in double-bass drumming: it develops even, sustained double-bass technique, the endurance to keep it going, and the control to play dramatic stop-start dynamics cleanly. The approach is to build the double-bass roll slowly until both feet are even, develop the stamina to sustain it, and practise the false-ending hits so they land tight. It's a cornerstone of metal drumming history and a perfect vehicle for Mikkey Dee's power.2. Mikkey Dee Profile — Drive the iconic double-bass roll with even, controlled feet Anchor a huge backbeat over the rumbling double bass Play the dramatic stop-start dynamics and false endings cleanly Sustain the double bass with real endurance through the song Build the roll slowly until both feet are perfectly even
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