Janet Jackson Drummer J-Rod Sullivan Takes On Dream Theater’s “Night Terror” For Drumeo

Veteran drummer J-Rod Sullivan, known for his work with Janet Jackson, Jeffrey Osborne, and numerous other artists, recently stepped into the hot seat for the latest installment of Drumeo’s popular “For The First Time” series.

For the challenge, Sullivan was tasked with creating drum parts for “Night Terror,” a track from Dream Theater‘s 2024 album catalog, without hearing the original drum performance beforehand. As is customary for the series, the version presented to him had all percussion removed, forcing him to rely entirely on instinct, experience, and musical interpretation to build a fresh arrangement from the ground up.

The exercise offered an interesting contrast between Sullivan’s background in pop, R&B, and live performance work and the intricate progressive metal stylings that have become synonymous with Dream Theater.

Drumeo’s “For The First Time” series has become a fan-favorite by placing accomplished drummers outside of their comfort zones and asking them to tackle songs they’ve never heard before. The format often produces surprising results, highlighting how different musicians approach the same material.

Notably, Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy previously found himself on the receiving end of a similar challenge. One of the most talked-about entries in the series saw Portnoy attempt to craft drum parts for Tool‘s acclaimed track “Pneuma” without access to the original performance.

Video of Sullivan’s attempt at “Night Terror” is available now through Drumeo.

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