HELP! Dealing with a loud drummer???

[Bonhomme Richard]

Gotta tell ya. The drummer in our band is the loudest drummer I have ever had to work with (also one of the best)....must be five years now. It is fine when we play out but in the practice room it is so loud the other six of us have to crank up just to hear ourselves and then, of course, everything sound muddy. I have asked him to play with a lighter touch and he says he can't, I bought hot rockets for him to play at practice and they lasted less than 20 minutes. Around his drum seat it literally looks as if someone is operating a sawmill back there with all the chips of the sticks on the floor. We have lived with it but within the past two practices it seams he found the volume control on the kit and has turned it up.
I don't know how to handle it. He will not take any suggestions, gets defensive if you say anything and will not even try to play lighter. I can't do that is all he will say...and that's if he's on his meds....It's worse when he is off them.
makes me nuts.
We have a guy that sits in on the drums (he is also very good and would join if asked) when he can't make practice and we can't get over how well we hear each other. I am sure we would improve 20% if we could only hear ourselves.
Anyway, I really don't want to can the guy but I am at my wits end. One of the other guitar players jokes that he is going to invest in Plexiglas to put around the drums...I said maybe we ought to set his kit up in another room...maybe he would get the hint.
Any suggestions?
God, I feel like I am writing to Dear Abby.

[PVnRT]

1. Fire him

He's being a dick, and I don't care how could he is, a good drummer can alter their volume just like any instrument player can.

[charlie]

2. "...very good and would join if asked"

There's your answer. Your drummer's uncooperative stubbornness is a character trait that'll probably cause you more trouble in other ways. Dump him.

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. I think it's getting to that point.

I'm just afraid it will change the vibe of the band. It's not easy getting 7 people together that get along, no egos, and sound good. If only I could change that one thing. Guess it's not going to happen.
Oh well, that's why it's lonely at the top.
Thanks

[pepperbear]

4. this may sound like I am being snarky, but I am not.....

get earplugs, NOW. you really should use them no matter how loud your drummer is, but I have found that blocking out some decibals actually cleans things up. You can have some custom in-ear jobbies made for about 100 bucks, or get the little foam cylinders from a drug store for like 4 bucks.

turning things up to drown out a drummer is not the solution.

[TrogL]

5. Fire his ass or insist he get some drum lessons

I'm a professional musician and played in plenty of bands. Any good drummer must be able to play softly.

[Iggo]

6. Like this:

"Dude! I'm serious! Turn it...the fuck...DOWN!"

Simply put, if your band needs him to play a certain way and he says he can't play that way, then he's not your drummer.

That or the earplug thing.

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. Thanks for the input.

I guess I am going to have to be a hard ass and lay it down. The guys life is a mess and I hate to dump on him too but it has gotten to the point that something needs to be done. Last Tuesday was a perfect example of his behavior. He decides at the last minute that he isn't coming to practice and text the bass player so he doesn't have to explain to anyone. Fortunately at the last minute the drummer down the street ate his dinner quickly and came down to sit in.
If he doesn't straighten up I am going to miss him though.....he's a repug (surprised?) and I will miss ragging on him. I can be brutal about his politics and I get a sadistic kick out of it.
I'll keep you posted.