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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Behind the Song
• Drum Analysis
  1. Intro/Verse Drum Groove
  2. Chorus Drum Groove
• Full Drum Transcription
• Additional Resources
• Notes and References

Introduction

In 1994, The Cure wrote “Burn” for the soundtrack of The Crow. At the time, Robert Smith and drummer Boris Williams were the band’s core, with Simon Gallup on bass and Perry Bamonte on guitar and keyboards. They quickly crafted the song in the studio. The final result was mesmerizing and timeless, inspiring countless bands.

This article takes a closer look at the song, with an in-depth drum analysis, including transcriptions and the complete drum sheet music.

Behind the Song

Robert Smith was initially asked to provide an existing track for The Crow soundtrack. Inspired by the comic, he instead wrote and recorded “Burn” specifically for the film in just two days. The song would be one of Williams’s final recordings with the group before he left the band later that year. It appeared on The Crow OST and on The Cure’s rarities collection Join the Dots (2004).

“Burn” builds on The Cure’s signature mid-’90s gothic-tinged, alternative-rock style. Released during a period when the band was leaning heavily into gothic rock, the track features the dense, layered production characteristic of their work at that time. The song, which runs for over six minutes, unfolds over a mid-tempo groove, featuring brooding guitars and atmospheric synths that support Smith’s haunting, melancholic vocals.

The overall effect is dark and immersive, matching the song’s themes of grief (and fitting perfectly with the film’s ominous mood). The persistent drums and bass underpin the verses while subtle synth textures add an eerie backdrop, giving “Burn” a powerful yet haunting sound.

Drum Analysis

Boris Williams’s drumming is often singled out as a highlight of the song. The drums enter with a fade-in, establishing a tense, tribal atmosphere. As the bass comes in, Williams settles into the main four-bar tom groove. The chorus explodes with the addition of the snare backbeat on 2 and 4, keeping a steady tom pattern.

This heavy, tom‑driven groove underpins the song’s dynamic shifts and gives “Burn” much of its distinctive atmosphere. In effect, the drums are almost a lead instrument in the mix, lending the track its powerful drive and dramatic intensity.

The drum part essentially consists of two grooves: the intro/verse and chorus grooves. The drums were recorded and performed on a drumset consisting of three rack toms and one floor tom, in addition to concert toms; that’s essential to understand how the part is arranged and performed. For the transcriptions, I refer to the original song, drum track, and the modern arrangement by The Cure actual drummer, Jason Cooper.

1. Intro/Verse Drum Groove

The drum part revolves around a 4-bar 16th-note tom groove. The second tom, placed in front of the snare, leads this drum beat with an alternate sticking. Starting from this, the drummer creates variations, moving the left hand on the first tom and the right hand on the third tom, floor tom, and snare. The first two bars are repeated, with slight variations and a fill at the end, creating the full groove.

A simple foot pattern keeps everything together and gives the groove a tribal feel.

2. Chorus Drum Groove

In the chorus, the drums drive the song’s dynamic with an explosive, intense groove. The drummer adds the snare backbeat on 2 and 4, with 16th-note hits in between, keeping the same foot pattern. The tom part is more straightforward, consisting of steady 16th notes on the first tom, with the right hand moving on the second and third toms for variations and fills.

Similar to the intro and verse, the accents at the beginning of every musical phrase are marked and played on the china cymbal (or a darker second crash cymbal). This is a recurring musical element in The Cure’s songs.

In the interlude, the drummer plays some groove variations, supporting the arrangement musically. The final verse, however, features a sparser and more restrained feel, with no toms (with the only exception of a soft concert tom pattern) and a more dynamic bass drum part. This builds momentum and heightens the tension, leading into the final chorus with cinematic impact.

Lastly, percussion instruments like a tambourine and a shaker are added and overdubbed onto the recording.

Full Drum Transcription

The complete drum transcription of “Burn” is now available for purchase. It includes every groove variation and fill, along with a notation key. Here’s a preview of the first page.

Additional Resources

Here’s a video of The Cure’s drummer, Jason Cooper, playing and demonstrating the song, along with other songs from the band, and performances with virtuoso tabla player Sirishkumar Manji.

This article is part of the Drum Shorts series. Discover the previous episodes and elevate your drumming!

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Notes and References

• The Cure. The Crow: Music From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Atlantic Records, 1994). https://www.rhino.com/product/the-crow-soundtrack-black-vinyl-with-etching.
• Apple Music. “Burn” — recording credits. https://music.apple.com/song/burn/322025453.
• MusicBrainz. The Crow: Music From the Original Motion Picture. Supplementary discographical reference. https://musicbrainz.org/release/0f60a11c-0775-4820-8736-609047be4dfa.
• The Cure. “Biography.” Official website. Band history and lineup changes. https://www.thecure.com/bio.
• Benitez-Eves, Tina. “The Song The Cure’s Robert Smith and Boris Williams Created in Two Days for ‘The Crow’ Soundtrack: ‘Burn.’” American Songwriter, April 27, 2024. https://americansongwriter.com/burn-the-song-the-cures-robert-smith-and-boris-williams-wrote-and-recorded-in-two-days-for-the-crow-soundtrack.
• The Cure. Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978–2001 (The Fiction Years) (Fiction Records, 2004). https://shop.thecure.com/pages/join-the-dots-b-sides-rarities-1978-2001-the-fiction-years-2004.
• The Cure. “Burn” (Glastonbury 2019). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSPMezUj9Q.
• Point Blank Music School. “Percussion Masterclass With Jason Cooper (The Cure) and Sirishkumar Manji.” February 28, 2024. https://www.pointblankmusicschool.com/blog/percussion-masterclass-with-jason-cooper-the-cure-and-sirishkumar-manji.