LOL - We used to call that lick 'The Heavy Metal March!' Comes up alot in early metal music. I learned it in the 80's. Three groups of four stroke figures going into triplets. The whole thing is just broken-up triplets. You can play it hand to hand on the snare, or both hands playing the same thing/simultaneously between the snare and floor tom, you hammer out the 1/4 notes on the bass drum. It's a heavy 'walking' rhythm that can really drive the music if you keep it powerful and tight.

John

That's why I mentioned two ways it can be played! When I needed it to sound HEAVY, I'd play it simultaneously with both hands on the snare and floor tom. With the bottom end sound of the floor tom involved, it gives the sound of the march some real balls/authority.

John

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WHeqXyTiYI"]How To Play "Achilles Last Stand" - YouTube[/ame]

The ending rideout on Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath uses it too.

The riff itself probably comes from classical music or maybe traditional Spanish music.

Bingo! Spanish it is! It's a rhythm used in classical Flamenco. The dancers tap it out. If you want to take it further back in time, the Spaniards may have had it introduced by the Moors. Which puts it back in the middle-east maybe hundreds of years ago. The Moorish origin idea may not be too far fetched. Think about middle-eastern rhythms! Could be...

John

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULO6P-Iflkc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULO6P-Iflkc[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4wb11w0ZHQ"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4wb11w0ZHQ[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryxZFqWKQdo"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryxZFqWKQdo[/ame]

And the "Big O" loved it.....

I have always known that Syncopation as Bolero..

Cheers

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAYyMIZNxfM"]Roy Orbison - "Running Scared" from Black and White Night - YouTube[/ame]