Get ready for one of the most unforgettable late-night showdowns ever! When comedian Will Ferrell and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith faced off in a drum battle on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the internet exploded. More than 95 million people tuned in to witness the hilarious clash between two men who look so much alike they could pass for brothers. Fallon stoked the rivalry, setting up a duel that went down as the ninth most-watched segment in the show’s history.
Ferrell kicked things off with a cheeky rhythm, trying to prove he had more than jokes up his sleeve. Smith, never one to back down, fired back with thunderous grooves and razor-sharp timing. The duel escalated with each round until Smith unleashed a blistering, arena-ready solo that shook the stage. Just when the crowd thought it was over, the Red Hot Chili Peppers stormed in with a cover of Blue Öyster Cult’s Don’t Fear the Reaper. Of course, Ferrell jumped in on the most crucial instrument of all—the cowbell—earning him the “victory” in Fallon’s eyes.
Earlier in the segment, Ferrell admitted the truth: Smith had recorded all the actual drum parts, and he was just playfully miming along. Still, the illusion worked so well that fans flooded the comments section, marveling at how impossible it was to tell the two apart. One summed it up perfectly: “For the first ten seconds, I couldn’t even figure out which one was Will and which one was Chad. They’re literally twins.”
But the Tonight Show battle is far from the only time Chad Smith has gone viral. His spontaneous jam with Drumeo on Bring Me the Horizon’s Can You Feel My Heart racked up 8.5 million views—impressive considering he had never even heard the track before walking into the session. With no preparation, he crafted a powerhouse arrangement on the spot, proving just how skilled and fearless he is behind the kit.
And if you enjoyed that, Smith has even more Drumeo magic waiting. Across 11 videos, every single one crossed the million-view mark, with some climbing into the tens of millions. The standout? His blind cover of The Kill, which rocketed past 25 million views. Another fan-favorite was his take on Dua Lipa’s Break My Heart—a performance that carried extra meaning since Smith was the drummer on the original studio recording.
From late-night comedy chaos to jaw-dropping studio challenges, Chad Smith continues to prove that he’s not only one of rock’s most entertaining personalities, but also a world-class drummer whose talent keeps fans coming back for more.
