Top Ten Greatest Drummers of all Time
On the very first cut of the very first Led Zeppelin LP, John Bonham changed rock drumming forever. Years later, Jimmy Page was still amused by the disorienting impact that "Good Times Bad Times
Neil Peart When Neil Peart auditioned for Rush in 1974, his bandmates heard in him a chance to embrace their die-hard Who fandom. "We were so blown away by Neil's playing," guitarist Alex Lifeson recalled in an interview earlier this year.
The "greatest Keith Moon-type drummer in the world," as he described himself, abhorred the repetition of rote rock drumming – as well as the repetition in life in general. Moon, the inspiration for the Muppets character Animal, smashed drum kits and hotel rooms with a ferocity suggesting he was ...
At just three years old, he was already able to outplay some of the most famous drummers in the world. At the time, Rich was the world’s second highest paid child star. By 14 years old, he was already leading jazz bands. He continued to play with his Buddy Rich Big Band until his death at the age of 69.
Dave Grohl's relentless, brawny drumming – forged in Washington, D.C.'s Eighties punk scene – was the perfect wallop needed to take Seattle's Nirvana from independent gru
100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. From rock thunder machines to punk powerhouses, we count down the kings and queens of slam. Load Previous
Gifted with immense talent, and cursed with a temper to match, Ginger Baker combined jazz training with a powerful polyrhythmic style in the world's first, and best, power trio.
It may be Sting's melodies that have become ubiquitous, but the Police sounds the way they do because of Stewart Copeland's use of space, subtlety and aggression. He's surely the major drummer least interested in playing the snare (which is still uncommonly bright and cutting) and his signature parts often involve intricate hi-hat patterns (that's his hat-work on Peter Gabriel's "Red Rain").
Phil Collins is the master, up there with the greatest stars. I really hate how people think of Phil Collins as just this bubble gum pop singer. While it may be true that he had his fair share of fluff, he was a hell of a drummer. It's sad to see his rating so low just because the man sang some sentimental love songs in the 80s. Listen to Duke's Travels on Genesis's Duke and then come talk to me.
"He was the first rock drummer, in very many ways," Neil Peart told NPR of Gene Krupa in 2015. "He was the first drummer to command the spotlight and the first drummer to be celebrated
Coming off an inauspicious late-Eighties stint drumming in novelty band Green Jellÿ (under the pseudonym Danny Longlegs), Danny Carey joined future alt-metal juggernaut Tool in 1990.
Mike Mangini; With the prog-metal band Dream Theater, which he joined in 2010 after acing an audition competition with six other top-tier drummers, Mike Mangini (b. 1963) finally found the ideal forum for his freakishly complex, imaginative, and precise playing.
Blink-182's Travis Barker is one of the most famous drummers of the new millennium thanks to his hardcore sensibility, skater aesthetic, hip-hop energy, pop appeal and reality TV-ready baby face — not to mention his ease working with EDM superstars or rappers, and DJ-ing in his spare time.
In coming up with our list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, we valued nuance and musicality over chops and flash, celebrating players who knew the value of aiding a great song more than hogging up a show with a silly solo.
A percussionist with a classical musician's technical prowess, a jazz improviser's subtlety and spontaneity, and a rock drummer's emphatic drive, Bill Bruford was a fully formed artist when he first came to the public ear on the first five albums by Yes.
However, in 1966, when it came time to choose a drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the decision was literally a toss-up — a coin was flipped to pick between Mitch Mitchell and Aynsley Dunbar.
Keith Richards once said that when the Rolling Stones formed, they "couldn't afford" drummer Charlie Watts, who was already the rock-steady sticksman for Alexis Korner's more established Blues Incorporated.
Since debuting with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1989, Chad Smith has consistently mixed the quick-footedness of classic funk with an arena-rocker's power and volume. "He plays hard, man," said Sammy Hagar, who recruited Smith for his band Chickenfoot.
View all comments about Lars Ulrich in our top ten list of Greatest Drummers of All Time or add a new comment about Lars Ulrich
"I'm not really interested in the circus act part of it at all," Terry Bozzio told Rolling Stone in the midst of a solo tour with what he billed as "the world's largest tun
Cuban-born speed demon Dave Lombardo earned the nickname "A.D.Dave" from his Slayer bandmates after effortlessly keeping the pace on breakneck ragers like "Angel of Death" – which tops out at 210 b.p.m. and includes one of the most awe-inspiring drum breaks in metal – and "War Ensemble," all while hinting at swinging Latin jazz.
Steve Gadd British jazz drummer Pete Fairclough said that Steve Gadd "doesn't play a groove, he digs a trench." At the peak of his work in the New York session scene in the 1970s, he claims he playing three sessions a day, giving a decade of rock music a deep and gentle funkiness.
Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa and perhaps Neil Peart can be named in the same breath as Carl, but none surpasses the legendary Carl Palmer! Carl Palmer is by far the best drummer of all time !! I'm not talking about just your favorite band now i'm talking pure genius on the drums! Bonham, Starr, Peart,were all great drummers but not as technical as Carl.
According to the infinitely demanding Frank Zappa, Vinnie Colaiuta took "first prize" when it came to supplying complementary polyrhythms to his guitar solos "on the moment" — look no further than the intricate guitar-drum confabulations of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar for proof.
In the early Seventies, Billy Cobham set a new benchmark for fusion drumming, marrying jaw-dropping jazz-honed dexterity with pulverizing rock power. The Panama-born drummer appeared on Miles Davis&a In the early Seventies, Billy Cobham set a new benchmark for fusion drumming, marrying jaw-dropping jazz-honed dexterity with pulverizing rock power.
However, in 1966, when it came time to choose a drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the decision was literally a toss-up — a coin was flipped to pick between Mitch Mitchell and Aynsley Dunbar.
Given his status as the drummer in the band that undisputedly invented heavy metal, it's surprising to reflect on what a nimble player Bill Ward has always been. Schooled on jazz greats such as Joe Morello and Gene Krupa, the Black Sabbath co-founder brought a sense of stylish elasticity to the ominous trudge that defined the band's early work ("Black Sabbath," "Iron Man").
Born in 1927 to a musical family in Pontiac, Michigan, Elvin Jones was among a handful of players who changed the definition of how a drummer is meant to function in his seismic five-year stint with the John Coltrane Quartet.
Without Deep Purple's only continuous member, Ian Paice, there would be no heavy metal drumming. A epic rock legend who has "never played with ear plugs," Paice is an old-school pro wh Without Deep Purple's only continuous member, Ian Paice, there would be no heavy metal drumming.
Clyde Stubblefield and John "Jabo" Starks At the height of his band's rhythmic revolutions, Brown's percussion section was anchored by not one but two master drummers: the woefully underrated John "Jabo" Starks and Mr. Funky Drummer himself, Clyde Stubblefield.
Though there are many great drummers in rock and roll, the all time greats are typically associated with jazz music. Most of the drummers on this list are more influenced by jazz music than rock music. The only way to really discover for yourself if you believe this list is accurate is to do some of your own research.
100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. ... 100 Greatest Guitarists. ... This meant leaving out dozens of essential jazz artists such as Max Roach and Roy Haynes, ...
A 17-year-old Tony Williams' 1963 debut with Miles Davis stands as one of the most shocking emergences in all of 20th-century music. "Man, just hearing that little motherfucker made me exci
Alex Van Halen's arena-sized ambitions and jazz-influenced nimbleness made Van Halen one of rock's most vibrant bands — millions of young drummers all over America drove themsel
View all comments about Carter Beauford in our top ten list of Best Rock Drummers or add a new comment about Carter Beauford
Joey Jordison, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer best known for his work as the former drummer and co-songwriter for the heavy metal band Slipknot as well as guitarist in the Horror-punk band Murderdolls.
According to Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin showed up for his first rehearsal "wearing a pink T-shirt, stonewashed jeans and a mullet haircut. ... We were thinking, &apo
Porcupine Tree and Gavin Harrison are way, way, way, better then most of these bands and drummers on this list. To even think that Ringo Starr or Phill Collins could even compare to Gavin Harrison is a joke. And really just one notch above Mick Fleetwood? Is this list a joke or what? Gavin Harrison is destined to be a legend like Neil Pearth.
In coming up with our list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, we valued nuance and musicality over chops and flash, celebrating players who knew the value of aiding a great song more than hogging up a show with a silly solo.
Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro was a perpetual pop presence in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties. His fleet stick work gave Michael Jackson's "Beat It" much of its bite, helped Michael M Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro was a perpetual pop presence in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties.
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson Ahmir Thompson has taken on many roles — neo-soul superproducer, polymathic author/raconteur, talk-show bandleader, Broadway musical consultant, celebrity superfan — but those opportunities arose because he's foremost a wickedly versatile drummer whose playing has consistently upended expectations.
Tommy Lee Tommy Lee's gravity-defying drum solos and penchant for wearing as few clothes as possible made him one of metal's truly great showmen. But his bashing in Mötley Crüe was just as important as his star power.
Coming from the same Parliament-Funkadelic school that birthed Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood and Jerome Eugene "Bigfoot" Brailey, Dennis Chambers combined those players' funk acumen with the fusion of Tony Williams, in turn inspiring countless gospel and hip-hop drummers.
Bonham was the most influential drummer of all time, all modern drummers would have studied Bonham like their life depended on it. He's influenced the likes of Dave Grohl (Who should be on this list anyway) Joey Kramer, Lee Kerslake, Tony Thompson, Tommy Lee, Peter Criss, Stewart Copeland, Chad Smith, Dave Lombardo and Brad Wilk... Some of the greatest drummers of today who quite frankly would outplay Shannon Leto blindfolded and with a single hand.
Twenty years after its release, Dave Grohl was still raving, "Nobody played drums like Matt." When Soundgarden suddenly disbanded in 1997, Cameron wasn't out of work for long: Pearl Jam invited him on tour the following year. "They didn't try to tone me down at all," he told an interviewer near the beginning of his ongoing stint with the band.
As far as drummers go, in what regard is Nick Mason held? ... Is Nick Mason a great drummer, good drummer, or average drummer? ... during time off), ...
From the time he burst upon the scene as part of the Jeff Beck Group in 1970, Colin Trevor "Cozy" Powell earned a reputation as a first-call journeyman drummer and session hand, a hard-hitt
Hal Blaine "If Hal Blaine had played drums only on the Ronettes' "Be My Baby," his name would still be uttered with reverence," Max Weinberg once said. But the drummer born Harold Simon Belsky did so much more, recording with Sinatra, the Beach Boys, Elvis and the Supremes, to name just a few.
A valuable team player as well as a bruising power hitter with an instantly identifiable style, Carmine Appice literally wrote the book on rock drumming: His 1972 text The Realistic Rock Drum Method has been a staple since its release.