The Greatest Drummers of All Time
It’s the job of a drummer to be heard and not seen, to sit at the back of the stage, keep the rhythm, and stay out of the way of the melody and the message of a song. The best drummers accept this role, don’t envy the spotlight, and instead give themselves to the service of music selflessly. That’s what makes them so great. Some drummers you notice more than others, and in rock music, and perhaps jazz and other disciplines, this is much more acceptable. In country and pop, the drummer is usually the last person you want to notice. Like an offensive lineman in football, you rarely pay attention to them them unless they do something wrong.
Naming the “greatest” of anything is always a subjective exercise, and undoubtedly there are many jazz guys and heavy metal drummers that could blow most, if not all of the names below off a stage. But this isn’t just a skills competition. Influence, importance to culture, and intangibles beyond drumming all factored into the selection of the below names, and why they should be regarded as the greatest.
Feel free to leave your own opinions below.
10. Paul “The Devil” English
Plain and simple, the world very well may have never known about Willie Nelson if it wasn’t for Paul “The Devil” English. When he first hooked up with Willie Nelson in Fort Worth in the 60’s, English was a street pimp, hustler, and gang leader. Willie Nelson was playing bars behind chicken wire, and trying to chase down owners for his pay. Paul’s pimp hand was strong, he saw the potential in Willie before most others, and Paul put all his muscle behind Willie 100%, becoming his personal manager and right hand man for many decades. His nickname became “The Devil” because, well, he looked like the Devil, and even started wearing a cape on stage. Today, Paul English is still keeping the beat behind Willie Nelson in concert. If you want to know what Paul English means to Willie Nelson, listen to the song “Me and Paul” off the first ever million-selling record in country music, Wanted: The Outlaws.
9. Ginger Baker
The late 60’s and early 70’s would see the rise of most of the legendary drummers in music history, but most all of them initially patterned themselves behind Ginger Baker. Before Ginger and Cream, drummers were mostly well-behaved side players and stayed out of the way. Baker made the drum set into another lead instrument, and sparked an abandon in the approach to drumming that spread like wildfire. There may be a few drummers who are technically better, but most fall well behind Ginger Baker when it comes to influence.
8. Levon Helm
No, Levon Helm would never win a skills competition as a drummer, though try singing all of those legendary songs from The Band while still keeping the beat, and see how easy it is. Levon Helm was a great drummer no doubt, and one of those singers whose tone is immediately-recognizable throughout music. But it was just as much his spirit, and all the stuff he did off the stage to keep roots music in North America and beyond healthy, vibrant, and supported that makes him worthy of inclusion in any discussion about the greatest drummers. Levon Helm brought soul to the instrument.
7. Jon Fishman of Phish
“Human metronome” is an embellishment commonly given to top flight drummers, but when it comes to the drummer and partial namesake of the jam band Phish, it’s the only fair way to describe the type of pocket he’s able to not only create, but maintain amid the complexity and chaos of your average Phish song. He’s technically proficient, while never allowing the groove to leave your bones. And besides, no man rocks women’s sleeveless summer dresses and old school vacuum cleaners as vocal filters harder. In the pantheon of iconic drummers, Jon Fishman is regularly forgotten. But he shouldn’t be.
6. Terry Bozzio
Frank Zappa was such a mad scientist of music, what he asked of his band members veered towards masochism, composing pieces that tried to find the border of technical impossibility to play. That’s the reason why so many side players left the Mothers of Invention in a huff, if they made it past the grueling audition in the first place. Terry Bozzio was one of the brave few up to the task, and not only kept up technically during Frank Zappa music sets that were more like marathons, he was able to excel and be expressive in the most hostile and challenging of musical environments.
5. Richie Albright
Undoubtedly, rock snobs will see the name of the long-time drummer for Waylon Jennings amid all these other titans of sticks and skins and scoff at this as the slanted opinion of some dumb website run by a bunch of hicks. But in the realm of country music, there may have never been a more important figure from behind the rack than Richie Albright. Along with being an excellent drummer, Albright was Waylon’s right hand man for decades, giving him bonus points in the pantheon of drummers. But most importantly, it was this drummer from Arizona who conveyed the nugget of wisdom to Waylon that revolutionized country music, and brought it to its first commercial peak in the 70’s. Frustrated in the direction of his career, and the direction of country music in general, Richie suggested Waylon adopt a more rock and roll attitude in both his music and his business dealings. This idea opened up country music, and returned creative control to its artists. The country music revolution was launched off the right foot of Richie Albright pounding out that now iconic bass beat that was his signature, and it can still be heard clearly in country music today.
4. Keith Moon
It’s all been said about Keith Moon, and it’s all true, aside from the naysayers that believe if he hadn’t croaked mid career, we’d never be talking about him as one of the best. Throw all rules out the window. He was Gonzo. It was beautiful chaos with no kind of technical, compositional, or intuitive structure. Just get out of his way and hope the plane lands with no casualties. Keith Moon had no peer.
3. John Bonham
It wasn’t the speed or slight-of-hand that many drummers rely upon that made John Bonham iconic and legendary, though he could call on these skills if necessary. It was his sense of how to evoke the very carnal instincts that drum beats awaken in the human mind and body, and instill it into music that made you feel like forces greater than ourselves were in play. It’s the sound of war, the sounds of the Gods that Bonham instilled in the songs of Led Zepplin that would have never resonated the same with someone else behind the drum set. There was blood and thunder in the beats of John Bonham.
2. Gene Krupa
There is nobody more important and influential in taking the drums from a virtually overlooked backline instrument to an iconic piece of popular music than Gene Krupa. Without this jazz titan, bandleader, and showman, it can be argued we’d not be talking about any of the other names on this list. Drumming might not even be that big of a thing in popular music. He is the father, and though many have tried to top him, he still remains one of the best.
1. Neil Peart
Neil proved that virtuosity was not just confined to the realm of tonal instruments, and that rhythmic composition, just like melody & poetry, could stoke imagination, and inspire on a grand scale. An underrated lyricist as well, the hole his death leaves in music is gargantuan.
There is lots that can be said about Neil Peart’s technical prowess, his lightning fast dexterity, or his skills at composition. But the only appropriate way to describe Neil Peart is the greatest drummer of all time.
– – – – – – –
…with of course hat tips to Dave Grohl, Buddy Rich, Mitch Mitchell of The Jim Hendrix Experience, Charlie Watts, Ringo Starr, and to keep this from being an all boys club, Gina Schock of the Go Go’s, and Karen Carpenter of yes, The Carpenters, who never gets her credit as a drummer first, then a singer.
Matthew
January 11, 2020 @ 12:09 pm
…Mick Fleetwood?
Steve C
January 11, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
I think his drumming on “Go Your Own Way” is brilliant. He’d make my list for that song alone.
Jacob
January 12, 2020 @ 3:45 pm
He’s one of my favorite drummers, but I don’t think he’s one of the greatest drummers. He plays with incredible musicality, but technical skills? Not the best. And Lindsey buckingham had to play that Tom beat in go your own way for him in order for him to play what he wanted
John D Eckelberger
January 22, 2021 @ 7:22 am
Seriously, two country drummers on here and ranking Bonham 3rd? if you are telling me any country drummer is greater than Buddy Rich you are fucking crazy. And Neil parked it with aggression, as great as he was he did not have the feel that Bonham did. Hands down. There’s absolutely no debate about this. Peart overplayed on a lot of his stuff and it did not necessarily make the songs better. He was a contributing editor for years to Modern Drummer magazine and he admitted as much himself. Bonham and moon played what was right for the songs and put the correct patterns in there, simply great feel. Peart put quads and triplets all over the place where there was no need for them. And for the record, Ginger Baker sucked and was terribly overrated also. I don’t care how influential he was, his patterns suck and he was a laboring dinosaur back there
Kerry Ball
March 26, 2021 @ 3:00 pm
Totally agree john.Buddy Rich at number one.He could blow a lot of these out of the water
Bob
April 27, 2020 @ 9:23 pm
I dont like these types of lists. Take Ringo Starr for instance, I would not compare him to Neil Peart but Ringo was a great drummer for the Beatles. He played according to what the music demanded without getting in the way. He had a definite, unique style. I heard that Buddy Rich once made fun of Ringo as a drummer and Ringo said” at least I dont sound like mice scurrying about the ceiling”.
Bob
April 27, 2020 @ 9:26 pm
John Lennon was once asked if he thought Ringo was the best drummer in Rock. John replied, in his usual witty and sarcastic way, Im not sure he’s the best drummer in the Beatles.
John D Eckelberger
January 22, 2021 @ 7:23 am
That is actually not a true statement although Ringo did suck
RB
January 11, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
No Buddy Rich?
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 12:17 pm
Buddy Rich was mentioned at the bottom.
Look, all lists are inherently subjective. This one is mine, drafted to make sure that some of the country drummers who regularly get forgotten in these lists get their due, and a way to remember and alleviate my heartache for what I believe was the greatest drummer of all time, Neil Peart.
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 12:19 pm
Also, if you want to lower your estimation of Buddy Rich:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvhvFnW8jfI
Good drummer, nonetheless.
RD
January 11, 2020 @ 4:40 pm
What a douche. Jazz is mostly a shit art form. Its the musical equivalent of modern art. What the fuck is he talking about country being so easy to play and sing?
Greg Green
January 19, 2020 @ 7:04 am
Re your 7:05 comment, I get a kick out of people who love humans as a group but seem hate them as individuals. They love them when they don’t have to deal with them, but when they do deal with them it’s with condescension.
Therhodeo
January 11, 2020 @ 10:40 pm
Country could use a few more artists who are as defensive of country as Buddy was of jazz. Guys like him and Miles Davis were what they were because they were completely uncompromising. Nashville is what it is today because most artists are not.
Gravo
March 6, 2021 @ 5:55 am
Bill ward. Playing war pigs nuff said
Also so under rated Larry Mullen Jr has been hitting the skins with one of the biggest bands for over 40 years. Would say probably better live than on a record. Ow and Steven Hewitt as I went school with him
Heyday
January 12, 2020 @ 1:14 am
What always saddened me about that clip was there was no push-back from Mike Douglas or George Lindsey, who certainly knew their share of country musicians. Country music of that era had plenty of virtuosos (Roy Clark? Grady Martin? Chet Atkins? Earl Scruggs? Bill Monroe? Merle Travis? Scotty Moore? Jerry Reed? Pete Drake? The list goes on) and Rich was just being a jerk. Aside from drumming, Rich was also good at being a jerk.
Jack Williams
January 12, 2020 @ 8:35 am
I’m not going to watch it again because it so pissed me off the first time I saw it, but I thought Mike Douglas tried to gently push back and Rich shut him down with “I’m the guest.” Goober sat there looking very uncomfortable. Maybe they were, as the Brits say, “gobsmacked.”
The bit about “how we landed on the moon” or some such and our music should keep similar pace (with music like his, no doubt) and we should bascially discard this backward shit was another winner.
bll
January 12, 2020 @ 5:28 pm
Funnily enough I was at this show with my Mum; it was in Cleveland. It was just before the show moved to Philly. We were sat pretty close to the front and during the break Rich called out to my Mum she had ‘nice legs for n old broad’. She was 27 (I was 4) at the time and the icy glare he got made him mutter a non-apology.
MichaelA
January 12, 2020 @ 5:41 pm
He lived on 12th street on the lower east side of Manhattan in the 1950s. My mom was a classmate of his daughter, Barbara and a huge fan of Buddy. Every Labor Day we had to stay up watch Buddy and his orchestra play the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Unfortunately he was foul mouthed and very tough on his band. His comments on country music were pretty standard up here in the northeast, unfortunately. When I told my college classmates that I listened to Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Randy Travis, etc., they looked at me like I had three heads. In the early 90s it couldn’t have more uncool at an Ivy university to listen to Willie or Johnny. When I briefly lived in Texas in the late 90s, I remember telling that to one of my friends and he said “I thought everyone up there was so open minded”. I said “yeah, they are open minded to their things which really isn’t all that open minded”.
RD
January 12, 2020 @ 7:05 pm
My grandmother was a cold, effete Yankee. She held all of the fashionable opinions on civil rights, etc. and was obnoxiously vocal about her love and support of the less fortunate, but loathed the white middle and working class. If you were white and you hailed from south or west of Philadelphia, you were an uncouth hillbilly, or a violent, dangerous redneck/cracker. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this was the majority view among the Northern upper crust. They were awful people and they played no small part in plunging us into our present predicament.
Mattdangerously
January 11, 2020 @ 12:12 pm
Patty Schemel (Hole); Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing Pumpkins); Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney); Tre Cool (Green Day)
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 12:19 pm
Tre Cool is way underrated due to hardcore punk fans not wanting to give Green Day credit for being real punk.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
January 11, 2020 @ 1:30 pm
Tre Cool is, in my mind, the master of one.
There’s lots more VERSATILE drummers than he, but he has so fully mastered specific patterns and grooves that work so well for what Green Day does as a band that they are instantly recognizable almost solely for his playing, which I would dare say is the majority of their music.
Yes, their guitar work is faultless, but very little of what Green Day has vocally or instrumentally is original or even particularly special. it’s all been done before.
But Tre Cool defines so many inconic Green Day songs simply because of of his half a dozen or so very specific rhythms that he uses so brilliantly.
Black Boots
January 12, 2020 @ 7:18 am
All 3 guys contribute equally to the originally of that band. Nobody sounds like Green Day. They made their own sound. No, not stiff little fingers, or the buzzcocks, or the clash, or any of that sound remotely like them apart from surface level stuff. Not even bands like the descendents, MTX, Screeching Weasel or undertones, or anyone else. They had their own sound and that’s why they’ve been so influential for 33 years.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
January 11, 2020 @ 7:04 pm
Love Janet Weiss. It’s a shame that she was pushed out of S-K. Impossible to fill that void with someone else, especially live.
ShadeGrown
January 11, 2020 @ 12:18 pm
Brann Dailor from Mastodon and Danny Carey from Tool are my favorites. Dave Lombardo from Slayer of course… And, extremely underrated is Sean Kinney from Alice in Chains. RIP to Neil Peart. Vinnie Paul from Pantera, who has also passed on called him “God on drums.”
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 12:37 pm
Danney Carey of Tool is a good one.
Wayfast
January 11, 2020 @ 2:38 pm
Those would be my top 2. I’d ad Igor Cavalera of Sepultera and Chris Adler of Lamb Of God
bob
January 11, 2020 @ 4:08 pm
Brann Dailor is an epic drummer. He drums with a lot of soul; more so than a lot of the “best” drummers around today.
Erik
January 12, 2020 @ 5:33 pm
Came here to say Danny Carey as well. My personal favorite
RIP Neil Peart
TXMUSICJIM
January 11, 2020 @ 12:19 pm
Don Henley like Levon Helm amazing writer and singer all while keeping the beat. Neal Pert should be #1 no doubt!
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 12:49 pm
Don Henley is kind of like Phil Collins for me, where I think of them as frontmen and singer first, then drummers, which maybe is unfair. I’m not sure Henley contributed greatly to the discipline of drumming, but he really understood classic country drummming, and brought that to The Eagles. Listen to the drums on “Lyin’ Eyes,” and it might be the perfect example of quality, straight ahead country drumming.
Jack Williams
January 11, 2020 @ 1:39 pm
Gonna date myself but I was (am) a big fan of ’70s Genesis (it was my prog rock period, you understand). Phil Collins was the drummer on the great run of four albums (Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By the Pound, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway) before Peter Gabriel left the group. It seemed like his elevation to lead singer wasn’t so much planned as they didn’t care for the vocalists trying out for the job. The first two albums after Gabriel left (A Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering) were really good and still heavily prog rockish. At that point, I still thought of him as the drummer who had also stepped up somewhat seamlessly into the lead vocal role. And he did a nice job on the older Genesis songs on the Seconds Out live album. So, gratitude. Once guitarist Steve Hackett left is when they slowly went in a more pop direction and of course, there was the juggernaut was Phil Collins’s solo career and various other projects where it was hard not to get sick of him.
sbach66
January 11, 2020 @ 4:30 pm
That run up to and including Seconds Out was amazing. The albums after that showed how important Hackett really was to that band. Some of their former glory would pop up every now and then amidst the monster hit records, but they just weren’t the same.
Jack Williams
January 12, 2020 @ 9:07 am
My first ever concert was Genesis at Madison Square Garden in 1978. They were touring on And Then There Were Three, which was a good album, but I shortly found out how much of a drop off it was from Wind and Wuthering, which I picked up probably soon after. The first song they played was Eleventh Earl of Mar from W & W, which I didn’t know. It was a great show and Phil would run back to the drums quite often. There were two sets of drums – one for Chester Thompson and one for him. At one point, they played the same solo together. Their next album Duke is the last one I bought and maybe the last great Genesis album. Behind the Lines is probably top five for me. Lot of proggy stuff, but it was also the harbinger album. I liked Phil’s first solo album, including the funked up Behind the Lines. My sister ended buying Abacab, which had its moments but left me kind of cold. And that’s the way I continued to feel about their output.
Another harbinger album that I didn’t know at the time because it was my introduction to the group was Journey’s “Infinity.” And they had a great drummer of no small reknown named Aynsely Dunbar. It was the first album with Steve Perry, but Greg Rolie was still in the band and they shared lead vocal duties. I loved that album and it had some kick ass rock and roll on it, but it’s the only one of theirs I ever bought. Was looking forward to the next album, but then heard the na na na na na song (Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’) and wasn’t compelled to go buy it, not having enough disposable cash to take a flyer on an album where I knew I didn’t like the first single. What was to follow in the years after just wasn’t for me, although I have some more appreciation for it now. Some.
Bill
January 15, 2020 @ 3:39 pm
great insight Jack. Anybody who has seen Phil Collins drum in the early Genesis days will attest to his ability. also listen to Brand X material. one of the greats no doubt.
bg.
Sandman
January 14, 2020 @ 7:57 pm
You should listen to Phil Collins in the pre-Genesis band Brand X. Album is called Product. He was definitely a drummer first.
Bill
January 15, 2020 @ 3:43 pm
Brand X was not pre-Genesis. Phil drummed on at least 4 albums with Brand X. Product was either the 2nd or 3rd album.
bg.
jtp03
January 11, 2020 @ 12:20 pm
Seconded for Jimmy Chamberlain.
scott
January 11, 2020 @ 12:26 pm
2 completely different styles, but Tommy Aldridge, and Max Weinberg are a couple of my favorites.
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 12:39 pm
Max Wienberg’s powers are wasted in the E Street Band. Not a knock on Springsteen, but when Conan O’Brien put Max into the mainstream consciousness, drummers and drumming were better off for it. A classic drummer.
SG
January 11, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
I understand your point, and to each their own on what wasted talent and impact might mean. But….me, if I had a choice…playing with one of the most beloved and emotionality significant artists of our time, touring and playing live, in person for fans, vs. little short bits on TV in between comedians, commercial breaks for combining home and auto, rare animal handlers, and mostly shallow celebrities….my choice would be easy.
HR Curt
January 12, 2020 @ 10:25 am
Max W. would definitely be in my top drummers. His work in the E Street Band is excellent, in my estimation. To get a better scope of it, the 5 LP “Springsteen Live ‘75-‘85” collection shows what a fantastic and consistent live drummer he was/is.
In addition to work with Springsteen and Conan, he has acted as a prolific studio drummer, and can be heard on several tracks from Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” and Bonnie Tyler’s “Faster Than the Speed of Night,” among others.
Nonetheless, good list Trig!
North Woods Country
January 11, 2020 @ 12:27 pm
You can tip your hat to Dave Grohl if you want to, but he’s not even in the same ecosystem of these other guys.
JB-Chicago
January 11, 2020 @ 12:28 pm
Of course like everything it’s an opinion. What Neil brought to the table musically as a whole (including incredible lyrics) to the only band he ever played professionally in my opinion is unsurpassed, Do I appreciate and love all the other drummers above including but mysteriously missing from the list …. Stewart Copeland, Phil Collins? Absolutely. I’m just now learning the nuances of Country music drumming etc…. but yesterday I sadly weeped,
Crum
January 11, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
John Bonham and Ginger Baker are at the top of my list. Butch Trucks and Jaimoe don’t get the love they deserve. Neil is still probably unanimous number one, not only because he was a great drummer, but a high level creative force.
Normal Street
January 11, 2020 @ 12:37 pm
My personal favorite has to be Rick Richards. I first got to know of him through his playing for Ray Wylie Hubbard, but he has played for lots of what I consider to be the greats of country music. I can often guess Rick Richards is on drums before I read the credits in the liner notes of a given album, such is his unique style!
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 12:43 pm
Rick Richards is a good name. Ray Wylie’s new touring drummer Kyle is also great. Playing behind someone like Ray Wylie Hubbard is an exercise in restraint. Both those guys do it well.
Kevin wortman
January 11, 2020 @ 12:40 pm
Alex Van Halen
Silver and Black heart
June 14, 2021 @ 8:18 am
Yup
hoptowntiger94
January 11, 2020 @ 12:40 pm
1. Kyle Coroneos
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 2:05 pm
#54,843 – Kyle Coroneos (mostly retired)
Di Harris
January 11, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
Trigger is a drummer?
Rock on, Trigger!
And yep, Don Henley …
hoptowntiger94
January 11, 2020 @ 12:55 pm
If Chad Kortan laid down the drum work for the studio version of Hellbound Glory’s “Why Take the Pain,” I’ll nominate that for best solo country performance by a drummer. Honestly, it’s the only time I notice a drummer in recorded music.
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 1:50 pm
In my honest opinion, the work that Chad “Chico” Kortan did on those first two Hellbound Glory record is the best drumming I’ve ever heard in country music. It’s Leroy’s songs and Kortan’s drumming that makes them underground classics that are scandalously under-the-radar. He’s the only guy I’ve heard play too much and still make it work. The only reason I didn’t mention Chico here is because he’s not really a household name, and is basically retired. But I personally consider him one of the best drummers in country ever.
Wayfast
January 11, 2020 @ 2:41 pm
Amen
MattbF.
January 12, 2020 @ 4:30 am
SCM recently introduced me to Hellbound Glory and I’m extremely grateful.
Vanillasludge
January 11, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
Jim Keltner.
RD
January 11, 2020 @ 1:09 pm
I always thought Artimus Pyle was a great drummer.
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 1:45 pm
Artimus Pyle is a good drummer.
SG
January 11, 2020 @ 1:13 pm
As you mentioned, highly subjective.
I’m partial to drummers like Bernard Purdie.
Also great: Dave Lombardo and Steve Gadd.
RIP Neil
Jerry Clower's Ghost
January 11, 2020 @ 1:22 pm
I’ve always thought Carter Beauford of Dave Matthews Band deserved more recognition.
Peart was the heart and soul of Rush. I’d always wanted to see them in concert. It sucks he’s gone.
Gage Minnameier
January 14, 2020 @ 5:25 pm
This is who I was gonna make sure got mentioned. Carter’s live work on songs like Two Step, Crush, and the quiet Dreaming Tree outro is top notch. He’s my personal favorite drummer and seems to get the shaft compared to the other greats.
OlaR
January 11, 2020 @ 1:49 pm
The Little Drummer Boy.
Jt
January 11, 2020 @ 1:49 pm
The fact that Steve Jordan is not on this list is prof that you have no idea what you’re talking about when it comes to drummers.
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 2:02 pm
Yes, “one name missing makes everything else said illegitimate” comment.
This is why I never make lists anymore.
SG
January 11, 2020 @ 2:59 pm
I saw lost on another site recently that they used the word “favorite” instead of “best.” Kinda changes the dynamic.
Jack Williams
January 12, 2020 @ 8:39 am
Well, at least we haven’t had the “how is this saving country music” comment yet, at least not directly.
This was a fun article and has been a fun discussion. A bonus feature, if you will. You be you, Triggerman.
hoptowntiger94
January 12, 2020 @ 3:01 pm
One idiot in the a very informative and engaging comment section.
Di Harris
January 11, 2020 @ 2:12 pm
Oh, Piss Off Sweetheart.
Make your own list
Sam Cody
January 11, 2020 @ 8:35 pm
Howl-la-looya!
Jack Williams
January 12, 2020 @ 8:10 am
“Internet Commenter Type” alert.
The deserter
January 11, 2020 @ 1:52 pm
What about Vinnie Paul
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 2:07 pm
Vinnie Paul is a good one! Honestly, metal is a blind spot for me. I know there’s some killer drummers over there that deserve their due, and get it in that scene.
Kevin wortman
January 11, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
His skill has really fallen off lately
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 2:54 pm
You think? 🙂
Daniele
January 13, 2020 @ 2:38 am
Dave Lombardo
Silver and Black heart
June 14, 2021 @ 8:15 am
Yup
Andrew Frechtman
September 16, 2021 @ 9:29 pm
Most drummers today have forgotten that Steve Gadd was arguably the single most influential drummer of the ’70’s and 80’s (name ANY other drummer of that era who has a catalog as large as his). Also lest we forget, Gadd also invented most of the drumming vocabulary we use today…
Krista F
January 11, 2020 @ 2:01 pm
I was pleasantly surprised you mentioned not only Terry Bozzio, but also Gina Schock! I feel like she’s always ignored. I’d also like to mention Stewart Copeland whom I put on my list of top drummers for sure.
Charlie
January 11, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
The list gets a little weird at #5 and above, don’t it?
Buddy Rich was one of the greatest drummers of all time, as well as one of the greatest pricks of all time. I’d put him No. 5.
Hal Blaine I’d put at No. 6. How is he not on the list?–curious.
Ginger Baker I’d move up to No. 7.
Then you could expand the list and put in all the inside baseball names you want to.
Levon Helm, though–he is sublime. Leave him at No. 8, please.
OlaR
January 11, 2020 @ 2:27 pm
Meanwhile in Country Music:
Aaron Watson is the new #1 in Texas with “Country Radio” (Texas Top 100).
The Ronnie Dunn Re-Dunn album is out (24 Tracks).
The Tamworth Country Music Festival (Australias biggest live-event) will start in 5 days. Tamworth is not affected by the bushfire.
Tenille Arts (canadian country star) released her new album Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In Between.
Brett Kissel (canadian singer with #1 hits) released Now Or Never (8 Tracks).
New tracks by: Brandi Behlen (Texas) – “Just A Little Crazy”, Gord Bamford feat. Jess Moskaluke (Canada) – “To Get To You” & Mark Powell “Breaking Things”.
New Australian Tracks: Kristy Cox – “No Headlights”, Justin Landers – “How ’bout This Weather”, Innocent Eve – “Viking”, Shane Nicholson – “The High Price Of Surviving”, Ben Mitchell – “Right To Know” & Norma O’Hara Murphy re-released “Australia Is Burning”.
Curtis Grimes released “River Road Dream” (will be a massive hit in Texas).
Sam Hunt released “Sinning With You” (should be a massive hit in hell).
Zane
January 11, 2020 @ 2:32 pm
Whether you’re a fan of the music he associates with or not, Carter Beauford is a must on this list.
sbach66
January 11, 2020 @ 3:15 pm
Beauford is way underrated.
CL
January 12, 2020 @ 4:17 pm
As a drummer myself, Carter Beauford is my all time favorite. He’s just rock solid.
Nick
January 11, 2020 @ 2:35 pm
I think Nick Mason and Bill Ward go unnamed far too often. They’re no Peart or Bonham but I feel their respective bands and fans owe a great debt of gratitude to what they brought to the table.
Jinash
January 11, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
Milton Sledge layed down some iconic country grooves in the 90’s.
bll
January 12, 2020 @ 5:20 pm
Agreed; plus Mike Palmer having to reproduce said drumming. I’ve seen Garth twice, and Palmer is a beast.
Terry
January 11, 2020 @ 3:00 pm
Maybe not the greatest but Billy Thomas who plays with the Time Jumpers, Vince Gill, and others seems to have more fun then any drummer I have seen!
I also remember Martin Chambers from the Pretenders really impressed me on drums seeing him live!
sbach66
January 11, 2020 @ 3:00 pm
Yesterday was (and continues to be) a gut punch for me. Rush was the band of youth (and my adulthood, to be honest) – I was strictly a rock and roll kid growing up, and didn’t really begin to appreciate country until well into my 20’s. They were the first band I saw live, and the only band I ever scored front row seats for (Counterparts tour, 1994 – right in front of Alex). I saw them 17 times, second only to Buffett (only because they toured less frequently, and took a 5 year break in the late 90’s).
Most new music I buy these days is country, but I still listen to the music of my formative years, and this band still thrills me like it did the first time almost 40 years ago.
Rest in peace, Pratt. You’ll be missed.
sbach66
January 11, 2020 @ 3:13 pm
I should comment on your list, Trig. I don’t have major quibbles with it; as you are well aware, these kind of lists around art are completely subjective. I think you did a nice job.
My top 5 are Peart, Bonham, Moon, Baker, and Copeland (in no order). I’d like to see Copeland in your list, but I get it. Bruford is another that could easily slide into the top 10, and Billy Cobham as well. I don’t know if I would put Collins in my 10, but his work with Genesis up to the time they went to 3 piece was great (not that he all of a sudden sucked when the pop influences took over – the drum sound he pioneered in the 80’s, whether you liked it or not, was truly ground breaking and changed the way drums sounded and were recorded).
Again, overall, a very well done list that I think covers all the bases quite nicely. Hats off to you for putting this out there – and for remembering one of the true greats, recognizing that true talent, regardless of genre, should always be recognized and saluted.
Scott S.
January 11, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
Hard to make a list of greatest drummers with separating by genre. Phil Collins, Cozy Powell, Bill Ward, Alex Van Halen, Carl Palmer, Ian Pace, Mike Portnoy, and Tommy Lee just for his ability to play upside down could make this list.
Troy King
January 11, 2020 @ 3:51 pm
WS “Fluke” Holland makes my list.
Rockies
January 11, 2020 @ 3:53 pm
RIP Neil. Thanks your the beats and the words.
marc
January 11, 2020 @ 3:54 pm
Triggers future lists will consist of 1000 names all tied for #1 so nobody gets their feelings hurt.
Randy
January 11, 2020 @ 3:56 pm
Moon the loon, one man wrecking crew!
Kevin Smith
January 11, 2020 @ 4:07 pm
Steve Smith of Journey is criminally underrated unless you are a drummer and then you know his greatness. His sophisticated fills have inspired many and he has put on numerous drum seminars for years.
How about Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers? A beast of a drummer.
Forgotten . One of the guys that started rock and roll and country drumming, JM Van Eaton, the man behind the kit at Sun records! He appeared on the early Jerry Lee Lewis records and dozens of others. And he’s still alive and still playing and recording today!!!! Probably wins award for longest drumming. He’s been doing it since 1955 or so. Not super technical player, actually pretty basic but he pioneered the style. And he’s getting an award this February at The Ameripolitans in Memphis. Not bad for a good old boy from the south!
Honorable Mention : WS Holland lifelong drummer for Cash. And a Sun Studio guy also. He played on Blue Suede Shoes!
Honorable Mention : Willie Cantu the lone member of The Buckaroos still alive!!! Bucks drummer also still plays and pops up often at Roberts in Nashville. The drummer who helped invent the Bakersfield sound!
Shame Trig for forgetting those 3
But I get it, you wanted to show some love for Neil, fair enough.
In the Neil Peart school of drumming , don’t forget Mike Portnoy.
Lone Wolf
January 11, 2020 @ 6:28 pm
Kevin, I’m glad you mentioned Steve Smith. His jazz fusion stuff is awesome!!!
Jack Williams
January 11, 2020 @ 4:16 pm
Jon Bonham and Keith Moon are certainly two favorites albeit with two very different styles. Bonham was the bedrock of that ferocious locomotive that Led Zeppelin could be whenever they wanted to be. And once he was gone, they couldn’t bring themselves to go on without him. And Keith Moon was just so delightfully unpredictable.
A couple of others not yet mentioned that I enjoyed were Richie Hayward of Little Feat and Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy.
Brett
January 11, 2020 @ 4:39 pm
I know i should catch a lot of plaque for this being on a country site, but in the pop/punk realm, Travis Barker showed some serious skills. Blink 182 and many punk bands of 90s and 2000s never took themselves seriously at all, but i always thought he was phenomenal.
DJ
January 11, 2020 @ 4:40 pm
Where’s Ringo? LOL
sbach66
January 11, 2020 @ 9:25 pm
Ol’ Ringo will never garner mentions for technical prowess, but he was the right guy on the stool for there Beatles. He filled that role in that band perfectly , and his playing was spot on. Nothing but respect for Mr. Starkey, MBE.
Charlie
January 12, 2020 @ 10:34 am
That’s Sir Richard Starkey MBE (as of 2018), and he is mentioned in the”hat tips” section above. And he probably has a longer Wikipedia entry than anyone else on the list. So there’s that.
sbach66
January 12, 2020 @ 6:55 pm
A buddy of mine and I used to joke about Ringo always has the ultimate comeback…
“You can’t play very fast.”
“FU, I’m a Beatle.”
“You can’t handle any wacky time signatures.”
“FU, I’m a Beatle.”
“You can’t be good, you’ve only got like 5 drums.”
“FU, I’m a Beatle.”
“If you were any good, you’d play solos.”
“FU, I’m a Beatle.”
Euro South
January 11, 2020 @ 4:47 pm
Ok these are stickmasters from some of my favorite bands growing up and later but I believe they’re also great drummers in their own right: David Lovering (Pixies), George Hurley (Minutemen, fIREHOSE), Jody Stephens (Big Star), Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket).
Diesel
January 11, 2020 @ 4:56 pm
Few of my favorites, all metal, just to name a few. Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater and so many more), Mike Mangini (currently Dream Theater), Vinnie Paul (Pantera, Hellyeah, Rebel Meets Rebel), Chris Adler (Lamb of God) and Richard Christy (Death, Iced Earth, Charred Walls of The Damned)
Lone Wolf
January 11, 2020 @ 5:13 pm
Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart) and Alex Van Halen
JB-Chicago
January 12, 2020 @ 12:03 am
Carmine “Hey, I co wrote Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” Appice is the most over rated drummer of all time. He’ll be glad to tell you how great he is though AND who he influenced…..lol
Vinnie > Carmine
Lone Wolf
January 13, 2020 @ 5:52 pm
So because he co-wrote a disco song for a legend and is arrogant, he’s not an amazing, talented, solid and influential drummer? Hey, your opinion has been noted but in my opinion, it sounds like you’re picking meet off the bone here.
JB-Chicago
January 13, 2020 @ 7:05 pm
I call it as I see it and hear it. I saw him do a drum clinic around 1980 and didn’t think he was that good. In concert with Blue Murder he was so so but Sykes carried the band. Watched him play with Michael Schenker here a few years back and he could barely play the tunes we’ve been hearing for years properly. “Too Hot To Handle”? “Rock Bottom”?, mailed em in like he was jamming to them for the first time didn’t even know the tunes/fills nor did he obviously care to. I never said he sucked, just over rated when so many were over looked back then. I’m sure he had fun playing with Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, and that shit poser band he formed King Cobra. Your opinion is noted as well. I’ll take Vinnie song for song any day.
Lone Wolf
January 13, 2020 @ 7:38 pm
Fair enough, JB. I’ve never seen Carmine live but constantly see him in any ‘Top’ list. But, live is where the cream rises to the top so I’ll take your word as worth. Also, Vinnie doesn’t get mentioned nearly enough, if ever. VERY underrated drummer and I’ve never heard anyone who’s seen him live say anything bad about him.
I figured we’d find common ground eventually. Great selections you’ve posted, too.
Lone Wolf
January 11, 2020 @ 5:14 pm
Jason Rullo of Symphony X is a beast, also
ha-ha-ha-aroni
January 11, 2020 @ 5:10 pm
Larrie Londin
some guy in a suit
January 11, 2020 @ 5:12 pm
Brian Prout of Diamond Rio
wayne
January 11, 2020 @ 5:18 pm
The best mark of a musician is when, for the most part, you don’t notice them when they play BUT DEFINITELY NOTICE THEM WHEN THEY DON’T.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
January 11, 2020 @ 6:22 pm
This is a cool article to see on this site. Probably gonna be pretty polarizing, but definitely cool to read a take of yours on the music industry at large.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
January 11, 2020 @ 7:01 pm
Cool article. Miles Miller is the new Levon Helm. Danny Carey (Tool) is my vote for the best rock / prog drummer now alive. And in the metal realm, Vinnie Paul for sheer power and presence, and Dave Lombardo is also amazing.
SG
January 11, 2020 @ 8:47 pm
The drums on Seasons in the Abyss (the song) make it epic.
DenKon
January 11, 2020 @ 7:40 pm
Stewart Copeland is my favorite drummer. Not just for his Police work, but the percussion-heavy soundtracks for the movie Rumblefish and first season of The Equalizer TV series.
sbach66
January 11, 2020 @ 11:55 pm
Copeland’s high hat work is phenomenal. See: Gabriel’s “Red Rain.”
Doug T
January 11, 2020 @ 8:33 pm
Paul Riddle: Marshall Tucker Band. He’s brilliant on “This Ol Cowboy”.
Jake
January 11, 2020 @ 9:08 pm
Another vote for Carter Beauford. I am sick and tired of DMB, but he’s the best I’ve ever seen live.
MoJoBear
January 11, 2020 @ 9:13 pm
Billy Cobham
MoJoBear
January 11, 2020 @ 9:16 pm
The only good thing about walking down Broadway is watching the drummers with their backs to the windows!
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 9:43 pm
Legendary Lower Broadway drummer moment here;
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/drummers-epic-finish-ends-in-crashing-through-a-window-on-nashvilles-lower-broadway/
Twinshadow24
January 11, 2020 @ 9:58 pm
Miles Miller is one of the best drummers out there in any genre right now. His country drumming is just sublime, and he’s so versatile he slays it during the newer live shows which are more rock/jam.
Trigger
January 11, 2020 @ 10:01 pm
He’s also Sturgill’s bandleader, which gives him point in the intangibles department. Perhaps years from now we’ll be talking about him in the same company as the folks above.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
January 12, 2020 @ 8:45 am
Agreed. He’s got a really diverse background / training as well. His recent work on the Arthur Hancock EP is also awesome. He always seems to know when to dial it back, but is still super present. His hi hat work in particular. He’s also a damn good backing vocalist.
There are a lot of country drummers in popular bands right now (Jinks’ drummer is the first that comes to mind) who could badly use a lesson or 10 from him.
jimincincy
January 11, 2020 @ 10:48 pm
Went to see Blondie when I was twelve years old in 1979. Rockpile was the opening act. I saw Terry Williams and Clem Burke drum on the same night. Rockpile along with Shaver circa 1995-1996 easily the best concerts I have ever attended.
Bill Goodman
January 11, 2020 @ 10:53 pm
Matt Camron of Soundgarden/Pearl Jam
JP Gaster of Clutch
albert
January 11, 2020 @ 11:29 pm
I want to say thank you , Trigger , for acknowledging Neil in your article above .
he and I played in the same musical circles in southern ontario -st.catharines in particular -back in the pre-rush days and in fact in the same band although at different times . my loss .
even in those days he was sooooo respected by all of us for not only his obvious talents but his commitment to music . in fairness , I cannot say I was a die hard fan of RUSH though as a musician I completely respected their creativity and respective talents . I can say , though , that I was a fan of Neil and his gifts . just a beautiful guy .the sadness of his passing has rekindled some wonderful memories of my youth and early music experiences. God bless him .
Trigger
January 12, 2020 @ 12:16 am
It might be lost on some fans in the United States and elsewhere just how important Rush was to Canadians, and as a Canadian band.
sbach66
January 12, 2020 @ 7:03 pm
And important to musicians as well – tributes have been posted across all genres, recognizing the impact NEP had on the music world, from artists as disparate as Metallica and Chuck D and Questlove.
Hialeah
August 4, 2021 @ 10:58 pm
Thanks for sharing your story of Neil. I’m just getting around to this article and it made me smile. As a die hard fan of Rush myself, I always thought, ‘what would I do if I ever ran into Neil at a gas station?’ I’ll always just thought a smile and a thank you for your contribution to music, if anything at all. I’d probably would have just smiled, wave and run off without my car. Lol. So missed.
Chris
January 12, 2020 @ 1:59 am
I’ve always liked Elvin Jones.
Mark
January 15, 2020 @ 12:21 pm
yeah he wasn’t bad (kidding)
This is clearly not a jazz drummer list, so I don’t see why Gene Krupa was mentioned. Trig is not a jazz fan I guess.
None of the players mentioned have anything remotely resembling the technique, power, complexity, emotion, and subtlety of Elvin Jones.
Who I understand was a modest person.
Tunesmiff
January 12, 2020 @ 3:00 am
I would add nods to:
Danny Seraphine of Chicago (in the early days – before they went all pop-n-sappy);
And the pair of Grateful Dead drummers, who played like one man with four hands, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart.
DimM
January 12, 2020 @ 5:34 am
Mostly unknown to U.S, Reni from Manchester’s The Stone Roses. A great drummer from late 80’s to mid 90’s , and a strange character who disappeared from the music scene after the group disbanded.
Euro South
January 12, 2020 @ 4:43 pm
One of the first that popped into my head too.
lori
January 12, 2020 @ 5:42 am
Ziggy Modeliste of the Meters.
SteveG
January 12, 2020 @ 6:58 am
Finally the shout out Richie Albright deserves! He is criminally underrated and always left off these kinds of lists because they’re typically made by rock publications. He was so influential. I especially like him on the Waylon Live album where he really lets loose.
JerseyBoy
January 12, 2020 @ 7:20 am
Surprised no one mentioned Jim Gordon
Bernard `Pretty` Purdue
STIX HOOPER
Hal Blaine
Russ Kunkel
Danny Gotlieb
Ron Tutt
sbach66
January 12, 2020 @ 12:29 pm
The story of Jim Gordon is fascinating and tragic.
JerseyBoy
January 12, 2020 @ 4:11 pm
Yes. It is, he was an amazing p,Ayer was on so many hits and album’s, wrote and played the intro to Layla which was actually a separate song that Clapton meshed together. He’s still in prison, has been up for parole but just wants to stay there.
Ian
January 12, 2020 @ 7:41 am
Jim Keltner. A full member of The Travelin’ Willburys among other things. I would think Ken Buttrey would make this list. I love this blog though I sometimes disagree but seeing the band Phish included in any kind of positive light hurts the part of my soul that likes music with lyrics which sound like they are written by adults with fully developed frontal lobes.
sbach66
January 12, 2020 @ 12:36 pm
I went through a significant Phish phase about 20 years ago, but I’ve soured on them quite a bit. I still respect the musicianship, but yeah, the lyrics……. I’ve gotten over that style of writing.
When it comes to “jam” bands these days, I tend to pull up Widespread Panic, or maybe Little Feat or the Allmans (I’ve always felt they while they had a foot on both the southern rock camp and the jam band camp, they’re tilted a little heavier on the jam side).
Trigger
January 12, 2020 @ 1:19 pm
Yeah, you don’t listen to Phish for the lyricism. People love to compare them to the Grateful Dead, but I think they’re much closer to Frank Zappa, including in the way Zappa approached voice as just another instrument and basically disregarded storytelling. The one exception with Phish is their album “Farmhouse” where they worked with a lyricist and it turned out very well. That’s usually where I point people if they want a good entry point into the band.
sbach66
January 12, 2020 @ 6:57 pm
The Zappa comparison is dead on.
ShadeGrown
January 12, 2020 @ 8:41 am
https://youtu.be/K3b6SGoN6dA
The Rodney Dangerfield of drumming – Bill Ward
Jack WIlliams
January 12, 2020 @ 9:11 am
Henry Rollins called him and Geezer Butler his all time favorite rhythm section.
Bigsky
January 12, 2020 @ 9:38 am
Lars Ulrich is worth mentioning. Not just for his talent, but influence and longevity!
Mike
January 13, 2020 @ 5:41 pm
Screw Lars Ulrich. It should have been him instead of Cliff Burton!!
Stringbuzz
January 12, 2020 @ 12:01 pm
When these conversations happen, I agree with everyone You mentioned… The one guy who seems to be the most non talked about to me is John Dinsmore of the doors. He is solid
Keal Franklin
January 12, 2020 @ 2:01 pm
Eddie Bayers is always at the top of my list for Country music. He’s been on over 300 Gold and Platinum records. He’s also a great guy to hang with.
Jacob
January 12, 2020 @ 3:51 pm
I think Travis barker deserves some credit. Even just for cultural impact. Celebrity drummer that a lot of people around my age, 24-34, would probably put in their top 5 (because most probably can’t even name five drummers.
When you listen to blink 182, the drums are what’s interesting and that’s by design. Everything else is just very simple and they let Travis go wild with his hip hop inspired syncopation.
Dennixx
January 12, 2020 @ 3:51 pm
Kenny Malone
trevistrat
January 12, 2020 @ 3:53 pm
Jerry Ivan Allison (Crickets/Waylon).
Sam
January 12, 2020 @ 4:33 pm
Hmmmm Country………First name that comes to mind is Willie Cantu, then Buddy Harman, how bout Willie Ackerman? Surprised I didn’t see (but could have missed) DJ Fontana. See Henley was mentioned which I would have noted. Very glad Levon was mentioned. Outside of drummers with any noticeable ties to Country, Hal Blaine & I don’t give a darn if they called him a “clubber”, it sounded good to these ears, the #1 drummer in my ❤️ will forever be Dennis Wilson
Brendan
January 12, 2020 @ 4:40 pm
Stewart Copeland
Christian H.
January 12, 2020 @ 5:23 pm
This is a great dialogue to read! Thanks for posting. Many greats are listed. I’d also include Stan Lynch from the Heartbreakers.
Bill from Wisconsin
January 12, 2020 @ 7:12 pm
Fox has been using snippets of Tom Sawyer during yesterday and today’s NFL playoff games. They may have been all season but it got my attention. Yes, Rush was part of my youth and later! Still in my listening rotation.
Saw Peter Erskine when I was a kid, with Stan Kenton, and later with Maynard Ferguson. Was in Weather Report later.
sbach66
January 13, 2020 @ 12:18 pm
NBC and CBS were doing the same.
Mike
January 12, 2020 @ 7:16 pm
10. There
9. Is
8. No
7. Concrete
6. List
5. Of
4. Greatest
3. Drummers
2. Ever
1. Neil Peart
kapam
January 12, 2020 @ 7:28 pm
Thanks for a nice tribute to Neil Peart and other drumming greats.
I fear that losing Neil (among others) may be the end of an era. Living, breathing drummers in today’s popular music seem to have become (unfortunately) an anachronism.
Virtually all pop music nowadays has machine-made rhythms.
I do hope that real live drummers make a comeback but I’m not holding my breath!
618creekrat
January 12, 2020 @ 8:00 pm
Of the bands covered in this neck of the woods, Jay Nazz is a big part of Reckless Kelly’s stage presence.
I remember Cactus Moser was Highway 101’s drummer, so he left a favorable impression.
In another corner of the universe, Myron Grombacher did an admirable job of keeping pace with Neil Giraldo while backing Pat Benatar. And probably could have played upside down without a seat belt.
Cadmoving
January 12, 2020 @ 8:26 pm
Jerry Mercer of April Wine! Should be in top 5
Bear
January 13, 2020 @ 1:46 am
I’m just going to shout out a few of my favorites not mentioned. Gene Krupa is my all time.
But often overlooked is Buddy Harmon. I feel ike country music drummers get passed over because they are not flashy but toeing the line is sometimes harder than fancy fills. And Buddy played on so many seminal country outings.
Daniele
January 13, 2020 @ 2:48 am
Late to the party but i only want to mention Roger Hawkins.
Blockman
January 13, 2020 @ 6:42 am
Waylon Jennings – Freedom to Stay has pretty much my favourite drumming in a song. In studio and live. I’m assuming that’s Richie Albright on that? It’s pretty much the only tune that sticks out drumming wise. That and the classic ‘Drivin Nails in my Coffin’ snare beat.
Bunch
January 13, 2020 @ 7:59 am
Holy shit. I’ve never seen a list that more obviously cries out “I don’t listen to black music!”
Having ten white drummers would have been more understandable if you only were listing country music drummers, but that wasn’t your objective here. This list is laughable.
Trigger
January 13, 2020 @ 10:26 am
Okay, then who are some black drummers who deserve to be mentioned beside these ten? Please let us know so we can check them out. Share that knowledge so we can all benefit from it. But it’s a difficult task. That’s why there aren’t any here. Not racism as you implied.
Here’s I’ll help you out:
Questlove – Probably not deserving to be in the Top 10 ever, but his high profile has helped keep drumming and drummers in the spotlight during an era when drum loops have dominated popular cuture.
Cedric Burnside – The son of R.L., he might be one of my favorite living drummers. That’s the reason I listed him at #3 on Saving Country Music’s “Best Live Performances” in 2019, right ahead of Yola, which puts to rest that I probably don’t listen to black music (https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/country-roots-musics-best-live-performers-of-2019/). But I think he’s got some years to go before he’s considered legendary like the names above.
Some have mentioned Jaimoe of The Allman Brothers. That’s a pretty good name too.
Harvey Mason who played on “Headhunters” has always been one of my favorite drummers as well. Just don’t know if he rises to be considered here.
sbach66
January 13, 2020 @ 12:30 pm
Carter Beauford from DMB was mentioned above a few times, he is great – whether you care for that kind of music or not, he is fantastic and underrated; Billy Cobham has been mentioned a few times as well.
Omar Hakim is another ridiculously talented drummer who is African American and who could be on the list.
“Headhunters” is a great album, I busted it out the other day for the first time in many years. ‘Chameleon’ just slays.
Bunch
January 13, 2020 @ 1:13 pm
I mean c’mon. Does Papa Jones “deserve” to be mentioned with the ten names above? Actually, probably not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxtik6ektQY
Bear
January 13, 2020 @ 12:45 pm
I would add Bernard Purdie for sure did a lot of work on classic blues records. And if we go to jazz I’d say Billy Cobham & Terri Lynne Carrington. Also Shelia E ain’t no slouch, you don’t become a Prince muse without something worth shouting about.
Bunch
January 13, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
It just seemed odd to kind of gloss over jazz/R&B/funk when so much percussion innovation and style that has crossed genres was born out of it. From Papa Jones to Kenny Clarke to Art Blakey to Max Roach to Billy Codham to Tony Williams. On to funk masters like Clyde Stubblefield, Jabo Stark, and Dennis Chambers. And for the love of god Zigaboo Modeliste!
Gage Minnameier
January 14, 2020 @ 5:39 pm
Carter Beauford would fit on this list as a black drummer. Other than that, I’d have to admit that I am rather ignorant of great black drummers and your friend who whined at you would have to provide a list of a few great black drummers.
Aaron
January 13, 2020 @ 9:05 am
Fantastic list! I would put Buddy Rich over Krupa but you can’t go wrong. I would also add ?uestlove (QuestLove) of the Roots. You might want to check out the Roots live someday, sorta surprised if you haven’t. The Roots have the biggest, deepest grooves in music and right down in the perfect middle of the groove, ?uestlove drops the perfect beat, all day, everyday, acting as both a bandleader and the rhythm section of the world’s greatest live hip-hop band. I’ve seen them play three hour sets during which they’ll use two different bass players, two different dudes playing guitar, five or six different MC’s, and one drummer, like a machine, dropping insane beats on a tiny little kid for hour after hour. He’s the man.
Atomic Zombie Redneck
January 13, 2020 @ 10:40 am
A very good list, a helluva lot of talent.
As the resident metal dude, I’ll add Dave Lombardo, Vinnie Paul, Bill Ward, Lars Ulrich, and Chris Adler. There’s many, many more amazing metal drummers, but these are some which have a distinctive style that can be immediately recognized.
RD
January 13, 2020 @ 11:04 am
What do you think about Matt Sorum?
Atomic Zombie Redneck
January 13, 2020 @ 11:08 am
Although I don’t think he has a signature sound that sets him apart, Sorum is still a really good, solid drummer.
RD
January 13, 2020 @ 11:10 am
I always liked him, but I’ve heard people swear that Steven Adler’s sound was crucial to G’nR and Sorum never adequately replaced him.
Atomic Zombie Redneck
January 13, 2020 @ 11:19 am
Adler was a great drummer who really knew how to play to the song and make each drum track very distinctive, but I wouldn’t call him irreplaceable. Sorum did a killer job during his time in GnR. He was just in the unfortunate position of replacing an original member, which is almost always an uphill battle regardless of how good you are.
RD
January 13, 2020 @ 11:21 am
I don’t know the first thing about drums, but to me, Adler always had this big, hollow sound that was very distinctive.
Aggc
January 13, 2020 @ 12:41 pm
Cozy Powell
Dennixx
January 14, 2020 @ 7:56 am
For modern country it’s the Roland TR-8S…lol
Ashton37
January 14, 2020 @ 8:46 am
I am by no means a drummer, but I have played with lots of different drummers over the last 16 years of being a weekend warrior, so I know what I like to hear when it comes to drummers. My favorite is John Blackwell, of New Power Generation fame. That dude could do anything.
Also, I’m kinda shocked by the lack of love for Ronnie Tutt.
Jeff S
January 14, 2020 @ 10:14 am
Mike Portnoy could be added. Great list, and thanks for including Levon.
hairbabe
January 14, 2020 @ 1:54 pm
Carl Palmer
Neil Young Fan
January 15, 2020 @ 5:53 pm
Kenny Buttrey. The only one who kept Neil from falling on his face on Tonight’s The Night. Amazing, powerful subtle bass drum and snare (thinking Out on the Weekend, etc) Not to mention Lay Lady Lay (not Neil Young) among others.
Greg Green
January 19, 2020 @ 7:17 am
My favorite underrated drummer has always been BJ Wilson of Procol Harum. He could play majestically oddly, sympathetically, adding all sorts of flavors while keeping the rhythm. As much as I enjoy their vocals and keyboards, they lost the most when the lost BJ.
Mark M
January 19, 2020 @ 10:31 am
Just got to this discussion, lots of great drummers mentioned here, I’m going to throw out a drummer who I think should be on an alternate list: “The Top 10 Great Drummers Nobody Has Heard Of”
I’ll start this list with Brad Morgan of Drive-By Truckers.
Who you got?
Alan
January 21, 2020 @ 8:05 pm
Not having Buddy Rich in the top ten really makes your list lack legitimacy. Also, Danny Carey.
Alan
January 21, 2020 @ 8:11 pm
Watch and tell me Rich doesn’t deserve to be above Krupa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ5B7yqDYbA
Slayerformayor
January 29, 2020 @ 1:35 pm
He does. No idea how Krupa got the nod over Rich. Silly.
And I’ll take your Danny Carey, and I’ll raise you Gavin Harrison (though I love Danny Carey).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUA_n04C1bs
Also, check out Matt Garstka from Animals as Leaders playing “The Woven Web”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8hAGyZjRgI
Alan
January 21, 2020 @ 8:25 pm
Danny Carey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG_1L5wN_Fg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHr6AShjCnU
Doug T
January 25, 2020 @ 10:43 pm
Butch Norton does a great job backing Lucinda.
Slayerformayor
January 29, 2020 @ 1:09 pm
Brann also sings while he’s playing. Dude’s remarkable.
Even so, no one’s mentioned George Kollias, Kevin Talley, Gene Hoglan, Tomas Haake, Martin Lopez, Pete Sandoval, and more recent fringe guys who can outplay everyone like Spencer Prewett, Flo Mounier, Aaron Kitcher, and Francesco Paoli. Gavin Harrison and Mike Portnoy are also rather spectacular but received no mention here. And if we’re going for the old dogs, Ian Paice deserves mention. Every single one of these blokes deserve a spot ahead of John Fishman. 100%. I’ll take the Apice brothers. And Carl Palmer.
You know what? I’ll take anyone over that wanker from Phish. How about that? I mean…for sheer influence alone, I’d pick Ringo, who sucks, over Jon Fishman.
And if we’re going jazz, it’s obnoxious that Billy Cobham wasn’t mentioned. And if we’re going with Zappa guys, Vinnie Colaiuta is better than Bozzio. Shit…Wackerman may even be better.
I hate/love lists like this, though I have to give you a shout out for Mitch Mitchell. I like him better than I like Jimi.
Slayerformayor
January 29, 2020 @ 1:30 pm
And Rich is a better drummer than Gene Krupa. His thoughts about Country be damned.
Silver and Black heart
June 14, 2021 @ 8:41 am
All of the bad ass dudes you mention are a big plus. I hope you agree that Mike Mangini and John Longstreth should be in your list as well.
Slayerformayor
January 29, 2020 @ 1:37 pm
All 10 of these should be Lars Ulrich.
Pfff…
Slingerland80
February 23, 2020 @ 12:18 am
Brady Blade deserves a mention – if not on the list, here in the comments. He backed Emmylou Harris as a member of Spyboy for years; and has played with Steve Earle, and Buddy and Julie Miller. That’s legit country street cred. I’ve seen him live a number of times and his style is nuanced and sublime and a credit to the genre. His brother Brian has also played with Emmylou in the past…
Just my two cents.
RockyC
March 26, 2020 @ 6:35 am
It puzzles me that when these best drummers lists come out Simon Phillips name is never on it. Instead you see Names like Charlie Watts and Ringo Starr. Granted they were in very successful bands, it shouldn’t qualify them for Best ever drummers when you compare them to Bonham, Peart, Baker etc. Carmine Appice, Steve Smith among others should have made the list way before Watts Starr and Moon.
Neil
March 31, 2021 @ 1:51 pm
Neil Peart is my no 1 but love Bill Ward, Cozy Powell, Dave Lombardo and really love Danny Carey he has power and subtlety just like Neil Peart and as for Keith Moon he was unique in every aspect of his life.
Silver and Black heart
June 14, 2021 @ 8:29 am
These lists will always raise controversy. And in all honesty, all drummers should be acknowledged. Whether you like them or not. The simple fact that they sit there and absorb everything the music writers give them to learn (every genre), should be a credit to them. It’s not just learning the music, it’s also the application of beats, skills of the beats and drum rolls that have to be learned. Big task. Yes, I’m a drummer. Metal drummer. One last thing, January, 2020 was the worst loss of rhythm masters in my opinion. Neil Peart, Sean Reinsert and Reed Mullin. Rest in peace.