10 best rock drummers?

[Supercreep]

Here's my take on Ringo.

It's popular for musicians to say Ringo is underrated. The truth is-
Ringo sucked. They always had to fill out the beat with tambourines and shakers cause Ringo couldn't play those 16th or 32nd hi hats. The proof is in some of the session tracks on the Anthology LP.

I fill out beats with tams and shakers all the time, and I can play even 16th and 32nd notes. What does that prove?


Too many great drummers to only list 10. My favorites for various reasons are Copeland, Bozzio, and Peart. None of them are the "best" at anything but have distinctive personal styles that are effective and appropriate in the material they play to.

 

[PhilGood]

Easily Neil Peart is Number One, thats a given, but as you go down there is really no way to try to rate!!!

You don't get out much do you?

Anyone who says Peart is best (and don't get me wrong, I love the guy) hasn't listened to what's out there. I used to think he was the best as well, but now...

I just know better.

 

[PhilGood]

My take on Ringo is that while he may not have been the most technical drummer in the world, he may have been one of the most creative. He frequently made up a different drum part for every song, instead of just playing the same standard beats that most drummers use all the time.

Oddly enough, I just had a conversation about Ringo with Gregg Bissonette, who is a huge fan and friend of Ringo. He said Ringo has always had the attitude of the perfect rythmn section. All that's required, nothing more. He has always had an aversion to solo drummers. Hates solos and fills for the most part.

I still don't understand whether that means he just can't play them or if he has just chosen to not do them. You're right, though. He always found other means of creativity.

 

[c0r1n]

let's see if i can hit 10...

1 - Mike Giles from King Crimson. He could tear it up with the rest of them in his day, but he could also play delicately... The drums on I Talk to the Wind are absolutely beautiful, while 21st Century Schizoid Man is just mind blowing.

2 - Terry Bozzio. Yes he has gone off the deep end into solo drum music, something that Fritz Hauser has been doing for decades (his stuff is hard to find but well worth it), but when he plays time it is DEEP. Action Reaction is an amazing performance from his Missing Persons days.

3 - Phil Collins. Someone told me recently they didn't know he WAS a drummer. What a legacy he has squandered. One of the few drummers who is instantly recognizable on record, his work in the 70s is some of the best drumming of the era, and even the simpler stuff from the early 80s has real power. His sound is so recognizable it became a cliche. Enough said.

4 - Aynsley Dunbar. Not as well known as most, but for those of you who didn't know that Journey existed before Steve Perry, there are three albums well worth seeking out. Topaz is a great example from their self-titled debut, alternating between loud and soft jazzy passages expertly. A choice piece of work. I have heard the early demos from the time when Prairie Prince was in the band, and Aynsley takes those songs to another level. Oh yeah, and he played with Zappa and Bowie. Hell, he even makes Whitesnake sound good.

5 - Bill Bruford. Close to the Edge. Red. Discipline. Go buy them all. Now. A great example of the searching musician and true artist. He has left many a high profile gig at its height to follow his muse. A worthy example.

6 - Neil Peart. Also an instantly recognizable sound for better or worse. You either wanted to be him when you started playing, or you wanted to be nothing like "that dude from Rush." Either way, his influence touched us all. Deal with it.

7 - Steve Smith. The man can play anything, and unlike most jazzers, he can nail a rock groove. He is not slumming. His fusiony side leaves me a little cold, but he definitely brings it when playing straight rock or jazz.

8 - Roger Taylor. Queen did just about every style imaginable and he nailed them all with aplomb. A lot of good humor in his playing too. Also a recognizable sound, thanks to gratuitous use of the hihat bark/snare combo. Under Pressure is a damn fine performance, but pick pretty much anything and you'll find another.

9 - Jimmy Chamberlain. The best rock drummer of the past 20 years, and yep, I'm including Danny Carey in that. His work with the Pumpkins is impressive enough, but his solo album (Jimmy Chamberlain Complex) is fantastic. A good mix of vocal songs (not sung by him ) and straight on instrumental awesomeness. PSA is a nice example of how to play a drum solo that isn't a masturbatory exercise.

10 - Tony Thompson. Best known for his work with Chic, he was called on to play with Zep at Live Aid, did some work with Bowie, and the Power Station album (which I like ). The man was a monster of groove, and its a shame he was seldom in a context where his rock power could see the light of day. But when he was...

Hey, what do you know? I did hit 10, and I could go on with some honorable mentions, but I've probably said enough already.

 

[the inhabitant]

It's a know fact that this man here Bernard " Pretty " Purdie played on most of the last few Beatles albums . It had more to do with Ringo's drinking than playing .
You won't find this documented anywhere , evidently he can't discuss it for legal reasons , but he won't deny it either .

If you dig hard enough you can find the evidence .

I've heard something once like that before, looked into it... it's a joke. Come on man, you can tell Ringo's style and it's there in full form on every album.

"Ballad of John and Yoko" and "Back in the USSR" were done by Paul because durring those sessions, Ringo had quit the band and had yet to be convinced to re-join.

I loves me some fancy drumming every now and then - Bill Ward on "Paranoid" just gives me tingles, Stewart Copeland etc. but if I were to pick a drummer at any moment (and age) in his career, it would be Ringo with the Beatles. Once I began to understand the power of the mix, I realized that simplicity is key - not just for the drumming but for other non-lead parts as well.

 

[bubbagump]

You don't get out much do you?

Anyone who says Peart is best (and don't get me wrong, I love the guy) hasn't listened to what's out there. I used to think he was the best as well, but now...

I just know better.

Bout time someone said that. And Carter Beuford... he's another noodler... beat on every toy I have on my kit and not offer you a groove. Give me dude from Earth Wind and Fire, Copeland, or Ringo any day. I saw Chambers live with PFunk and he played nothing but a 4 on the floor groove all night... absolutely wonderful. I can appreciate chops in a vacuum, but in a tune I want to hear a groove. I think they should require licenses for kits with more than 4 toms and anyone wanting roto toms or temple blocks.

 

[episg]

In no order:

John Bonham (Led Zep)
Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Early Foo Fighters, etc)
Carl Palmer (Emmerson lake & palmer, now solo)
Dominic Howard (Muse)
Phil Collins
Old Richard Starkey, From a lesser known liverpool band named The Beatles?
Thats all that i really give a shit about!!
To me, a good drummer is versatile, knows his stuff, is imaginative, good live, and a good studio worker.

 

[Arrowhen]

Steve Shelley and Stephen Morris.

 

[Dogbreath]

Didn't read it all but........

Anyone said "Animal" from the muppets yet?

 

[PhilGood]

Didn't read it all but........

Anyone said "Animal" from the muppets yet?

Well, sort of...

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1776124&postcount=65

 

[White_moon]

I believe Lars' last name is Ulrich? Correct me if im wrong. And since when is Dave Grohl one of the best rock drummers?

 

[PhilGood]

And since when is Dave Grohl one of the best rock drummers?

It was during a brief period before he was one of the most kickass singer/songwriter/guitarists of the not-soon-enough-forgotten 90's!

 

[the inhabitant]

I hate Dave Mathew's Band.

But I'm surprised nobody is mentioning that guy from Dave Mathew's. I think his name's Carter. I really haven't given Carter - or whatever his name is - much thought but it seems like he gets a lot of prase on drummer's websites and furums and such. Everybody seems to be in awe of his live performance of "Ants Marching". I don't know, I just thought I'd throw him in there because I'm surprised he hasn't been mentioned.

I don't know why I don't like Dave Mathews. I just get the sense that they're trying too hard. Plus they have a lot of wussy songs. Now, I'm not one of those drop-D type guys that thinks everything soft is wussy; soft does not equal wussy. (I love a lot of the Beatles ballads and even some Simon and Garfunkle stuff.) I mean wussy in the "cool-jazz" sense (like that long curly haired guy from the 80's that played the suprano sax). That kind of wussy. You know what I mean?

I could just see from a professional musicianship perspective why Carter should be thrown in there.

Did I mention I hate Dave Mathew's Band?

 

[fletch88]

tre cool of green day has got to be one

 

[the inhabitant]

You know what... I take back my comment about that Dave Mathew's drummer. He sucks. Why would I mention the drummer of a band that I hate? I must be losing my mind.

The thing is, fast doesn't necessarily mean good. I mean, look at the fastest guitar players in the world: Steve Vie, Ingwie Malmsteen, etc. Have those guys ever made any music that actually sounds good? No. What about a not-so-fast guitar player like Jack White? Has he? Yep. The Stripes are a good example here. Meg White sucks ass when it comes to technical ability; she's one of the lamest drummers I've ever heard but in the mean time she friggin rocks.

Who care's who the most technically skilled drummers are? If you're sitting behind the kit consentrating really hard on your playing as you push yourself to the edge of your abilities and you find yourself thinking stuff like, "maybe this is a good place to throw in that one off-beat lick I like to do", then you're not doing your job. If however, you find yourself lost in the music, digging the song and getting in to the grove while the drums play themselves, then your doing your job.

I think this is my last post in this thread because obviously, I don't belong here. (Dave Mathew's. phhffff. I should be shot.)

BTW, I was just listening to "Happy Jack" by The Who. That's some fancy drumming that I can dig. But that's pushing it. Moon almost plays too much on that song. Almost.

 

[ermghoti]

Steve Vie, Ingwie Malmsteen, etc. Have those guys ever made any music that actually sounds good? No.

Wrong.

What about a not-so-fast guitar player like Jack White? Has he? Yep.

Wrong!

Meg White sucks ass when it comes to technical ability; she's one of the lamest drummers I've ever heard but in the mean time she friggin rocks.

WRONG!!!!

Moon almost plays too much on that song. Almost.

Moon almost played too much on every song.

 

[rudibass2]

You know what... I take back my comment about that Dave Mathew's drummer. He sucks. Why would I mention the drummer of a band that I hate? I must be losing my mind.

.

Who care's who the most technically skilled drummers are? If you're sitting behind the kit consentrating really hard on your playing as you push yourself to the edge of your abilities and you find yourself thinking stuff like, "maybe this is a good place to throw in that one off-beat lick I like to do", then you're not doing your job.


Carter Beaufort is one of the most relaxed , laid back ,technically and musically skilled drummer around today . And he most definitely don't suck .
The guy is totally ambidextrous and plays opened handed like few others .
Buy a clue man !!

Consider him mentioned !!!

 

[rudibass2]

You know what... I take back my comment about that Dave Mathew's drummer. He sucks. Why would I mention the drummer of a band that I hate? I must be losing my mind.

.

Who care's who the most technically skilled drummers are? If you're sitting behind the kit consentrating really hard on your playing as you push yourself to the edge of your abilities and you find yourself thinking stuff like, "maybe this is a good place to throw in that one off-beat lick I like to do", then you're not doing your job.

Carter Beaufort is one of the most relaxed , laid back ,technically and musically skilled drummer around today . And he most definitely don't suck .
The guy is totally ambidextrous and plays opened handed like few others .
Buy a clue man !!

Consider him mentioned !!!

 

[the inhabitant]

rudibass2:

I just purchased a clue that was on sale for $7.99. You're right. Carter Beufort seems like a pro to me that's on the level of some of the good jazz drummers. I can tell listening to him. That's why I was surprized he wasn't mentioned (but come to think of it, now that I know his last name, I think he was mentioned). I guess I was just looking at my post about hating Dave Mathews (which was an exaggeration because I was trying to get a rise out of some people) and I thought, "this goes against my whole philosophy of, 'just because you can doesn't mean you should' that is against gratuitous playing in general. Why am I mentioning this guy?" So then I took it back and added a bunch of stuff that I knew would get a rise out of more people. Speaking of which...

ermghoti:

I thought my comments would set off a whole string of posts about how much Meg White sucks. The only people I have ever met that don't like the Stripes are drummers who are jealous that Meg White made it big and they didn't because they are "SO much better than she is". What I didn't expect was for my Vie and Malmsteen analogy to stir up trouble. Malmsteen has made the worst music in the history of the world. The worst album in the history of the world is that one where he's slaying a dragon with his guitar on the cover. David Lee Roth's SOLO stuff sucked ass and so did his guitar player. I once heard that Vie played on some of Zappa's records so maybe there's something decent there (I checked both of my Zappa records and he's not on them) but I doubt it considering the fact that Vie's solo stuff is the second worst music in the history of the world. I would hate to see your record collection.

 

[PhilGood]

ermghoti:

I thought my comments would set off a whole string of posts about how much Meg White sucks. The only people I have ever met that don't like the Stripes are drummers who are jealous that Meg White made it big and they didn't because they are "SO much better than she is". What I didn't expect was for my Vie and Malmsteen analogy to stir up trouble. Malmsteen has made the worst music in the history of the world. The worst album in the history of the world is that one where he's slaying a dragon with his guitar on the cover. David Lee Roth's SOLO stuff sucked ass and so did his guitar player. I once heard that Vie played on some of Zappa's records so maybe there's something decent there (I checked both of my Zappa records and he's not on them) but I doubt it considering the fact that Vie's solo stuff is the second worst music in the history of the world. I would hate to see your record collection.

Meg White sucks - simply because she sucks. The White Stripes suck - simply because they suck! Their success is equal to a painting on a wall in an art gallery that is a red dot on a yellow background and someone says "It's BRILLIANT!!!". Now everyone around that person starts to say "Oh! I see now!! Yes, it's BRILLIANT!!" and then everyone else starts saying the same thing because they don't want to feel left out or feel like an idiot!

Guess what? THE WHITE STRIPES SUCK ASS, BECAUSE THEY SUCK ASS!!

As for you opinion on Via, Roth, etc...

Please don't try and pass off your opinion as truth because it is nothing more than opinion. I could look at a list of your favorite artists and ask "what the hell are you thinking?" just as easy.