Whos the better Drummer?

[VOXVENDOR]

Re: yesss......

They are different drummers, different music, etc....this is why I think that it's useless compaing 'who's better?'

I hate this excuse.... yes it's different styles, but Drumming is drumming, and of course they can be compared...

I can put a brand new Pick up Truck in Front of you, and then a Brand New Caddy.....In front of you

Yeah they are different "styles", but you can still compare them and come to the conclusion that the caddy rides nicer and has leather seats and climate control.....

You following me.....

 

[charger]

Regatta de Blanc, So Lonely, oh my god, there are so many great Police songs. And off the top of my head, I can't pick one that Stewart Copeland doesn't excel on. I picked Roxanne because it's their first single, and consequently it's the first Police song I heard. But there are so many great ones...

Seriously folks, voxvendor is never going to think SC's a better drummer than AVH, and I don't think there's a magic song that will do it. I heard it on Roxanne, the first time I heard the Police, and if you don't hear it there, you just don't hear it. There are other songs that are more complex and more in the pocket, but he was a great drummer already, and he only got better.

In fact, listening to it now, it's brilliant. The ride/tom pattern in the verses, his accents, his use of dynamics, goddam I wish he was my drummer.

 

[elevate]

Voxvendor - I just listened to Amsterdam, and let me start by saying that song may have the best groove of any Van Halen song in the post David Lee Roth era. I figure what you think is unique about AVH's playing on this song is his hihat/cymbal work, and it is pretty cool. But we're comparing him to Stewart Copeland, the renowned master of the hats. Peter Gabriel hired him just to play hihats on Passion (an incredible album BTW), an album featuring a slew of drumming/percussion masters, including Billy Cobham and Manu Katché.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Poundcake was on For Unlawful Carnal Knowlege. Which was the Best work by that band.

I still vote for the Irish Reggae drummer. I wonder if AVH can even play double triplets, without going into a roll.

By the way dont even compare him to Bonham. Jason even Kicks his ass.

 

[elevate]

still vote for the Irish Reggae drummer.

Who's Irish?

 

[VOXVENDOR]

Seriously folks, voxvendor is never going to think SC's a better drummer than AVH, and I don't think there's a magic song that will do it

Very True... Human nature I guess... Once you get a preference in your head......

 

[Whoopysnorp]

My personal favorite example of why I love Stewart Copeland is 'Driven to Tears'...the drumming in it is a lot more interesting than the drumming in 'Roxanne', even though I love that song too.

 

[Stealthtech]

Im a rocker and always enjoyed the Halens. I have to go with Alex. Yes Copeland is creative, but police was never in the CD player at a kickass party. Or to my knowledge, never requested at some gigs I've played. Im talkin early 80's. But Im not knockin the police, they were a great and talented band.

 

[elevate]

Wait a second. Did you just say that AVH is a better drummer because you were never at a party that had the Police as background music?

 

[Stealthtech]

Wait a second. Did you just say that AVH is a better drummer because you were never at a party that had the Police as background music?

No, I never said he was a better drummer. I just don’t remember the police being requested at parties. Of course these were beer drinking, pot smoking, cocaine snorting, acid dropping, fuck your girlfriend in the bathroom parties. All I remember is the heavy party bands like, VanHalen, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, AC/DC and such. Perhaps there was a song or 2 by police and I was just to stoned to notice it but I don’t recall. But again, I’m not knockin Copeland, he was a fine drummer. I still own 3 or 4 old cassettes, getting squeaky though. I’ve been playing drums for 27yrs. and can recall many o times sittin behind the kit and jammin to some police. In fact, this is how I became such a versatile drummer, by jamming along with percussionist as such. In particular, Neil Peart, who will always be my favorite.

 

[elevate]

Heh, ok. I understand what you're saying. I too am a better drummer for spending every afternoon after high school trying to play along with Exit...Stage Left, Synchronicity, etc..

 

[Kclark01]

I'm not a drummer, but I don't personally think Alex Van Halen belongs in the same sentence, no matter the context, as Mr. Copeland....Mr. Copeland and Mr. Peart would be an interesting comparison on many levels, and I wouldn't give either the "edge"...I'd just wax poetic about the merits of each.

If you're looking to compare strictly "rock" drummers, you can start with Mr. Bonham and then scratch everyone else off your list...and I wouldn't even put Mr. Van Halen on the list to begin with. Just my opinion.

 

[MightyOne]

I'm thinking Matt Cameron would be a better comparison to Copeland.
With Soundgarden Matt Cameron played unbelievably complicated arrangements and made them sound so natural that only musicians would say, "how in the hell". Non-musicians just heard it rock.
AVH is not even in the same league.

 

[Pinky]

I think someone voted for Alex out of pity

 

[KarnEvil]

Just picked up Bruford - One of a Kind. This was Bill Bruford's solo project back in '79. Simply awesome. Let's not also forget Carl Palmer from ELP.

AVH - The guy can lay down one hell of a rock groove. Copeland - A true artist of the contraption.

Comparing the two? You can't. The frame of references here are miles apart. They are both awesome at what they do.

There are so many variables to depicting the quality of a drummer with the most important variable being listener preference.

I think both AVH and Copeland are better. AVH fits my rockin groove tastes, Copeland handles the funkier grooves with such fantastic hand work, Bruford (and Matt Cameron) handle the more musical approach to drumming, Peart fits my tastes of a superbly technical and flawless performer (although Rush's last few albums have kinda moved off the technical side), just to name a few... We all have our own list!

I guess if your hell-bent on getting an answer, maybe try playing along (on the drums) with Hot For Teacher - 1984 and then wip out One World - Ghost in the Machine and try to pull off that groove Copeland lays down. Which ever one takes you longer to figure out (fills, proper groove, and all - not just playing the 'beat', but protraying the feel in each case) - let that be your answer. heehee

Call me crazy -
Dave

P.S. I find HFT much easier...

 

[Village Idiot]

I saw Stuart Copeland a few years back, touring with a bunch of Percussionists from 3rd world countires.

Just an amazing display of Drumming, Percussiveness, and all-around superb musicianship.

No way can Alex Van Halen do anything on the drums or percussion that would rivet me like what I saw Stu do..

Alex is a very good rock drummer, "Hot For Teacher" is a great multi-tracked intro, but he is no Ian Paice, if you wanna compare Metal Drummers to Metal Drummers....

And I just came back from a Billy Cobham clinic last week.
Billy reminded me through this performence at this clinic why I still suck after 30 years on the Drums.
Absolute Brilliant Drummer.

VI

 

[saxman72]

Who's the better guitarist: Satriani or Segovia? Niether one is better. They're both great and they do two different things.

Who's the better bass player: Jaco or Paul McCartney? If you think you have an answer to that You're Wrong! Niether one could fill the other's shoes and hardly anyone ever could fill half of either's. Sure Jaco could have played every note that Paul ever did and Paul wouldn't be able to do the opposite, but that doesn't mean that Jaco's better. Technically more proficient? Sure, you bet. But that still doesn't make him better. (And I'm not saying that Paul is better either)

I don't think we'd want to hear Copeland play with Van Halen, and I don't want to hear AVH play Police songs.

People have mentioned some great drummers here and I want to add one more... You know who can cop AVH and probably come pretty close to Copeland?... Gregg Bisonette... Most people know him for his rock stuff, but he's also one hell of a jazz/fusion guy. Maybe not in the same class as Steve Smith, Steve Gadd, or Vinnie Colaiuta, but pretty damn close.

Enough... It's 5 am here! Time for bed!...

 

[Newest User]

I can't vote!

Ive started playing drums in 1973 and tooks lesson all the way up to high school. One thing Ive learned is that a drummers true ability may not be what is portrayed on specific albums because the drummer matches the genre if you will of the band he is in. For instance my best friend did an album that was straight forward 70ish classic rock. The drums were very simple and easy by any standard. If you were to hear the album you would probably yawn because of the drums. On the other hand, I had heard him warm up and saw him many times at rehearsals. His abilities in reality were astonishing in compared to the record. The Drummers name is Jon Belcher http://www.drumsetworkouts.com/textmain.htm
If you would like to email him about his work with Legal Tender is Seattle feel free to do so. The same goes for my friend Brian Smith, one time drummer for a metal band I was in. We played metal, he expertise was jazz, he did his job like I did mine. I like the different flavors and colors that exists in the percussion world.

Peace,
Dennis

 

[sessionselect]

Alex Van Halen is an underrated rock drummer. He has created many great drum parts.

first of all, there's no such thing as an underated rock drummer. Rock is as basic as drumming gets. Yes there are wonderful rock drummers but a lot of rock drummers do what sounds cool instead what is musical.

by the way......stuart rules...........there shouldn't even be a debate....he actually plays with musicallity instead of balls to the wall drumming.

 

[jitteringjim]

From Sonusman:

I will go with AVH!!!

Oh Ed, you have so disappointed me, my recording guru/icon.

Stewart Copeland waxes AVH, hands down.
And yes, I owned every VH album through 5150. No VH in my home now, but I do own the Police box set - no doubt mainly due to Copeland's drumming. Complex, yet subdued & tasteful.

*sigh*