Top Five Drummers

[tivodan1116]

Ok, just for fun, I have compiled a list of what I consider to be the top 5 drummers in music. As I do not want to restrict the discussion, we'll just say that:
Top 5 Drummers in Music

Take that to mean whatever you want.

Here is my list, along with their major work (where you'll "know" them from primarily) and a justification for each one.

In no particular order:

Keith Moon - The Who - Known for an innovative style, the first drummer to really use the drums as a lead instrument instead of just the rhythm section. Some of his best work comes throughout "Tommy", not to mention the exquisite drum line on "Won't Get Fooled Again". Also see the 5 minutes of total f*cking insanity on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour - the infamous drum explosion incident during the performance of "My Generation" typified Moon's hard-charging, party all the time attitude.

John Bonham - Led Zeppelin - Called by Encyclopedia Brittanica the "model for all modern heavy metal and hard rock drummers that have followed him," Bonham's powering rhythms were a driving force in what is easily regarded as the greatest rock band of all time. He always used the absolute largest drum sticks available ("trees") and the effect can be seen in songs such as "The Immigrant Song" and "Misty Mountain Hop", but especially on "Moby Dick".

Mitch Mitchell - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Pioneer of the style of drumming known as "fusion" while incidentally still using a "classic" style of stick-holding, Mitchell was Hendrix's greatest collaborator. Listen to the truly ferocious line on "Fire", the plodding, complex rhythms in "Manic Depression" or the over-the-top drums of "Third Rock from the Sun" and you'll know why. "Fire", I think also exemplifies how we know Mitchell is so good - There is a lot to be said for the fact that the drums totally control and drive that song, despite the fact that they are sharing the stage with the greatest guitar player of all time. The fact that you even NOTICE there are drums in a Hendrix song is a tribute to Mitchell's work.

Neil Peart - Rush - Possibly the best technical drummer of all time. Convincingly plays anything, any type of rhythm or lead, at any time. Considered by many to be his masterpiece, "Tom Sawyer" only scratches the surface of his work. Two songs with extended instrumentals, "Red Barchetta" and "The Trees" allow the listener to be drawn in by the combination of sounds, but it is the drums that do their most hypnotic work. Rush's complex multiple time signatures and tempos are carried distinctively by the best Canadian import since beaver pelts.

Charlie Watts - The Rolling Stones - The drummer against whom everyone else has been measured for almost fifty years. Notable for his quietness (maybe just from standing next to Mick and Keith for all these years) as much as his drumming. Interestingly enough, never tunes his drums, preferring a natural tonal quality. Listen to Watts' work on "Paint it Black," "Tumbling Dice," and of course, "Sympathy for the Devil" and you'll hear a drummer that always keeps perfect time. When you've spent the better part of a century staring at Mick Jagger's ass, that's saying something.



There you go. Flame away

[Clarence]

I've never heard Watts on this list. Not to say he's undeserving. He is remarkable after you've made a point to listen. That's part of the charm I suppose. He's probably the most professional in the band. If you see the stones live today, you will mostly be hearing surrogates and backups who hold the rickety mess together for keith ron and mick but charley is the still the backbone. good choice

I'll add Lars Ulrich. ...and Justice for All is his best album IMO.

[Praxius]

Best Drummer in todays age?


Jeff Burrows, former drummer for The Tea Party. His biggest influence was the drummer from Rush, Neil Peart.

A perfect example of "The Octopus's" expertise can be seen in the music video "Save Me" which was on The Tea Party's first official commercial album. A band which hasn't gotten much global notice compared to some other bands, but also seriously under rated. TTP were picked up exceptionally well in Australia where they are apparently as big as U2 there, while here in Canada, only made moderate sucesses.

Jeff Burrows is currently in the works with a new band which will consist of additional members as the following:

• former I Mother Earth frontman Edwin
• former Our Lady Peace guitarist Mike Turner
• and Zygote bassist Amir Epstein.

I imagine this new band will be quite the eye opener based on the available talents which are coming together.

Top 5? Just Jeff Burrows and Neil Peart come to mind.

[brien]

I agree with some of your picks Dan. But I would certainly add:

Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa's Biography

Gene has often been considered to be the first drum "soloist." Drummers usually had been strictly time-keepers or noisemakers, but Krupa interacted with the other musicians and introduced the extended drum solo into jazz. His goal was to support the other musicians while creating his own role within the group. Gene is also considered the father of the modern drumset since he convinced H.H. Slingerland, of Slingerland Drums, to make tuneable tom-toms. Tom-toms up to that point had "tacked" heads, which left little ability to change the sound. The new drum design was introduced in 1936 and was termed "Seperate Tension Tunable Tom-Toms." Gene was a loyal endorser of Slingerland Drums from 1936 until his death. Krupa was called on by Avedis Zildjian to help with developing the modern hi-hat cymbals. The original hi-hat was called a "low-boy" which was a floor level cymbal setup which was played with the foot. This arrangement made it nearly impossible for stick playing. Gene's first recording session was a historical one. It occured in December of 1927 when he is noted to be the first drummer to record with a bass drum

[nerdvincent]

For me:
-Billie Cobham
-Mike Portnoy
-Tony William
-Neil Peart
-Bill Bruford
The best drummers are in the Jazz Fusion style, not Rock.

[Praxius]

Not Rock? Well Burrows is mainly Rock style, but through The Tea Party's era, they have been a fusion of Classic and Modern rock, with middle-eastern style and folk.

Jeff Burrows begun drumming at eleven years of age and professionally so since 1990 when he joined childhood friends Jeff Martin and Stuart Chatwood in forming The Tea Party. Burrows' style is influenced by jazz drummers including Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Max Roach, as well as rock drummers Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland.

Jeff Burrows - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh well there ya go... Jazz influences as well

[Dieval]

Quote by: tivodan1116 Ok, just for fun, I have compiled a list of what I consider to be the top 5 drummers in music. As I do not want to restrict the discussion, we'll just say that: Top 5 Drummers in Music Take that to mean whatever you want. Here is my list, along with their major work (where you'll "know" them from primarily) and a justification for each one. In no particular order: Keith Moon - The Who - Known for an innovative style, the first drummer to really use the drums as a lead instrument instead of just the rhythm section. Some of his best work comes throughout "Tommy", not to mention the exquisite drum line on "Won't Get Fooled Again". Also see the 5 minutes of total f*cking insanity on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour - the infamous drum explosion incident during the performance of "My Generation" typified Moon's hard-charging, party all the time attitude. John Bonham - Led Zeppelin - Called by Encyclopedia Brittanica the "model for all modern heavy metal and hard rock drummers that have followed him," Bonham's powering rhythms were a driving force in what is easily regarded as the greatest rock band of all time. He always used the absolute largest drum sticks available ("trees") and the effect can be seen in songs such as "The Immigrant Song" and "Misty Mountain Hop", but especially on "Moby Dick". Mitch Mitchell - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Pioneer of the style of drumming known as "fusion" while incidentally still using a "classic" style of stick-holding, Mitchell was Hendrix's greatest collaborator. Listen to the truly ferocious line on "Fire", the plodding, complex rhythms in "Manic Depression" or the over-the-top drums of "Third Rock from the Sun" and you'll know why. "Fire", I think also exemplifies how we know Mitchell is so good - There is a lot to be said for the fact that the drums totally control and drive that song, despite the fact that they are sharing the stage with the greatest guitar player of all time. The fact that you even NOTICE there are drums in a Hendrix song is a tribute to Mitchell's work. Neil Peart - Rush - Possibly the best technical drummer of all time. Convincingly plays anything, any type of rhythm or lead, at any time. Considered by many to be his masterpiece, "Tom Sawyer" only scratches the surface of his work. Two songs with extended instrumentals, "Red Barchetta" and "The Trees" allow the listener to be drawn in by the combination of sounds, but it is the drums that do their most hypnotic work. Rush's complex multiple time signatures and tempos are carried distinctively by the best Canadian import since beaver pelts. Charlie Watts - The Rolling Stones - The drummer against whom everyone else has been measured for almost fifty years. Notable for his quietness (maybe just from standing next to Mick and Keith for all these years) as much as his drumming. Interestingly enough, never tunes his drums, preferring a natural tonal quality. Listen to Watts' work on "Paint it Black," "Tumbling Dice," and of course, "Sympathy for the Devil" and you'll hear a drummer that always keeps perfect time. When you've spent the better part of a century staring at Mick Jagger's ass, that's saying something. There you go. Flame away

I'd go along with -
Neil Peart - Rush (I've seen Rush a few times and Neil GREAT!)
John Bonham - Led Zeppelin

Funny how no one from today's music made it in your top 5...oh wait, no one uses the drums any more

[Osborn F Enready]

I would have to, I mean HAVE to include Lars Ulrich, and John Bonham.

[Rainbow]

Top Five Drummers

- Bonham (John)
- Cobham (Billy)
- Rich (Buddy)

[another day]

hell yeah for mitch mitchell.

[jose]

anyone heared of ginger baker?
YouTube - Ginger Baker Drum Solo Toad, 1968, full vid, less pixelated

[Clarence]

yeah ginger baker too. Cream had a reunion recently. I guess they sounded just like they did 40+ years ago with just a couple hours practice

[Rainbow]

Quote by: jose anyone heared of ginger baker?

I forgot that guy. Sorry :-)
G. Baker was beyond any form of rock. I think he was closer to jazz, instead.

[Jack]

I guess I'm alone in my enjoyment of Carl Palmer. I wouldn't nominate him for "the greatest", but both he and Phil Collins are certainly talented.

[Milton Bradley]

I have alwats been partial to Ginger Baker, and John Bonham myself.


Oddly, even though I used to play the drums, my list never went all the way down to top five.

[nerdvincent]

Carl Palmer is a very good one too. You like prog rock?

[Zeebadee]

How about Dave Garibaldi of Tower of Power?

[nerdvincent]

Haven't heard of him. What kind of music is it?

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: nerdvincent Haven't heard of him. What kind of music is it?

I don't know, never listened to it. I went to school with the guy, have been told he's a world-class drummer. Just wondered if anyone believes that.

[Zhavric]

The fact that no one has mentioned Dave Groll of the Foo Fighters / Queens of the Stone Age is nothing short of a crisis. While I don't believe he's the greatest drummer of all time, he's certainly top 5 worthy. Nor have I ever been terribly impressed with Charlie Watts.