The Greatest Drummer Thread

[Jeffrey]

My ranking:

1. Keith Moon
2. John Bonham
3. Neil Peart
4. Buddy Rich
5. Billy Cobham

[-jk]

My son would insist on adding Stewart Copeland.

-jk

[nmduke2001]

Not sure where they rank, but I like:
Phil Collins
Sheila E.

[brevity]

I was wondering when we would get around to drummers.

6324

There's something to be said for longevity. See him drum battle against Buddy Rich in 1981 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bX7j9Sv8n0) and Dave Grohl in 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AZz9TSjZCM).

[devildeac]

My ranking:

1. Keith Moon
2. John Bonham
3. Neil Peart
4. Buddy Rich
5. Billy Cobham

Add Gene Krupa.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9J5Zt2Obko

[captmojo]

My ranking:

1. Keith Moon
2. John Bonham
3. Neil Peart
4. Buddy Rich
5. Billy Cobham

#3! He can keep time and can lead any type ever written. Peart Rules!

And, his hero is #1

[Tripping William]

The Nate James of drummers: Carter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faMpaadauiI) Effing Beauford (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uftARK21gYQ).

[91devil]

Can we include Marching Band Drummers?

[JNort]

What determines "best" drummer?

[OldPhiKap]

What determines "best" drummer?

If we determine who is "best" by name, the answer is clearly "Pete."

Carl Palmer needs to be on a list if not already.

[mattman91]

Travis Effin' Barker.

[Jeffrey]

Add Gene Krupa.



I strongly agree and was merely trying to narrow it to my top 5. I gave the spot to Buddy Rich, but Gene Krupa and Max Roach are very worthy of consideration.

[luburch]

Travis Effin' Barker.

I second and third this.

[Devilwin]

John Bonham
Keith Moon
Ringo Starr

[wilson]

I was wondering when we would get around to drummers.

6324

There's something to be said for longevity. See him drum battle against Buddy Rich in 1981 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bX7j9Sv8n0) and Dave Grohl in 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AZz9TSjZCM).Came here to say this. There's Animal, and then there's everyone else.

[devildeac]

I strongly agree and was merely trying to narrow it to my top 5. I gave the spot to Buddy Rich, but Gene Krupa and Max Roach are very worthy of consideration.

I thought all these lists were ten-sies :o .

From the couple clips I've seen/heard of Rich vs Krupa, I'd agree.

I'm waiting for the keyboard thread in a week or two. Then the bass (not fishing or singing) thread. Then the violin thread, Then the, oh, never mind :o .

[Edouble]

If we determine who is "best" by name, the answer is clearly "Pete."

Ha! Clever! :rolleyes:

Most of the best drummers aren't rockers, IMHO

1. Steve Gadd
2. Tony Williams

(much further down)
3. John Bonham
4. Elvin Jones
5. Roy Haynes
6. Art Blakey
7. Johnny Vidakovich
8. Mitch Mitchell
9. Billy Cobham
10. Brad Wilk

[JNort]

I'm good with Travis Barker and John Hawley

[Duke79UNLV77]

#3! He can keep time and can lead any type ever written. Peart Rules!

And, his hero is #1

Peart in a league of his own, except for Animal. Would love to see a drum-off between them. There must be 3 of Peart on stage. Not only was Peart a huge Keith Moon fan, but he also has called Krupa the "first rock drummer" and played with the Buddy Rich Band for its scholarship benefit and put out a couple of tribute albums with them.

[drummerdevil]

John Bonham
Keith Moon
Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr? Ringo Starr was awful!

[Tommac]

#3! He can keep time and can lead any type ever written. Peart Rules!

And, his hero is #1

I agree with Neil Peart of Rush. His name was the first that came to my mind.

[ricks68]

Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello.

ricks

[OldPhiKap]

Ringo Starr? Ringo Starr was awful!

I heard an interview with Carl Palmer once, and the interviewer made some sort of snide comment about Ringo. Carl's response was that "Ringo was perfect for that band." Also said (IIRC) that although he is right-handed, he has his kit set up in a left-handed arrangement which probably adds to his peculiar style.

I'm not arguing that Ringo is in the top ten by any stretch. But I thought Carl's observation was worth passing on here FWIW.

[Edouble]

Ringo Starr? Ringo Starr was awful!

He's not inept, he's just not Keith Moon. He played tasteful drums for a couple of great songwriters. He's no worse than a host of other rock/pop drummers.


I heard an interview with Carl Palmer once, and the interviewer made some sort of snide comment about Ringo. Carl's response was that "Ringo was perfect for that band." Also said (IIRC) that although he is right-handed, he has his kit set up in a left-handed arrangement which probably adds to his peculiar style.

I'm not arguing that Ringo is in the top ten by any stretch. But I thought Carl's observation was worth passing on here FWIW.

Reverse that. He's left handed with a right handed kit.

[OldPhiKap]

Reverse that. He's left handed with a right handed kit.

I'm left-handed; I reverse a lot of things. (Some say it is mild dyslexia; I say it's creative interpretation of data)

[cspan37421]

I can't disagree that Peart, Bonham, Moon really belong on the Mt. Rushmore of rock drummers.

Some dark horse candidates whose work I admire:

Torry Castellano of the Donnas (retired)
Janet Weiss - of Sleater Kinney and Wild Flag
women in rock often unfairly get short shrift, and these two deserve notice (Torry's best work came late in her Donnas tenure, as she was self taught ... which may have also led to her retirement from recurring wrist injury).

Matt Cameron - Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Need I say more? Well, OK: according to Crowe's Pearl Jam documentary, when he joined Pearl Jam (initially to tour), he had to learn 80 of their songs in 2 weeks.
Randy Guss - of Toad the Wet Sprocket. Dude has been bringing it for decades despite battling osteogenesis imperfecta. He's not flashy but he's (ironically) solid. And I mean that. I met him a couple years ago, and he almost crushed my hand in a handshake.
Tré Cool - Green Day, and a bunch of other punk drummers who can play at 184 bpm or thereabouts.


Honorable mention:
Butch Vig of Garbage. If you think grunge can't mix with electronica, you need to check out Garbage. Even if you don't care for his drumming or Garbage's music, you have to respect Vig's producer cred - having worked as a producer with Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, L7, and many others.

[BandAlum83]

Can we include Marching Band Drummers?

Are you nominating me?

[BandAlum83]

Ringo Starr? Ringo Starr was awful!

He wasn't awful, he was serviceable and basic.

Buddy Rich
Gene Krupa

Yes, definitely!

But I can't believe I haven't seen Carl Palmer mentioned:

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Toccata
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6vN9nadqtQ&index=13&list=RDSlh3qS0Jp88)

He was an incredible drummer AND percussionist

[devildeac]

He's not inept, he's just not Keith Moon. He played tasteful drums for a couple of great songwriters. He's no worse than a host of other rock/pop drummers.



Reverse that. He's left handed with a right handed kit.


I'm left-handed; I reverse a lot of things. (Some say it is mild dyslexia; I say it's creative interpretation of data)

I got y'all beat: I'm amphibious. :o

[moonpie23]

Ringo Starr? Ringo Starr was awful!

absolutely INCORRECT...



1 -gene krupa
2 buddy rich
3 kenny aronoff


others...
john bonham
ringo star
max weinberg
matt chamberlain
DJ Fontana
liberty divito
matt sorum
max roach


this could be a huge list....

[91devil]

Are you nominating me?

I am nominating me.

[JNort]

He has only done covers so far but this guy is good. Still young so maybe he will break out one day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDboj9q_zSc

[Jarhead]

Don Henly

[OldPhiKap]

Levon Helms. Not flash, just right.

And a guy who does not get the credit he deserves -- Topper Headon, the heart of The Only Band That Matters.

[moonpie23]

sammy davis jr wasn't a slouch...

[killerleft]

This thread now has been authenticated. Let the Cream rise to the top?

I saw Buddy Rich play in a college cafeteria at Jax State in Alabama in 1973. Dr. John was the headliner, but Rich was amazing. The crowd initially didn't want to like the egotistical guy in his mid-fifties, but he was savvy enough to win us over.

[BandAlum83]

I am nominating me.

Snare, class of 83. You?

[Tommac]

Levon Helms. Not flash, just right.

And a guy who does not get the credit he deserves -- Topper Headon, the heart of The Only Band That Matters.

I had forgotten about Levon Helms. He's one of my favorite performers, just to hear his voice. His drumming style was perfect for The Band and his later solo work. Thanks for remembering him.

[Indoor66]

# 1 = Buddy Rich

# 2 = Gene Krupa

List Over. Go listen to each on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ5B7yqDYbA)

[91devil]

Snare, class of 83. You?

Sweet, snare drum Class of 1991.

[Dev11]

I'm waiting for the keyboard thread in a week or two. Then the bass (not fishing or singing) thread. Then the violin thread, Then the, oh, never mind :o .

I'm only jumping head first into these music arguments when we get to the mandolin thread.

To stay on topic, let me just say that Keith Moon was pretty swell.

[BandAlum83]

I'm only jumping head first into these music arguments when we get to the mandolin thread.

To stay on topic, let me just say that Keith Moon was pretty swell.

The ukulele doesn't get the respect it deserves!

100 Rock Riffs Go Ukulele (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LiSwzdinpfY)

[ncexnyc]

Alex Van Halen, the opening for Hots for Teacher, pays homage to the greats from a bygone era.

Rick Allen, I mean the dude rocks with just one arm.

[captmojo]

I consider the discussion closed....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgm8Cp7iEP8

[Highlander]

I consider the discussion closed...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgm8Cp7iEP8

Any list of the greatest drummers of all time that does not include Neil Peart is not worth the paper it's printed on.

[Edouble]

Any list of the greatest drummers of all time that does not include Neil Peart is not worth the paper it's printed on.

It's all a matter of opinion. I feel the same way about Steve Gadd, who is the most recorded drummer in history, who can play any style as well as anyone on this list, and who invented linear drumming.

But I'm the only one that has mentioned him so far.

[Duke79UNLV77]

It's all a matter of opinion. I feel the same way about Steve Gadd, who is the most recorded drummer in history, who can play any style as well as anyone on this list, and who invented linear drumming.

But I'm the only one that has mentioned him so far.

Steve Gadd and Neil Peart both deserve to be high on the list, so make that a second vote for "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."

[devilish]

Jeff Sipe of Aquarium Rescue Unit and Leftover Salmon fame. Now performing more Jazz style in the Jeff Sipe Trio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BVEvaAs2F8

[wilko]

Ringo Starr? Ringo Starr was awful!

Ringo knew well enough to get out of the way...


Cant Forget - Karen Carpenter

[moonpie23]

i urge you all to check out Kenny Aronoff's discography.. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Aronoff)..You've all seen him playing with some of your favorite bands, you just didn't know who he was..


kenny is the guy that can play every thing with every band and serve that band...he's one of the (of not THE ) most sought out session drummers in the world...

check him out paying homage to buddy rich (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUIcQCP5c6c)

[moonpie23]

Ringo knew well enough to get out of the way...




that's a bit of a negative way to compliment him for knowing what NOT to play...


ringo is one of the best back-beat drummers in rock's history....

[captmojo]

Ringo knew well enough to get out of the way...


Cant Forget - Karen Carpenter


that's a bit of a negative way to compliment him for knowing what NOT to play...


ringo is one of the best back-beat drummers in rock's history...

Sometimes it's as important to remember what NOT to play, as well as what IS played.

[burnspbesq]

Art Blakey
Elvin Jones
Tony Williams
There is no number four

[OldPhiKap]

Jeff Sipe of Aquarium Rescue Unit and Leftover Salmon fame. Now performing more Jazz style in the Jeff Sipe Trio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BVEvaAs2F8

Every member of AQR was staggeringly good. I'm basically frightened to even think about it.