Best Rock Drummers

Drubin,

Dave Mattacks (Richard Thompson's usual drummer) is no slouch, either.

Marty

Most of my "A" list has aready been cited here, but three guys who've had my attention of late because they're on records that have recently been in heavy rotation in my home/car and haven't yet been mentioned:

(Two are at the "edges" of rock, but I think they qualify.)

Winston Grennan of Kid Creole. He is often credited (along with Carlton Barrett) for developing the one drop rythm that - essentially - defines reggae. His playing is great, but it's sometimes lost in the mix because the band also features a percussionist and a vibrophonist making it a bit hard to quickly identify who is contributing what from that fantastic rythm section.

Taku Hirano of Fleetwood Mac/Lindsey Buckingham. He's the guy pounding that Japanese War Drum during Tusk. He couples interesting ideas, power and a machine-like precision that brings Bruford to mind. Again, he sometimes gets (literally) lost behind Mick Fleetwood (has he been mentioned yet?) because his kit is set up off-stage at Mac concerts.

Jean Yves Tola of 16 Horsepower. Just an eccentric player and his drumming really defines the band's sound.

Marty

Mmitch

Seraphine has a new band called California Transport Authority (CTA - get it?). I saw them open locally for Taj Mahal. They were great and he was all over his kit. Their music was more like Chicago I than anything else I recall from that band. You might want to check them out.

Marty

When drummers have too much time on their hands .... still worth watching (I think).

http://comedy.video.yahoo.com/?l=3774740&v=7616118

Marty

Philo,

I saw the Ginger Baker documentary, too, and it's clear that there's just something wrong with the guy. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I actually laughed when Ginger hit the interviewer with his cane at the end. They'd just spent several months together and seemed to have bonded (a bit), when Baker hauls off and whacks him. The poor guy just stands there bleeding and staring. It was awful and really not funny, but it was also just too bizarre for words.

OTOH, while Ginger Baker may be a pretty ugly human being, he can sure play the drums.

BTW, another name for this thread is Anton Fier of The Feelies and, later, The Golden Palominos. He was always providing interest and unexpected rhythmic flourishes for both of those bands.