pwdmark,
Danny Carey is indeed one of the greats. The other day when I was doing something in the garden he came to mind in reference to this thread, and I forgot to mention him. Tool wouldn't be the band that they are without him.
226 responses Add your response
@chayro - I assume you're a fan of his playing on Phil Manzanera's '801 Live' album? That's what turned me on to how great Simon Phillips was.... |
I never paid much attention to him before, but I developed a newfound appreciation for Simon Phillips. Incredible musical ability, versatility and technique up the kazoo. I hate to compare, but for my money, for guys that play a big kit, I much prefer his playing to Peart’s. Not really fair because I hate Rush’s music. |
@larsman I don't agree with you about other Who records being as drastically different from one another as 'Who Are You' was to The Who's earlier efforts. Anyway, if you like 'Who Are You' that much, then to each his own. |
@goofyfoot - Most of what the Who did was a departure from what they did earlier. 'Tommy' was a departure from 'My Generation', for example. Bands that never depart from a formula will eventually bore their audience as well as themselves. I actually enjoyed 'Who Are You' more than 'Quadrophenia', especially the title track and John Entwistle's numbers. But I always like Entwistle songs! 👍 |
@danager I know Who fans are sensitive about not praising 'Who Are You' but for me, that album was a departure from what The Who did prior. Keith Moon knew he was dying, so a depressing cloud hung over the entire band. Disco was pumping steady and to me, that album reflected the Disco age. Even the Dead went Disco with 'Shakedown Street' and that bothered me deeply. I love 'Quadrophenia' and Criterion did a great job remastering the movie. 'Who Are you' seemed like a sell out by comparison, no pun intended. |
@goofyfoot WHO ARE YOU? No I mean how could not include 1978 "Who Are You" Just the album cover alone. I'm still deeply disturbed even after all these years (Keith Moon's chair reads "Not to be taken away") |
Ringo’s drumming on Rubber Soul is fantastic! So is his drum sound. For whatever reason his playing on Revolver---as well as the sound of his drums---changed dramatically on that album. But then the sound of the whole group had changed too. Another very musical drummer rarely mentioned is Kenny Buttrey, the Nashville studio drummer heard on Dylan’s John Wesley Harding and Neil Young’s Harvest, amongst many others (Blonde On Blonde, Self Portrait, Ringo’s Beaucoup Of Blues. Ringo loves Kenny’s playing). He is also real good at getting a great sound, his 1960’s Sonors sounding fantastic on Harvest. Currently there is Harry Stinson, playing drums and singing harmony in Marty Stuart’s band The Fabulous Superlatives. You can also hear Harry on multitudes of albums recorded in Nashville over the past few decades. He too gets a great sound out of his 1960’s Rogers drums. He is also a studio harmony singer for hire, apart from his drumming. One of the best drummers I’ve heard live is a guy named Jim Christie. I didn’t see him when he was in Dwight Yoakam’s band, but rather with Lucinda Williams. Fantastic! A Jazz drummer out of NYC, he uses his formidable chops in a musical fashion, in service to the song. In the circle I travel in, THAT’S what makes a drummer great. |
In Rock, to me the most musical, melodically that there was is Ringo Starr. he didn't need to be an army marching in on a thunderous, deafening attack. he was just the right drummer for the Beatles. He made it all look simple. I saw the likes of Karl Palmer, Keith Moon, Charlie Watts, Nick Mason, Stewart Copeland, etc., but I still prefer Ringo. |
I started drum lessons at 5 years old in 1967. My parents bought me a set in 1968. I played up through college then gave it up. I liked Jazz more than Rock. My influences were Philly Jo Jones, Art Taylor, Paul Motian and lately Joey Baron. I should clarify, transcribing Joey Baron recordings while playing with Masada, |
Just reading through this list, and some truly amazing talents have been mentioned. More than a few! It gives one pause, as someone who has been a player (and will be returning to the passion soon, as retirement is affording me). But I do need to mention a few more: Louie Bellson (introduced using double bass drums) Gavin Harrison (truly astonishing talent) Steve Gadd (one of the most acclaimed studio drummers, nay musicians ever) Just out of curiosity, how many posters to this thread are, or have been, drummers? Listen well and enjoy it all.
|
There probably should of been another category for jazz/rock & roll. IMO the Grammys are long overdue for change. They actually need a separate category just for Rock. I hated the Pop/Rock category because you'd get an artist like Whitney Houston (nothing against her) beating out every Rock band. Country has their own category. |
Dallas Taylor is underrated. I saw him with CSN and he was very impressive. That being said, the best depends on what you're trying to achieve. If you need a studio drummer and want a platinum or gold record, Gary Chester is a very good choice. Hal Blaine is of course another. For a very musical drummer with great chops, Jim Gordon though it pains me to mention him. For a live show, I would say Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. Also, I saw the Buddy Rich Big Band and as fun as Buddy Rich is to watch, an evening of drum solos can be a bit tiresome. |
"When I saw Keith Moon live in ’68 and ’69, he was incredibly exciting: explosive, dynamic, maniacal. By the end he was so sluggish, so tired, so boring. "Who Are You"? Terrible! Was it the booze and pills? Or age?" So true bdp24. Someone here attached a studio video the other day of Who are You and thought that his playing on that song was brilliant. I thought that it was terrible and boring. He was great in the beginning, or maybe I should say different and very good, but drumming is very physical as well as mental, and he was depleted in both of those arenas, and it really showed as time went on. Live at Leeds was really good, but by the time Who’s Next was recorded, he was already a shadow of his former self. Same thing happened to Phil Collins long before he reached the sorry state he’s in now. Listen to how predictable he is on the Invisible Touch disc. |
@mbennes: Oh man, you are too hip for the room ;-) , Buddy Harman is FANTASTIC, in my all-time Top 10. I’ll bet you and I are the only ones here who know his name. Buddy was the "first call" drummer in Nashville for decades, in effect that city’s Hal Blaine (another great) He can be heard on the recordings of hundreds of singers, including Tammy Wynette and George Jones. His playing on "Stand By Your Man" is SO cool. He invented playing the hi-hat part on the snare drum with a brush, with the 2/4 backbeat played "cross-stick". Of course, it can be argued that Buddy was not a Rock drummer. Rock ’n’ Roll, yes. What’s the difference? Rock ’n’ Roll swings, Rock doesn’t. As an illustration, listen to Ringo’s playing when he joins The Band onstage for the last song in The Last Waltz concert segment, Dylan’s "I Shall Be Released". See how slow, plodding, and ponderous is his playing? Now listen to Levon Helm; nimble, light on his feet, like Fred Astaire dancing. Listen to Levon’s drumming on Clapton’s cover of Bobby Blue Bland’s "Further On Up The Road"; he swings SO hard! Like a Jazz drummer, but with a 2/4 backbeat. Rock ’n’ Roll, baby! When I saw Keith Moon live in ’68 and ’69, he was incredibly exciting: explosive, dynamic, maniacal. By the end he was so sluggish, so tired, so boring. "Who Are You"? Terrible! Was it the booze and pills? Or age? John Bonham played his kick drum in the "bury the beater in the head" style. In other words, not letting the bass drum beater rebound off the batter head. The effect that creates is to make each bar in the music feel separate---the music seems to come to a halt at the end of each bar, starting up again for the next. The music has no natural flow, no movement and momentum. Robert Plant would definitely not have Bonham playing on his records with Alison Krauss, nor would she let him ;-) . |
Well, when my brother took lessons from Gene Krupa and Cozy Cole in NYC at their studio in the late 1950's, they said that at 16, he was much better than either of them were at that age. Unfortunately, college and a degree in Theoretical Nuclear Physics called, so he quit. They did carry him out to the 50-yard-line when Queen Elizabeth came to his college (William & Mary) his freshman year so he could play a solo with the marching band at half-time. (Yes, I have photographs for those non-believers out there.)
But I digress. Don Henley plays and SINGS at the same time. If you think THAT is easy, TRY IT. As far as Ringo, well, he was amazing at what he did with the Beatles, but greatest of all time? I have no idea. Playing drums is a skill that takes years of practice. Bashing out slams on skins doesn't make one a drummer/percussionist. Drummers and bass players make rock music rock, so I would say anyone who fits the band and music is pretty darn good. Watts was amazing at "driving" the Stones style and making it special, but so was James Brown's various drummers, so...pick your poison, I guess. |
Keith Moon lived such an outrageous life, he would have re-learn how to play the drums before recording the later albums. As good as Bonham is, he was not as fearless as Moon. It is true that Moon would play over things that most session drummers would dare not try. It's something only novices attempt. But he's fearless...he made it work and The Who's style allowed for it. There is more consistent badass style with Bonham from song to song. But Moon gives me goosebumps on just the few songs he's great at. Best Rock Drummer is a really fun...but it's a joke. Everyone has their great moments and made their contributions. They're all great. I think Ringo is fantastic...it took me a long time to realize that he simply deferred to the music. He was also mire influential than Buddy Rich to aspiring drummers.
|
Keith Moon, John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell. No one could touch Moon…saw all 3’of these guys and so many more. iIn addition to The Who tracks mentioned in this thread, listed to the Underture on the “Tommy” rock opera…best rock drumming I have ever heard on a recording… Had the pleasure to see him with The Who 8 times…unbelievable |
"There were no great Rock drummers before Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, and Keith Moon". Wow, such unashamed ignorance. So no Earl Palmer (Little Richard)? D.J. Fontana (Elvis Presley)? Fred Below? Below was the house drummer at Chess Records, playing on the recordings of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, etc. Is was he---as well as Palmer and Fontana---younger Rockers listened to to learn how to play Rock 'n' Roll. I could name a dozen more. |
Really now ..... https://drummagazine.com/60-best-rock-drummers-of-all-time/
|
@teo_audio + 1
|
