Greatest Rock Drummers

I would agree the various studio drummers listed above are probably the greatest overall drummers recorded (Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Jim Keltner, etc.). Yes some will go on tour  with certain acts (James Taylor/Steve Gadd), but I don't think they are correctly classified as "rock" drummers. I saw The Killers this weekend. The Killers’ Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. rocked his drums for 2+ hours non-stop. Terrific show--I highly recommend it. Is he the greatest rock drummer ever? I doubt it. Do we know who was or is? No. Does Vannucci play with power, speed, and creativity plus know what a rock drummer needs to do in concert to make the audience feel good about spending big money to be there? Yep.  
 

I just saw Keith Carlock playing with Steely Dan last night in Dallas. It was the finest drum kit performance I have seen live that wasn't straight ahead jazz. His Aja solo was terrific and his own. It paid homage to Steve Gadd without sounding like Gadd. Carlock is 47 years old. Worth seeing if you get the chance.  

@reubent SD's band was the best group of musicians I have seen in a live performance (again jazz excepted). Fagen's voice is struggling; but the band and the backup singers so strong that it wasn't that big of a deal. "Ready" Freddy Cunningham played bass all night with the exception of "Peg" when they brought out Chuck Rainey, who did great. He lives in Dallas--I doubt they are doing that cameo anywhere else. I recommend you see the show. Harrington killed all the guitar parts; it is hard to be too superlative about his chops.