transaudio (and anyone else interested), there is an instructional video wherein Jeff Porcaro sits at a drumkit, explaining and displaying how he came up with his part in "Roseanna". Brilliant! Jeff's playing in Boz Scaggs' "Lido Shuffle" is legendary. A great, great drummer. Too bad about Toto though ;-).
Greatest Rock Drummers
Given the subject line many names come to mind such as Ginger Baker, Keith Moon, Phil Collins and Carl Palmer but, is Neil Peart the greatest rock drummer of all time?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSToKcbWz1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSToKcbWz1k
231 responses Add your response
Ok, since this list has broken down into different genres here are some not mentioned..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aiY9lrIklM |
I've met Bernard Purdie and he is the nicest unassuming guy. Had dinner with him with another drummer I work with, Geoff Daking from the Blues Magoos (Geoff makes pro audio gear). I am surprised no one has mentioned Jeff Porcaro- did I miss it? He made famous one of Purdies unique beats, the "purdie shuffle" or "half time shuffle groove". Jeff used it on Toto's "Roseanna". |
+1 Stewart Copeland often plays on top or ahead of the beat and has a tendency to push the tempo. He gives an urgency and energy to his playing that few drummers convey. Good skill at the one drop as well as jazz (Murder by Numbers)! The Police Certifiable concert is one of the most enjoyable demonstrations of percussion - no silly drum solo - just great playing that compliments and elevates the songs to whole other level. As enjoyable as Neil Peart on Xanadu live on the Exit Stage Left DVD! Sting is super talented but rather BORING without Stewart. Stewart was the true creative somewhat crazy talent behind The Police and I don’t think Sting’s great song writing would have been recognized if not for Stewart’s inventive playing. |
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As a drummer myself, it's hard to pick one as the best because of the different styles of drumming and music. The list is a good start. I would like to add Dave Weckl ( listen to the Convergence cd ) and Vinnie Colaiuto. These are Jazz drummers, although VC did play on Jeff Beck's Live from Ronnie Scott's and Stings new cd. There is a lot out there to enjoy. |
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My favorites, rock, jazz players who became rock drummers, and jazz (most are still alive): Billy Cobham Ginger Baker John Bonham Jack DeJohnette Steve Gadd (great session drummer) Mitch Mitchell (he really help make the Experience what it was) Keith Moon Airto Moreira (soft touch) Joe Morello (I grew with him in Wilton, CT - worked with Dave Brubeck, unfortunately, lost his hearing) Antonio Sánchez Narada Michael Walden Paul Wertico Tony Williams -Gerry |
How about Terry Bozio? Listen to both Frank Zappa and the son's album, "Zappa Plays Zappa". Between Steve Vai, Terry and other FZ alumni, the drums really carry a lot of the songs. One example of Terry's prowess is the written for Jack Bruce to play song, Apostrophe, as well as that album and it's predecessor, "Overnight Sensation". |
Ringo was Seeing Zak for with The Who a few years ago, I just blurted out to my son, 'he's better than Moon'. And he is. I've seen both incarnations of the band and Keith, of course, was part of the band's legendary synergy (how much of that rested on Entwhistle?), but go back to any bootleg of a pedestrian Who show post '68 and if you're listening critically, Keith could be rather hit or miss. Good shows, bad shows, time & place, Zak is consistently good and in charge. He's a super talented, largely unsung, drummer. |
Currently listening to Stewart Copeland's drumming on Outlandos D'Amour, so, yeah, Stewart Copeland. You could talk about the fact that he is a scientist of rhythm, or his absolute discipline and precision, but there is a uniqueness to his drumming that is hard to describe without missing the mark wide. Its drive, an absolutely coupled connection between each strike of the snare, the rests played around unbelievable syncopated fills. Bias filter, I actually don't like the Police very much as a band, but I listen to them as some great artists who accompanied Stewart Copeland on drums. |
Ringo was the first rock drummer who turned the skins into a musical instrument. No one else would have come up with the concept of placing towels on the drums to get a soft muffled sound on Come Together. Listen to the perfect fills in Day In The Life. Listen to the very spare drumming on Penny Lane. Paul was a very good (but not the best) bassist, John was an average, if that, musician. George a reasonably good but not great guitarist. But they were among the best stylists on their respective instruments in rock history. When I listen to music, I don’t want to listen to anyone’s technical chops. I want all musicians to serve the song---the musical destination of the imagination and the heart. When that requires technical skill--less than 20 percent of the time-- only then do I want to "hear" technical skill . Note--Jim Keltner, Levon Helm and the like understood that. Although I was a Who fan--Keith was often too predictable and created drum space for himself in songs whether the song called for excessive drumming or not. On the other hand, he was a very impactful and spectacular drummer on others (e.g. Baba O’Riley). Ringo was simply virtually always tasteful and tuneful and often quite innovative. |
bdp24, I've got a fever and the only cure is more cow bell! (teehee) I believe that those in a soundtrack situation could benefit from what Broadway musical pit drummers are doing. Pit drummers need to stay four or more measures ahead of the orchestra, conductor and what's taking place on stage. They get too little credit. |
Perfectly put, shadorne. Here’s a little story illustrating a related point: I was hired for a session, the recording of a single song for the soundtrack of a low-budget movie. I had worked with the producer before, so he knew what he was getting. The song was a simple Pop/Rock thing, the focus on the vocal and lyric (sung by a Grandson of one of The Lennon Sisters!), and I played what I considered appropriate. The producer kept asking me to play more like Keith Moon, even instructing me where he wanted "fills". I said "That would walk all over the vocal". He said "Oh, I don’t care about that". !!!!! I put in a little more (as much as I could bring myself to), but it wasn’t enough for him. So he ended up doing a take with himself on drums (he has been a pro drummer), and submitted that take to the movie’s director, who rejected the track! A take with my playing was submitted, and approved. Point made. |
There are chops. There is musicality (contribution to the song) There is time keeping. Chad Smith has all three. Porcaro, Keltner, Bonham and many greats had all three. Ringo had two but he was exceptionally good at two. Most drummers are at most exceptional at two out of three. It is rare to have all three in balance and even rarer to be exceptional at all three. The drummers that get the gig tend to be good at musicality and time keeping - chops is not in high demand. Ringo is proof that musicality and time keeping is more important than chops! Ringo doesn’t seem to even count to get things right he just listens and learns - an intuitive thing - he plays by feel and what he did worked fir the Beatles. Steve Ferrone is another great player but he will count carefully and can read music and can adapt his style. Session musicians often are skilled at adapting their style of playing which is altogether a whole other level of musicality!!! |
Ian Pace stated that Ringo Starr was his favorite drummer while he was learning to play (or something similar). He mentioned that Ringo was a swinging drummer like no other. I've always admired Ringo Starr for his musicality, his unpredictability and as a reliable time keeper (which is under-estimated). I'm just not a big Beatles or Stones guy. However, Charlie Watts is also an excellent drummer. So who's the greatest rock drummer, the one you like the most. |
When the "chops" players and fans of that style playing starting badmouthing Ringo for his lack of technique, one of his fiercest defendants was a very technically accomplished player---Greg Bissonette, drummer in the Maynard Ferguson Big Band. Greg is currently touring with Ringo! I can’t be bothered making the case for Ringo’s abilities; either you get it, or you don’t. |
lowrider! Gong, New York Gong, Daevid Allen's Gong, Pierre Moerlen's Gong,Planet Gong,...so many to choose from. For Pierre Moerlen's Gong, 'Shamal' is a fun listen. Daevid Allen's last record 'I See You' (2014) has some great tracks and Orlando Allen does a fine job on drums and percussion. I'm interested in seeing what becomes of these musicians now that Daevid Allen is no longer of this world. |
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Simon King of early Hawkwind. OK, he's not the most technical drummer in the world, but he could keep a great Neu-like motorik beat going while the rest of the band were flying their Silver Machines on some other planet. I heard he gave up music and worked in local government for a long time - what a shame. |
I was reminded of what I so dislike about Bonham---his playing was so "literal", so un-poetic. It didn’t have any elegance, any grace. Almost rude! His bass drum triplets (one of the tricks he is known for) were played just to show he could do it, not to serve any higher purpose; they didn’t have anything to do with what anyone else was playing or singing, or to the song itself@bdp24 , I'm a huge Bonham fan, and IMO, his style was perfect for LZ, but here is a side project of his featuring literal, heavy drumming, with unnecessary bass drum triplets. Very disappointing... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJZ9llTB-vg Also, John Bonham died 37 years ago, Sept. 25, 1980. See the rankings of the BEST ROCK DRUMMERS... http://loudwire.com/led-zeppelin-john-bonham-dies-anniversary/ |
Michael Shrieve 1969 upstate NY. I was about 25 feet away from them when they did Soul Sacrifice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_pDjX65vHo Also Barry ‘Frosty’ Smith with Lee Michaels circa 1970. |
bdp24, I do know that Jim Keltner is a very musical drummer, he's just not someone that I know about extensively. Primarily his works with Steely Dan and John Lennon are recognizable. I've spent most of my time and energy invested in jazz and classical, mostly classical, so while I do know about certain drummers, my knowledge is not so far reaching within the rock and pop realms. Additionally, I gave up playing drums and percussion in the early 1990's. But, if I were to choose a drummer to have seen live and in the person, it would have been Philly Joe Jones and preferably with Clifford Brown. However, the Miles Davis Quartet would be a near to equal second. |
goofyfoot, Keltner may sometimes appear merely "solid" (as in The Traveling Wilburys), but is much more than that. Ry Cooder arranges his recordings around Jim’s availability, and will not record without him. Listen to his work with Ry and Bill Frisell; very creative and unique playing. Mickey Dolenz a better drummer than Ringo and Charlie? Wow. "Each to his own, said the lady as she kissed the cow", as my mama used to say. It appears that many here appraise the abilities of drummers the way athletes are ;-). |
Einmensch i have also played drums for over 55 years and from your list, I would only pick Mitch mitchell and Jon bohnam for very good drummers. If you want the very best, I would say Mike Portnoy. He has won dozens of best drummer awards, been inducted in the hall of fame at an early age (maybe the youngest). This guy is so technical. His kid Max is also pretty good. Ginger Baker was pretty good too but pretty basic. I do agree that jazz drummers are usually very good. Blues drummers and pop music drummers are there to keep a beat and that’s about it. Charlie and Ringo, not good technically, but keep a beat for their kind of music. Mickey Dolenz was a better drummer than Charlie and Ringo and Mickey didn’t know how to play in the beginning. |
The most interesting and fun I’ve seen, has to be the Rhythm Devils (Billy Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart) with the Grateful Dead. The last time was in Santa Clara for the Fare Thee Well tour, both nights. And the more they incorporated electronics the better. I could watch those two play for hours on end. |
Yes, yes, yes---David Kemper is fantastic!! He's on T Bone Burnett's Truth Decay album, and has played with Dylan as well. He creates a deep, deep pocket and groove. Another great drummer from Tulsa Oklahoma (Jim Keltner is as well), btw, a town that has also given us quite a few great guitarists (J.J. Cale, Bill Pitcock IV of The Dwight Twilley Band) and pianists (Leon Russell, Elton John's hero). |
