Best Rock Drummers


I've seen most of them and by far the two that stand out are Neil Peart of Rush and Ceasar Z. of Golden Earring. For non-rock I would say it's a no brainer with Buddy Rich.
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Count me in on Keith Moon.   I don't have a vast exposure to various artists & musicians as many of you here.  In my mind, nobody plays like Keith Moon.  He was simply magical.   Too bad he died at such a sound age.

Here’s Keith doing his adventurous thing with the drums

He keeps switching from staying with the lyrical content and motion/forces/timing, and then playing with the beat, staying on it, in front, behind, etc.

Like a man trying to play the ENTIRE song all by himself, without dropping any of it, without losing any of it’s macro or micro considerations.. Along with point and counterpoint, dance, flow, all of it. It’s an amazing performance, if you really listen.

One could even propose that the entire intent of the song comes out in the drums and the rest is just wafts of flavoring and colors, mood lighting, etc. That is Keith’s drumming......(at least here, in this tune)

Another one of such nature but not as complex in total sum song form, is Bill Ward’s drumming in ’the wizard’. One take, is that it is more of a SKA ’take’ on being front and center..but in the same overall method as Keith’s. Bill is essentially the lead, but he’s doing the SKA thing. With no repeats.

I don't hear what you hear in his performance on that song teo, but I agree that he had his great moments.