Your Top Five (5) Drummers of All-Time...

Tour2ma

Got into a drummer discussion in EricT's "looking for Jazz" thread and....

Curious about your "all-time" drummer list, top five or so anyway. And, since we can only really list those we've heard, if you can offer a good example of his (and possibly her) work, please do. Might help others expand their horizons.

Here' my list. It was surprisingly tough to come up with let alone set a pecking order:

1. Buddy Rich - only one I know of that could do a one-handed drum roll. Amazingly fast... Growing up my cousin was an aspiring drummer. He had everything Buddy released. Buddy was a Johnny Carson regular. If you can find one of his live recordings, grab it.
2. Gene Krupa - The original drumming superstar and the first, I believe, to step out front and form his own big band. I was raised on Gene and Glen Miller and Stan Kent and Harry James and the Brothers Herman and Benny Goodman, from whence Gene sprang.
3. Billy Cobham - Backbone of the first version of John Mclaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Much discussed in EricT's thread.
4. Carl "don't call me a drummer, I'm a percusionist" Palmer - of ELP fame. He shines on their S/T release, but his best work is on Tarkus.
5. Sandy "Teen Beat '65" Nelson - Sandy was once hailed as the next Gene Krupa. That was a bit of a stretch IMO, but he was solid. Another drummer my cuz collected religiously...

Honorable mention:

• Michael Shrieve - Wunderkind of the early Santana. If you've seen them perform "Soul Sacrifice" in the movie Woodstock, you know who I am talking about. He was all of 17 when he played there.
• Steve Upton - The only drummer Wishbone Ash ever had. Won tickets to see him/ them in winter of '73/ '74... awesome. Check out Live Dates... I won two copies of this LP, as well.

I'm sure I'm forgetting someone....

Demiurge

Danny Carey - Tool, Lateralus may be his best work, but I love it all.

Neil Peart - Rush, Test for Echo

Terry Bozzio - Frank Zappa, The Black Page

Dave Lombardo - Slayer, Silent Scream - Fast as Lightning....

John Bonham - Led Zeppelin, Misty Mountain Hop

heiney9

No particuliar order

John Bonham-Mastery in the studio, but unparalleled live. Rarely played the same song the same way. I hvae hours and hours of studio outtakes and this is really where his contibution to the band shines. I think because of the familiarity w/Zep people start to take his drumming for granted. Swing style, behind the beat, soft and hard.

Mitch Mitchell- Everytime I listen to Hendrix I'm still completely blown away by his jazz infused meanderings. He always plays so close to the edge but most always masterfully brings it back. Compare him to Buddy Miles and Buddy sounds like he's almost dead. The way all three members were able to interact, and really have two improvisors up on stage is amazing.

Carmine Appice- His work with Vanilla Fudge and being Bonhams mentor puts him at the top. Bonham learned so much from him and they became really good friends. Check out his work with Jeff Beck and Beck, Bogert, Appice. One of the most over looked drummers ever.

Max Roach- This guy could bring it all day long, fast furious and precise. Check out Roach vs. Rich a live recording form the 50's. They both tear it up big time. Big Band had no bigger drummers than these two

Billy Cobham- He's done work with John McLaughlin, Stanley Clarke among others and really is the premier Progressive Jazz drummer. Progressive, improvisational and inventive. Check out Spectrum, anything w/ The George Duke band or my favorite, Live at the Greek with Stanley Clarke

Buddy Rich- Can't really say much more than he was one of the two great Swing era drummers and was a huge influence on almost every drummer drumming today.

Bill Bruford- Only familiar w/his work with King Crimson and he's a very talented drummer

Neil Peart- Perhaps the most technical drummer around. Rush lost it's way after the late 80's and was more of a hit or miss thing. But he stands out as an equally talented progressive rock drummer. The early Rush is simply killer and he still amazes me everytime I watch/hear him. I'd say it was a good move to use Neil istead of their original drummer John Rutsey

OK how about a top 8

H9

Zen Dragon

Hmmm. I listen to mostly classic rock so that is where my drummer knowledge primarily resides. Hard to put them in order. This would be close for me.

1) Neil Peart - Rush
2) Keith Moon - The Who
3) John Bonham - Led Zeppelin
4) Terry Bozzio - Frank Zappa
5) Tommy Aldridge - Ozzy, Pat Travers and others

Honorable mention: Mitch Mitchell - Jimi Hendrix ... This guy rocked, but was overshadowed by the man with the guitar

Normanality

For me there's only one.

Neil Peart.


He makes the most complex rythms sound simple. Plus, the way he and G. Lee sync with each other is second to none for percussion sections.

Strong Bad

Normanality wrote:

For me there's only one.

Neil Peart.


He makes the most complex rythms sound simple. Plus, the way he and G. Lee sync with each other is second to none for percussion sections.

I'm right there with ya!

The more I listen to Rush, the more i'm amazed at what they've done! They're solid from all ends of the spectrum.

Demiurge

Also, anyone who doesn't think that Neil is 100% in the top 10 of drummers in the world -- past & present, watch his 'Anatomy of a Drum Solo' DVD some time.

Normanality

Demiurge wrote:

Also, anyone who doesn't think that Neil is 100% in the top 10 of drummers in the world -- past & present, watch his 'Anatomy of a Drum Solo' DVD some time.

Hmmm....never seen that. Thanks for the heads up.

I've seen them live twice, both with backstage passes back in the late 70's.
I was feet away from the drum setup both times. There's just no way
anyone could play separate rythms on 2 pedal bass drums simultaneously
like that but he did.
30 years later and my ears are still ringing

EricT43

Cool, I like this thread! I come from a rock background, so most of these are rock drummers. I hate to claim favorites, so instead I will point to the ones who had the most influence on my own drumming.

1. Stewart Copeland - when people think of fusion, they think of taking rock to jazz. Here's a guy that did it the other way, and threw in some raggae while he was at it. Stewart gave me an appreciation of how much you can add to a simple rock beat with dynamic hi-hat work.

2. Neil Peart - I think any rock drummer who cut his teeth in the 80's is going to list Neil as a favorite. When I learned to play, I had a book of drum transcriptions from about 20 Rush songs. It was my bible.

3. Alex Van Halen - Alex is to drums what Eddie is to guitar - innovative, aggressive, and a total monster. I still get chills every time I hear Hot For Teacher or Outta Love.

4. Lars Ulrich - Metallica's drummer. Battery is a song that comes to mind. One of the most agressive drummers I've ever heard, and one of the pioneers of the metal style.

5. Dave Weckl - the percussive force behind the Chick Corea Elektric and Akoustic Bands. I love his style and he has chops up the wazoo.

Honorable mentions: Keith Moon and John Bonham blow me away, but they were a little before my time, so their innovations are not so apparent to me as they would have been to someone who heard them play when the music was new. These days I really dig the drummers from Tool and 311. I've seen both bands live and they were so tight I couldn't believe it. And I'm planning to check out some Billy Cobham material, he's been elevated to god status over on my jazz thread and I need to see what he's all about

Demiurge

Almost forgot, Zach Hill, whom probably nobody here has ever heard of.

EricT43

Or the 20 guys I've met that played in DCI - Blue Devils, SC Vanguard, etc. Every one of them was awesome. I remember one night at a party, a few of these guys were just sitting there with a pair of drumsticks, playing on the floor, and it still knocked me out.

sda2mike

nick mason....perfectly suited to the job

carmine appice....still killin'

john bonham....makes even me want to dance

terry bozzio....great w zappa

ginger baker....manic soloist

Tour2ma

Ginger sat behind one of the first double bass drum kits I'd seen. Until I saw it, I had no clue how he did what he did on "Do What You Like". Steve Upton was another dbl-basser...

Many interesting mentions... but how'd I forget Keith Moon? At least as an honorable mention... If there ever was a more frantic drummer, I'd like to know who (NPI) he is...

Stay tuned though, still no mention of the name I bet will be at the top of GG's list...

EDIT: Who did Zach play with, Demi?

Zen Dragon

Tour2ma wrote:

Many interesting mentions... but how'd I forget Keith Moon? At least as an honorable mention... If there ever was a more frantic drummer, I'd like to know who (NPI) he is.

I was a bit surprised although only the 4th poster in the thread that Keith Moon had not been mentioned. Frantic raw passion and energy. Not many in his league. I heard when the Who were auditioning drummers that after he played they just sat there with their jaws dropped for a moment, then told everyone else on the audition schedule they could go home.

Toxis

I'm really surprised no one named Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater. Quite possibly the best drum solo I've ever heard. He's up there with Neil Peart of Rush IMO.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Three names I haven't seen mentioned:

Dennis Chambers
Mike Portnoy
Carter Beauford

My list, in no particular order

Marco Marcinco
Dennis Chambers
Neil Peart
Billy Cobham
Stewart Copeland
Danny Carey
Mike Portnoy
Carter Beauford
John Bonham
Peter Erskine
David Geribaldi

There's a bunch...I know that's more than five...

EDIT: See now Toxis mentioned Mike Portnoy

heiney9

I am afraid many are going to be left out. I could've gone on forever. I especially like Keith Moon on The Who-Live at Leeds. Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater is excellent as well. There is a drummer who played with The Johnny Winter Group that is great as well. Others like Ansley Dunbar, Jason Bonham, Tommy Aldridge, Tyrone Centuray (played with Otis Rush) and sooooo many others.

I don't think I've found one yet I disagree with.

H9

AsSiMiLaTeD

heiney9 wrote:

I don't think I've found one yet I disagree with.
H9

I think I saw Lars Ulrich on here somewhere - in my opinion one of the most overrated drummers of all time. He's not horrible, but he's not very good technically either. For someone who likes his style of just agression release drumming, someone like the drummer from Sepultura does the same thing but takes it up a notch.

heiney9

Polkmaniac wrote:

I think I saw Lars Ulrich on here somewhere - in my opinion one of the most overrated drummers of all time. He's not horrible, but he's not very good technically either. For someone who likes his style of just agression release drumming, someone like the drummer from Sepultura does the same thing but takes it up a notch.

Ok, some choices are marginal and Lars certainly isn't the best of his style (I agree Polkmaniac). I guess I haven't seen any choices so far that I'd say "what have you been smoking?"

Possible contraversial drummer here:

John Panozzo Early Styx, Cornerstone and before, is great stuff.

H9

P.s. See it's never ending!

Normanality

I guess I shouldn't be so single minded.

I forgot all about Bobby Caldwell.

Early 70's. Just give a listen to Captain Beyond.

heiney9

For fun, I ran across this clip the other day. Amazing 10 year old drummer. Here's the future guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD8XYMFkMi4&search=drummer%20kid

If the site is slow; pause it and let it load up for a few minutes.

H9

George Grand

Neil WHO?

Buddy Rich doesn't count. He wasn't human. He was the best from the beginning of his life, to the end. I saw him in 1977 when he was in his mid 60's, and Neil WHO? wished he could play like that in his 20's. Call me when all the great drummers in the world get together and make TWO tribute albums to Neil WHO?

Okay, now as to my favorites.....

1. Aynsley Dunbar - Zappa used to introduce him as "Here's my TWO new drummers." Frank didn't hire slouches. The man can play anything. He also had the most gorgeous set of drums I ever saw. Jet black with the heavens on them. Saturn, shooting stars, The Milky Way. Absolutely gorgeous. One snare, one mounted tom, two floor toms, and a single bass drum. The list of people on line to have him on their work is second only to Hal Blaine. List chronologically includes John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Zappa, Herbie Mann, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Journey (the first two albums), Nils Lofgren, Whitesnake (chasing those studio $$$$), Pat Travers, Eric Burdon & The New Animals, and a bunch more. Very much in demand studio guy during the 70's and 80's. You wanted your album to make it? You hired Aynsley Dunbar.

2. Dino Danelli - Played for The Rascals or Young Rascals, however you want to call them. Beyond cool.

3. Billy Cobham - Totally ambidextrous, never crosses his hands. If it's on the left side it gets whacked with his left hand, if it's on the right side it gets whacked with his right hand. See this man play live and you'll know why Neil WHO? still kicks his dog whenever he hears the name Billy Cobham. Whoever mentioned technical drumming and Neil WHO? doesn't know what rudimentary playing is. This mans picture is in the encyclopedia AND dictionary next to the words "Rudimentary drumming".

4. Lenny White - Chick Corea's original Return to Forever drummer. Just as ambi as Cobham, but cooler cause he wore a damn Zorro hat when he played. Black guys look cool with a Zorro hat, white guys don't. Just the way it is.

5. Keith Moon - Completely out of his mind long before it was fashionable to be nuts, and all over the drums. The guy almost single-handedly defined "rock" drumming at a very early age.

Honorable mention to:
Tony Williams (motto? Drive fast cars, smoke big cigars. Played for Miles Davis at the age of 16), Art Tripp, Dennis Chambers, Max Roach, Louis Bellson, Chester Thompson, Hal Blaine (played on more top 40 hits than any man alive), Johnny Guerin, Ed Shaughnessy ( Doc Severinsens Tonight Show Band drummer), Airto Moreira, and a lot of other guys but NEVER, EVER, Neil WHO? Look at all my drums and silly hat! I MUST be good!

Hot **** trivia..... Mitch Mitchell, NOT Aynsley Dunbar drummed for Jimi Hendrix because of the flip of a coin. One can only imagine.........

heiney9

Hot **** discussion. Yep, while I really like Anysley I think Mitch was the correct choice despite the coin calling it. Not many people knew that trivia fact GG.

For those interested I may be able to make some selections available from

Bonham, Mitchell, Appice and Peart. PM me for details. Live is where it's at, baby.

H9

heiney9

GG, I'm suprised with your love for Cream, Ginger Baker didn't make your list. I know there are just too many great drummers.

H9

George Grand

I like Cream because they were real trailblazing pioneers. Nobody did what they did before them, much like Keith Moon and his style of playing, or Jimi and his. Not really a big Ginger Baker fan, but he was adequate for what they were trying to do. Clapton was an animal then, raw and hungry, full of wild ideas. Shame all their egos got in the way.

EricT43

George, did Neil Peart steal your birthday or something? Seems like you really hate that guy!

BTW, it was me that mentioned Lars Ulrich. I used to be a huge Metallica fan and I like Lars's style. Never said he was technically brilliant. He speeds up constantly during live performances, and in the studio he punches in about every 2 bars. If you want perfectly executed triple ratamacues, he's not your guy.

George Grand

Then what the f-ck is he doing making a ton of money if he never learned how to PLAY the drums this Ulrich fellow? I don't recall saying anything about him anyway, as the only exposure I've had to that cacophony is when I was demoing Carver products, and the girl Bose rep used to play that noise in the same room. I look at this thread and it only serves to remind me that their are real artistic drummers, and bangers and slashers. There are pioneers, and wannabes.

Neal Peart didn't steal my anything. I just get a kick out of people who obviously don't own much other than Rush albums calling this guy the greatest there ever was. Then again, I also have to constantly remind myself that most chiming in are less than half my age.

EricT43

Yep, if you only or mostly listen to rock music, then Peart is probably the best you're likely to hear. You on the other hand listen to the best of the best, and that changes perspective.

If it's any consolation, there are a lot of worse drummers making a hell of a lot more money than Neil!

heiney9

George Grand wrote:

Then what the f-ck is he doing making a ton of money if he never learned how to PLAY the drums. I look at this thread and it only serves to remind me that their are real artistic drummers, and bangers and slashers. There are pioneers, and wannabes.

Neal Peart didn't steal my anything. I just get a kick out of people who obviously don't own much other than Rush albums calling this guy the greatest there ever was. Then again, I also have to constantly remind myself that most chiming in are less than half my age.

While I think you are being hard on Neil Peart, I agree with your sentiments. Even myself being 40 have missed out on some exceptional musicians. I have a passion for all music so many of those mentioned here I've heard or heard of. It's up to us to try to educate and make some others aware of who's out there. I know I learned alot growing up from just picking people's music brains.

When people forget who pioneered certain things and start talking about the interpreters being better than the originals....then I could see some disdain. Neil is/was not a true pioneer in the sense of doing something no one else did....but he is one hell of a talented disiplined musician that deserves to be mentioned amongst the best. Certainly none of these mentioned could be called THE best. Too many different styles, interpretations, settings and circumstances.

IMHO.....of course.

H9

george daniel

Ahh, I was going to suggest Bill Bruford and Mick Fleetwood ,,,,from time to time,,,

dorokusai

Nothing compares to Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem....everyone else is a wannabe.