Who are the best drums players in history??

[Villavic]

I always read about Clapton and Green as the best guitarists, or Wakeman about keyboards, but who are considered among the top drums players??

I remember in the 80s I heard that David Bowie's album LET'S DANCE included pne of the best drums players, but can't remember his name (remember the sound of Modern Love)

[jannieC]

Can't think of his name, but the drummer from Rush- Neal Pert?

[Jyqm]

Can't think of his name, but the drummer from Rush- Neal Pert?

You got it.

I'm not much for the "best of all time" designation, but a handful of my favorites:

Of course, Keith Moon and John Bonham have to be mentioned. They all but invented the image of the wild rock drummer, pummeling those skins with such intensity and speed that you had to wonder if they were even keeping the rhythm, they were just going so f*cking nuts. But of course they were.

Mick was a truly great drummer in the 70s, with his oh-so-slightly off-kilter style, always keeping you guessing and on the edge of your seat. If you thought he wasn't going to play a certain beat, he probably was.

Glenn Kotche, the drummer for Wilco, is a real fantastic musician. He somehow manages to hit beats you didn't even know were there.

Pete Thomas, of Elvis Costello's Attractions/Imposters. He should always be included in a list of great drummers. Wonderfully manic.

I shamefully don't know his name, but the guy who drums for Ted Leo & the Pharmacists is a real powerhouse.

?uestlove of The Roots, of course.

Max Roach and Elvin Jones, if we want to move into the realm of jazz. And Jimmy Cobb, who mans the skins in wonderfully understated fashion on Kind of Blue.

[golddustwoman77]

I have got to go with Keith Moon of the Who. I love the energy and craziness that he put behind whose drums, and what came out was greatness (in my humble opinion).:thumbsup:

[SteveMacD]

Just to add to Jyqm's list:

Buddy Rich: Considered a drummer's drummer. He was THE best. He set the standard by which all drummers are measured.

A few others:

Phil Collins (Or, at least, EARLY Phil Collins. NOT "Invisible Touch" Phil Collins.)
Ginger Baker
Alan White
Bill Bruford
Aynsley Dunbar
Mitch Mitchell
Mickey Hart

[bretonbanquet]

I too would go for Keith Moon :)

Other names I'd think of are Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy - the only guy I ever heard who could make a drum solo interesting, and Phil Rudd of AC/DC for his impeccable timing.

Also John French of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band - he could also sing and play guitar.

[estranged4life]

Neil Peart of Rush
Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater (The only drummer who can come close to surpassing Mr.Peart IMHO)
Ginger Baker of Cream
Bill Bruford of Yes
John Bonham of Led Zeppelin

[Chilly Willy]

Williie Wilcox of Utopia - A fantastic all-around musician.

Prairie Prince of The Tubes - Now there's power.

And I'll take Gene Krupa over Buddy Rich.

[Moony]

http://www.musicwear.com/media/muppets-animal-drummer-mupp.jpg

[cliffdweller]

http://www.musicwear.com/media/muppets-animal-drummer-mupp.jpg

Cute!

John Bonham (Led Zep)
Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
Janet Weiss (Sleater Kinney)
Damon Che (formerly of Don Caballero)
Cyro Bautista (John Zorn's percussionist)
David Bowie's current drummer...can't think of his name

And I hate to admit this, but Lars Ulrich is a damn good drummer too.

[chiliD]

Oh, wow! There are just SO many good (no...make that "GREAT") drummers.

Pre-Rock era (or jazz):
Gene Krupa
Buddy Rich
Louie Bellson (the innovator of the double bass drum kit)
Ed Shaunessey
Elvin Jones
Lenny White
Billy Cobham

Rock era:
Rick Elliott (NOT the Def Lepard guy)
Scott Nordell
Mike Malone
Ray Ventura
Pete Best (yeah, he's a trivia question answer these days, but that doesn't discount that he STILL is a really good drummer)
Ringo Starr
Zak Starkey
Keith Moon
Charlie Watts
Russ Kunkel
Jim Keltner
Dave Clark
Larry Tolfree (Joe Jackson Band, Peter Green Splinter Group)
Rick Marotta
Jerry Marotta
Butch Trucks & Jaimoe (Allman Bros Band)
Mickey Hart & Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead)
Richie Hayward & Sam Clayton (Little Feat)
All the different pairs of drummers for the Doobie Bros, whose names (other than the recently departed Keith Knudsen) I can't recall at the moment
Jeff Porcaro
Ginger Baker
Jim Gordon (Delaney & Bonnie, Derek & The Dominoes, Traffic, SHF Band)
Jim Capaldi (Traffic)
Aynsley Dunbar
Mick Fleetwood
Jon Hisemann
Steve Gadd
Jamie Oldaker (Eric Clapton Band, The Tractors)
Roger Hawkins
Steve Jordan
Neal Peart (he IS a great drummer, but I just don't like Rush)
John Bonham
Kenney Jones (Faces...small or otherwise & The Who)
Phil Collins
Graeme Edge (The Moody Blues)
Levon Helm (The Band)
Hughie Flint
Simon Phillips
Bill Bruford
Alan White
Frank Beard (ZZ Top)
Clem Burke (Blondie & Eurythmics)
Donny Francisco (Bob Welch Band)
Jimmy DiJulio (Rick Vito's Lucky Devils)

Ok, that's just off the top of my head

[DavidMn]

Oh, wow! There are just SO many good (no...make that "GREAT") drummers.

Pre-Rock era (or jazz):
Gene Krupa
Buddy Rich
Louie Bellson (the innovator of the double bass drum kit)
Ed Shaunessey
Elvin Jones
Lenny White
Billy Cobham

Rock era:
Rick Elliott (NOT the Def Lepard guy)
Scott Nordell
Mike Malone
Ray Ventura
Pete Best (yeah, he's a trivia question answer these days, but that doesn't discount that he STILL is a really good drummer)
Ringo Starr
Zak Starkey
Keith Moon
Charlie Watts
Russ Kunkel
Jim Keltner
Dave Clark
Larry Tolfree (Joe Jackson Band, Peter Green Splinter Group)
Rick Marotta
Jerry Marotta
Butch Trucks & Jaimoe (Allman Bros Band)
Mickey Hart & Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead)
Richie Hayward & Sam Clayton (Little Feat)
All the different pairs of drummers for the Doobie Bros, whose names (other than the recently departed Keith Knudsen) I can't recall at the moment
Jeff Porcaro
Ginger Baker
Jim Gordon (Delaney & Bonnie, Derek & The Dominoes, Traffic, SHF Band)
Jim Capaldi (Traffic)
Aynsley Dunbar
Mick Fleetwood
Jon Hisemann
Steve Gadd
Jamie Oldaker (Eric Clapton Band, The Tractors)
Roger Hawkins
Steve Jordan
Neal Peart (he IS a great drummer, but I just don't like Rush)
John Bonham
Kenney Jones (Faces...small or otherwise & The Who)
Phil Collins
Graeme Edge (The Moody Blues)
Levon Helm (The Band)
Hughie Flint
Simon Phillips
Bill Bruford
Alan White
Frank Beard (ZZ Top)
Clem Burke (Blondie & Eurythmics)
Donny Francisco (Bob Welch Band)
Jimmy DiJulio (Rick Vito's Lucky Devils)

Ok, that's just off the top of my headAnd isnt Charlie Watts almost 70 now?

[chiliD]

And isnt Charlie Watts almost 70 now?

64...June 2, 1941.

Three years younger than Ginger Baker. Have you heard the Cream reunion album? Age is irrelevant.

[Red]

This may be a little obvious, but I think Dave Grohl is an incredible drummer. He just hits those skins so HARD!

[littlewolf]

great to find this topic.keith moon always gets mentioned and i do agree he was a great drummer but my favourites are:Cozy Powell (rainbow,whitesnake)
Michael Shrieve (santana) and Dave Grohl (nirvana,foo fighters) also must remember steve gadd (paul simon)

[Peestie]

I'd go with:
Neil Peart (no one comes close in a technical standpoint)
Cozy Powell (totally awesome)
Bill Ward of Black Sabbath(I just think he has a great style, even if not the most technically proficient)
Ginger Baker

Those are the only ones that jump to mind.

[PsychCat]

Hard to say who is the greatest but I can say who has influenced me most.
Mick Fleetwood and Keith Moon were my original influences and the reason I got my first drumset all those years ago.
Others include (no part. order):
Ringo
Joe English (Wings)
Stewart Copeland
Phil Collins
Ashwin Sood (Sarah McLachlan)
Gene Krupa
Buddy Rich (LOVED seeing him on the old "Tonight Show")
Max Weinberg
Clem Burke
Nigel Olsson
Liberty DeVito
Russ Kunkel
WS Holland (Johnny Cash) .... etc., etc.... :)

[jadegypsy]

Hmmm....

John Bonham (wow!even seeing video of Moby Dick is amazing)
Keith Moon (to stand out in the who is a feat in itself)
Charlie Watts (probably one of the few drummers that wasn't stoned 100% of the time)
Phil Collins (I love something in the air tonight)
Ringo Starr (maybe not the best technically but the Beatles really needed him)
Don Henely (not the nicest guy, but he drums, he sings and he writes, now if he could just look like he was having fun)
Mick Fleetwood (to be able to satisfy 3 such varied songwritters says something)
Ginger Baker (all hail to cream!)

[UnwindedDreams]

Hmmm....

John Bonham (wow!even seeing video of Moby Dick is amazing)
Keith Moon (to stand out in the who is a feat in itself)
Charlie Watts (probably one of the few drummers that wasn't stoned 100% of the time)
Phil Collins (I love something in the air tonight)
Ringo Starr (maybe not the best technically but the Beatles really needed him)
Don Henely (not the nicest guy, but he drums, he sings and he writes, now if he could just look like he was having fun)
Mick Fleetwood (to be able to satisfy 3 such varied songwritters says something)
Ginger Baker (all hail to cream!) You think Don:shrug:

[jadegypsy]

unwindeDreams: I put Don b/c he's one of the few drummers i know of who can sing and write, he's more of an all arounder, no he isn't an incredible drummer like bonham, but then again bonham didn't write or sing really...Also Don does have several different writters in the group that he has to work with, so different styles to adjust to.

It's kinda like putting Stevie up there with the best singers, or Lindsey with the best guitarists, I would put each of them there but not because they are the "best" in each area but b/c the sum of what they do is incredible, does that make sense?