Yes, it goes to 11.
Most of this goes back in time to the guys who basically invented the kind of playing we associate with rock music – with a few more recent players lumped in for good measure. This is kind of a chronological order. No one here is a "metal" drummer par excellance and no, neither Joey Joridson nor Lars Ulrich would make that list either.
- Hugh Grundy (The Zombies)
- Danny Seraphine (Chicago)
- Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
- Keith Moon (The Who)
- Carl Palmer (ELP)
- Terry Bozzio (with Frank Zappa)
- Stewart Copeland (The Police)
- Neil Peart (Rush)
- Philip "Fish" Fisher (Fishbone; Wicked Wisdom)
- Tim "Herb" Alexander (Primus)
* Of other note, Ginger Baker (Cream – probably the most contentious one not in the above list, but who would you pull out?), Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing Pumpkins), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden; Pearl Jam), Danny Carey (Tool – although he is so robotic and "stiff" sounding he tends to bore me), Steve Smith (Journey), Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Phil Collins (Genesis – seriously listen to his early work with the band), Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Tracy Bonham, NIN, and many others), Will Calhoun (Living Colour), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree). Mike Portnoy was too busy stroking his ego at the time this list was produced.
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Good call on Danny Seraphine. Chicago is one of my favorite bands. I'd add Sheila E. to the mix, even if she isn't a "rock" drummer per se (although, Run DMC did call themselves the "kings of rock" in the time period when she was coming into her own. I don't think the lines were as clearly drawn back then).
Good call on Danny Seraphine. Chicago is one of my favorite bands. I'd add Sheila E. to the mix, even if she isn't a "rock" drummer per se (although, Run DMC did call themselves the "kings of rock" in the time period when she was coming into her own. I don't think the lines were as clearly drawn back then).
Sheila E. is incredible but more of a jazz-fusion session player.
Sheila E. is incredible but more of a jazz-fusion session player.
Great list!
"Danny Carey (Tool – although he is so robotic and “stiff” sounding he tends to bore me)"
Exactly! He is so technical that he is terribly boring to watch.
Would you say that some of your best drummers you have listed are more so because of showmanship than their technical ability?
If you had to split them into those two categories how would you divide them up?
Bryan
Great list!
"Danny Carey (Tool – although he is so robotic and “stiff” sounding he tends to bore me)"
Exactly! He is so technical that he is terribly boring to watch.
Would you say that some of your best drummers you have listed are more so because of showmanship than their technical ability?
If you had to split them into those two categories how would you divide them up?
Bryan
For showmen, Peart, Bozzio and Moon are really standard bearers I think. Palmer a bit too.
What I don't have are guys that were rock drummers who are much better now playing jazz. That would have included Steve Smith who I think is the best alive today (watch a solo or two on You Tube tonight I you will see what I mean), Gregg Bissonette who is so different away from his David Lee Roth stint, Kenny Aronoff, Will Calhoun who is again really good with things like brushes but you would never know it listening to "Cult of Personality", Dan Morgenstein where if you watch him now you will see that Winger was just a cash cow, etc.
I'll do a list of metal drummers too since none of them are on this list with the exception of Fish's work with Wicked Wisdom which is just out of the park mind-bendingly good.
For showmen, Peart, Bozzio and Moon are really standard bearers I think. Palmer a bit too.
What I don't have are guys that were rock drummers who are much better now playing jazz. That would have included Steve Smith who I think is the best alive today (watch a solo or two on You Tube tonight I you will see what I mean), Gregg Bissonette who is so different away from his David Lee Roth stint, Kenny Aronoff, Will Calhoun who is again really good with things like brushes but you would never know it listening to "Cult of Personality", Dan Morgenstein where if you watch him now you will see that Winger was just a cash cow, etc.
I'll do a list of metal drummers too since none of them are on this list with the exception of Fish's work with Wicked Wisdom which is just out of the park mind-bendingly good.
What about Ted Kirkpatrick of Tourniquet? What do you think of him as a metal drummer?
What about Ted Kirkpatrick of Tourniquet? What do you think of him as a metal drummer?