Thread: Best drummer. Metal, rock, whatevs.

Originally Posted by Softskull

To be the greatest rock drummer, not only do you need to be great, but you'd have to live like a rock drummer. It's my only knock on Neil Peart.
Bonham and Moon had vodka for breakfast with a couple of hookers and a pet cheetah- that's rock.
Peart had granola at his mom's house - and not that there's anything wrong with that. He could be the greatest classical, orchestral, jazz drummer.
There's no rocknroll in granola.

I thought Peart was a bit more into vices. Did you read his bio? I honestly don't know now.

Vodka for breakfast? Easy

Who else performs monster drum solos while blowing huge bubble gum bubbles?

Neil Peart is the best drummer ever. Period. Not my favorite, but the best.

I don't have a best drummer. Yet. But I found a top-100 list and some of the names surprised. Like Minutemen's George Hurley. But it makes sense.

This guy got a nod too.



Here's the list. I haven't made it to the punchline(s) yet. I'd guess it's the regulars--Moon, Bonham, or Peart.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...stanier-28397/

I like lists like this RS list because it tells me about people I've never heard of like JR Robinson, the drummer on MJ's Off The Wall and a lot of 80's hits. He calls himself the most recorded drummer of all time...



I have a soft spot for the unheralded drummer who embraces the role of timekeeper...like this dude says:

But he's equally at home sitting in the pocket and keeping a sturdy beat. "[As the drummer], I'm the employee," he told Esquire. "My job is to listen, learn, lead. And I understand I'm not the boss." With a sixth sense for what makes music pop and the patience to take direction, he's ended up as a go-to studio beatsmith for the Rolling Stones...

The Hal Blaines of the world. Those are my guys.

I think one drummer that is often overlooked is Vinny Paul. Jay Weinberg and Joey Jordison should also be mentioned amongst the top tier of drummers.

A couple of my favorite drummers:
Vinny Paul
Chris Adler
David Deipold
Matt Greiner

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

Here's the list. I haven't made it to the punchline(s) yet. I'd guess it's the regulars--Moon, Bonham, or Peart.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...stanier-28397/

I'm glad to see that they have Mitch Mitchell in the top ten, and my guy Carter Beauford is at least in the top 50. Seems like a solid list.

But is Ringo Starr really that good?

Originally Posted by NightTrainLayne

I'm glad to see that they have Mitch Mitchell in the top ten, and my guy Carter Beauford is at least in the top 50. Seems like a solid list.

But is Ringo Starr really that good?

Idk man, I wouldn't have thought so either. But then you get this:

Says Jim Keltner, "He was the guy that we all tried to play like in the studio."

Originally Posted by MasterShake

Thats tough because different styles call for different drummers. I'd almost say a session drummer like Steve Gadd should be near the top as they have to adapt to several styles of music. I don't know a TON of drummers but my top are (in no particular order):

Al Jackson Jr (worked with Otis Redding and Eric Clapton)

Now I'm on a Benny Benjamin deep dive...he was an OG motown drummer (Marvelettes, Four Tops, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Gladys, Wilson Pickett, Smokey, Supremes...just...dayum)

I ran across this spotify list a few weeks back, got some great drumming on it

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37...Ri-FEKDTAaGnAQ

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

Now I'm on a Benny Benjamin deep dive...

that's a name i was getting ready to dig for. . . nice one!

Ingo Schwichtenberg, former Helloween drummer, was the best drummer no one ever heard of. I'm sure Northman will agree.

Rip 1994

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

Now I'm on a Benny Benjamin deep dive...he was an OG motown drummer (Marvelettes, Four Tops, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Gladys, Wilson Pickett, Smokey, Supremes...just...dayum)

I ran across this spotify list a few weeks back, got some great drumming on it

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37...Ri-FEKDTAaGnAQ

also, if you haven't watched the documentary "standing in the shadows of motown," i cannot recommend it enough. . .

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

I thought Peart was a bit more into vices. Did you read his bio? I honestly don't know now.

https://www.latimes.com/health/la-he...725-story.html