NFT: Best rock drummer?

Thanks for posting!

Keith Moon for me. He might not have been the best technical drummer, but he epitomizes rock and roll. Manic, wailing, blowing up his kit....and of course all the excesses, which sadly, led to his untimely death.

but Ginger Baker was the insanest.

Is #1 for me.

Moon and Peart are up there as was Carl Palmer.

A fantastic yet underrated rock drummer also high on my list is Phil Collins. Guy gets a bad rap for his MTVDisney ballad days but man when he was behind the kit in his Genesis days he was legit great.

I always enjoyed Moon and Bonham.

Mighty Max Weinberg belongs on the list too.

so I've got to put Peart at number 1. Not fair to call him just a "drummer". More of "percussionist", given all the different types he played.

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Anyone who can play the drums with a dildo is worth mentioning.

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Waaaaaay far far far after that it is like an 8 way tie for next place.

In fact I am coincidentally grooving right now on Peart from Grace Under Pressure. Even the "less good" Rush songs almost always have a beat you can focus on and groove to. Maybe not coincidence because if I'm not listening to the Dead, it's almost always going to be Rush.

Baker

but never enough love for Stewart Copeland in my opinion

In comment 15166029 Trainmaster said:

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so I've got to put Peart at number 1. Not fair to call him just a "drummer". More of "percussionist", given all the different types he played.

Yeah, that's true. I've been to a few Rush shows but never really focused on live. But then I listened to some later live shows and he absolutely transcends "drums". He's triggering midi samples, playing virtual instruments, all that multimedia stuff I am sure most was him... besides playing basically the entire percussion ensemble all by himself.

And he went from drum "solos" in my day to ... I don't even know what you call that, midi/percussion/DJ mini concerts?

Bonham.

Baker and Peart can debate who is #2. For me, it was Baker for I thought he combined technique and innovation and a new ear.

I agree Peart generated technically superior percussion sounds

Moon was a great rock character but not a great drummer ( nor around long enough with enough even performances and innovation...lot of repeats of his madman greatest hits routines)

Bonham was innovative, technical, bold and a rock character and he had years of every night power before his too early end. Never mix early end and tours where every night it was Page whose contribution level varied more than JPJ or Plant or Bonham.

For at least the 4 tours (multiple shows each time) that I saw Bonham was a whole show every song every show machine that almost forced the other three to match the power

Sorry...but he was the best I ever saw or heard. And a better drummer ( different genre) than many a jazz drummer I went to see.

In comment 15166025 No Where Man said:

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but Ginger Baker was the insanest.

Keith Moon would like a word...

such a deft drummer with great touch, great hi-hat work.

Keith Moon is a personal favorite, he had such a unique style, and I think he was a better technician than given credit for.

Stewart Copeland is another fantastic player.

Terry Bozzio Carl Palmer Bonham & Peart all amazing !!

but I am a big fan of Larry Mullen, Jr, Dave Grohl, and Taylor Hawkins.

Strangely, Grohl and Hawkins are currently in the same bad... ;)

Mitch Mitchell. As good as any.

If you ever get a chance look up him playing Panic Attack from the “drums only” cam.

Guess it’s more Metal than Rock or Math Rock/ Math Metal, but I’d throw Zach Hill in there too, probably the best drummer I’ve ever seen live.

In comment 15166040 UConn4523 said:

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His drumming really stood out on Fear Inoculum

are/were all great without a doubt.

But for the sheer musicality of his drumming, and amazing singing at the same time, I'd nominate Levon Helm. He could rock with the best of them but also almost play a tune on the drums. Quite a life well lived too.

Full disclosure - he's somewhat of a god around here since he settled in Woodstock for much of his life and held his "rambles" at his barn there for many years (which his daughter Amy now runs, albeit on pandemic pause now).
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In comment 15166043 D HOS said:

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Waaaaaay far far far after that it is like an 8 way tie for next place. In fact I am coincidentally grooving right now on Peart from Grace Under Pressure. Even the "less good" Rush songs almost always have a beat you can focus on and groove to. Maybe not coincidence because if I'm not listening to the Dead, it's almost always going to be Rush.

The video for The Body Electric is my fav Rush video out of all of them despite how dated it looks and sounds. When the band brought that song back from the dead in their next to last tour, it just didn't have the same oompf to it. Neil needed those big '80s sounding reverbed drums and his electric kit. Red Lenses is also another deep cut from that era with a weird yet cool drum pattern

And then they was Ringo

of Carl Palmer. I agree he's in the "below Peart" conversation.

and Keith Moon get my vote

Because of the era and music in his lifetime, most consider him a Jazz drummer. I see him more as the founding father of rock drummers... brilliant and almost forgotten. Enjoy this clip of one of his magnificent solos...


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but I feel like Travis Barker should get some love on great drummer lists. I know he's younger than others that have been mentioned but the guy can drum.

Tommy Aldridge
Cozy Powell

He is mesmerizing to watch live.

My top 3:
Carter Beauford- Dave Matthews Band
Stewart Copeland - Police
Lars Ulrich - Metallica

From Phish. Guy is a machine.

Morgan Rose - Sevendust

more a jazz drummer. There’s some really fantastic drummers.....Chris Coleman, Todd Sucherman, Steve Smith, Carl Palmer, there’s so many to even mention. Peart, Bohnnam, Baker were probably the best all time.

is absolutely fantastic. He can nail any feel whether it be ahead or behind the beat, he can play with complexity and technique without being a distraction, and his tone and consistency are impeccable.

including John Entwistle, arguably the greatest bassist.

He’s always been a guy that bands bring in as a session drummer, but he eventually landed with Korn. Amazing drummer. Here’s his Korn audition video. Another great tune is “Goodbye” by Army of Anyone. It was a one album supergroup consisting of Richard Patrick of Filter, the DeLeo brothers of STP, and Luzier on drums. In the last few minutes of the song Luzier puts on a drum clinic.
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1. Bonham - just a beast that always get my attention whenever I listen to Zep

2. Bill Ward - seems to get forgotten in these discussions. He was so funky with his jazzy metal fusion in the early Sabbath days.

3. Ginger Baker - Cream was my first intro to classic rock growing up (I'm 44). The groove he would set behind the loud thundering bass and Clapton's riff - so dang good when they were in the pocket.

Not rock but one drummer that has blown me away recently is Larnell Lewis from Snarky Puppy,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_XJ_s5IsQc

drum solo
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for any category Buddy Rich and everyone else

In comment 15166094 thomasa510 said:

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In comment 15166040 UConn4523 said: Quote: . His drumming really stood out on Fear Inoculum

I’ve been listening to their entire library non stop for the past year and a half and I agree, he stands out in Fear but he’s equally impressive on Lateralus.
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But Bruford has always been my dark horse. I really think he gets too little credit.

Steve Gadd
Bingham was everyone’s first love. For good reason.

Go listen to to Geek USA by Smashing pumpkins. And tell me that guy ain’t whoop ass

To add another that no one has mentioned: John Stanier (Helmet, Battles), I love his beats and style.

Dunbar

Greiner from August Burns Red. Best in the biz right now.
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In comment 15166037 robbieballs2003 said:

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Anyone who can play the drums with a dildo is worth mentioning.

LMAO I love Steel Panther! Satchel got me back into playing guitar. They are so talented. So many of there songs are fantastic.

case closed.

I'm partial to Max Weinberg because I worship at the altar of Bruce.