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NFT: Best rock drummer?

Producer : 3/3/2021 4:56 pm
I always go with John Bonham but lately I guess I am putting Neil Peart alongside him. I always felt Peart was too technical but I have changed my feelings about him.

I watched the doc Beyond the Lighted Stage (on Netflix) and it warmed me up to Rush for the first time in years. I saw them on the Moving Pictures tour. Nice guys. Great band and Peart is portrayed magnificently in that doc.

So for me it is

1, Bonham
1A. Peart

I also always loved Bill Bruford. And for a wildcard I love Steely Dan's recent drummer Keith Carlock.

Below is a link to a Peart drum solo that is simply remarkable.
Neil Peart Drum Solo - Rush Live in Frankfurt - ( New Window )
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Best is such a tough question.  
smshmth8690 : 3/3/2021 8:34 pm : link
while I don't think you can quantify best, Dave Lombardo & Carmine Appice should be in the discussion
RE: Really good list here  
knowledgetimmons : 3/3/2021 8:36 pm : link
In comment 15166260 beatrixkiddo said:
Quote:
To add another that no one has mentioned: John Stanier (Helmet, Battles), I love his beats and style.


2nd stanier. Great call. Seen battles in many iterations.
Another unfair question that is impossible to answer ....  
short lease : 3/3/2021 8:37 pm : link

because it will always be based on personal taste (which is fine).

I am not sure I would call the 3 below "Rock" drummers ... but, holy crap if you want a demonstration of technique (and thousands of hours of practice) - click the link.



Gadd, Weckl, and Colaiuta - ( New Window )
RE: Another unfair question that is impossible to answer ....  
short lease : 3/3/2021 8:45 pm : link
In comment 15166289 short lease said:
Quote:

because it will always be based on personal taste (which is fine).

I am not sure I would call the 3 below "Rock" drummers ... but, holy crap if you want a demonstration of technique (and thousands of hours of practice) - click the link.

Gadd, Weckl, and Colaiuta - ( New Window )



Where is Jonny5? It can't be a discussion on music without his input. : )
RE: John Henry Bonham  
kinard : 3/3/2021 9:01 pm : link
&show_all=1#15166027]15166027[/url] Eman11 said:
Quote:
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'm in the Keith Moon camps and totally agree about Phil Collins. Greatest live drummer I've seen. Everyone got sick of him as a singer, but he was a fantastic drummer way before he fronted Genesis
Mike Portnoy  
RodneyHamp : 3/3/2021 9:17 pm : link
gets my vote.
RE: Mike Portnoy  
short lease : 3/3/2021 9:23 pm : link
In comment 15166331 RodneyHamp said:
Quote:
gets my vote.


+1

great choice.


Sure- a lot of great "drummers" on here-  
CRinCA : 3/3/2021 9:34 pm : link
But Peart was an actual "musician". Big distinction. Oh and an all- world lyricist beyond compare.

And for anyone putting Ringo in the mix- just wow.
RE: Sure- a lot of great  
short lease : 3/3/2021 9:51 pm : link
In comment 15166337 CRinCA said:
Quote:
But Peart was an actual "musician". Big distinction. Oh and an all- world lyricist beyond compare.

And for anyone putting Ringo in the mix- just wow.


Did I read your post wrong? Serious ... IMO Ringo was a great drummer for the Beatles.

Ringo was a Left-handed drummer who played a right handed kit. It gave him a unique playing style. He was rock solid on so many tracks ...

"Tomorrow never knows", "Rain", the whole "Abbey Road" album. To this day I will never understand why Ringo's musical abilities gets shit on.

Apologies if I mis-interpreted your post.


.  
Del Shofner : 3/3/2021 9:56 pm : link
In comment 15166347 short lease said:
Quote:
IIMO Ringo was a great drummer for the Beatles.

Ringo was a Left-handed drummer who played a right handed kit. It gave him a unique playing style. He was rock solid on so many tracks ...

"Tomorrow never knows", "Rain", the whole "Abbey Road" album. To this day I will never understand why Ringo's musical abilities gets shit on.



with you on that short lease. Ringo might not have been the right drummer for Cream or Rush, but he was the right drummer for the Beatles, and he had a unique style for the reasons you say. Another very musical drummer.
I have been playing drums since 1976  
Rjanyg : 3/3/2021 10:12 pm : link
Many great names have been listed: Bonham, Peart, Ringo, Ginger, Copeland..... all legends.

3 names I am shocked haven’t been mentioned are: Peter Criss, Steve Smith and Phil Collins. Especially Collins. He may have the most famous drum full of all time. He maybe known for his singing and sing writing but his drumming is so iconic and unique that you can tell it is him. He has his own style and sound.

I throw a few more names out although they aren’t just rock drummers: Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, Chester Thompson.
RE: .  
short lease : 3/3/2021 10:17 pm : link
In comment 15166350 Del Shofner said:
Quote:
In comment 15166347 short lease said:


Quote:


IIMO Ringo was a great drummer for the Beatles.

Ringo was a Left-handed drummer who played a right handed kit. It gave him a unique playing style. He was rock solid on so many tracks ...

"Tomorrow never knows", "Rain", the whole "Abbey Road" album. To this day I will never understand why Ringo's musical abilities gets shit on.





with you on that short lease. Ringo might not have been the right drummer for Cream or Rush, but he was the right drummer for the Beatles, and he had a unique style for the reasons you say. Another very musical drummer.



Exactly Del - just like I think the 1970's - 1980's Neil Peart would have been a failure with The Beatles ... in 1962 - unless he changed his style?

That is why I try to stay away from these conversations. But, I do get sucked in (lol).

How do you determine who is the greatest "Rock" drummer? ... What style are we talking about? What era?





RE: I have been playing drums since 1976  
jnoble : 3/3/2021 10:19 pm : link
In comment 15166358 Rjanyg said:
Quote:
Many great names have been listed: Bonham, Peart, Ringo, Ginger, Copeland..... all legends.

3 names I am shocked haven’t been mentioned are: Peter Criss, Steve Smith and Phil Collins. Especially Collins. He may have the most famous drum full of all time. He maybe known for his singing and sing writing but his drumming is so iconic and unique that you can tell it is him. He has his own style and sound.

I throw a few more names out although they aren’t just rock drummers: Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, Chester Thompson.


Look up Johnathon "Sugarfoot" Moffett. He did session work with a lot of big names, especially on Michael Jackson's albums
RE: I have been playing drums since 1976  
short lease : 3/3/2021 10:24 pm : link
In comment 15166358 Rjanyg said:
Quote:
Many great names have been listed: Bonham, Peart, Ringo, Ginger, Copeland..... all legends.

3 names I am shocked haven’t been mentioned are: Peter Criss, Steve Smith and Phil Collins. Especially Collins. He may have the most famous drum full of all time. He maybe known for his singing and sing writing but his drumming is so iconic and unique that you can tell it is him. He has his own style and sound.

I throw a few more names out although they aren’t just rock drummers: Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, Chester Thompson.



Maybe I missed his name but, if anyone is talking about Hard Rock ... how did Ian Paice's name not get mentioned?

His hi-hat work on "My Woman from Tokyo" ... is Genius. There is also a video of him on Youtube doing a 1 handed role that sounds like 2 hands.

Love Omar Hakim.


I have to get out of here .... lol.
Bonham  
JonC : 3/3/2021 10:25 pm : link
Bill Ward and Danny Carey are my favorites.
Devil's advocate-  
CRinCA : 3/3/2021 10:37 pm : link
Is Phil Collins much different from say, Don Henley with Eagles and later solo days? I'm not trying to be a dick but I tend to think of them as comparatively "equal" although I'll admit to not being real familiar with the early Genesis days of Collins.

Honest questions not trying to be inflammatory. I barely recall the 70's and 80's as it is.
Dave Lombardo - Slayer and a bunch of other bands  
sb from NYT Forum : 3/3/2021 10:37 pm : link

He's amazing, and not just in the metal sphere.
I vote Peart  
pjcas18 : 3/3/2021 10:39 pm : link
not just because of my own opinion as a Rush fan but many of the drummers I know (ok I know two drummers - both on my hockey team) and both say Peart is the best.

but can't argue with Bonham, Baker, Moon or any other suggestions.

I also like Steven Adler from Guns N' Roses. The signature drumming from songs like Paradise City just stood out so much when Appetite for Destruction came out it made me look at the CD liner notes to see "who is that drummer, guy is awesome?"

I'm not sure I've ever been compelled to do that.
Oh, and whoever said Lars Ulrich, lol...  
sb from NYT Forum : 3/3/2021 10:39 pm : link
...he is as meh as they come.

Maybe he was good when he was in his early 20s, but he's been basic since the Black Album.
RE: Devil's advocate-  
kinard : 3/3/2021 10:53 pm : link
In comment 15166376 CRinCA said:
Quote:
Is Phil Collins much different from say, Don Henley with Eagles and later solo days? I'm not trying to be a dick but I tend to think of them as comparatively "equal" although I'll admit to not being real familiar with the early Genesis days of Collins.

Honest questions not trying to be inflammatory. I barely recall the 70's and 80's as it is.


As drummers, Collins and Henley are night and day. I recommend some old [Peter Gabriel] Genesis (Plenty of good stuff on Selling England By the Pound).
RE: I have been playing drums since 1976  
Eman11 : 3/3/2021 10:58 pm : link
In comment 15166358 Rjanyg said:
Quote:
Many great names have been listed: Bonham, Peart, Ringo, Ginger, Copeland..... all legends.

3 names I am shocked haven’t been mentioned are: Peter Criss, Steve Smith and Phil Collins. Especially Collins. He may have the most famous drum full of all time. He maybe known for his singing and sing writing but his drumming is so iconic and unique that you can tell it is him. He has his own style and sound.

I throw a few more names out although they aren’t just rock drummers: Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, Chester Thompson.


Phil’s been mentioned several times in this thread.
As a drummer myself, I have to say...  
GA5 : 3/3/2021 10:59 pm : link
my biggest influences over time were Hal Blaine, Ringo, John Bonham, Ginger Baker, Bill Bruford, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham and Steve Gadd. And then, of course, I grew up right down the road from Gene Krupa. We would visit him at his house. Great guy!
Just a couple I havent seen  
Gmanfandan : 3/3/2021 11:48 pm : link
Tre Cool and Corky Laing - so hard to quantify 'best' these guys were excellent with who they played with - not unlike Ringo. Corky without Leslie West wouldn't be the same but they compliment each other so well. Same with Tre and Billie Joe
RE: I have been playing drums since 1976  
eric2425ny : 3/4/2021 12:05 am : link
In comment 15166358 Rjanyg said:
Quote:
Many great names have been listed: Bonham, Peart, Ringo, Ginger, Copeland..... all legends.

3 names I am shocked haven’t been mentioned are: Peter Criss, Steve Smith and Phil Collins. Especially Collins. He may have the most famous drum full of all time. He maybe known for his singing and sing writing but his drumming is so iconic and unique that you can tell it is him. He has his own style and sound.

I throw a few more names out although they aren’t just rock drummers: Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, Chester Thompson.


Good call on Phil Collins, amazing drummer. The funny thing with Phil Collins is when you talk to people that are like he played the drums? They only remember him as a singer.
Been a Rush fan forever  
Gregorio : 3/4/2021 12:18 am : link
But my favorite drummer is groove-meister, John Bonham.
I should probably recuse myself  
santacruzom : 3/4/2021 12:47 am : link
From any conversation about Peary because I can't stand Rush. But though I can admire his obviously immense skill, his drumming doesn't do it for me... always felt it lacked soul.

Which means that he is indeed the perfect drummer for Rush.
I feel like  
santacruzom : 3/4/2021 12:50 am : link
A few Zep songs like Achilles Last Stand or The Song Remains the Same give a glimpse into how Bonham would have approached a prog song, and they kill.
Since I like heavy music....  
Greg from LI : 3/4/2021 2:52 am : link
My guys are Dave Lombardo, Igor Cavalera, Dale Crover, and Jimmy Chamberlain.

John Stanier is a fantastic drummer, but Battles is just too weird for me to get into. He says he has no interest in playing metal again. His Helmet work is still incredible.
Chester Thompson  
liteamorn : 3/4/2021 7:20 am : link
With Zappa and the Mothers and later Genesis

If he was added here I apologize.
One of the most UNDER RATED rock drummers...  
EricJ : 3/4/2021 7:34 am : link
who truly has his own style is Bill Ward. Just look at this live performance from 1970. Doing this with a fraction of the drums that some of the more modern drummers were using. Bill was likely the best rock drummer in the early 70s.

He really gets going at the 2 min mark of the video.
Bill Ward Live - ( New Window )
RE: Since I like heavy music....  
beatrixkiddo : 3/4/2021 7:40 am : link
In comment 15166435 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
My guys are Dave Lombardo, Igor Cavalera, Dale Crover, and Jimmy Chamberlain.

John Stanier is a fantastic drummer, but Battles is just too weird for me to get into. He says he has no interest in playing metal again. His Helmet work is still incredible.


I love Battles, but yeah some if it is hit or miss for me. Have you heard of Hella? Zach Hill is ridiculous on drums, single bass pedal and how he keeps that energy non stop is ridiculous. Guy has an incredible story too, pretty much lives homeless in an abandoned warehouse for some time, really a humble and insanely talented drummer.
RE: Chester Thompson  
beatrixkiddo : 3/4/2021 7:41 am : link
In comment 15166467 liteamorn said:
Quote:
With Zappa and the Mothers and later Genesis

If he was added here I apologize.


I didn’t see Chester mentioned either but thought about him as well. Great call and totally worthy of being up there with the best.
Bonham and Peart  
Scott in Montreal : 3/4/2021 8:17 am : link
are legends.

Some of my favorite current drummers that are excellent are:

Ian Paice from Deep Purple has to be one of the all time underrated drummers.
Mike Portnoy - Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Avenged Sevenfold, Adrenaline Mob and whatever other band he has going right now.
Morgan Rose - Sevendust
Alex Bent - Trivium

and recently I have really gotten into the playing of Mario Duplantier from Gojira
RE: Most underated  
GiantsLaw : 3/4/2021 8:25 am : link
In comment 15166080 BillT said:
Quote:
Mitch Mitchell. As good as any.

Going thru this thread was surprised he only got one mention
The best...  
Brown_Hornet : 3/4/2021 8:28 am : link
...
Bonham's half-time shuffle groove... - ( New Window )
if you asked Alice Cooper  
Dr. D : 3/4/2021 9:04 am : link
he would say Keith Moon (I just saw him say it recently in a documentary on Moon).

I agree with Alice.

The Who were always known as a great high energy live band. Moon was the driver of the high energy (except when he took enough horse tranquilizers to kill most people). The rest of the band had to keep up with him (this is based on interviews of Pete and Roger).

They maintained that energy after Moon died. I remember seeing the Stones in '81 and it was ok. Then I saw The Who for the first time in '82 (at Shea - David Johannsen and The Clash opened). The Who blew away the Stones. The energy was unreal (and that tour was with a relatively low energy Kenny Jones (of The Faces) on drums).

Long live rock!
RE: I don't know about the best.....  
djm : 3/4/2021 9:30 am : link
In comment 15166025 No Where Man said:
Quote:
but Ginger Baker was the insanest.


He was the closest to a jazz drummer as any rock drummer ever. Which means he was pretty much the best.
RE: RE: I don't know about the best.....  
Dr. D : 3/4/2021 11:47 am : link
In comment 15166588 djm said:
Quote:
In comment 15166025 No Where Man said:


Quote:


but Ginger Baker was the insanest.



He was the closest to a jazz drummer as any rock drummer ever. Which means he was pretty much the best.

jazz?

I tried to get into it. I do like some jazz influence in some rock, but when it comes to jazz in general, I was better at acquiring a taste for Brussel sprouts.
RE: Bonham and Peart  
UConn4523 : 3/4/2021 12:12 pm : link
In comment 15166524 Scott in Montreal said:
Quote:
are legends.

Some of my favorite current drummers that are excellent are:

Ian Paice from Deep Purple has to be one of the all time underrated drummers.
Mike Portnoy - Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Avenged Sevenfold, Adrenaline Mob and whatever other band he has going right now.
Morgan Rose - Sevendust
Alex Bent - Trivium

and recently I have really gotten into the playing of Mario Duplantier from Gojira


I came here to add in Gojira. Just started listening to them the past few months, Duplantier's speed and power is impressive.
RE: I should probably recuse myself  
sb from NYT Forum : 3/4/2021 12:24 pm : link
In comment 15166425 santacruzom said:
Quote:
From any conversation about Peary because I can't stand Rush. But though I can admire his obviously immense skill, his drumming doesn't do it for me... always felt it lacked soul.

Which means that he is indeed the perfect drummer for Rush.


LOL. I hate you for saying it, but damn that was funny.
RE: if you asked Alice Cooper  
Gregorio : 3/4/2021 12:39 pm : link
In comment 15166572 Dr. D said:
Quote:
he would say Keith Moon (I just saw him say it recently in a documentary on Moon).

I agree with Alice.

. . .


Dr D,
Drummer debates are fun! This all comes down to personal opinion, so you are not wrong to choose Moon, but in my definition of ‘best drummer’, Moon isn’t the best.

Moon provided energy to The Who’s live shows, there is no disputing that. He played a ton of notes; banged on drums like nuts. He filled space with busy fills every chance he could. To my ears that didn’t always add value. He sometimes played in his own world, leaving the time-keeping job to Entwistle.

Are busy fills more important than delivering a sense of groove?

To me, a more important factor of the ‘best drummer’ is delivering a sense of groove. That, along with keeping time have the most weight. Playing fills is a lesser factor. If you think of Stewart Copeland for example; he played a variety of styles, but his energy really drove the Police’s music. He didn’t need to play monster fills to provide that energy.

What factors do you think make the ‘best drummer’?
RE: if you asked Alice Cooper  
rnargi : 3/4/2021 12:46 pm : link
In comment 15166572 Dr. D said:
Quote:
he would say Keith Moon (I just saw him say it recently in a documentary on Moon).

I agree with Alice.

The Who were always known as a great high energy live band. Moon was the driver of the high energy (except when he took enough horse tranquilizers to kill most people). The rest of the band had to keep up with him (this is based on interviews of Pete and Roger).

They maintained that energy after Moon died. I remember seeing the Stones in '81 and it was ok. Then I saw The Who for the first time in '82 (at Shea - David Johannsen and The Clash opened). The Who blew away the Stones. The energy was unreal (and that tour was with a relatively low energy Kenny Jones (of The Faces) on drums).

Long live rock!


The Who would have ended in 1989 had Pete not hired Zak Starkey (Ringo's son). Pete has stated that he will never play another Who show unless Zak is on drums. He calls Zak the karmic Keith Moon.
RE: RE: if you asked Alice Cooper  
Dr. D : 3/4/2021 1:31 pm : link
In comment 15166771 rnargi said:
Quote:

The Who would have ended in 1989 had Pete not hired Zak Starkey (Ringo's son). Pete has stated that he will never play another Who show unless Zak is on drums. He calls Zak the karmic Keith Moon.

Yeah, Roger was ok with Kenny Jones, but Pete wasn't. There was a drummer in between Jones and Zak. I forgot his name so i just looked up the '89 tour (I saw 3 of those shows). Simon Phillips actually played drums on that tour. He wasn't bad, but Zak is the best and most Moon like.

You're probably aware that Keith was close friends with Ringo and sort of Zak's Godfather. The story goes that Ringo didn't want Zak going into the music business. Keith basically said f*ck that and bought Zak his first drum kit.. and the rest is history.

I've seen The Who with Zak quite a few times and it's always great. Kind of crazy to think he's been drummer for The Who so much longer than Keith was. Of course Keith's years were the golden years.
RE: so many good ones  
Gatorade Dunk : 3/4/2021 1:44 pm : link
In comment 15166153 Devour the Day said:
Quote:
My top 3:
Carter Beauford- Dave Matthews Band
Stewart Copeland - Police
Lars Ulrich - Metallica

Beauford absolutely belongs in the conversation, IMO. Peart and Copeland too, for sure, along with Moon, Collins, and Grohl.
RE: RE: if you asked Alice Cooper  
Dr. D : 3/4/2021 1:49 pm : link
In comment 15166766 Gregorio said:
Quote:
In comment 15166572 Dr. D said:


Quote:


he would say Keith Moon (I just saw him say it recently in a documentary on Moon).

I agree with Alice.

. . .




Dr D,
Drummer debates are fun! This all comes down to personal opinion, so you are not wrong to choose Moon, but in my definition of ‘best drummer’, Moon isn’t the best.


What factors do you think make the ‘best drummer’?

Are you questioning Super Duper Alice Cooper?!

All the young girls love Alice! (45 years ago, anyway).

Ha! Gregorio, looks like you know far more about drumming than I. But I will say that imo, Moon knew how to use empty space (don't know if that's a legit term), but as an example he used it well through the climax of Won't Get Fooled Again. And climax is a good word for it.

I do agree that (from what I've read) the Ox had to sometimes keep timing together on stage. But The Who wouldn't have been The Who (who I love) if Moon wasn't their drummer the first 15 yrs.

And was never a big fan of the Police, so can't say jack about Copeland.
RE: Jim Gordon  
Section331 : 3/4/2021 1:55 pm : link
In comment 15166272 Beef Wellington said:
Quote:
case closed.


Good call on Gordon, such a fantastic player. Loved his work on Derek & the Dominos and the later Traffic records. Such a tragic story - an undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenic who is in prison for killing his mother. He sought treatment a number of times, but was told his issues were drug-related.
RE: Devil's advocate-  
Section331 : 3/4/2021 1:58 pm : link
In comment 15166376 CRinCA said:
Quote:
Is Phil Collins much different from say, Don Henley with Eagles and later solo days? I'm not trying to be a dick but I tend to think of them as comparatively "equal" although I'll admit to not being real familiar with the early Genesis days of Collins.

Honest questions not trying to be inflammatory. I barely recall the 70's and 80's as it is.


No way, Phil Collins was a far better drummer than Henley, it's not even close. He can't play anymore, but his Genesis work and his first solo record were tour de force drum sessions.
RE: One of the most UNDER RATED rock drummers...  
santacruzom : 3/4/2021 2:03 pm : link
In comment 15166474 EricJ said:
Quote:
who truly has his own style is Bill Ward. Just look at this live performance from 1970. Doing this with a fraction of the drums that some of the more modern drummers were using. Bill was likely the best rock drummer in the early 70s.

He really gets going at the 2 min mark of the video. Bill Ward Live - ( New Window )


Honestly, I think everyone in Black Sabbath is underrated and I only like roughly half their songs. Geezer Butler in particular -- other bassists know he rules, but he rarely appears on any "great bassist" list.
RE: The best...  
santacruzom : 3/4/2021 2:05 pm : link
In comment 15166534 Brown_Hornet said:
Quote:
... Bonham's half-time shuffle groove... - ( New Window )


Jesus, listen to all those ghost notes! How the hell.
I'm surprised to not see any mention of  
Section331 : 3/4/2021 2:08 pm : link
Michael Shrieve, lifelong Santana drummer. He set the world on fire as a 19 yr old at Woodstock, and hasn't slowed down a bit.

I'll add 2 more, Glenn Kotche of Wilco, and Phil Selway of Radiohead. Kotche is simply fantastic, especially live. And listen to Selway's work on Reckoner off of the In Rainbows record, the closest thing to Art Blakely I've heard in popular music.
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