Top 5 Drummers

ChunkyC · May 17, 2007

I suppose we should round out our top five lists with our picks for the fifth musician found in the typical rock band: the drummer.

For me, numero uno has to be Phil Collins. From Genesis to Brand X to his solo pop and big band work to thumping the tubs for the likes of Eric Clapton, he has to be the most talented, versatile drummer of the last four decades. As a singer he's good, but his instrument has always been and always will be the drums, where he is a virtuoso.

Bill Bruford of Yes. A unique percussionist in every sense of the word.

Jeff Porcaro of Toto. His untimely death was a huge loss to his family, of course, but also to the world of music.

Carmine Appice. What can you say about a guy who has carried the sticks for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Bo Diddley and Jeff Beck, to name but a few?

Simon Phillips. Even if you've never heard of him, you've probably heard him play on records by Roger Daltry, the Corrs, Judas Priest ... the list goes on and on.

III · May 17, 2007

I'll confess I'm not terribly edjumacated about drummers, but here's my list of favorites:

1) Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
2) Neil Peart (Rush)
3) Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche)
4) Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
5) Jerry Gaskill (King's X)

I'm sure the Tower of Power guys are more talented than my list, but this is just personal preference.

ChunkyC · May 17, 2007

You got some good stickmen there, III. :Thumbs:

eldragon · May 17, 2007

I saw a drummer playing with Wendy O., once, and he was awesome.

Not sure what his name was.

newmod · May 17, 2007

Doktor Avalanche - Sisters of Mercy

benbradley · May 17, 2007

Buddy Rich.

ChunkyC · May 17, 2007

He was the first drummer I idolized. Another amazing drummer from that era was Louis Bellson. The guy could do more with one hand than half the drummers today can do with two.

newmod · May 17, 2007

Robert Heaton - New Model Army

Shadow_Ferret · May 17, 2007

I remember seeing Buddy Rich on the Carson Show when I was a kid. Yeah, he was pretty good.

Aynsley Dunbar -- John Mayal, Zappa and the Mothers, Journey
Bobby Caldwell -- Johnny Winter, Captain Beyond, Rick Derringer
Carl Palmer -- ELP
Nick D'Virgilio -- Spock's Beard
Mike Portnoy -- Dream Theater

Honorable mention: Lee Kerslake -- Uriah Heep, Ozzy

I'll have to think about my jazz drummer list.

Nolita · May 17, 2007

Mick Fleetwood - Fleetwood Mac(duh)

You're gonna get mad at me but...

Kieth Moon(dang!) - The Who

Kenny Dale Johnson - Silvertone(I just love when he plays simply; honestly don't remember seeing him with sticks though :\)

Rick Allen - Def Leppard(come on! One arm!!!)

ChunkyC · May 18, 2007

Mad at you for liking Keith Moon? Nevah, dahlink. Keith was a madman, yes, but his was a singular talent. He played the drums like a melodic instrument; throwing in riffs, constantly exploring the rhythmic possibilities of a song, unlike so many who merely keep time with no more musicality than a metronome.

benbradley · May 18, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
I remember seeing Buddy Rich on the Carson Show when I was a kid. Yeah, he was pretty good.

Me too, he was on several times, I think many times during the '60's and '70's. I vagely recall Rich and Carson both playing together one time.

There was an actor whose name I forget, talking with Johnny on the Tonight Show, who hadn't been a 'big name' but who had a major role in a just-released, very popular movie, so his acting career was really taking off. He had been taking drum lessons from Buddy Rich, and he told of calling Buddy to tell how great the new movie was doing. Buddy didn't sound enthused, and the actor asked why not. Buddy responded "Well, I thought you were going to make a pretty good drummer."

J. Weiland · May 18, 2007

Max Weinberg for being the drummer on one of the greatest albums of all time.

ChunkyC · May 18, 2007

He played on Vacation by the Go Go's?

sunna · May 18, 2007

I'm not a huge fan of Tool, but I think Danny Carey's pretty damn talented.

RG570 · May 18, 2007

Bill Bruford
Chad Wakerman
Vinnie Colaiuta
Steve Smith
Neil Peart

Shadow_Ferret · May 18, 2007

I can't believe I forgot Christian Vander!

Anyway, my jazz list, for anyone who was waiting:
Buddy Rich
Tony Williams
Steve Gadd
Billy Cobham
Jack DeJohnette

Found this: Buddy Rich Youtube

DeborahM · May 18, 2007

What about old Gene Kupa or even Russel Kunkel? What's your take on them?

Nolita · May 18, 2007

ChunkyC said:
Mad at you for liking Keith Moon? Nevah, dahlink. Keith was a madman, yes, but his was a singular talent. He played the drums like a melodic instrument; throwing in riffs, constantly exploring the rhythmic possibilities of a song, unlike so many who merely keep time with no more musicality than a metronome.

Hey you just boiled down what I like; no make that love about The Who! Everything's just so completely flipped. It's upside down and through the looking glass. Seriously, on a lot of the songs, Pete and Roger are keeping the beat while Kieth and John are giving the melody and well, it's genius!

I still don't get why they get called the original punks. Then again, I don't get how The Clash is Punk. Too musical to be punk(at least if you compare to The Sex Pistols).

Ooh lots of folks will hate me for this, but early Who kicks the crap out of early Beatles.

Shadow_Ferret · May 18, 2007

DeborahM said:
What about old Gene Kupa or even Russel Kunkel? What's your take on them?

Gene Krupa is right up there with the ones I mentioned. As far as Kunkel, I've always admired studio musicians. You don't get asked to play for people like Neal Diamond, Joe Walsh, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and CSNY unless you're good.

DeborahM · May 18, 2007

Shadow, who was the drummer who played on tour with ND back in the 70's, do you remember?

Shadow_Ferret · May 18, 2007

I'm not even going to pretend I know. And I'm horrible at figuring out how to do internet searches. Sorry.

DeborahM · May 18, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
I'm not even going to pretend I know. And I'm horrible at figuring out how to do internet searches. Sorry.

Whew! I finally found out it was Dennis St. John, who was the drummer for ND in the 70's. However, under Famous Drummers A to Z, there wasn't any mention of him. I Yahoo searched and I didn't find anything except an actor under that name...poof...he vanished?

Pike · May 18, 2007

Neil Peart
Carmine Appice
Ginger Baker
Ron Bushy
Ansley Dunbar

ChunkyC · May 19, 2007

Nolita said:
Hey you just boiled down what I like; no make that love about The Who! Everything's just so completely flipped. It's upside down and through the looking glass. Seriously, on a lot of the songs, Pete and Roger are keeping the beat while Kieth and John are giving the melody and well, it's genius!

I still don't get why they get called the original punks. Then again, I don't get how The Clash is Punk. Too musical to be punk(at least if you compare to The Sex Pistols).

The Who were the precursors to the Punk movement. They set the ground rules. Punk as we know it came later, but The Who made it all possible. Listen to My Generation and you'll hear the seeds being sown.

Nolita said:
Ooh lots of folks will hate me for this, but early Who kicks the crap out of early Beatles.

I love The Who, but The Beatles were the band that turned me on to music. I was around eight years old when I saw them on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964, I believe it was. That was it; from that moment on, all I ever wanted to do was play in a rock band. I burned out an old Seabreeze turntable playing Beatles 45s over and over again. So for me, The Beatles will always be the greatest band of all time, even though I consider Genesis my favourite band.

Top 5 Drummers

It's hard being green

rockin the suburbs

It's hard being green

in a van down by the river

It's a doggy dog world

It's hard being green

Court Jester

It's hard being green

It's a doggy dog world

Lurker

It's hard being green

Court Jester

I need espresso & chocolate!

Court Jester

I need espresso & chocolate!

Court Jester

I need espresso & chocolate!

Chivalry ain't dead

It's hard being green