Best drummer?...ever!

[country_boy]

I'm havin an argument with a friend, who was THE best drummer ever?... from our point of view, it's either John Bonham of Led Zep or Keith Moon from The Who.  I go Zep but my mate goes Who.  Be interested to see what y'all think, esp you Andy H (happy b'day for prevous!)!

[Philtaz]

IMHO it is Stewart Copeland of The Police.  In a different era it would probably have been Buddie Rich.

[andy hughes]

Thanks for the greeting c_b. I have interviwed a lot of drummers over the last year, and the usual names crop up - mostly Bonham and Moon, who are heros to almost all the profesional drummers around. Other names include Hal Blaine, and the drummer from the 5 6 7 8's names Mick Tucker of The Sweet! I think for the average music fan - and I include myself here, your 'best' is your favourite, even if they are not the most technically gifted. I have two - one is Ringo Starr, a criminally underrated musician, who is again namechecked by those who know what they are talking about (I mean the pro players, not me!) and my own personal fave is Brian Downey from Thin Lizzy - I adore the easy style he has, and the way he underpins all those songs with just enough, but never too much. The way he hits that tom and cymbal on 'Whiskey In The Jar' when Lynott goes "Musha ring dum a do dum a da ..." I love that every time. Great player, and nice guy.

[Dusky]

So why should they should be "best".  Most prolofic? Technically complex?  I asked a drum student for his opinion of Phil Collins and he was lost for superlatives. Lennon reputedly said, when asked "is Ringo the best drummer in the world?", "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles".  Surely he must be among the most prolific, even if it is vicariously through his being a Beatle.  He must have been worth a light, though, mustn't he? 

 

There is one I consider highly in this field. I know he plays a special kit but he had to become an accomplished professional drummer twice. And that's Def Leppard's Rick Allen.

 

You're drummer with a top rock band.  Then you lose an arm (yes, an arm!) and you can still be the drummer of a top rock band if you can play.  That's like Nelson having to learn to write left-handed to Lady Hamilton!  He did a lot of that and he'd never have won even a school prize for this handwriting, yet Mr Allen remained Def Leppard's drummer and he, frankly, rocks (I know; that's his job).

 

Sandy Nelson is probably one of the most enduringly famous drummers but was he actually that good?  I suspect probably not; at least by more recent standards.  I'd say today's standards but I'm finding it hard to think of any.

 

As I seem to begin to sound like Mark Steele, I'm going to shut up and say that, for entertainment value, an outstanding drumming memory that occurs straight away is that of Adam & The Ants (yes, I know there were two) but they undoubtedly had entertainment value and, obviously, enduring effect.  Who doesn't remember, absolutely beat-for beat, the intro of "Antmusic"?

[Dusky]

God, that took some editing...

[Dusky]

...and while I was doing that, Mr Hughes answered the whole thing with the best/favourite bit.  It's like the Bond thing: Who's your favourite Bond? It'll be the first one you saw.

 

Yes, Andy - perfect.  Who's the best?  It's your favourite.

[Bangkok]

Not sure where he would rate on the technical scale (quite highly I'd guess), but Garry 'Harry' James from the hugely underrated Thunder is a consumate showman.  One tour he opened by singing New York, New York in a top hat and tails.  Just one of those life and soul of the party people and again, a nice guy

[sft42]

Depends on what style and genres you listen to a lot as well...Cozy Powell, Tito Puente, Buddy Rich.....as ever (and to agree with the others) your best is usually your favourite bands drummer or one of the ones you grew up listening to.

[Starman 2112]

Neil Peart of Rush, a technical genius.

[stoo_pid]

Spook! As I was driving home last night I was thinking of Cozy Powell (in particular an absolutely blinding Whitesnake gig years ago). I don't know anything about technique or anything, just know what I like the sound of, so based on that I would find it hard to chose between Cozy Powell, Ian Paice and Ronnnie Verrel (he was in the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, the Ted Heath Band & was also Animal in the Muppets - he might have been getting on but he really was more of a mentalist than Animal himself!). A special note should also be made I feel for Ric Parnell (son of big band drummer Jack Parnell) who drummed for Spinal Tap at Albet Hall in 92. Ric did a great set including a fantastic solo but the gag was that the curtains quickly closed on him while Nigel Tuffnel took the applause.

[oligopoly]

Although it's not my kind of music, i feel it may be worth mentioning goth/hardcore metal such as cradle of filth. Have you seen the size of their drum kits?!!

[stoo_pid]

Its not how big it is, its how you bang it that counts ; - )

[daddyg]

While I would have to say that I agree that Keith Moon and indeed Ringo Starr are favourites of mine I would have to go for Reni from The Stone Roses as my all time favourite. Amazing. Check out any video of him and he is just so natural and easy. He just has a really good look about him like he's just totally into it and part of it. Ace.

[feelap]

One name. DAVE GROHL

[ermintrude35]

..the one and only cozy powell..but I'm biased because I met him in my local and he bought me a drink ...such a gent ...r.i.p cozy

[Johnmof]

I don't know his name, but the next time Woodstock's on the telly watch the drum solo on Santana's Soul Sacrifice. They guy is wired to the national grid.

In any list of greatest drummers you'd have to mention Ginger Baker and possibly Carl Palmer.

[Scarlets]

The drummer in my band reckons Stuart Copeland, Ginger Baker and Dave Grohl are the 3 best. So I'll go along with that.

[ermintrude35]

..oh and Animal from the muppets he is King!...

[zoso]

Hi, Though I'd be a huge fan of Led Zeppelin and of John Bonham, such a topic should not be allowed to close without mention on Jon Hiseman of Colosseum.... and then Nick Mason, Pink Floyd... and that mad geezer who plays up at the back on Elton John concerts????