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Ginger Baker
Surprised no-one's mentioned Jon Hiseman.
Dave Mattacks.
Rat Scabies - The Damned
Clem Burke - Blondie
Don't know about being a great drummer but I like these "drum cam" videos by Metronomy's Anna Prior.
Ringo Starr
Stuart Copland
Reni
Phil Selway
Dave Grohl
For me
For any newbies, Baker doing Toad is majestic. One of the few benefits of being of a certain age I got to see Baker (Hyde Park), Hiseman (with Dick Heckstall-Smith at the Roundhouse, Dagenham) and Charlie Watts (Hyde Park). Ginger Johnson and His African Drummers were meant to be in Hyde Park but I think got arrested at the airport.
Bonham obviously.
Simon Kirke (Free)
Richie Hayward (Little Feat)
Niskc mentioned Dave Grohl and Ringo. I loved Stewart Copelands Rumblefish album, reminded me of Billy Cobham. I was fortunate enough to see Keith Moon a couple of times but the recent drummer that's impressed me most is Wrigglesworth from Purple Sprouting Broccoli. Public Service Broadcasting
Charlie Benante.
For me.
Rob Heaton
Stewart Copeland
Paul Ferguson
Rat Scabies
Paul Cook
Clem Burke
I can't believe no ones mentioned Charlie Chuck.... By far the best drummer there is. 🤣🤣.
For me it's Carmine Appice then John Bonham.
No mention of Steve White?
Baker always seemed blinded by his own ego and bitter that bonzo was always seen as number one rock drummer
Mainly because he didn’t see himself as a rock drummer, rather a jazz drummer, and he had no time for rock drumming. A great drummer, but far too far up his own ass.
My list, fwiw:
Daisy Palmer (Goldfrapp, among a bunch of local bands)
Dave Grohl
Ringo Starr
John Maher - Buzzcocks
Sergei - pinkshinyultrablast (amazing drummer, barely moved apart from his forearms and wrists, but loud and rhythmic. Can’t find a surname anywhere).
Bill Bruford, Michael Giles, Ian Wallace, Jamie Muir, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, Bill Reiflin, Jeremy Stacey - King Crimson, among many other projects.
John Bonham
I make no apologies for including a bunch of drummers involved with Crimson, it’s a band I discovered at school with their first album, and loved them ever since. I’ve left one or two out, only because their tenancy was brief, but I saw Crimson on their 50th Anniversary tour, with three drummers across the front of the stage, plus a fourth on percussion, and it was extraordinary to watch from a box looking right down on the stage.
There are plenty of others I could include, it’s worth picking out Bill Reiflin as drummer with R.E.M. as well.
Jaki Liebezeit from Can for me - magical shuffling sound.
Danny Carey from Tool is epic too.
Sheila E
I've never been that good at picking out the quality of drummers, but I do remember spending a pleasant afternoon some time ago listening to Dire Straits' eponymous album and concentrating on the drumming. From that Pick Withers seems to be pretty good at playing the drums.
Can't believe no one has mentioned Doktor Avalanche yet 😉
Chad Smith
Tony Royster Jr
Totally thought that Reni's name was Remi.
Some greats already mentioned - Peart (Even though I don’t like Rush), Mitch Mitchell, Clyde Stubblefield, Reni, Ginger Baker (Although he apparently was a shit human being), John Bonham...
I’d add also:
- Keith Moon.
- Al Jackson from Booker T & The MG’s - Can’t believe no-ones mentioned him!
- Jon Brookes.
- Richard ‘Pistol’ Allen - again, bit of a surprise not mentioned.
- W.S. ‘Fluke’ Holland from The Tennessee Three.
- Hal Blaine from The Wrecking Crew.
Totally thought that Reni’s name was Remi.
Alan ‘Reni’ Wren.
Buddy Rich
Animal
Reni
Stephen Perkins and Jimmy Chamberlain are real stand outs for me, but also Laurence Colbert of Ride never really got the credit I thought he should have.
Buddy Rich
Agreed!
Animal
Totally!
I’v been a huge Thin Lizzy fan since the early 70s and have always rated Downey.
That said: Another one here with a high regard for Clem Burke.
Clem Burke on Blondies dreaming is pretty special. Reni from the roses and Dave Grohl is no slouch.
Bonham obviously
Topper Headon out of The Clash, totally underrated.
Josh Dun from twenty one pilots.
What is wrong with you people? Obviously the best drummer is this thing
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Joking aside Reni for me. Saw the SR at Heaton park and the guy just blew me away
Keith Moon and then Cozy Powell for me.
Chad Smith
Sheila E
Steve White
Phil Collins
Ringo
Kenney Jones
Gilson Lavis
Dave Grohl
Taylor Hawkins
In no particular order
Sarah Jones - Hot Chip
Stephen Morris - New Order
John Densmore - The Doors
Meg White - The White Stripes
My favourites?
Reni from the roses and jaki from can spring to mind immediately.
And that chap who did all the dance stuff, Roland whatisface.
808 was it?
No mention yet of Vinnie Colaiuta or Dave Weckl. Both instantly recognisable and can play anything.
And John Robinson the most recorded drummer in history.
Bernard Purdie - one of the true godfathers of groove
Also
Chaka Khan (really !)
Paul Ferguson
Ringo Starr for bothering to write a proper distinctive drum part for every song.
Don Powell likewise before his accident.
Paul Cook and Steve Jones for working so well together.
Clem Burke who was the other member of the band worth watching
Bela B for doing it so well standing up.
Tré Cool because he is.
Roland TR-808.
Well I qualify on grounds of gender and age to post on this thread, and even have opinions on drummers human and machine, but will regain from sharing these because of the exclusionary, albeit probably realistic, thread title. Not that I've been called gentleman for a while. Call it a protest.
(I mean I'm joking, kinda, but it does jar. That and the hugely disappointing lack of drummer jokes without even starting on Ringo (Ringo!)/Bonham/Baker and the mor predictables.)
Lot of respect for Rick Allen.
Also a favorite is Rasmus Ilsø of terminal .... but he is my son in law! (and also Waaay too young!)
Tommy Mcmanus
Another vote for Topper Headon and Ritchie Hayward.
Pierre Moerlen - Gong etc.
Dave Mattacks - Fairport.
Bernard Purdie.
Vinnie Colaiuta.
Josef Porter.
Levon Helm.
Phil Taylor.
Thee slayer hippy from poison idea
Based on nothing more than appreciation of his playing...
Mark Brzezicki, from Big Country.
I always thought he enjoyed playing things more complicated than they needed to be, without showing off...
Paul, aged 50 and an ex side drum and bass drum player in a pipe band,
cheers!