Travis

O-o-o-o another one: Marco Minneman. The smiliest drummer on the face of the planet.

I know the OP doesn’t want stupidly technical stuff, but the joy on the guy’s face playing this Dream Theater song is infectious.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az9_1Lxy0vA[/video]

For solid funk grooves, Joseph ‘Zigaboo’ Modeliste of The Meters.
Very different and techier but Jojo Mayer is pretty incredible.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma04Nady1nk[/video]

Luke Flowers’ drumming for the Cinematic Orchestra is some of my favourite (I trued his rear wheel once!)

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9V0lss0uU4&list=PL4h2XGENb6qgodCq7ABWDQ2aGsix-Xdy5[/video]

I’ll nominate Ralph Rolle.. the current drummer with CHIC but has done plenty with Funk/Disco and Dance bands over the years..
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=AOWQNLnEfNQ[/video]
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RccDJgDgWT4[/video]

This is Dave Lombardo, of Slayer-fame, playing not-Slayer (the first part, anyway):

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WV5vC3ZQKQ[/video]

the previously mentioned Mark Brezicki makes drumming look easy . May I also throw Gavin Harrison’s name into the mix, he’s superb

probably start with buddy rich?

This. People forget about jazz drummers & from what I’ve heard over the years Buddy Rich is considered the best* drummer ever.

*Whatever ‘best’ means.

probably start with buddy rich?

This. People forget about jazz drummers & from what I’ve heard over the years Buddy Rich is considered the best* drummer ever.

*Whatever ‘best’ means.

Actually, I think I may have just found one of the best ever.

Phenomenal intro, no matter what!

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSToKcbWz1k&feature=youtu.be[/video]

The level of musical talent in those three is just astonishing. To see them live, you would never believe that three people, some guitar strings, a few drums and some effects pedals could create such an all encompassing wall of sound. And, what a sound!

Is there any other band that has such high plaudits from peers for guitars, bass and drums? I think not.

I just got back from seeing Shellac so I’m going to vote Todd Trainer. I may have misunderstood the question but that shouldn’t invalidate the answer.

Is there any other band that has such high plaudits from peers for guitars, bass and drums? I think not.

Cream?

Cream?

Good call. It’s between them, really, isn’t it?

For me, Peart and Lee just edge it, but between Clapton and Lifeson? A tough call. Clapton much better at the blues edge of the spectrum, but Lifeson delivers such utter power alongside the calm. La Villa Strangiato, for example.

Yes, I am a massive Rush fan, but I also adore Cream. If I had to choose, though, it would be Rush. Perhaps longevity helped….

Thats from R30 Captain, isn’t it? It’s the first time I saw them. I also realised I was the same age as the band. As it happens, I won 2 tickets to see them on the R30 tour, in my 30th year, on Total Rock radio.

I remember the hairs standing up on the back of my neck when they launched into Spirit of Radio.

It als happened that my brother, who’s the real Rush fan, had already bought his tickets for the same show, but mine were vastly superior, so I gave him and his mate my tickets, and I had theirs. As it transpired, they had a spare seat next to them, so at the interval I went and joined them. They bought me a tour t-shirt saying R30, 1974 on it, for my gift of the tickets, which i still have and wear with pride.

A lot of noise and speed on this thread but for creativity try Steve Ellis from PJ Harvey’s early days,mansize in particular but loads of odd signatures and off all syncopation. Nice.

[video]http://youtu.be/WuJE40OBt48[/video]

I just realised… Wasn’t Woppit a drummer?

As a wall of sound for a 3 piece band ..Motorhead .
Another drummer worth a mention ..Cozy Powell

Vander again with Magma – ‘Zombies’

Hypnotic. I can’t fathom out the sig
[video]https://youtu.be/-__nJgsLgAU[/video]

Rush don’t do anything for me, there are plenty of power trios out there one for everyone.

As JP has been mentioned a few times already (for good reason, “he could hit a phone book and it would sound good”) i’ll nominate Jimmy ‘Bower Power’ Bower, lazy lazy groove but so good:

[video]https://youtu.be/rDlZUuwB6AE[/video]

[video]https://youtu.be/c2U2mEr9o2Q[/video]

The obvious, and already mentioned, Bonham and Moon

Glad to see Clem Burke getting a couple of mentions

Gonna give a shout out for Reni.

Wasn’t expecting much but I was blown away by the drummer from Shobaleader One Squarepushers live band

[video]https://youtu.be/2agzPXrfHhs[/video]

Public Service Broadcasting is absolutely driven by the drumming of Wrigglesworth. And I just love the old dance band drumming on the intro to Dad’s Army. Always makes me smile.

I saw Keith Moon a couple of times too. Didn’t smash his kit up though, just at a smallish venue in Stoke.

Slightly surprised no-one’s mentioned the ‘big three’ – Gadd, Weckl and Colautia :

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3EOTl-DLkuA[/video]

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4RS5RsSPssw[/video]

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VK14So3O5_k[/video]

(Sorry – just back from gigging!!)

Oh: and of course, the Stratus original: Billy Cobham:

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-N_SqtFerjg[/video]

3:40 for another minute or so…
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RbXIMZmVv8[/video]

For theatre and skill and always forgotten, try Chester Thompson and Phil Collins drum duet.

Folk forget about Phil, probably because his annoying voice and sappy solo songs, however Genesis live with Chester bring out the rhythm in both.

This duet is an excellent example.

[video]https://youtu.be/VVb-6L4OiTY[/video]

There are loads of great drummers from every genre. There are some that will be on lots of people’s “best” list.

Larry Mullen from U2 has perfect timing for instance. Neil Peart is very musical. Bonham is solid but technical. But I’ll give you Ringo.

[video]https://youtu.be/9oQsKRyihEA[/video]

Aanderson .paak is an annoyingly good drummer and singer.

[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ferZnZ0_rSM[/video]

Always loved Gregg Bissonette’s frantic drumming in this.

Another vote for Clem Burke.

Travis Barker is very good as well.

Jo Jo Meyer, plays with drum and Bass outfit Nerve, and no he’s not a drum machine(actually he is, if you know what I mean). “Zigaboo” Modeliste, the Meters and Beny Greb, grebfruit, among others.