Who drummed the best?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DCNBILL
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
DeniseNY said:
Keith Moon immediately came to mind.

And although I don’t like Rush, Neil Peart would be up high on the list. As wold Ginger Baker and Jon Bonham.
Click to expand...
I am surprised that you are the first to mention Ginger Baker he was a great one as well.
 
I forgot Gar Samuelson. He played drums on a Megadeth’s first couple albums. He was a very accomplished jazz drummer who basically got a paying gig in a metal band. This guy has some major chops and really contributed to the unique sound of those albums. You can find some isolated drum tracks on youtube and you’ll hear what I’m talking about.
 
Dave Lombardo of Slayer.

The guy practically invented playing double bass speed pedals. If you listen to Angel of Death, his drum solo has some serious heat to it. Find him somewhere just doing an instrumental if the lyrics offend you.

But Lombardo is legit.
 
punisherthunder said:
Dave Lombardo of Slayer.

The guy practically invented playing double bass speed pedals. If you listen to Angel of Death, his drum solo has some serious heat to it. Find him somewhere just doing an instrumental if the lyrics offend you.

But Lombardo is legit.
Click to expand...
Not really a Slayer fan, but yeah Dave Lombardo rocks. That guy has some crazy energy behind his drumming. Slayer’s music would not even be the same without those crazy fast drum fills of his. That’s an essential part of their sound.
 
Exiled_Child said:
Tony Williams, who was in Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet, was also out of this world great. He put out some really over-the-top LPs of primarily drum music. Very powerful stuff that’s worth hunting around for.
Click to expand...
Oh yes. Compared to the best jazz drummers, the rock drum deities are pretty simplistic and heavy-handed.

Williams, who you mention, was one of the greats. And I’m thinking of Hal Roach and Art Blakey. And Elvin Jones.
 
I don’t really understand drums, but I’m following this discussion with curiosity. Here’s a question for you: Do you rate a drummer based on the drum solo, or on his ability to make a song sound great, or perhaps there are other criteria?
 
Beryllos said:
I don’t really understand drums, but I’m following this discussion with curiosity. Here’s a question for you: Do you rate a drummer based on the drum solo, or on his ability to make a song sound great, or perhaps there are other criteria?
Click to expand...
For me it is based upon what they add to the song. Are they going beyond just being a timekeeper and actually adding to the “musicality” of the song without “overwhelming” the song. Can you tell who is playing the drums just by their style and technique? The ability to lock in tightly with the bass/rhythm section. Stuff like as opposed to doing really crazy stuff in a drum solo.
 
Yeah, it’s a hard instrument to judge. Realistically, Ringo Starr and Charlie Watts are superb, but they’re kind of overshadowed by their bandmates.🤷

In truth, the best drummers aren’t necessarily that flashy. They hold the band together and just stay in the background.

People like Steve Wahrer are really the exceptions, because usually drummers aren’t the focal point of the band.
 
Beryllos said:
I don’t really understand drums, but I’m following this discussion with curiosity. Here’s a question for you: Do you rate a drummer based on the drum solo, or on his ability to make a song sound great, or perhaps there are other criteria?
Click to expand...
For me it would be a combination of the two. I really enjoy jazz and as the musicians pass the solos back and forth to each other and they get into extemporaneous bits the drummer can either end up fading into the background or as another post stated “keep the band together” as well as contribute to the depth of the piece.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top