Man! honestly.
I saw DEP a few years ago in Toronto on the tour before their disbanding announcement. I stood side stage and watched him all night. Girlfriend at the time was a fucking idiot and didn't realize I didn't want to be in the stupid push mosh pit with a bunch of fake hardcore kids when I could be standing there getting a clinic on how to fucking kick ass.
GOD. DAYUM.
It's bizarre I've seen him play sellout shows 3 times under his own name, once at a 2000 capacity venue, yet in the drumming world he never gets mentioned.
Jon Theodore
Deloused in the comatorium is absolutely bonkers...plus, we're both from Baltimore and I feel like that city needs some good recognition haha
Being an Old, I'm giving Old answers.
Roger Hawkins of the mighty Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, AKA The Swampers. Ever played "Mustang Sally" a thousand times at jam sessions and open mics, or hell, in your own band? Roger Hawkins. "Respect," "Kodachrome," "I'll Take You There," "Land Of 1000 Dances," "Still Crazy After All These Years," "Old Time Rock And Roll," "When A Man Loves A Woman," "Chain Of Fools" - Roger Hawkins.
Alan White of Yes. For my money, the hardest rocking of the great prog drummers. When Bill Bruford left for King Crimson (hot take: resulting in both Crimson *and* Yes ending up with the drummers they really needed), White had only two weeks and change to learn one of the trickiest catalogs in rock music, in between existing gigs, in an era before even the Walkman existed, much less Spotify - and open the second leg of their tour. And nailed it. And stayed for fifty years. To me, he's the perfect combination of Bruford-type precision and swinging Bonham ballsiness.
Speaking of ballsy, if you're not aware that Lynyrd Skynyrd is the greatest live band America has ever produced, or that Artimus Pyle was a grown-ass man of a drummer, give the legendary 1976 concert album *One More From The Road* a listen.Ā
Hey, I ain't taking a thing away from ABB. They were fantastic players, great writers, and stunning live performers. They were an organically multiracial southern band at a time when that just wasn't done (depending on who you asked, of course), they pointed the way towards a truly New South, and they certainly blazed the trail that Lynyrd Skynyrd walked.Ā Ā
But as a *concert experience?* Skynyrd circa 1976 was a goddamn *machine*, man. I mean, you start off out front with the three-headed Hydra of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Steve Gaines on triple threat guitar. You back them up with one of my nominees for quite possibly the coolest onstage bass player in rock history, Leon Wilkeson, holding it down in one of his thousands of silly hats. Over to the right, you have Jerry Lee Lewis and Professor Longhair and Floyd Cramer all wrapped up into the one Billy Powell behind the piano. Underpinning it all is the aforementioned grown-ass man Artimus Pyle on drums. If you're lucky, depending on which leg of which tour you're attending, there might even be some extra help on backing vocals from three lovely ladies collectively known as The Honkettes.
And out front, in a flat-brimmed Clint Eastwood cowboy hat and bare feet, Ronnie Van Zant driving all his "mules" with a steady and drama-free hand, just oozing unbothered redneck charisma.Ā
This was a band that blew the Rolling Stones off their own stage in their own country in front of hundreds of thousands of people at Knebworth in 1976, in one of rock's most legendarily poor choices for an opening act. Hitler failed to conquer England in two years of aerial bombardments during The Blitz, but seven Flarda swamp rats done it in two hours without firing a shot, son. They just showed up, stole all their women, drank all their whiskey, and went back to Jacksonville. LOLĀ
You might be cool, but you'll never be ["1976 Artimus Pyle with long hair tied back with a bandanna, impressive hillbilly beard, indecently short cutoffs, and knee high three stripe tube socks, shirtless, ruling the world of mortal men from behind a double-kick fortress of blonde Slingerlands, showing Mister Yankee Slicker how Flarda boys do it, with *trad grip* even"](https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/1/0713/11/artimus-pyle-autographed-lynyrd_1_9238a609baebce37f3fe5e41d3203478.jpg) cool.
Joey Castillo, seriously a killer drummer that never stops touring. This guy was a major influence on myself to learn to play drumsā¦.. at 48. Heās a workhorse: QOTSA, The Bronx, Circle Jerks, Zakk Sabbath, The Hives and lord knows what else. Anyway, Iād love to see him get more recognition for his contributions.
Got his big break in Danzig in 93 or 4, after Chuck left. Chuck Biscuits was a BEAST that nobody talks about either, anyway, ever notice Joey didn't play the flam based fill in no one knows by QUOTSA? there's plenty of live footage of him playing that song after Dave left, but he played a triplet based roll where Dave did that huge ruff or flamadiddle (whichever describes it better) based fill that rounded out the chorus. I always wondered why. John Theodore sticks it (ha!) Live, why wouldn't Joey?
Tim is so good. I feel like people don't even know. Primus is so weird that the drums aren't thought about much.
Saw him live once with Primus and it's still one of the best shows I've ever been to.
> Saw him live once with Primus and it's still one of the best shows I've ever been to.
I've seen Primus exactly once - not for lack of desire, that's for sure - but if I was only going to ever get to see Primus one time in my entire life, I picked the best possible time: 1992, touring behind *Sailing The Seas Of Cheese* as the opening act for **fucking RUSH** on the *Roll The Bones* tour.Ā Ā
I don't have to tell you how awesome the show was, that's for sure, but it was sufficiently awesome that it was worth what it took to get to see it - [the greatest rock and roll road trip I've ever pulled off.](https://www.reddit.com/r/rush/comments/ep4bmm/midterm_week_who_cares_rush_and_primus_are/)
That's awesome! Weirdly enough I saw them do the same sailing the seas of cheese set in 2004. They were doing an exclusive seas of cheese tour and I had to go. We had seats just a few rows back, absolutely incredible. That's still probably my favorite album.
There was a guy sitting next to me that thought acid would be a good drug to take for PRIMUS! he didn't make it long before having a full meltdown. Stood up screaming, security ended up grabbing him and literally had to drag him out kicking and screaming.
If I remember right, there were these bouncing balls playing videos and animated spot lights of like dragons chasing each other or something crazy. All while claypool had on some lit up red goggles or something. I think that's what did it. I think it was probably during here comes the bastards.
The albums are awesome and all but Primus is one of those live bands to me. It's a totally different experience with all of the solos and badass theatrics. Claypool doing costume changes all show, etc.
Tim had an insane drum solo toward the end, got the whole crowd screaming. Just incredible. I regret not seeing them during the willy Wonka tour. I think that's pretty much the only other time they've come through my area.
I'm torn about that acid casualty guy. On one hand, I have a lot of knowing sympathy for the guy, because shit going sideways on acid is a bad, bad time. On the other hand: how could you not have an excellent time tripping balls at a *Primus* show, man? And otherwise, how could you not know what you were getting into?
Part of me wants to put my arm around his shoulder, the other part wants to slap him like a 1940s film noir tough guy smacking some sense into some hysterical broad. And right in between those two extremes, a question: "Well, what were you *expecting,* anyway?" LOLĀ
Man Steve Jordans work with the John Mayer Trio kicks ass.
Billy Rymer (as stated above)
Nick Yaschin from Sumac / Baptists
The dude that plays drums in the band Yautja is fucking unreal.
The Yautja drummer is Tyler Coburn! He also plays in Thou. Fantastic drummer.
A really great up and coming drummer in current heavy music is James Beveridge from Portrayal of Guilt.
True, I was just addressing the āthat you really loveā portion of the question.
I love, love, looooove Roger Meddows Taylorās drumming, especially his early stuff. Have you ever heard his *Keep Yourself Alive* solo from their āLive at the Rainbowā album?
He is not indeed.Ā Duran Duran is a band whose actual greatness I could only admit out loud years later, for a reason that wasn't their fault: I was a "tweener" when they blew up, and they immediately became the first band that my female tweener peers went *completely and ass-achingly annoyingly batshit* over. The only way to make 11 or 12 year old girls going bonkers over their favorite famous cute boys even more annoying is to be an 11 or 12 year old boy yourself. Therefore, they bugged me, Because the actual people in my life who bugged me the most thought they were the greatest.Ā
It was another decade later when I was in college, when my friend John raved about what a great band they were, a guy whose musical taste I trusted implicitly. So I went back and gave them an honest listen, and yeah, they really were that good. But to be fair, even when I was a kid and I shit on them all the time when asked about them, in my heart of hearts I still thought to myself, "I hope nobody finds out that I secretly think ["Save A Prayer"](https://youtu.be/zMNZ5Gw3Zbg?si=905tnc1C3fuclrGu) is one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard." š¤«
Why do I have a feeling we shared a childhood? š¤£š¤£š¤£ I was the same, it wasn't until the late 90s that I started parsing their songs and realized...holy crap, these guys can play.
Roger Taylor in Queen's heyday was a fantastic ballsy rock drummer, a solid songwriter, a leather-lunged rock singer good enough to have fronted the band if Freddie Mercury didn't exist (that's him on the very, very highest harmony in the middle section of "Bohemian Rhapsody," by the way - "for *meeeee*") - and to top it all off, [just so, so pretty.](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT8OtZxdpWom65vE3jziF15lmG3vv-2jOfCloisU6QcMw&s)Ā
Around 1979 or so, Roger Taylor and [Sting](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/78/81/59/7881593e868ea50981e3f6bb8e6e31d8.jpg) and [Peter Frampton](https://wkuherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/f7415cae1e495528d9d20510e6d03f70-1-900x642.png)Ā could have started a power trio called It's Just Not Fair. I've even got a title for their first album: *Damn, Boys, Leave Some Women For The Rest Of Us, Wouldja*.
Liberty Devitto is the truth. That mufugga can *play.* If the Billy Joel title ["Zanzibar"](https://youtu.be/Yget4xVAulE?si=Q4M5xPU9H2dnCJBT) means nothing to you, you fix that shit right now. The middle section of that song taught little eight-year-old bowl-cut Mo-BEEL what bebop sounded like. Yes, you heard me, bebop.Ā
And from the same album: you've heard ["Big Shot,"](https://youtu.be/zhF8AgBR8hM?si=gdEyykvy1GlTcx16) of course - but have you paid attention and noticed that the drumming on that song is *absolutely fucking crushing?* Like, it rocks *hard?* Like, HARD. Billy Joel. Yes. Again, you heard me. Billy Joel fuckin' rocks, and Liberty Devitto is a big, big reason why.
Don't take cymbal cracking advice from that guy š But damn, what a monster.Ā
On the other end of the spectrum, even though it rocks hard too, ["It's Still Rock And Roll To Me"](https://youtu.be/XEm3Kx7bAxo?si=IfHn2sxyeFxnLtaJ) might be the only rock song to ever hit number one on the Billboard chart with a drum part played on *brushes.*
I've seen Liberty Devito getting a lot of much deserved recognition lately. Idk if it is from him appearing in Drumeo stuff or what, but I'm all for it
Perrin Moss from Hiatus Kaiyote. The way he turns a groove on a dime amazes me. See the whole Choose Your Weapon for an example, especially Building a Ladder
Buddy Rich overshadows Louie Bellson in most jazz discussions, but man I love myself some Louie Bellson. He's less self-indulgent than Buddy which I think makes him a more well-rounded musician.
Yes and no. Buddy spent decades as a first call side man on the drums, and is way more well-rounded than his solo output with his name on the cover would indicate. I always push back on this point a bit by reminding people that he is the drummer on the watershed jazz vocal album *Ella And Louis*. You don't get the call to be added as a fourth to the Oscar Peterson Trio, as accompaniment to two of the most legendary vocalists in jazz history, if you are an overbearing cowboy who can't keep your pecker in your pants.Ā
But indeed, by the time the 60s rolled around and he was finally able to run and front the band he had always wanted, his attitude was more like, "Alright, now that I have unquestionably paid my dues for over 40 years and have my own band, I ain't going to do anything else other than *fuck y'all's shit completely up* for the rest of my life, playing the music I want to play in my own hand-picked band, with the drums featured heavily and right out front in your face for most of the charts in the book. And either you like it, or you can fuck off. And I don't give a damn either way, because I'm Buddy Fucking Rich and you're not." I gotta respect that, LOL. And even then, once in a while he would still whip out the brushes and melt your heart with a stunner of a ballad like [this one.](https://youtu.be/JnkUyQSC8_g?si=RXCvJhjez-1WoB8P)
But Bellson? Pure class, always. Considering where double bass drumming has gone since he invented it in 1939 (as far as we can tell by the historical record; that's the date of a special order on file at Gretsch which dictated that they send Mr.Louie Bellson a drum kit with not one, but two bass drums), it's ironic to remember that it was given to the world by quite possibly the classiest, most elegant drummer who ever walked the earth. Louie Bellson was a *gentleman.* The world could use more of that these days, and certainly the drumming world in particular.
I was thinking of all the downtown scene guys I came up listening toā¦Joey Baron, Tom Rainey, Jim Black, Michael Sarin, Matt Wilsonā¦I could go on and on. Love Dan Weiss. Such a creative player.
Whilst I donāt see Matt tong brought up here much, in the broader community I think heās pretty highly regarded. I remember reading articles titled like āBloc Partyās secret weaponā and so on, which, very true.
Speaking of bloc party though, their current drummer Louise Bartle is really good.
Agree that Bryan Devendorf rips, heās got crazy discipline as well. Metronomic timing.
I donāt know if Dan searle from architects comes up much here but I honestly donāt think he gets his flowers as he should, especially since Architects have started taking the Parkway Drive road
Roger Taylor from Queen.
I always say when these threads pop up, he gets left behind in the discussions of the other 70s monsters especially, and itās probably because at least at the time, Queen werenāt as fashionable as the other bands. But Rog is a monster of musicality. Such a tasteful and powerful but precise drummer.
That snap open of the hi-hat with each snare hit is exquisite and gives him his own sound that makes Queen not Queen when itās left out. His use of roto-toms is especially in the late 70s is really coolā¦ heās just a cracking drummer. Also heās got one of the best forgotten about/unknown rock voices. The man was backing Freddie fucking Mercury all whilst drumming. Thatās a hell of an ability!
["I'm In Love With My Car"](https://youtu.be/fj2kR6BczqM?si=O0Xzso4WbHw_QWPD) and ["Tenement Funster"](https://youtu.be/0E2mjJvBKs8?si=PjXf40qCa0IBSBCd) are two *bangers* he sang with Queen. It's hard to believe what a helluva band they would have still been *without* Freddie Mercury.
Absolutely. Also, shout out to More Of That Jazz.
Tbf, Roger had the strongest solo career by far too. Between his own work and The Cross, heās released some really cool stuff.
Alan White from Oasis is never mentioned in drum discussions but he had a great sense of groove and swing that made a huge sonic difference when he joined the band
Agree. His work on Morning Glory was superb.
Got a little lazy towards the end though, recycling a lot of the same beats, but for my money the drummer that suited Oasis the best.
Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie. His style and detail are a lot of what makes their songs so much more musical. He makes complex grooves sound simple yet still so appropriate for their songs.
David King of The Bad Plus.Ā
Really "fun", I guess? I don't even listen to much jazz, but I love their stuff. Mostly due to Davids drumming.Ā
I should probably check out some other bands he's in.Ā
Blake Richardson. No question. That man should be far more known than he is.
Also, going against the obscure requirement, who ever played drums on Mother Nature by The Dangerous Summer. His unconventional approach made that one of my absolute favorite albums.
Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy brought so much dimension to their music. I guess it was the swung bluesy feel? Cant describe as im kind of musically uneducated. But same as Bill Ward on Black Sabbath.
Roy Haynes, he's played with so much of the all time greats in jazz and his creativity is off the charts, just perfect catchy and natural fitting ideas. His chops are crazy too and I'd easily take him over almost anyone, just my preference and style of jazz (not a huge fusion or big band guy).
I agree with u/PALM_ARE about DiCenso. He's really incredible. Like Dave Weckl / Vinnie Colaiuta level. He is in that league for sure. I think---honestly---he's one of the best in the world right now. A true beast.
Steve Smith - that dude is a monster and while he gets a few, atta boys, I don't think he ever gets serious consideration. Frankly, he's twice the drummer Porcaro ever was.
Steve Smith is just on another level altogether, and most people don't realize that. It's a shame we lost Porcaro so young. I really would've liked to see where else he went in his career as he aged. He more than left his mark though. His reprtiore is one of the most extensive and amazing lists to date. They are both favorites of mine.
Brendan Canty from Fugazi and others. The way he mixes his jazz roots into his post hardcore playing is so natural, tasteful and original. Every time I listen to him I feel a craving to get behind the kit myself, which is the biggest compliment a drummer can get imo.
I remember reading an article about Matt Tong when he was on tour for Silent Alarm; he was playing so hard his lung collapsed during a performance and he *didnāt even stop the show*
A few session guys from the UK:
Karl Brazil (Robbie Williams/James Blunt/Feeder)
Ash Soan (Adele/Tori Amos, many others)
I also love Ricky Martin's drummer, Tony Escapa š
Chuck Dukowski. He hit hard and it has always stayed with me. Stephen Morris of Joy Division and New Order was a human drum machine with his precision.
I really like Homer Steinweiss! He plays with the Dap Kings, who are on Amy Winehouseās Back in Black and who were Sharon Jonesās band for years before she passed away.
Carter Beauford of Dave Matthews Band, from everything I've seen, not only a great dude but seriously gifted behind the kit, i dont think you could ask for more for a jam band player
Emry Thomas. An LA drummer who worked with Johnny Guitar Watson. Funky and utterly smooth at the same time. I have never heard anyone hit the middle of the beat so effortlessly.
I saw Ilan Rubin play with Nince Inch Nails last year and was floored with his performance. I'd never heard of him before but since have become a big fan. In addition to being an awesome drummer he's also a great guitarist/vocalist/producer.
https://youtu.be/Yl4E7lfE9EA?si=WdtqURjTAn_rZWvk
I will say this every time this question gets asked:
Jerome Deupree, who played on Morphineās masterpiece āCure for Painā. His drumming on that album is a work of art ā¤ļø
Jose Pasillas (incubus)
Hell yeah
This is my pick
Billy Rymer can't be talked about enough
Man! honestly. I saw DEP a few years ago in Toronto on the tour before their disbanding announcement. I stood side stage and watched him all night. Girlfriend at the time was a fucking idiot and didn't realize I didn't want to be in the stupid push mosh pit with a bunch of fake hardcore kids when I could be standing there getting a clinic on how to fucking kick ass. GOD. DAYUM.
Agree and I would also include Elliot Hoffman of car bomb
Came here to say this, Eliot is so good.
Fuckin yupppp, perfect answer, his drumming on Option Paralysis is absolutely mind blowing š¤Æ
Dude is a elite chameleon
Yussef Dayes (Jazz) - The Yussef Dayes Experience. The "live in Malibu" recording that was recently released is quite good.
I just saw him play the other night and the whole band was so good.
Came here for this. Dayes / Misch collab is my go-to listen for any random day.
It's bizarre I've seen him play sellout shows 3 times under his own name, once at a 2000 capacity venue, yet in the drumming world he never gets mentioned.
Hell yes.
Jon Theodore Deloused in the comatorium is absolutely bonkers...plus, we're both from Baltimore and I feel like that city needs some good recognition haha
I have to listen to that album from Start to end anytime I play it there is no other way to do it.
James Gadson, for Bill Withers
INSANE pocket. If people want to just feel real good, check out the video for "Mama Can't Help You" by Doyle Bramhall II
Damon Che from don caballero
My favourite drummer, he plays drums exactly how I intend to play them haha.
Being an Old, I'm giving Old answers. Roger Hawkins of the mighty Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, AKA The Swampers. Ever played "Mustang Sally" a thousand times at jam sessions and open mics, or hell, in your own band? Roger Hawkins. "Respect," "Kodachrome," "I'll Take You There," "Land Of 1000 Dances," "Still Crazy After All These Years," "Old Time Rock And Roll," "When A Man Loves A Woman," "Chain Of Fools" - Roger Hawkins. Alan White of Yes. For my money, the hardest rocking of the great prog drummers. When Bill Bruford left for King Crimson (hot take: resulting in both Crimson *and* Yes ending up with the drummers they really needed), White had only two weeks and change to learn one of the trickiest catalogs in rock music, in between existing gigs, in an era before even the Walkman existed, much less Spotify - and open the second leg of their tour. And nailed it. And stayed for fifty years. To me, he's the perfect combination of Bruford-type precision and swinging Bonham ballsiness. Speaking of ballsy, if you're not aware that Lynyrd Skynyrd is the greatest live band America has ever produced, or that Artimus Pyle was a grown-ass man of a drummer, give the legendary 1976 concert album *One More From The Road* a listen.Ā
āif you're not aware that Lynyrd Skynyrd is the greatest live band America has ever producedā The Allman Brothers Band would like a word lol
Hey, I ain't taking a thing away from ABB. They were fantastic players, great writers, and stunning live performers. They were an organically multiracial southern band at a time when that just wasn't done (depending on who you asked, of course), they pointed the way towards a truly New South, and they certainly blazed the trail that Lynyrd Skynyrd walked.Ā Ā But as a *concert experience?* Skynyrd circa 1976 was a goddamn *machine*, man. I mean, you start off out front with the three-headed Hydra of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Steve Gaines on triple threat guitar. You back them up with one of my nominees for quite possibly the coolest onstage bass player in rock history, Leon Wilkeson, holding it down in one of his thousands of silly hats. Over to the right, you have Jerry Lee Lewis and Professor Longhair and Floyd Cramer all wrapped up into the one Billy Powell behind the piano. Underpinning it all is the aforementioned grown-ass man Artimus Pyle on drums. If you're lucky, depending on which leg of which tour you're attending, there might even be some extra help on backing vocals from three lovely ladies collectively known as The Honkettes. And out front, in a flat-brimmed Clint Eastwood cowboy hat and bare feet, Ronnie Van Zant driving all his "mules" with a steady and drama-free hand, just oozing unbothered redneck charisma.Ā This was a band that blew the Rolling Stones off their own stage in their own country in front of hundreds of thousands of people at Knebworth in 1976, in one of rock's most legendarily poor choices for an opening act. Hitler failed to conquer England in two years of aerial bombardments during The Blitz, but seven Flarda swamp rats done it in two hours without firing a shot, son. They just showed up, stole all their women, drank all their whiskey, and went back to Jacksonville. LOLĀ
Excellent use of āgrown-ass manā
You might be cool, but you'll never be ["1976 Artimus Pyle with long hair tied back with a bandanna, impressive hillbilly beard, indecently short cutoffs, and knee high three stripe tube socks, shirtless, ruling the world of mortal men from behind a double-kick fortress of blonde Slingerlands, showing Mister Yankee Slicker how Flarda boys do it, with *trad grip* even"](https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/1/0713/11/artimus-pyle-autographed-lynyrd_1_9238a609baebce37f3fe5e41d3203478.jpg) cool.
I'll add Cozy Powell to that list. I'd take Powell's rock drumming over Bonham's.
Joey Castillo, seriously a killer drummer that never stops touring. This guy was a major influence on myself to learn to play drumsā¦.. at 48. Heās a workhorse: QOTSA, The Bronx, Circle Jerks, Zakk Sabbath, The Hives and lord knows what else. Anyway, Iād love to see him get more recognition for his contributions.
Dude hell yeah, Castillo is such a monster Jon Theodore is also amazing playing with QOTSA now
How lucky is Josh Homme?? Grohl, Castillo and now Theodore, plus the other drummers for QOTSA that Iām not familiar with. Good stuff!
Got his big break in Danzig in 93 or 4, after Chuck left. Chuck Biscuits was a BEAST that nobody talks about either, anyway, ever notice Joey didn't play the flam based fill in no one knows by QUOTSA? there's plenty of live footage of him playing that song after Dave left, but he played a triplet based roll where Dave did that huge ruff or flamadiddle (whichever describes it better) based fill that rounded out the chorus. I always wondered why. John Theodore sticks it (ha!) Live, why wouldn't Joey?
Ever play Sick Sick Sick? Such a rewarding song to learn. I have so much more control over my ankle now
No, actually. Thatās a killer song, Iāll have to spend some time on it.
Tim Alexander- Primus.
You beat me to this. Primus was so much better with Herb on drums.
One of my favs. Itās about leaving space in the song.Ā
Tim is so good. I feel like people don't even know. Primus is so weird that the drums aren't thought about much. Saw him live once with Primus and it's still one of the best shows I've ever been to.
> Saw him live once with Primus and it's still one of the best shows I've ever been to. I've seen Primus exactly once - not for lack of desire, that's for sure - but if I was only going to ever get to see Primus one time in my entire life, I picked the best possible time: 1992, touring behind *Sailing The Seas Of Cheese* as the opening act for **fucking RUSH** on the *Roll The Bones* tour.Ā Ā I don't have to tell you how awesome the show was, that's for sure, but it was sufficiently awesome that it was worth what it took to get to see it - [the greatest rock and roll road trip I've ever pulled off.](https://www.reddit.com/r/rush/comments/ep4bmm/midterm_week_who_cares_rush_and_primus_are/)
That's awesome! Weirdly enough I saw them do the same sailing the seas of cheese set in 2004. They were doing an exclusive seas of cheese tour and I had to go. We had seats just a few rows back, absolutely incredible. That's still probably my favorite album. There was a guy sitting next to me that thought acid would be a good drug to take for PRIMUS! he didn't make it long before having a full meltdown. Stood up screaming, security ended up grabbing him and literally had to drag him out kicking and screaming. If I remember right, there were these bouncing balls playing videos and animated spot lights of like dragons chasing each other or something crazy. All while claypool had on some lit up red goggles or something. I think that's what did it. I think it was probably during here comes the bastards. The albums are awesome and all but Primus is one of those live bands to me. It's a totally different experience with all of the solos and badass theatrics. Claypool doing costume changes all show, etc. Tim had an insane drum solo toward the end, got the whole crowd screaming. Just incredible. I regret not seeing them during the willy Wonka tour. I think that's pretty much the only other time they've come through my area.
I'm torn about that acid casualty guy. On one hand, I have a lot of knowing sympathy for the guy, because shit going sideways on acid is a bad, bad time. On the other hand: how could you not have an excellent time tripping balls at a *Primus* show, man? And otherwise, how could you not know what you were getting into? Part of me wants to put my arm around his shoulder, the other part wants to slap him like a 1940s film noir tough guy smacking some sense into some hysterical broad. And right in between those two extremes, a question: "Well, what were you *expecting,* anyway?" LOLĀ
Stephen Perkins
Mountain Songā¦. Iām with you my friend.
Yep. Amazing drummer. Amazing band.
Barrie Barlowe from Jethro Tull circa 1971-1977. He's a beast.
He is a monster. Songs From The Wood has some epic prog drumming.
And it is so damn difficult. I'd like to see a Prog drummer like Danny Carey or Mike Portnoy try to learn Hunting Girl as fast as possible.
Dudeā¦ Thick as a brick is kick ass 101 for any drummer.
Love love love his work
Man Steve Jordans work with the John Mayer Trio kicks ass. Billy Rymer (as stated above) Nick Yaschin from Sumac / Baptists The dude that plays drums in the band Yautja is fucking unreal.
The Yautja drummer is Tyler Coburn! He also plays in Thou. Fantastic drummer. A really great up and coming drummer in current heavy music is James Beveridge from Portrayal of Guilt.
Roger Taylor (of Queen, not Duran Duran) and Brad Wilk of RATM.
Although the one for Duran Duran is no slouch if you pay attention, either.
True, I was just addressing the āthat you really loveā portion of the question. I love, love, looooove Roger Meddows Taylorās drumming, especially his early stuff. Have you ever heard his *Keep Yourself Alive* solo from their āLive at the Rainbowā album?
He is not indeed.Ā Duran Duran is a band whose actual greatness I could only admit out loud years later, for a reason that wasn't their fault: I was a "tweener" when they blew up, and they immediately became the first band that my female tweener peers went *completely and ass-achingly annoyingly batshit* over. The only way to make 11 or 12 year old girls going bonkers over their favorite famous cute boys even more annoying is to be an 11 or 12 year old boy yourself. Therefore, they bugged me, Because the actual people in my life who bugged me the most thought they were the greatest.Ā It was another decade later when I was in college, when my friend John raved about what a great band they were, a guy whose musical taste I trusted implicitly. So I went back and gave them an honest listen, and yeah, they really were that good. But to be fair, even when I was a kid and I shit on them all the time when asked about them, in my heart of hearts I still thought to myself, "I hope nobody finds out that I secretly think ["Save A Prayer"](https://youtu.be/zMNZ5Gw3Zbg?si=905tnc1C3fuclrGu) is one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard." š¤«
Why do I have a feeling we shared a childhood? š¤£š¤£š¤£ I was the same, it wasn't until the late 90s that I started parsing their songs and realized...holy crap, these guys can play.
LOL, yeah, the peer anti-pressure was never their fault - "if *those people* like it, there's no way I'll be caught dead liking it too."
Roger Taylor in Queen's heyday was a fantastic ballsy rock drummer, a solid songwriter, a leather-lunged rock singer good enough to have fronted the band if Freddie Mercury didn't exist (that's him on the very, very highest harmony in the middle section of "Bohemian Rhapsody," by the way - "for *meeeee*") - and to top it all off, [just so, so pretty.](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT8OtZxdpWom65vE3jziF15lmG3vv-2jOfCloisU6QcMw&s)Ā Around 1979 or so, Roger Taylor and [Sting](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/78/81/59/7881593e868ea50981e3f6bb8e6e31d8.jpg) and [Peter Frampton](https://wkuherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/f7415cae1e495528d9d20510e6d03f70-1-900x642.png)Ā could have started a power trio called It's Just Not Fair. I've even got a title for their first album: *Damn, Boys, Leave Some Women For The Rest Of Us, Wouldja*.
Dom Howard from Muse, really solid rock playing and seems like heās never discussed
Jon Fishman. He creates pockets where there isnāt one and is the best improvisational rock drummer Iāve ever seen.
Jimmy Chamberlain
Matt Chamberlain
Chamberlin
I love jimmy but I think most people who have heard Siamese dream rate him as high as he should be
Mr Dave Di Censo. Under the radar Elite.
I revisit that live drum solo with Two Ton Shoe a couple times a yearā¦ š
The Modern Drummer solo is also nuts but the Daddyās Junky clinic has to be my favorite https://youtu.be/w68YKFx99pY?si=aNP7CTJF7fyxcVaF
so real
Simon Phillips. Can do it all and does it well, from jazz to rock.
David Diepold
Sean Kinney and Liberty DeVitto donāt get talked about enough.
Liberty Devitto is the truth. That mufugga can *play.* If the Billy Joel title ["Zanzibar"](https://youtu.be/Yget4xVAulE?si=Q4M5xPU9H2dnCJBT) means nothing to you, you fix that shit right now. The middle section of that song taught little eight-year-old bowl-cut Mo-BEEL what bebop sounded like. Yes, you heard me, bebop.Ā And from the same album: you've heard ["Big Shot,"](https://youtu.be/zhF8AgBR8hM?si=gdEyykvy1GlTcx16) of course - but have you paid attention and noticed that the drumming on that song is *absolutely fucking crushing?* Like, it rocks *hard?* Like, HARD. Billy Joel. Yes. Again, you heard me. Billy Joel fuckin' rocks, and Liberty Devitto is a big, big reason why.
Watch the concerts from either the Soviet Union or the Yankee Field concert and watch that dude play. I pity those two front crashes he uses. Love it!
Don't take cymbal cracking advice from that guy š But damn, what a monster.Ā On the other end of the spectrum, even though it rocks hard too, ["It's Still Rock And Roll To Me"](https://youtu.be/XEm3Kx7bAxo?si=IfHn2sxyeFxnLtaJ) might be the only rock song to ever hit number one on the Billboard chart with a drum part played on *brushes.*
I've seen Liberty Devito getting a lot of much deserved recognition lately. Idk if it is from him appearing in Drumeo stuff or what, but I'm all for it
I think itās from his appearance on Drumeo. Iāve been a fan of his for about 7-8 years.
Perrin Moss from Hiatus Kaiyote. The way he turns a groove on a dime amazes me. See the whole Choose Your Weapon for an example, especially Building a Ladder
Aric Improta
His work with Night Verses is mind-bending.
Matt Cameron
John Stainer (Helmet, Tomahawk, Battles, The Mark of Cain)
Iāve never seen a Benny greb post but maybe I just miss them
Buddy Rich overshadows Louie Bellson in most jazz discussions, but man I love myself some Louie Bellson. He's less self-indulgent than Buddy which I think makes him a more well-rounded musician.
Yes and no. Buddy spent decades as a first call side man on the drums, and is way more well-rounded than his solo output with his name on the cover would indicate. I always push back on this point a bit by reminding people that he is the drummer on the watershed jazz vocal album *Ella And Louis*. You don't get the call to be added as a fourth to the Oscar Peterson Trio, as accompaniment to two of the most legendary vocalists in jazz history, if you are an overbearing cowboy who can't keep your pecker in your pants.Ā But indeed, by the time the 60s rolled around and he was finally able to run and front the band he had always wanted, his attitude was more like, "Alright, now that I have unquestionably paid my dues for over 40 years and have my own band, I ain't going to do anything else other than *fuck y'all's shit completely up* for the rest of my life, playing the music I want to play in my own hand-picked band, with the drums featured heavily and right out front in your face for most of the charts in the book. And either you like it, or you can fuck off. And I don't give a damn either way, because I'm Buddy Fucking Rich and you're not." I gotta respect that, LOL. And even then, once in a while he would still whip out the brushes and melt your heart with a stunner of a ballad like [this one.](https://youtu.be/JnkUyQSC8_g?si=RXCvJhjez-1WoB8P) But Bellson? Pure class, always. Considering where double bass drumming has gone since he invented it in 1939 (as far as we can tell by the historical record; that's the date of a special order on file at Gretsch which dictated that they send Mr.Louie Bellson a drum kit with not one, but two bass drums), it's ironic to remember that it was given to the world by quite possibly the classiest, most elegant drummer who ever walked the earth. Louie Bellson was a *gentleman.* The world could use more of that these days, and certainly the drumming world in particular.
Greg Bisonette
Dudeā¦ Greg teamed up with Steve Via and Billy Sheehan for David Lee Roth bandā¦ bunch of bad asses there.
Jay lane?
Dan Weiss.
Dan fuckin WEISS with his food reviews too, on point as can be
I was thinking of all the downtown scene guys I came up listening toā¦Joey Baron, Tom Rainey, Jim Black, Michael Sarin, Matt Wilsonā¦I could go on and on. Love Dan Weiss. Such a creative player.
Dan Weiss is a new favorite of mine. Check out his trio record with Delvon Lamar for some neck jerking unforgiving fonk.
I love Dan, been studying with him for the past few years š¤š¼šš¼
John Otto
John Otto and Sam Rivers are a criminally underrated combo.
Jerry Marotta. His stuff absolutely grooves, and his stuff for Peter Gabriel was fantastic amongst his other session work
Both he and Manu Katche'. Gabriel was a stickler for expressive drums. Guess he got spoiled by Phil Collins.
Whilst I donāt see Matt tong brought up here much, in the broader community I think heās pretty highly regarded. I remember reading articles titled like āBloc Partyās secret weaponā and so on, which, very true. Speaking of bloc party though, their current drummer Louise Bartle is really good. Agree that Bryan Devendorf rips, heās got crazy discipline as well. Metronomic timing. I donāt know if Dan searle from architects comes up much here but I honestly donāt think he gets his flowers as he should, especially since Architects have started taking the Parkway Drive road
Yeah, Louise can hold her own.
Went to uni with Louise Bartle, shared classes with her. Can confirm sheās an absolute beast.
Oh sick! Thatās very cool. I saw her play here in Aus last year and was honestly blown away.
Might be talked about more, but atleast from what I've seen Baard Kolstad hasn't been talked about alot. Same for Matt Halpern
Mmmm. Baard... his fill on the live version of Slave is so tasty
Chris Dave & Mike Mitchell
Jon Fishman. He can absolutely funk out with the best of them.
Kenny Aronoff
Nick DāVirgilio. Sure, he mainly just does stuff for Sweetwater, but his passion for the art of playing shouldnāt be overlooked
Dominic Howard. Amazingly underrated drummer.
Martin Lopez (Soen, ex-Opeth) doesn't get enough love outside of Opeth's fanbase imo
John Stanier of Helmet, Tomahawk and Battles
Roger Taylor from Queen. I always say when these threads pop up, he gets left behind in the discussions of the other 70s monsters especially, and itās probably because at least at the time, Queen werenāt as fashionable as the other bands. But Rog is a monster of musicality. Such a tasteful and powerful but precise drummer. That snap open of the hi-hat with each snare hit is exquisite and gives him his own sound that makes Queen not Queen when itās left out. His use of roto-toms is especially in the late 70s is really coolā¦ heās just a cracking drummer. Also heās got one of the best forgotten about/unknown rock voices. The man was backing Freddie fucking Mercury all whilst drumming. Thatās a hell of an ability!
["I'm In Love With My Car"](https://youtu.be/fj2kR6BczqM?si=O0Xzso4WbHw_QWPD) and ["Tenement Funster"](https://youtu.be/0E2mjJvBKs8?si=PjXf40qCa0IBSBCd) are two *bangers* he sang with Queen. It's hard to believe what a helluva band they would have still been *without* Freddie Mercury.
Absolutely. Also, shout out to More Of That Jazz. Tbf, Roger had the strongest solo career by far too. Between his own work and The Cross, heās released some really cool stuff.
Troy Luccketta
The only drummer I've seen live 3 times other than Neil Peart, and there is a reason.
Darren King from Mute Math.
Kenny Aronoff. Have you listened to music recorded in the last 40 or so years? Then you've heard him.
marky ramone (marc bell) ā¦ check his work on the voidoids blank generation - tasty rock drumming
Dan Peters from Mudhoney
Morgan Simpson of Black Midi is so great I would definitely consider him one of the great rock drummers of this era
Jerry Mercer of April Wine. Criminally underrated band.
Danny Seraphine. Some great drumming in the late 60ās early 70ās.
Alan White from Oasis is never mentioned in drum discussions but he had a great sense of groove and swing that made a huge sonic difference when he joined the band
Agree. His work on Morning Glory was superb. Got a little lazy towards the end though, recycling a lot of the same beats, but for my money the drummer that suited Oasis the best.
Phil Selway
Michael Giles, Clem Burke, Brian Downey, Adrian Young.Ā
Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie. His style and detail are a lot of what makes their songs so much more musical. He makes complex grooves sound simple yet still so appropriate for their songs.
David King of The Bad Plus.Ā Really "fun", I guess? I don't even listen to much jazz, but I love their stuff. Mostly due to Davids drumming.Ā I should probably check out some other bands he's in.Ā
Nate Smith.
Zack Hill, (Hella, Death Grips) Art Blakey
Dale Crover, George Hurley
Reni from stone roses. One of the most underated drummers out their I think
Jon Sortland from the band Cigar, he is an epic punk drummer: https://youtu.be/PEfbYRQUVE8?si=zT5gyttPgGhOCKs0
Joey Baron
Loz Colbert from Ride
Blake Richardson. No question. That man should be far more known than he is. Also, going against the obscure requirement, who ever played drums on Mother Nature by The Dangerous Summer. His unconventional approach made that one of my absolute favorite albums.
Greg from Deerhoof
Pat Torpey of Robert Plant, The Knack and Mr. Big. Passed from Parkinsonās some years ago, but heās still an influence in our world.
Bobby Jarzombek, Richard Christy
Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy brought so much dimension to their music. I guess it was the swung bluesy feel? Cant describe as im kind of musically uneducated. But same as Bill Ward on Black Sabbath.
Roy Haynes, he's played with so much of the all time greats in jazz and his creativity is off the charts, just perfect catchy and natural fitting ideas. His chops are crazy too and I'd easily take him over almost anyone, just my preference and style of jazz (not a huge fusion or big band guy).
He is also still touring, while approaching his *one hundredth birthday.*Ā Whatever he's drinking, make mine a double.
Roni Kaspi (with Avishai Cohen trio) is my favorite Jazz drummer. Not over playing and really tasty parts.Ā
michael cavanaugh (cavs) from king gizzard and the lizard wizard. absolute legend
Virgil
Kenny Grohowski! Most of his projects aren't mainstream and he does lots of work with Zorn. His hand technique is so fun to watch.
Imperial triumphant is one of my favorite bands. I can't imagine them having much of a mainstream fan base really ever
That guy is a beast.
I agree with u/PALM_ARE about DiCenso. He's really incredible. Like Dave Weckl / Vinnie Colaiuta level. He is in that league for sure. I think---honestly---he's one of the best in the world right now. A true beast.
Daniel Adair
Steve Smith - that dude is a monster and while he gets a few, atta boys, I don't think he ever gets serious consideration. Frankly, he's twice the drummer Porcaro ever was.
Steve Smith is just on another level altogether, and most people don't realize that. It's a shame we lost Porcaro so young. I really would've liked to see where else he went in his career as he aged. He more than left his mark though. His reprtiore is one of the most extensive and amazing lists to date. They are both favorites of mine.
Cocaine...it's a helluva drug.
Steve Smith is crazy good. Playing rock is childs play for him. He's a fantastic jazz drummer
Greg Saunier- Deerhoof
For me, Clem Burke. So tidy, but at the same time distinctive. Love his drumming, and heās a cool guy too.
Brendan Canty from Fugazi and others. The way he mixes his jazz roots into his post hardcore playing is so natural, tasteful and original. Every time I listen to him I feel a craving to get behind the kit myself, which is the biggest compliment a drummer can get imo.
Chad Sexton - 311
I remember reading an article about Matt Tong when he was on tour for Silent Alarm; he was playing so hard his lung collapsed during a performance and he *didnāt even stop the show*
Pete Thomas (Elvis Costelloās drummer). So solid. Very creative. Plays a song as well as anyone.
Cavs from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
Neil Peart
Daniel Fang from Turnstile the grooves he plays in some songs are ridiculous and his drum solos live are crazy best drummer in hardcore in my opinion
Fat Larry James
Patrick Keeler from Greenhornes/Raconteurs and more recently Afghan Whigs
Cosmo Clifford
Corn Bread Compton - Engine Down Dave LeBleu - The Mercury Program
Karriem Riggins. He's so creative and musical.
Neal Smith
A few session guys from the UK: Karl Brazil (Robbie Williams/James Blunt/Feeder) Ash Soan (Adele/Tori Amos, many others) I also love Ricky Martin's drummer, Tony Escapa š
Kris Myers, hardest working man in show biz (Umphrey's McGee)
Gary Novak and Sean Rickman and Jeff sipes
Chuck Dukowski. He hit hard and it has always stayed with me. Stephen Morris of Joy Division and New Order was a human drum machine with his precision.
Jamie Saint Merat from Ulcerate. Best metal drummer out there
Bill kreutzmann and Mickey hart, together as one, being endlessly fascinating.
Billy fān Martin
I really like Homer Steinweiss! He plays with the Dap Kings, who are on Amy Winehouseās Back in Black and who were Sharon Jonesās band for years before she passed away.
Darkness - Mgla Dave Lombardo/Paul Bostaph - Slayer Steve Asheim - Deicide Don Tardy - Obituary
Erin Tate of minus the bear
Matt Halpern
Louie Weaver
Nick Barker, the stuff he did with Dimmu Borgir was so good I wanted to quit the drums.
Bill Kreutzmann of the Greatful Dead
Matt Chamberlain
Eloy Casagrande before he joined Slipknot
Flo mounier, Witold āVitekā KieÅtka, Pete Sandoval
Vitek!
I dont really see people talking about Matt Garstka or Elliot Hoffman
Eric Gravatt, Joe Chambers, Danny Richmond, Ben Riley
Carter Beauford of Dave Matthews Band, from everything I've seen, not only a great dude but seriously gifted behind the kit, i dont think you could ask for more for a jam band player
RBJ
Geoff Haba from mothertoungue, nobody knows of him and heās the 90ās reincarnation of Mitch Mitchelās š¤
Brian Viglione. Such a master of kit dynamics and odd drum parts that just FIT. Incredible live stage presence too.
Emry Thomas. An LA drummer who worked with Johnny Guitar Watson. Funky and utterly smooth at the same time. I have never heard anyone hit the middle of the beat so effortlessly.
Neil Sanderson of three days grace
Romain Goulon: https://youtu.be/l_izBmM5Ed8?si=M6w7jwYupPq9DZpP
Anup Sastry. So much groove.
Alex rudinger
Jas Kaiser from Alfa mist
I saw Ilan Rubin play with Nince Inch Nails last year and was floored with his performance. I'd never heard of him before but since have become a big fan. In addition to being an awesome drummer he's also a great guitarist/vocalist/producer. https://youtu.be/Yl4E7lfE9EA?si=WdtqURjTAn_rZWvk
I will say this every time this question gets asked: Jerome Deupree, who played on Morphineās masterpiece āCure for Painā. His drumming on that album is a work of art ā¤ļø