I vote for Mick Fleetwood

Neil Peart

Neil Peart
Ginger Baker
John Bonham

Phil Rudd

John Bonham

Another for Peart

Virgil Donati.

Bonham

Do we need a one or two arm qualifier?

Peart

Duh

Keith Moon was good

Speed does not equal best.

Duh

One more to consider.

Bonham

Neil Peart
Stewart Copeland
Bonzo
Hal Blaine

Peart
Bonham
Moon

Are you f****** serious?

He wasn’t even the best drummer to ever nail Stevie Nicks....

Like every other thread on “best” of anything, there no real answer.

Every post is a favorite.

Rhythm change to Samba @ 3 min.

Fella was brilliant.

There are Best of threads.

John Bonham
Neil Peart

Tommy Lee...🤘🤣🤘

Keith Moon
Mick Fleetwood

I agree with this. While not my favorite music, Peart's ability seems without peer. Bonham was a monster on the kit. Maybe my "favorite" was Jackson Spires of Blackfoot. Loved the way he played and the sound they captured. As weird as it seems, I liked the way Phil Collins made the drums a voice and not just holding down a backbeat. Never really cared for the music he played, but he did the kit proud.

Maybe not Peart's best work, but...

Vinnie Paul Abbott and/or Dave Lombardo as a
very close second or co-first

John Bonham FTW.

And he could have played on any genre

Ditto

Peart close 2nd
Chester Thompson

Not really Rock n Roll guy but Brian Blade is a drummer that makes me focus on just what he's doing.

Can't disagree with Neal Peart. Second Ginger Baker and nominate Vinnie Colaiuta.

My vote is Rick Allen simply because of the challenges he’s faced after losing his arm.

Yep.

He got my vote too!

All of those mentioned were pretty damn good drummers.......and I'd add Lars Ulrich to the list as well......

For finesse and skill I like Beaufort Carter. The best? Maybe not but he has skill. I’ll always hold NP at the top in my thinking.

Neil Peart
Bonzo
Mike Portnoy

Neil Peart
Ginger Baker
John Bonham
And don't forget Jeff Porcaro....there isn't a song in the 80s that he didn't play on while making albums in the studio

He defined drumming in the 80s

Meg White - best female drummer in a two-piece (band or swimwear).

Lots of good drummers. Very few great ones.

PEART

John Bonham.

my vote goes to Steve Price, of Pablo Cruise.

Neil Peart
Clive Burr
Keith Moon

Steven Adler
Peart

RINGO. 😁

Neil Peart....no contest.

Sandy Nelson

Underrated IMO is Alex Van Halen.

Yep

++1 for Danny

How the hell is Carl Palmer overlooked!!!

Neil Peart
John Bonham
Bill Bruford
Barrimore Barlow

The late great Cozy Powell

By far

Mickey Hart

Bill Kreutzman

The rhythm devils

Duh

Truth right there

Bonham and Moon IMHO.

I played for about 15 years, all rock.

-Ken

I like to look at it by era:

John Bonham - The OG that started it all for rock and roll.
Neil Peart - Untouchable in his prime.
Danny Carey - The best alive and maybe ever.

Be hard to argue with these

This is very true.
Bonham - my favorite. Just love his sound.
Best? I dunno…

^

You know how I know you don't play drums?

Lars doesn't completely suck, but he's not even "good"

Carey is a monster, technical beast. many will scoff but he's worthy of being in thaty list. That said, listening to just about anything they do I want to cut my throat in about 10 minutes.

Probably The best ever, irrespective of genre. but rock?

DANNY CAREY

Vinnie Colaiuta is extremely talented. He's won Drummer of the Year from Modern Dummer 18 times. Ginger was phenomenal. John Bonham was a great talent.

Bill Bruford

There's the man, right there.

Gotta give props to any drummer who Zappa would take on board, too.

Bill Kreutzmann…but I like where you are coming from.

Is he better than Tommy Lee? (asking for a friend)

No.

John Bonham

Yes! But just barely.

Absolutely. Read up on Vinnie stories with Zappa.

I’ll throw Kenny Aronoff into the mix.

Lars ain't even the best drummer in Metallica.

Don't know that Mike Michalkow has been any more than a session drummer and instructor. But he's got it goin on.

https://youtu.be/NckAGU25Xn4

Yep, including Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Ansley Dunbar and Chester Thompson to name a few. Ya had to know your chit to play with Zappa!

Bill Ward

Carter Beauford.

Prolly the best live drumming I ever witnessed was Phil Collins and Chester Thompson playing together with Genesis.

Kreutzman and Hart were very good too, but I never saw them play.

Props to Cody Dickensen (North Mississipi All-Stars) Guy plays guitar, keyboards and electric washboard also.

No one's mentioned Richie Hayward (Little Feat) Fat Man in the Bathtub

Don't consider him the "Best" but Charlie Watts sure did a fine job for the Rolling Stones for a lonnngggg time.

Often overlooked, but revered by his contemporaries.
Kind of like Ian Paice.

Charlie Watts, if for no other reason than 'cause he survived 58 years of making music with Mick and Keith.

Ginger Baker

Perhaps not the beast, but certainly my fave. Maybe for no other reason is that he lit Jagger up a couple of times.

Aaaaaand now we're talking.

Jeff Pocarro and Kenny played on so many albums it is insane.

Vinnie Paul from pantera…. But you can call him Vince

Watts 58 years with the same group HAS to be the all time rock & roll drummer record for sure!

Jazz isn't rock.

But, if we're going there

And then we get not only the "old" jazz drummers, but Sonny Emory, Dave Weckl etc...


Rock: Steve Gadd played with some rock bands.

There are many GREAT drummers but if I'm only allowed to pick one I'd have to say Peart.

Carl Palmer.

Yeah, Bonham in my book too.

You can actually hear the melody as he plays this one.

The feel, energy and sound that came out Bonhams drums is something every rock drummer has desired to have since.

yep, Gadd was one of the best

One could disagree (I don't) but he's "the professor" for a reason.

Basically, drummers that I had to actually practice to play the part the way they played it on an album stand out.

A lot of rock you can just sit down and play if you're a decent drummer. You don't just sit down and play ANYTHING by Peart.

Peart wrote his drum parts, then "learned" them himself.

If you ain't got Keith Moon at the top of your list, you are an effin retard.

Kaiser Norton

IMO he's in a league of his own wrt rock and roll centric drummers.

Don Brewer & Bill Ward are good Drummers.

Um, do you play drums?

I only ask, because Moon isn't exactly the pinnacle of technically difficult or impressive.

Another ++1. Probably the best of anyone currently drumming. They are currently touring and the sound system/quality was really good.

THIS!!! During the early to mid 70’s era.

Are you f'ing serious?? Lars sucks

Jeff Porcaro was good as well.

Also I think Don Henley is a damn good drummer. Probably not the best , but at least worth mentioning.

This is of course leaving out personalities.

I agree. The question was, who’s best, not who’s fastest.

Duh.

Um 😐 Lars sucks! Look up what Dave Mustane thinks about Lars.

Yep !!

Russ Kunkel deserves an honorable mention.

Abigail Cristea beats her in both departments.

I always Doug 'Cozmo' Clifford from Creedence was underrated... Maybe not the best but damn good.

Rock and Roll?
Peart
Portnoy
Carey

So many others can play




So many good drummers out there







Larnell Lewis is amazing as well

A couple more names to add,
Clem Burke
Hal Blaine

And he may have been the last of the old school, classic, drummers, with his basic drum kit and classic stick handleing. That probably won't be seen in rock music ever again.

For sure. He can do it all. To me he can carry it wo having to lead. Of course my primitive soul really liked Levon Helm as well.

goalie;
Top of the morning to you sir, I hope the day's a fine one in your part of the world and you're all well.

When I was a young teen I played guitar, steel guitar, banjo and tried mandolin too.

Then I bought a drum kit and found that I couldn't keep a beat if you held a pistol to my head...it would have been "shoot me now!"

Our eldest was a pretty fair musician with flute, trumpet, tuba as well as being what her musical friend's called a "solid drummer" for keeping the beat.

Anyways she sent me this video of the drummer from the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy learning to play Enter Sandman after only one listen, which I thought was amazing. Again I can't keep time if my life is threatened so there is that...



Lastly, strange as it might seem, although I am of the generation who grew up listening to AC/DC and Rush, I never really got into them until a decade or so back.

Rush were technically well beyond my comprehension most times in what they were able to do with only 3 guys.

All the best to you all this weekend goalie.

Dwayne

Agree 100%. No one can argue against a Peart or Bonham as top IMO. Legends and deservedly so. But as far as the superstar bands go guys like Levon or say Nick Mason just pulled everything together like a fabric without much fuss. "Night of the Living Dregs" came out when I was in college - Rod Morgenstein rarely makes any of these lists and was a giant.

And re Kunkel, so many session musicians played on so many hits through the decades and will never be fully recognized. Look up Roger Hawkins of the Swampers of Muscle Shoals. Guy was on so many hit songs and albums with big artists it'd take pages to list them.

Folks like a band, then say one of their musicians are the best at their instrument.

Kinda like when they say Angus Young in the best guitarist in the world . . .

It's John Bonham, but my favorite is Keith Moon.

McBrain is pretty decent

Bill Ward. Musicianship on early Black Sabbath records is underrated in my book.

No, he wasn't.

He couldn't see "good" in his rear view mirror before he passed.

One of Toto's singers was on my golf league team for a few years. One of the other guys said "David plays drums" and I was all "um, he was in a band with Jeff Pocarro, please don't say that. I own drums...."

I still have Hal Blaine's book on how to play drumset

I've seen Larnell Lewis a few times. He did a pretty amazing clinic at a local twin cities drum shop.

Steve Gadd, Sonny Emory, Dave Weckl, a lot of the jazz guys blow away the speed guys in limb independence and complexity.

Polyrhythms are not always a good fit into songs, but are amazing to see, and a lot harder to play than simply "fast."

Peart wasn't just fast. That said, Carey, Portnoy and others are, IMO, matching or surpassing the technical difficulty.

But Peart was doing it in the 70's.

Same with Bonham.

I am surprised the Billy Cobham's name hasn't come up. The dude's a machine.

... Sina ?...

Yup.

There's a lot of amazing drummers. As someone that's played since the 70's, I find it interesting just how many drummers nowadays are very, very technically proficient.

It's not like the 80's and 90's, where I would listen to Ratt, Warrant, Twisted Sister, or AC/DC songs once and be able to play them in a cover band.

Many drummers are pioneers of the usage of the modern day drum kit whereby each is different in how that subdivide time and hold the beat.

Ringo Starr has a huge fan base of professional top names in drummers because he brought fills, backbeat and snare styles that no one before or after did and that obviously was a result of both his own initiative and inventiveness and the influence of the Lennon and McCartney package which no other drummer had.

Moon was incapable of playing a straight beat so introduced unorthodox playing style (sometimes without a snare) that not only kept solid time but also provided gaps which Entwhistle embraced to fill as well in turn pushing Moon further in developing a style no one can play although many have tried. Hence this is likely the first solid rhythm section in rock music.

Bonham was a genius at flogging a basic drum kit and getting the most out of a single kickdrum and a single basic tom set up and is as good any everyone says, but is no better than Ian Paice from Deep Purple who was during the 70's the drummers drummer and so fast on the kick drum that the music magazines of the day were full of questions on what double kick drum set up he used, where he never did. It just sounded like he did.

Ginger is a bass players dream as no one cuts the beat and opens the pocket like Ginger could and that is why he and Jack Bruce were rated the very best in their fields when playing together. Each brought out the best playing in each other. Together with Clapton, the first Super Group.

Everyone else is really a hybrid of these guys even Alex Van as someone posted earlier, who in his own worlds stated that Ginger playing TOAD was a wall of sound that floored him when he heard it and was the influence he tried to emulate when creating the drum intro of Hot for Teacher. It fell short, but was none the less an influenced sound rather than an innovative sound.

The understated drummer technically was probably Stewart Copeland of Police,, as I saw him play during a documentary once and his capability and ability was immense and not demonstrated in the basic commercial offerings of the Police. I am sure there are a lot more drummers whereby their bands did not showcase their capability.

I'll be playing with a drummer less than half my age tonite. These days an age spread in generations is more common than the mere months or a couple of years spread there was in my early band days more than 50 years ago. Tonite will be fun, a Warwick Thumb, Fender Jazz Bass and Gibson Flying V bass into a couple of Marshall amps. The song I will enjoy playing most will be White Room.
Long Live Rock and Roll.

Saw Sabbath live in the early 70's and Bill Ward did indeed play his arse off. Nothing negative about his playing whatsoever.

For those that like or dislike Moon, there is currently a Drummer documentary on Netflix called "Count me In" that has a segment on Moon and his playing was way off the charts in terms of being replicated. His style was unique and enabled John Entwhistle to grow into the legend he became as a bass player.

It's not, nor can ever be, a contest, just as there is no best cartridge.

The only thing about Moon I've ever found impressive is that he could actually stay in time playing like he did.

Unique =\= good

Opinions vary I guess. I listen to "The Real Me" and hear a bass player carrying the drummer. 😉

Honorable mentions: Stewart Copeland and heavy metal pounder Tommy Aldridge.

Dude made the hi-hats an instrument instead of an accessory

Best drummer?
Pete Best, DUH!

Quite. Total oversight on my part.

Played college football, too. School in Texas, if I'm not mistaken.

From another time in my life that I hope all the statutes of limitations have run out. 😱

LOL. For some of the crap I pulled in my youthful fog I just hope there IS a statute of limitations...but at this point in my life maybe I just don't wanna know.

Karen Carpenter??? She won an award as the best rock drummer. Bonham came in second. He had some nice things to say about that.

No mention of Peart.

Racist.

Frank Beard

Nigel Olsson and Simon Kirke impress both in studio and on the stage.

Bun E. Carlos

Micky Dolenz

G23

Dino Danelli

Gene Krupa taught them all!

Hart and kreutzman didn’t have drum solos

They had Drums ..... every show.

Most common dead song ever recorded

Non were the same

No comparison if you consider the amount of work and shows and longevity

Definitley Keith was the only one in The Who that really had talent.

I saw the laughing face emoji. You gotta wonder how bad was Pete Best?

He's probably a better American than Tommy.

In my day it was competition between Ringo & Dave Clark. I didn't know.

But when I started listening to Led Zep something was different. I still didn't know. But I still knew it was unique. Fast forward to the net & they told me that Bonham played to Paige's beat instead of the bass that's the usual. I don't know the rules but when I read that I said, that's it! that's why I liked it all these years, but didn't really know why.

I hear a few do it today & I think it's damn cool.

Charlie was a very smooth and talented drummer.

Charlie was always to my knowledge live with another drummer when he could afford it


Almost greatful dead like🤠

Charlie claimed he let keef lead.

Kreuetzman said he liked to lure Jerry john whom ever into the abyss

Amen, someone finally said it.

I am not sure Neil Peart is even a good drummer, Rush is so bad its hard to tell.

Bill ward is one of my favorites, along with Frank Beard. A lot of fans follow the speed drummers now. Travis Barker falls in that category.

Lol. What a sad take. Rush kicks ass

An example of one? By the way, I like the scope...

I also agree about bill ward

Him and gezzer were awesome together

John Bonham & Jeff Porcaro and Moon the Loon.
Tommy Lee is entertaining to watch. He’s crazy.

????

You think their bass player didn't have talent???

John Enthwistle was a monster.

I'm saying Jeff was AMAZING. I just don't want people telling someone who was in a band with a literal drumming legend that I'm a good drummer. That shuffle in Rosanna, mmmm mmmm. Learning that was life changing.

And I'm glad you liked the scope. 👍

Ok, I'll give Entwistle credit too.

I'm not going to say who is the best, but from this bass player's point of view, I like thoroughly enjoy listening to these guys:

Bonham
Bruford
Copeland

Honorable mention,

Watts

👍

+1!

As a drummer for over 50 years for me needs best drummer needs to be separated by genre.

Jerry Fuchs.

And even era within the genre.


I'm just glad to have any chops at all these days. My little guy likes it and can play a basic rock beat.

Hey now, none of this thoughtful consideration, mister. Knee-jerk only.

Dude was solid as can be. One of my favorite people.

[video:youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=87&v=IF0ZxA130u4&feature=emb_logo[/video]

May not be the best but is my favorite, Levon Helm.

The OP certainly did that.


Buncha rubes since then, couldn't even follow along.

Good call..the last Monkee

[video:youtube]https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiWq8WS3vv1AhUYFzQIHU9TBPsQuAJ6BAgJEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOcI88zG2c_A&usg=AOvVaw1qigdxVv25yd95KHqhWbJ2[/video][video:youtube]https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiWq8WS3vv1AhUYFzQIHU9TBPsQuAJ6BAgJEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOcI88zG2c_A&usg=AOvVaw1qigdxVv25yd95KHqhWbJ2[/video]

Seems a couple are neglected.

Stewart Copland




Mike Mangini…Mike Portoy’s replacement in Dream Theater

Neil

Alex V.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJyKmEmsTzg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev51uPMB-XU&list=RDev51uPMB-XU&index=1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J696_xHMik


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAt12Lrm1kU

Billy Cobham

I have seen Mickey Hart a few times. 😉

OK you drummer folks.

First, I'm with a good number of you.............there are many, many good ones. But probably no "best".

So, opinions on this guy. Kit solo starts about 1:30 in.



The woodstock version is pretty good too.

OMFG!

GOAT!
goat

I like Meg but she's got some serious competition for that title.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUNxjpwORDQ

Was going to drop his name earlier. Him and Tommy Bolin playing together was good stuff.

Shrieve was dang good. As mentioned, Tommy Aldridge was quite the player, too:

Meytal knows her way around the skins.

+ pro miking and pro mix.

Playing along to a practiced rote track, doesn't take you to the next round of Best Rock'n Roll Drummer.

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Ya still have to play 'em.

Note for note.

Good luck beating this girl…

Ginger Baker was Jazz ......not rock and roll.....as was Jack Bruce.
They just happened to have a Blues guitarist.
They never played the songs the same way twice.

But Jesus they were good.
Listen to “Toad” and the drum solo in that song.
He played it better and faster and with more power in 2005 than in the 60s

Three of the greats:

Thank you.

(Geebus)

Yup. One of the reasons Ronnie Scott's is on my bucket list.

One of the greatest drum intro's to a rock song is on Jamie's Crying

Has anyone listed Stewart Copeland of The Police?

Yes, a couple times. He's awesome.

bonham, period ...

Even the flowers are sad.

IMO, there are three drummers with an aura that you can physically see. You'll know it when you see it and I can't find a word for it but each in their own style have it above the rest:

John Bonham, Neil Peart and Buddy Rich.

Of the three, I could listen to a recording I've never heard before and could tell you that's John Bonham and Neil Peart. and I'll bet Peart and Bonham would have Rich's poster on their wall if they made them when they were kids.

So many listed here are excellent at their craft.

Rick Allen

Levon Helm

4winds,

I was reading through the entire thread before posting (imagine that!), and saw that you hit EXACTLY the three drummers I was going to note.

You are clearly a person of great taste and judgement.

John

I didn't look at all the pages. Did anyone mention Bobby Elliot?

Dang, I feel bad for not thinking of Shrieve. 20 years old at Woodstock & second youngest musician there.

I think he should have gotten all the awards they offer for that performance alone.

Oh yeah!

I wouldn't be a good boomer if I didn't offer this; not, Inna godda da vita

Can’t mention Buddy Rich without shouting Gene Kruppa

In a battle of the drummers rich wails one out and when he looks at Kruppa playing it back.......Kruppa is playing with one hand.

Nope. Or Mitch Mitchell. Matt Cameron of Soundgarden should be mentioned, too.

Another one that wasn't mentioned was Carmine Appice.

Oh, he's been mentioned, and rightfully so.

Bill Ward was pretty damn good.

Nothing at all remarkable on first video. Playing behind the beat.

2nd video better...decent old school.

Best, non rock, drummer was Buddy Rich for more than one reason.

John Bonham. Hands down.

Vinnie Paul and Dave Lombardo deserve a mention

Bonham for sure.

NEIL PEART. Was lucky enough to see him live several times. Twice in one night during the 2112 tour.