As the drummer for the Hollies, Bobby Elliott was key in establishing the sound of pop rock from the 1950s onward. In addition to playing with Tool, Danny Carey has also performed and recorded with Carole King, Volto!, Pigmy Love Circus, Primus, and Green Jell. Modern Drummer is also available on the internet . Do you agree with this list? Few artists have played on as many No. The drummer will join the rest of her bandmates from The Go-Go's to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday. Recommended Albums: Fear of a Blank Planet Porcupine Tree, Cheating the Polygraph Gavin Harrison. Bruford has received recognition for his use of complex sticking patterns, rhythmic displacement, metric modulation, and odd meters. Mike took it to his lab, and he and I mixed it at Village studios in Los Angeles with Gabe Burch. He drew from various influences to create the backbone of The Police's sound that tackled various genres such as punk, new wave and reggae. Hopefully you saw some of your favorites on our list and also discovered some new drummers to check out as well. Blink and Dave Matthews Band deserve it more than anyone else on the list, IMO. He began playing the drum set when he was ten years old. Recommended Albums: Mer de Noms A Perfect Circle, 57th & 9th Sting. Watts is known for his way of playing for the music as well as his simplistic approach to drumming. Love to all my people who voted for me.. Im not part of the status quo. Were you surprised by any them? His recording credits include work with Natalie Cole, Jermaine Jackson, Boz Scaggs, Wishful Thinking, and the Yellowjackets, to name a few. In addition to the iconic physical award that each drummer receives for winning, we are also . Revisit our 1979 cover story on the founding father of the modern drumset:. He is best known for his work with John Cougar Mellencamp during the 1980s and 1990s. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.. Clarity and articulation define the sound of Roy Haynes. Modern Drummer has covered some of my favorite musiciansCarlton Barrett, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, and Ndugu Chancler, to name a fewso to be nominated means a lot. More recently, Seraphine has been working with his own project, California Transit Authority. The 2017 Modern Drummer Readers Poll Winners. Some of his most iconic drum parts appear on songs like Master of Puppets and One. Ulrich has appeared on every Metallica album to date. As the backbone of the hard rock band AC/DC, Rudd laid down the beats on legendary records like Back in Black, Let There Be Rock, and Highway to Hell. Michael Shrieve's work with Santana from 1969 to 1974 is all worth listening to. From the inception of the modern drum set, to those who continue to inspire us, this list includes past and current artists whose music stands the test of time. Rudd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Beginner Drum Book He started playing the drums when he was three years old and was playing professionally by the time he graduated from high school. He must fake it pretty well then when creating one of the best rhythm sections in rock history with Fleetwood Mac. Recommended Albums: The Meters The Meters, Look-Ka Py Py The Meters. While Grohls grooves and fills are not always complex, they have stood the test of time and have become iconic. As you read through our list, be sure to check out the recommended albums for each drummer as well. Dave Lombardo is known for being the original drummer of the thrash metal band Slayer. After leaving Zappas band in 1981, he went on to record with hundreds of artists including Faith Hill, Joni Mitchell, John Patitucci, Ray Charles, Josh Groban, Steely Dan, Bill Evans, and many others. Growing up, Chris Dave was inspired by jazz and gospel music. Tony Royster Jr. won the 1995 Guitar Center Drum-Off Competition when he was just 11 years old. His knowledge of classical and jazz music have allowed him to implement not only rhythmically complex ideas into his playing but also melodically complex ideas. However, the role the audience has taken in building up my work is a significant one. Palmer has also performed and recorded with Asia, Atomic Rooster, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Mike Oldfield, and Qango. Barker began playing the drums when he was four years old. Known for his time with the Wrecking Crew, Hal Blaine delivered the goods for the likes of Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, The Monkeys, Steely Dan and others. His recording resume is also extensive. The 2021 inductees will be revealed in May after the voting process is . It is such an amazing feeling to click on a best metal drummers list . Charlie Watts simplistic playing style was the perfect fit for the band. The Seattle drummer currently plays with Pearl Jam. At age 11, he won a . His recording credits also include work with Frank Catalano, Zwan, Skysaw, Tyson Meade, The Last Hard Men, and David Sanborn. Its difficult to associate a numerical value with an artist or musician because these things are subjective. You should receive an email from team@drumeo.com within 10 minutes. The magazine Modern Drummer, the most well-respected published work on drumming, named Krupa the first drummer in their Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. - We're professional, award-winning drummers and drum teachers, coaches, recording artists, and content specialists who are passionate about drums and helping drummers around the world. Bellson performed with some of the most successful bandleaders and musicians of the Swing era including Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Louis Armstrong. In addition to his work with Blink-182, he has performed with Box Car Racer, Transplants, +44, P!nk, T.I., Avril Lavigne, and many other artists. 1) Roger Taylor - Queen Popularly recognized as the drummer for the famous rock band Queen, Taylor was born in England. Songs like "Dream Police" and "Surrender" are where he shined most, showcasing the influence bands like The Who and Cream had on Cheap Trick's music. During his career, Jones played with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Woody Herman, Teddy Wilson, Charles Mingus, and Coleman Hawkins, among many others. Cozy Powell. He was also a member of the famous group, the Wrecking Crew: a group of Los Angeles top studio musicians during the 1960s and 1970s. At 10 years old, he was already performing in a variety of different bands. For more than 40 years, Steve Gadd has been one of the most in-demand drummers in the world. Some of these cookies are essential, while others are used to help our efforts in improving your experience while using the site. He began playing the drums when he was four years old, and by the time he was 21, Laboriel was playing with Steve Vai. In 1984, Steve Gadd was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. Growing up, his family introduced him to many different styles of music which would later influence his drumming with Dave Matthews Band. As a member of The Clash, "Topper" Headon is one of the most influential drummers of all time. Over the years, he has recorded with European pop, rock, jazz, and fusion bands. Hello Drummers. Whose music do we reach for when we want new ideas? He was one of the very first drum set soloists in history, his most popular solo appearing on Benny Goodmans recording of Sing, Sing, Sing. His drum solos even incorporated showmanship and stick tricks! Ian Paice's style marked the perfect merger of metal and progressive rock. Travis Barker PUNK DRUMMER OF THE YEAR 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 Carter Beauford JAM BAND DRUMMER OF THE YEAR John and Myron do a deep dive into Myron's famous drum kits from the 1980s, which were some of the most visually creative and unique drum kits ever . He has also worked with Intergalactic Maiden Ballet, John Medeski, David Fiuczynski, and Janek Gwizdala. Drummers The 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time - Modern Drummer Magazine On the Cover The 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time Entries written by Adam Budofsky, Michael Dawson, and Michael Parillo Whose playing endures through the decades? He started playing the drums when he was eight years old, and by the age of 12, he was performing professionally in the Disneyland Top 40 Band. His first introduction to drumming was from watching parade drummers. Fontana, Ringo Starr, and Gene Krupa. He would play the hi-hats with his left foot on beats two and four instead of playing steady quarter notes on the bass drum to keep time. Recommended Albums: The Mission Styx, 7 Deadly Zens Tommy Shaw. Beyond the blink bias on here, I honestly think the majority of the bands on this list deserve it more. In addition to being the frontman of the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl was also the drummer for the grunge band Nirvana during the 1990s. Ward would often feel out the guitars and vocals of a Sabbath song in the studio and adjust accordingly to what the track needed. His career began in the late 1970s, and he continues to perform today. Welcome to the 44th Edition of the Modern Drummer Reader's Poll 2022! Having left his mark on anthems like Paranoid, War Pigs, and Sweet Leaf, Bill Ward has left none questioning his capabilities. His drumming was renowned for its technical proficiency, and his live performances for their exacting nature and stamina. Steve Gadd has appeared on hundreds of albums throughout his career. Recommended Albums: Back in the U.S. Paul McCartney, Good Evening New York City Paul McCartney. In addition to playing with Miles, Cobb has worked some of the most iconic names in jazz: John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Wes Montgomery, Wayne Shorter, and Sarah Vaughan. He received his first drum set when he was 12 years old. As the drummer for Elvis Presley for a decade and a half, D.J. Levon Helm is not only known as a drummer, but also for his vocal, mandolin, harmonica, and guitar work. Mitch Mitchell. Tony Royster Jr. has performed with many of todays greatest R&B, pop, and hip-hop artists including Katy Perry, Mac Miller, Jay-Z, Joe Jonas, AWOLNATION, Residente, Big Sean, and Tori Kelly. Through his work with Nerve, Jojo Mayer has become an influential figure in the world of drum and bass music. He certainly had the players around him to do so, including the unpredictable Jim Morrison. Louis Bellson appeared on more than 200 albums throughout his career. Recommended Albums: Tower of Power Tower of Power, Back to Oakland Tower of Power. When he was young, his greatest influences included Max Roach, Joe Morello, Art Blakey, and Ginger Baker. Before joining Porcupine Tree, he also worked with Dizrhythmia, Gail Ann Dorsey, Incognito, and Claudio Baglioni, among many other artists. These albums have influenced countless musicians around the world and inspired many of them to start playing drums. Arguably, the most technical drummer in rock music history who seemingly could play for days on end. . We went in, Chris Steffen got amazing sounds, we hit Record, and we were off. Recommended Albums: The Aristocrats The Aristocrats, Shockwave Supernova Joe Satriani. All rights reserved (About Us). Recommended Albums: The Jacksons Live! The Jacksons, One More Story Peter Cetera. Creating the most complicated and intricate music was never a primary goal for The Rolling Stones. The man known as "Bigfoot" was essential to George Clinton's 1970s sound, performing for both Parliament and Funkadelic. In 2014, Snchez also composed and performed all of the original compositions in the movie Birdman on the drums. Here are 25 best rock drummers of all-time. Together, Hart and Kreutzmann were revolutionary in how they worked together to give the Grateful Dead an otherworldly sound that would take on new life in life shows. His greatest influences were Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell. In 2000, Hal Blaine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is praised for his drum set independence, his authentic approach to Latin and jazz music, as well as his soloing abilities. And his anchoring of the expansive tunes on "Selling England by the Pound" is downright epic. 9) Chad Smith Chad Smith is the drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of the most successful rock bands of the past 30 years. Recommended Albums: A Night at the Opera Queen, Jazz Queen. Throughout his career, he has also performed with Whitesnake, Paul McCartney, The Velvet Underground, George Harrison, and many other artists. The other nominees are nothing short of amazing, and they all deserved to win. The Top 25 Jazz Drummers Of All Time Before I start, a few other toughies who didn't quite make the list: Reggie Patterson, Ray Newman, Billy Bates, Paul Householder, Fritz Fisher, Gary Gentry, Mel Hall, Joe Edelen, and Rich Chiles. But as fans know, it was team effort fueled by the double-drumming abilities of Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson, better known as Jaimoe. Its powerful, precise, and fast. Alex Van Halen originally started learning guitar but soon switched to learning the drums instead. GearLudwig drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks. Known for his incredible bass drum work, he was given the nickname Sugarfoot, or as Michael would call him, Foot. John JR Robinson is a world-class session musician who is most famous for his work with Michael Jackson. GearDW drums, Sabian cymbals, Remo heads, Vater sticks. Because of his fathers connections, he also had the opportunity to spend time with and learn from Elvin Jones and Art Blakey throughout his childhood. Nick Mason's name doesn't come up as much as some of the important drumming greats lower on this list. Ive said many times that I grew up listening to Tony Williams in my right ear and Ringo Starr in my left. Keith Moon was the drummer for The Who during the 1960s and 1970s. Recommended Albums: Master Plan Dave Weckl, The Chick Corea Elektric Band Chick Corea. Birthdate: September 12, 1952. He was also one of the first jazz drummers to popularize brush playing. Recommended Albums: The Big Beat Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Caravan Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. Recommended Albums: Things Fall Apart The Roots, Wake Up! John Legend & The Roots. For as much as the guitar riff on "Smoke on the Water" serves as a starting point for many guitarists, so does Paice's drum work. 1 hits, including "I Get Around," "Surf City," "Good Vibrations," "Mrs. Robinson," "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "He's a Rebel." Buddy Rich 3. Matt Garstka became the drummer for the progressive metal band Animals as Leaders in 2012. Recommended Albums: Live at Montreux 2011: Invitation to Illumination Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin, Another Lifetime Cindy Blackman. Modern Drummer magazine has elected in most of the famous, legendary, well known, big name drummers to its Hall Of . Lars Ulrich is the drummer for the heavy metal band Metallica. Taylor was less technical than he was engulfing with his playing. Charlie continued to tour with The Rolling Stones until his untimely death in 2021 at the age of 80. Dunbar was inducted into the Rock Hall as a member of Journey. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, he enjoyed playing rock, punk and jazz music. But never forget the Beatles weren't the Beatles until Starr sat at the drums. In addition to leading his own group, Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band, he has achieved success working with David Binney, Kenny Garrett, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, John Patitucci, Norah Jones, Joshua Redman, and Bob Dylan. Recommended Albums: Crash Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King Dave Matthews Band. Our objective in creating the Hall Of Fame was twofold: 1) Highlight the achievement of the industry's most noteworthy drummers, and 2) Make room for the next generation of players. Emmylou Harris: The Hall came around to the truth about who really invented California country rock when it inducted Linda Ronstadt in 2014, but still hasn't made room for Harris, an equal player. His career began in the late 1950s, and he is known for his innovation in the world of funk, soul, and R&B drumming. And Taylor's playing followed suit on songs like "Keep Yourself Alive" and "I'm In Love With My Car.". 3 Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment) Michael Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater. He began playing the drums at the age of four. Ive been on my marathon from the beginning, and to be recognized for my art form along the journey feels good. GearYamaha drums, Rototoms, Istanbul cymbals. GearYamaha drums, Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo heads. Before joining Iron Maiden in 1982, he performed with a number of different artists like Pat Travers, Streetwalkers, and Trust. Jordison is known for his double bass drumming and his incredible speed and endurance. Im not the hardest, fastest, technical, or musical player, but I do try to lead and support in every situation Im in. Through his incorporation of unique sounds (like rubber chickens! Dont worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time. Alex Acua is a world-renowned drummer and percussionist originally from Peru. His fast and aggressive double bass drum focused playing had a significant impact on heavy metal music. Jordan has had the chance to work with artists in pop, rock, country, jazz, fusion, and folk music, only to name a few. He also studied drum theory and technique. Steve Jordan is best known for his work as a session and touring drummer. He, perhaps more than anyone else, made The Clash different from every other punk band all the more powerful. In fact, he is likely the drummer on many of your favorite recordings dating back to the 1960s. He joined the band in 1995 and continued to record and perform with them until the end of 2013. Growing up playing jazz, Keltner developed a relaxed, loose feel behind the drums which has contributed to his signature sound on so many albums. Jaimoe's contributions to the improvisations and double-time drumming on songs like "Whipping Post" made The Allman Brothers' sound so essential to Southern Rock. And that makes sense, considering U2's Larry Mullen Jr. grew up playing in such an ensemble. Weinberg started drumming when he was six years old. At the age of five, he started playing on his fathers drum set. Joseph Ziggy Modeliste is most famous for his work with the funk band, The Meters. Having appeared on more than 4000 albums, Bernard Pretty Purdie is one of, if not the most, recorded drummers of all time. Max Weinberg was also the bandleader on late night talk shows Late Night with Conan OBrien and The Tonight Show with Conan OBrien., Recommended Albums: Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen, Live/1975-85 Bruce Springsteen. Recommended Albums: Selling England by the Pound Genesis, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Genesis. John Blackwell Jr. toured the world with one of the worlds most successful artists: Prince. Simon Phillips is one of the most accomplished session drummers of the past 40 years. Since the 1990s, he has also performed with Sting, Eric Clapton, Shakira, Lady GaGa, Sheryl Crow, Steve Lukather, Duran Duran, B.B. Barker is known for his ability to play grooves and fills at blistering fast tempos and for his heavy-hitting playing style. Tony Williams began playing the drums and studying with Alan Dawson when he was eight years old. Recommended Albums: Skin Deep Louis Bellson, Are You Ready For This! Buddy Rich & Louis Bellson. Phillips earliest influences were Buddy Rich, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, and Ian Paice. Its an evolving list and, of course, very subjective. Recommended Albums: Slipknot Slipknot, Iowa Slipknot. But, as many know, Phil Collins career took off as one of the best drummers in the world with one of the greatest progressive-rock bands. Opt out through the unsubscribe link in any marketing email. Who else would you have included? The Dave Brubeck Quartet was known specifically for incorporating odd time signatures into jazz music. He began playing the drums when he was 10 years old, his greatest inspirations being KISS Alive! album and Led Zeppelins Led Zeppelin II album. Cindy is known for her powerful and explosive drum solos, her dynamic control behind the drum set, and her ability to adapt and react in any musical situation. Recommended Albums: Santana Santana, Abraxas Santana. Steve Jordans versatility is what makes him one of the most sought-after drummers in the industry. Recording this album with my dear friend Mix Master Mike was a total blast! 40 Drum Rudiments Portnoy considers drummers like Neil Peart, Bill Bruford, Alan White, and others on this list as his influences. Having performed on more than 35,000 studio recordings, Hal Blaine is one of the most recorded drummers in history. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Neil Peart was a rock star of the highest order, the man behind the sound of Rush. I was fortunate enough to learn from some of them first hand. In the 40 years since Danny Seraphine's rst appearance on the cover on Modern . He provides the oomph on stadium-level anthems like "Jesus of Suburbia" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends". Some notable artists hes worked with include Toto, Judas Priest, The Who, Jeff Beck, Derek Sherinian, Michael Schenker, David Coverdale, David Gilmour, Frank Zappa, and Mick Jagger. Steve Gadd. Techniques like "Heel-Toe," "Slide" are the two most common one. Oct 12, 2008. The Auvergne - Rhne-Alpes being a dynamic, thriving area, modern architects and museums also feature, for example in cities like Chambry, Grenoble and Lyon, the last with its opera house boldly restored by Jean Nouvel. Known for his technical skill as a drummer, Portnoy has won 30 awards from the Modern Drummer magazine. He started playing the drums when he was two years old and was performing by the age of six. Gene Hoglan is a prominent figure in heavy metal drumming. Roger Taylor would ultimately set the bar for how to perform in a stadium rock band. Specifically, through his work with Lamb of God, Adler is recognized for creating grooves that implement complex broken double bass drum patterns. Buddy Rich performed with some of the most acclaimed musicians of the 20th century including Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Harry James, and many other musicians and bandleaders. Larry Mullen Jr. has appeared on every U2 album to date. By the age of 17, Williams was performing with Miles Davis Second Great Quintet. Dave Grohl 6. Gene Hoglans double bass drum playing is an essential component of his overall sound. Recommended Albums: Seasons of Change Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band, Without a Net Wayne Shorter. Aldridge would go on to perform with artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Black Oak Arkansas, Ted Nugent, Motrhead, Thin Lizzy, Yngwie Malmsteen, and the Pat Travers Band. Robert Christgau once described Williams as "probably the best drummer in the world." 10. When Garstka was young, his father introduced him to blues, reggae, and rock music. Through his teenage years and into his 20s, Acua had a successful career as a session musician in Peru. Because of Krupas request, Slingerland Drums created the tom-toms with tunable heads. He started playing the drums when he was a teenager. Jeff Porcaro. Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan was the drummer for the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Here on the set of the 1983 comedy "Private School", are the talented Michael Zorek, Phoebe Cates, Betsy Russell and Kari Lizer. Watts isn't given as much credit has his bandmates. Gadd was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984 as one of the industry's best session and studio drummers. From performing with Lenny Kravitz and Carlos Santana to Joe Henderson and Ravi Coltrane, shes developed a distinct playing style that has impacted countless drummers around the globe. Recommended Albums: Friends Chick Corea, Aja Steely Dan. Best known as the drummer of the popular rock band Rush, Peart was nicknamed The Professor for his technical proficiency. He grew up listening to gospel music, and when he was a teenager, he began playing the drums. In addition, he has a great musical vocabulary and the knowledge of someone who plays a great jazz repertoire. The Drumeo Beat Brian Blade is one of the most accomplished contemporary jazz drummers of the past 20 years. Recommended Albums: Eat Em and Smile David Lee Roth, Supernatural Santana. Some of Tomas Haakes greatest influences include Neil Peart, Sean Reinert, Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Gary Husband. Zack Greinke. He began playing the drums when he was 15 years old, and began working as a session drummer not long after. He grew up listening to his drumming idols, Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. 1) Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Winery Dogs, Transatlantic) hit-channel.com Mike Portnoy created Dream Theater as we know it today, along with John Petrucci. He has also released four solo albums to date. Recommended Albums: The Joy of Motion Animals as Leaders, The Madness of Many Animals as Leaders. Jimmy Cobb has appeared on some of the greatest jazz albums of all time including Miles Davis Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain, and Someday My Prince Will Come. He is known for his relaxed and consistent swing time feel on the ride cymbal as heard on tracks like So What and Freddie Freeloader by Miles Davis.