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[Houston]

Best drummer and/or drum solo

[Astroholic]

Best drummer and/or drum solo

John Bonham
Neil Peart
Keith Moon

[Lefty]

John Bonham
Neil Peart
Keith Moon

Stewart Copeland
Animal

[Duman]

Animal

Any drummer that has to be kept on a leash gets my vote too.

[JimR]

Any drummer that has to be kept on a leash gets my vote too.

Mark Raup at 3 on a Fisher-Price one man band set.

are we going to go through every instrument on these posts? perhaps the admins can set aside an Orchestra Pit?

[HudsonHawk]

The list of the best drummers playing today is short...it starts and ends with Mike Portnoy.  The rest of the discussion is for the "next best".

[David in Jackson]

Best drummer and/or drum solo

drum solo?  He who drums least often drums best: Charlie Watts.  Mo Tucker.

Of course, Keith Moon proves the opposite, but drum solos bore me to tears.

[HudsonHawk]

drum solo?  He who drums least often drums best: Charlie Watts.  Mo Tucker.

That's one of the things I like about Copeland...he knows when *not* to hit the skin.

[Houston]

That's one of the things I like about Copeland...he knows when *not* to hit the skin.

In Sting's book, he calls Copeland "athletic" as a drummer. Do you agree with that description?

[HudsonHawk]

In Sting's book, he calls Copeland "athletic" as a drummer. Do you agree with that description?

Not really.

[Bench]

Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, really any of their "Drumz" submissions from any show over a thirty year span.

[Holly]

The list of the best drummers playing today is short...it starts and ends with Mike Portnoy.  The rest of the discussion is for the "next best".

Beg to differ (of course). Steve Smith.

Similar veins:
Terry Bozzio
Dave Weckl

From rock/pop:
Richie Hayward
Vinnie Colaiuta

[Rammer33]

yeah I hate over fills and over playing (one reason I just can't stand Neil Pert - who is also WAY to mechanical IMO – although he is certainly one of the better drummers in his style I do think he's significantly overatted)… however - over playing and over fills, for one reason or another, work for Moon ...

my personal favorites:
Glen Kotche – (wilco/jim orourke/solo) one of, if not the, most inventive drummer out there … this also mixed with a phenomenal sense of tact …

john blackwell (prince / Patti Labelle / Cameo) - Possibly the best pure r/b, jazz, funk drummer out there … certainly tops in the showman category (if you’ve seen him you know what I am talking about) …

John Bonham – big behind the beat groove … as good a style as anyone ever …

buddy rich – needs to be on any best of list

[coop]

The list of the best drummers playing today is short...it starts and ends with Mike Portnoy.  The rest of the discussion is for the "next best".

Absolutely....the "next best" isn't even close.  Peart at his peak may have been close.

[drew corleone]

I've always thought Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters was pretty good.

[Lurch]

The list of the best drummers playing today is short...it starts and ends with Mike Portnoy.  The rest of the discussion is for the "next best".

In terms of pure technical capability, I agree 100%.  Watched Score last night on the plane.  EVERY song amazes.

Danny Carey (Tool) manages to arrange much better, though, while still showing off his chops.  He is my favorite drummer to listen to, with Peart a close second.  Joey Jordison and Matt McDonough are also fun to listen to.  Copeland's unqiue approach to drumming is what sets him apart as one of the greats.  The same can be said for Moon.

From the one and done bin, Chad Kent played with the now defunct Atomship and wrote one of the best drummer centric albums I've ever heard (and that's primarily what I buy)

Finally, if Living Colour is serious about making a comeback, Will Calhoun immediatly jumps into the top 5 list of current rock drummers.

[Taras Bulba]

I don't know "best" but I've thought that Frank Beard was tough to beat.

[ybbodeus]

Any Chris Frantz enthusiasts out there?  For the wide range of off the wall $hit that the Talking Heads offered up, that guy kept their stuff poppin' pretty strong.

"Oh, oh, baby, you can....walk, you can....talk just like me."

[chuck]

drum solo?  He who drums least often drums best: Charlie Watts.  Mo Tucker.

Of course, Keith Moon proves the opposite, but drum solos bore me to tears.

I thank you for writing this so that I don't have to.

Ringo: I'm the best droomer in th'WORLD!

John: Ringo, yer no'even the best droomer in the Beatles!

[Kevin]

Screw all these fools. You ain't seen drumming till you seen .38 Special's twin kit deployment live in the early 80s, perfectly choreographed.

Oh, and that Lars Ulrich guy might be pretty good too.

[Duke]

Screw all these fools. You ain't seen drumming till you seen .38 Special's twin kit deployment live in the early 80s, perfectly choreographed.

Oh, and that Lars Ulrich guy might be pretty good too.

Y'all are all wrong.  It is Mickey Dolan by far.

[Ty in Tampa]

What, no Phil Collins love?

[tophfar]

Oh, and that Lars Ulrich guy might be pretty good too.

he is/was, but his early 00's douchebaggery occuring at the same time as metallica's pussification is difficult for some of us to get past.

[strosrays]

What, no Phil Collins love?

I was thinking the same thing.  He wasn't all that fancy; I sometimes got the impression he was mostly trying to just beat the hell out of skins as hard as he could.  I liked that.  His sound was distinctive, too; and he kept the faith through a blizzard of drum machines in that era, which should get him extra points.

Otherwise, Charlie Watts.  One of my favorite things to do lately is to put on a big oversized pair of Koss headphones (not ear buds) and lay on the floor of the living room, re-listening to all the late 1960s-early 1970s Stones LPs, on original vinyl.  Watts and Bill Wyman (and Ian Stewart and Bobby Keys) were just amazing.

Also, Topper Headon.

[Limey]

Otherwise, Charlie Watts.

Charlie Watts, interviewed for the Stones' 25th Anniversary documentary (to the best of my recollection):

Disembodied Voice:  "How has it been: being in a Rolling Stone for 25 years?"

Watts:  "Look at this!  What are we doing now?  We're just standing around.  I've been a Rolling Stone for a couple a days and spent the other 24 years just standing around."

[strosrays]

But behind the Chalet, my holiday's complete
And I feel like William Tell, made Marian on her tiptoed feet...

Wow.  Argybargy.

Nice.

[Limey]

Wow.  Argybargy.

Nice.

Changed it a couple of days ago.  Decided that declaring myself an AntiChrist was probably getting a bit old, and made be misconstrued by some Clarks and the DHS (Hi, boys).

[strosrays]

Changed it a couple of days ago.  Decided that declaring myself an AntiChrist was probably getting a bit old, and made be misconstrued by some Clarks and the DHS (Hi, boys).

Generally speaking, a little Lydon can go a long way.

I have a soft spot for that Squeeze LP.  It wasn't as 'hard" as most of the stuff I was listening to at that time, but it had a way of insinuating itself into one's brain.  Now you've got "I Think I'm Go Go" playing in my head.  Which I am sure it will for some time.

[Limey]

Generally speaking, a little Lydon can go a long way.

It certainly did.

I have a soft spot for that Squeeze LP.  It wasn't as 'hard" as most of the stuff I was listening to at that time, but it had a way of insinuating itself into one's brain.  Now you've got "I Think I'm Go Go" playing in my head.  Which I am sure it will for some time.

It's the vicious hooks and sharp lyrics (although "Up the Junction" has more time parodoxes(?) than Back to the Future 2).

PS  On the topic of strong intros, the descending bass note and shrill keyboard intro from "Tempted" remains one of my all-time faves.

[strosrays]

It certainly did.


It's the vicious hooks and sharp lyrics (although "Up the Junction" has more time parodoxes(?) than Back to the Future 2).

PS  On the topic of strong intros, the descending bass note and shrill keyboard intro from "Tempted" remains one of my all-time faves.

When burining for-the-road CDs, I would always juxtapose that one (with Elvis singing background vocals) with "From A Whisper To A Scream" from Trust (Glenn Tilbrook backing up Elvis.)

Other mentally-associated songs from roughly that same period -- "Sgt. Rock"; "Turning Japanese"; the entire Sound Affects LP; "Passion Is No Ordinary Word"; etc.

:sigh:

[Limey]

When burining for-the-road CDs, I would always juxtapose that one (with Elvis singing background vocals) with "From A Whisper To A Scream" from Trust (Glenn Tilbrook backing up Elvis.)

Other mentally-associated songs from roughly that same period -- "Sgt. Rock"; "Turning Japanese"; the entire Sound Affects LP; "Passion Is No Ordinary Word"; etc.

:sigh:

Burining?  Is that same, renaissance man/stoner speak for "fixin' to"?

[chuck]

Wow.  Argybargy.

Nice.

It's Maid Marian, by the way. You know, Robin Hood and all that. I have no idea what sort of extended pun Tilbrook was on about, but I'm sure it's in there for the finding.

[NeilT]

Ginger Baker, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner

[Texifornia]

The list of the best drummers playing today is short...it starts and ends with Mike Portnoy.  The rest of the discussion is for the "next best".

No complaint.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It's Maid Marian, by the way. You know, Robin Hood and all that. I have no idea what sort of extended pun Tilbrook was on about, but I'm sure it's in there for the finding.

FWIW, Chris Difford wrote the lyrics.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I think Billy Cobham was pretty good, Tony Williams too.

Ginger Baker is awesome, so is Jack DeJohnette.

I always liked Simon Phillips and Bill Bruford too.

A few others I like are Ziggy Modeliste, Clyde Stubblefield (JB's funky drummer), and Narada Michael Walden.

[chuck]

FWIW, Chris Difford wrote the lyrics.

Ahh, for fuck's sake. I try to be all schoolmarmish and then I get corrected? Gilson Lavis is better than any of those chumps you mention. Ha! At least he has a better name.

Of course now you're going to tell me that Anton Fig was the studio drummer for Argybargy.

[strosrays]

I think Billy Cobham was pretty good, Tony Williams too.

Ginger Baker is awesome, so is Jack DeJohnette.

I always liked Simon Phillips and Bill Bruford too.

A few others I like are Ziggy Modeliste, Clyde Stubblefield (JB's funky drummer), and Narada Michael Walden.

Not strictly a rock 'n' roller by some definitions, but Carlton Barrett was really good, though subtly so.  Probably should mention Benny Benjamin, as well.

[guitarcec]

Best drummer and/or drum solo

i love the way Shawn Pelton plays the drums. he's very versatile and plays to the song. can't be beat for "feel", IMO, of course. there's a reason he's been the resident drummer for one of the hardest-to-get gigs in the industry for over 15 years. on top of that, the guy he took over for happens to be one of the most respected session drummers out there - Matt Chamberlain. anyway, i like the way he plays.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Not strictly a rock 'n' roller by some definitions, but Carlton Barrett was really good, though subtly so.  Probably should mention Benny Benjamin, as well.

Yeah, Carlton Barrett pretty much created the reggae beat with that one drop rhythm stlye.

[NeilT]

Solos:  Wipeout, In-a-gadda-da-vida, Ringo's short solo at the end of Abbey Road.

Some Keltner and Gordon Saturday morning trivia:

Both worked with a very famous band that was never really considered a band.  What were the two bands?

Keltner was what great rock drummer's drummer?

Gordon wrote the greatest instrumental coda in rock history.  What was the song, and what percussion instrument did Gordon play on the song?

Gordon's darkest pounding of the skins had nothing to do with music.  What happened to Gordon?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Ahh, for fuck's sake. I try to be all schoolmarmish and then I get corrected? Gilson Lavis is better than any of those chumps you mention. Ha! At least he has a better name.

Of course now you're going to tell me that Anton Fig was the studio drummer for Argybargy.

Irony, more so than accuracy, prompted my correction.

Back in the day, there was always a Sqeeze cassette or LP at the ready. I loved that band for their original melodies, catchy word-play lyrics, and their Englishness. Glenn Tilbrook, is one extremely talented dude. I have never seen anyone play lead guitar as well as he does while singing. I saw him solo at the Catus cafe 3 or 4 years ago and he was great. Totally engaging as a performer. Interacted with the crowd, walked about the room from chair to chair during one song, on another he invited a few audience members on stage to sing back up. One guy actaully sang all of Elvis' parts on, From a Whisper to a Scream; and did really good. Tilbrook is just a great allround entertainer. Probably could have included him in the guitar thread... along with Dave Edmonds and 2 or 3 hundred others.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Solos:  Wipeout, In-a-gadda-da-vida, Ringo's short solo at the end of Abbey Road.

Some Keltner and Gordon Saturday morning trivia:

Both worked with a very famous band that was never really considered a band.  What were the two bands?

Keltner was what great rock drummer's drummer?

Gordon wrote the greatest instrumental coda in rock history.  What was the song, and what percussion instrument did Gordon play on the song?

Gordon's darkest pounding of the skins had nothing to do with music.  What happened to Gordon?

Solos: Toad - Ginger Baker, Moby Dick - John Bohnam.

I'll guess:

Keltner played for Phil Collins

Gordon wrote the coda to Layla. Killed his mom with a hammer.

[NeilT]

Solos: Toad - Ginger Baker, Moby Dick - John Bohnam.

I'll guess:

Keltner played for Phil Collins

Gordon wrote the coda to Layla. Killed his mom with a hammer.

I didn't recall that it was a hammer, but he beat his mom to death.  I wasn't thinking Collins (or Charlie Watts, either).  He was Ringo's drummer on Ringo's 70's tours and albums.  Layla is right, but the percussion instrument? 

You got Layla, and the non-band for Gordon follows.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I didn't recall that it was a hammer, but he beat his mom to death.  I wasn't thinking Collins (or Charlie Watts, either).  He was Ringo's drummer on Ringo's 70's tours and albums.  Layla is right, but the percussion instrument? 

You got Layla, and the non-band for Gordon follows.

Didn't Gordon write the piano part. My rememberance of the Gordon incident was a hammer and he was committed to a psych hospital. For all I know he's still incarcerated/committed.

Okay, I just checked Wiki, it says hammer and knife, sentenced 16 years to life.

Gordon and Keltner played drums for a lot of differfent musician.

Heres another name I haven't seen mentioned: Steve Gadd.

[NeilT]

Didn't Gordon write the piano part. My rememberance of the Gordon incident was a hammer and he was committed to a psych hospital. For all I know he's still incarcerated/committed.

Okay, I just checked Wiki, it says hammer and knife, sentenced 16 years to life.

Gordon and Keltner played drums for a lot of differfent musician.

Heres another name I haven't seen mentioned: Steve Gadd.

I thought Gordon was dead, actually, but I don't know why.  He played the piano in the coda.  the non-bands I was thinking of were Derek and the Dominoes (Gordon) and the Travelling Willburys (Keltner). 

[Limey]

It's Maid Marian, by the way. You know, Robin Hood and all that. I have no idea what sort of extended pun Tilbrook was on about, but I'm sure it's in there for the finding.

Is that the official Squeeze line?  I've always believed it to be "made" as in "had".  Essentially he's saying that he fulfilled the last of his holiday desires when he fucked Marion up against the wall at the back of the chalet.  "...made Marion on her tiptoe feet..."

The whole song is simply a list of the things that us Limeys do on a cheesey vacation to the coast.  "Pulling mussels from a shell..."

[catAstrofy]

John Stanier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37OshaFTi6E

[chuck]

Is that the official Squeeze line?  I've always believed it to be "made" as in "had".  Essentially he's saying that he fulfilled the last of his holiday desires when he fucked Marion up against the wall at the back of the chalet.  "...made Marion on her tiptoe feet..."

The whole song is simply a list of the things that us Limeys do on a cheesey vacation to the coast.  "Pulling mussels from a shell..."

Maybe it's one'a them double-intenders.

[Lurch]

John Stanier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37OshaFTi6E

Good God, that was horrible.  I expected at some point there was going to be a drum solo to justify this link, but no, instead I just saw a guy play a drum machine track for 5 minutes.

[Limey]

Back on the topic of drums, The Jam's "Funeral Pyre" has to be one of the most taxing songs for a drummer to play.

[Lurch]

See for yourself next Saturday at the Backyard (Austin)!