Impossible to narrow it down to just one, so in no specific order: Philly Joe Jones Billy Cobham "Papa" Jo Jones Max Roach Art Blakey Tony Williams Jack DeJohnette Kenny Clarke Louis Bellson Ed Blackwell Bill Stewart Joe Morello (Who sadly passed away on the 12th of March.) John Bonham Roy Haynes Buddy Rich Elvin Jones Carl Palmer (Warren) Baby Dodds Chick Webb Kenny Clarke Dave Weckl Mitch Mitchell Neil Peart Keith Moon Nick Mason Stewart Copeland
Also Rick Allen at least deserves a mention for contuining his career after losing his left arm in a car accident.
The most important quality for a drummer to have is the ability to operate two bass pedals. And since just about any person can do that I'm gonna go ahead and say every percussionist is of equal skill level.
@JJWeatherman: Ha ha, funnily enough that is actually a short list for me, in fact I have already come up with a few more I should have on there, including Deep Purple's Ian Paice and Yes' Bill Bruford.
I was a drummer in my younger years and wrote a huge list of all of the drummers I admired and all the drummers who had pioneered drumming in some way or another. Louis Bellson for example pioneered the double bass drum, and adding a second bass was the first upgrade I made to my kit so I could 'try' to imitate his style.
Technically there are way too many to mention, but by pure style, Travis Barker. Sure people hate him, but the way in which he plays the drums is something to behold.
If I was really put on the spot I would pick either Mike Portnoy or John Bonham, but that leaves far too many people out.
No Brann Dailor of Mastodon love? Dude has got mad, mad chops. Had a hard time deciding what song I should use to show his prowess, because he fucking rocks out in so many, but Mother Puncher should suffice.
" Impossible to narrow it down to just one, so in no specific order: Philly Joe Jones Billy Cobham "Papa" Jo Jones Max Roach Art Blakey Tony Williams Jack DeJohnette Kenny Clarke Louis Bellson Ed Blackwell Bill Stewart Joe Morello (Who sadly passed away on the 12th of March.)John Bonham Roy Haynes Buddy Rich Elvin Jones Carl Palmer (Warren) Baby Dodds Chick Webb Kenny Clarke Dave Weckl Mitch Mitchell Neil Peart Keith Moon Nick Mason Stewart Copeland Also Rick Allen at least deserves a mention for contuining his career after losing his left arm in a car accident. "
You throw up a list with that many names and no Jimmy Chamberlin? That hurts my soul
@lodar011: He is certainly a skilled drummer, just probably a little too late for me. When creating a list off the top of my head I will immediately think of drummers I grew up listening to, the people who inspired me the most when I was playing the drums myself. By the time The Smashing Pumpkins were formed I had stopped drumming.
Brian Chase from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is my personal favorite. He may not be throwing down on a set the size of a house like Neil Peart, but he has a style no one can replicate. Also, he has synesthesia which is fucking rad. As far as most entertaining drummer to watch, I'd say that has to be Thomas Hedlund from Phoenix. Dude is fierce.
@IkariNoTekken: Ok, that actually makes sense. I play drums myself and he's one of my biggest influences but I started drumming in the 90s
@TheScareMonger: Brian Chase is awesome, another one of my favorites
I would say grunge drumming in general is awesome. It may not be the fastest or most complex but a lot of grunge drummers really understood how to hold everything together and contribute to the mood/feeling of the song without trying to do too much. That's one of my biggest gripes with a lot of drummers, they try to do way too much and it makes the song sound cluttered.
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