'The best drummer on the planet'

[Tarzan]

Yep, Charlie Watts, too. Oh Jesus, I love Charlie Watts. How about when Jagger says, "Charlie's good tonight, isn't he?" on Get Your Ya Ya's Out. Is there a better live record than Ya Ya's?

[Tarzan]

I'm not a drummer, but Charlie Watts kinda has that little hesitation right before he hits the snare drum like Ardolino does. Or that's the way it sounds to me. Them two guys swing like hell.

[randolph500]

Two Words: Stewart Copeland.

Though Steve Alexander is a ferocious live drummer....
www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Steve_Alexander.html

[Smorgasberg]

lee said:

Janet Weiss (sleater-kinney), anyone?

seriously. listen to dig me out or the woods on good headphones. her drumming will blow yr mind. better than john bonham or keith moon or any of those man-band drummers. for real.

i also like dave grohl's drumming a lot. for example, the only queens... album i've liked is songs for the deaf, and mostly because his drumming really pulled that band into the fast lane(? or some such trite/cliched figure of speech). and then, of course, there's nirvana.

When I first heard that Queens album, I didn't know it was Grohl. I remember thinking, "Man, their drummer is wicked." I hadn't really ever focused on Dave's drumming for Nirvana, so when I found out that was him on the Queens album, I was quite surprised. I've read the hype on his drumming since then, and have to agree with it based on my initial unbiased listen.

[FreeRider]

lee said:

Janet Weiss (sleater-kinney), anyone?

seriously. listen to dig me out or the woods on good headphones. her drumming will blow yr mind. better than john bonham or keith moon or any of those man-band drummers. for real.

i also like dave grohl's drumming a lot. for example, the only queens... album i've liked is songs for the deaf, and mostly because his drumming really pulled that band into the fast lane(? or some such trite/cliched figure of speech). and then, of course, there's nirvana.

Wow, good choice, Lee! yeah, Janet from Sleater-Kinney has some really odd drum fills and rhythms going; she's quite inventive and good.

I dunno if these are the best drummers on the planet, but these are some of my faves:

Keith Moon (not technically great, but for their style, he was perfect)
Linda Pitmon (Steve Wynn band)
John Bonham (very distinctive, heavy beat)
Dave Grohl

[bombpop]

Jim Keltner
Philly Joe Jones
That dude from Man-O-War

[Monkey]

[thetwilitekid]

Max Roach is the best

in the rock world tho, one that stands out, esp. considering the Dave Grohl's mentions, is William Goldsmith, the "first" Foo Fighters drummer. I think he's the biggest reason I have SDRE's first album
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMkH6xi6-Og

[Tarzan]

Tad Hutchinson from the Young Fresh Fellows!

[BlakeHopkins]

I guess dave pirner has never heard of jimmy chamberlin,who is actually the best drummer out there.Take a listen to the smashing pumpkins "geek usa" and tell me he's not the best damn drummer.The guy has everyone beat in rock.I guess it helps he was a jazz drummer before he went into the rock field.

[BlakeHopkins]

dave grohl is overrated.Keith moon and jon bonham were beasts of drummers.For their respective styles they were just on the mark.some other great drummers are matt cameron,carter beauford,neil peart,danny carey(tool)....some great talent among these men.

[Tarzan]

Grrrrrrrr . . . Keith Moon and Bonham over-played for my tastes. That guy in Big Star over-played too.

[Tarzan]

Any of yall ever see Tommy Larkins play his snare behind Jonathan Richman? Too cool.

[who?]

Levon Helm - Watch "The Last Waltz" and you'll see
Gelnn Kotche - Go see Wilco live if you can
Ginger Baker - Listen to anything he does

[allshookup]

I like soulful drummers, not that Peart/Bonham overkill sound. At the very top of the list are Al Jackson Jr and Charlie Watts: absolute killer timekeepers. The best of the rest would include Jim Keltner (PW, Travelling Wilburys, etc), Harold Grimes (Al Green), and Ringo Starr, who still has the best backbeat I've ever heard.

And I love the New Orleans "second line" beat. The best of those drummers are Ziggy Modeliste (the Meters) and Willie Green (the Neville Brothers); another great second line drummer is Little Feat's Richie Hayward. If you can sit still while these guys are playing, check your pulse, 'cause you're probably dead.

[A Regular]

Skid Roper?

[ih8music]

I'm sure as hell not a expert on the fine craft of drumming, but i'm a little surprised no one has mentioned George Hurley (Minutemen, fIREHOSE) yet. He and Watt were incredible together.

[davpel1]

I'm placing my vote for Brad Carlson . . . a/k/a Bunzuela Carlos . . . a/k/a Bun. E. Carlos. Solid as a rock. Understated, yet spectacular when necessary.

[TomT]

Buddy Rich. He's got some amazing management skills as well. ;D

*There may be some hard language here. Nothing we haven't heard before I'm sure.

www.rockandrollbadboy.com/audio/BuddyRich.mp3

[Wolfdog]

I'm fairly sure Pirner was talking about how well the drumming fit the material. I don't doubt the technical prowess of the great jazz drummers and the art/prog rock guys, but when you are playing singer/songwriter rock you just want someone solid that instinctively knows what the song needs.

These are guys like Bland, Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, Glenn Kotche, Watts, Steve Jordan, Bun E, Fred LeBlanc...and so on.

I think Neil Peart is a top-notch drummer, and exactly what Rush needs, but I don't think he would add anything to As Far As I Know.