great drummers ?

[karkus30]

As Im off to see Yes tonight, I decided to have a listen to The Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge.

First thing I noticed, Bill Bruford (briliant drummer) just doesnt sound quite right in the context of the band, sort of square peg round hole syndrome.
Its most obvious on The Yes Album and gets covered up on the others through the strength and flare of Wakeman on Keyboards (Eddie Offord must have decided to push the fader up a bit).

Then I listened to a perfect circle. Is Josh Freese a brilliant drummer ? Im not sure, but he certainly pounds it out and everything fits like a glove, theres no thing clever he just drives the band along.

So what makes a great drummer ? or a great guitarist? or any great musician ? Should you judge on technical proficiency, or just the ability to make the whole band sound great ?

John Bonham definitely fits into the latter, he did the drum solo thing, but was much better just driving the band along.

So maybe we should have two types of greatest..........solo stars and band members.

So who are the greatest band member musicians ? takes a bit more thinking about than the flashy solo players ! Go on , I dare you.

[Ian J]

I remember in the early sixties watching a band called The Graham Bond Organization playing at Ewelll Technical College. I was mesmerised by the drummer who whilst only a little on the showy side was also rhythmically perfect and was obviously the engine room driving the band onwards. He moved on from the band to better things a little later on - name of Ginger Baker.

PS one of the advantages of being older than most of you is that I saw these bands playing live in their prime

[The Dude]

from the recent era I'd have to rate Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing pumpkins) as my favourite, on the 'drives the band along' basis.

some of his fills are perfect in the context of the songs, they always fit just right..

Probably one of the few drummers alive who could make a machine sound inconsistent..

The guy from Velvet Underground is a big fave of mine too, what's he called ?

[Hawklord]

Neil peart for everything percusion wise

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by Ian J

I remember in the early sixties watching a band called The Graham Bond Organization playing at Ewelll Technical College. I was mesmerised by the drummer who whilst only a little on the showy side was also rhythmically perfect and was obviously the engine room driving the band onwards. He moved on from the band to better things a little later on - name of Ginger Baker.

PS one of the advantages of being older than most of you is that I saw these bands playing live in their prime

and you get into places at reduced rates

All drummers should be the engine of the group, Ginger Baker is a prime example. Fitting well into groups like Hawkwind and Masters of Reality.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Stuart Wright.....a GOD amongst drummers.

Gordon

[p.booth]

Whilst I rate Ginger Baker as the Cream of drummers : grin :
I would say Cozy Powell was also up there. Having seen both live and many 60`s 70`s bands live too.

[sparkybun]

Hi all,

Purely on a technical note the 'greatest' drummer of all time, arguably of course, would be Billy Cobham. In the same league as him, believe it or not, was Stuart Copeland (Klark Kent!) of the Police. Of Course, there are many facets to being a great drummer but technicality cannot be argued against!

A lot of it is down to who 'thinks of it' first. Stuart Copeland could do any of the 'licks' Billy Cobham could do but Billy did it first. Likewise, the timing behind the Police which is mainly 6/4 time and not the usual 4/3 timing was initiated by Stuart Copeland.

My Favourite? mmmmm... Jon Hiseman, John Bonham, Billy Cobham, Stuart Copleland were high on the list but the winner of the coveted best drummer of all time has to go to Rat Scabies (Chris Miller) from the Damned - again quite technically proficient but also very fast!.

Be good to hear other choices!

cheers

Mel

[Philly112]

How about that Corrs woman - great paradiddles.
Saw Jeff Beck at Manchester last night - with him was the great Mark Mondesir on drums, who is like a British Billy Cobham I guess (well he hits the drums fast n hard!)
Phil

PS Oh, and to answer the question, Steve Gadd or Peter Erskine seem to play on every record I own, so by definition must be the best band members.

[lmccauley]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Stuart Wright.....a GOD amongst drummers.

Creep


.

[Zone]

I'm with Hawklord; Neil Peart for everything percussion
Roll on Sept 11th

Would also mention the likes of Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Art Blakey

[overkill]

John Bonham = the king. Neal Peart is excellent when ever I've seen Rush, and is probably the best still around. Billy Cobham, Chester Thompson, Ginger Baker, Cozy Powell (saw him in three different bands!), Carmine Appice, Bill Bruford (sorry Kark I think he's a great jazz drummer), and BJHs Mel Pritchard, have all really impressed me live. Not a joke the last one. He's a great drummer, but not rated because of the bands low profile in the UK.

[suzywong]

Originally Posted by Ian J

He moved on from the band to better things a little later on - name of Ginger Baker.

Beat me to it! I saw him with the Baker Gurvitz Army and he is/was the best drummer I've ever seen (including Bonham). Made it look so effortless

Originally Posted by Ian J

PS one of the advantages of being older than most of you is that I saw these bands playing live in their prime

Early sixties, eh? And I thought I was an old rocker.......

First saw Yes in 1972 in Southampton!

[suzywong]

Originally Posted by Hawklord

Neil peart for everything percusion wise

I see they're coming over this Autumn....ah well back to the NEC!

[Simon6776]

Mark Portnoy (Dream Theater / Transatlantic) cannot be ignored. He is probably (technically) the best drummer to emerge in rock music, in the last 10 years.

Some of these have been already mentioned, but my top 5 would be:

Neil Peart
Mark Portnoy
Cozy Powell (R.I.P.)
John Bonham (Ditto)
Mick Tucker (Sweet, also R.I.P.)

Must be bloody loud in Drum Heaven!