[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!

[The Dude]

was gonna mention mark (dream theater) myself, but didn't know his name either...

maybe i should post a 'Top 5 drummers who's names I don't know' instead..

On the subject of Dream Theater, If I love Images & words which album should i buy next ??

[gargoyle]

Best Drummer? Dave weckl, no contest!

[eviljohn2]

Danny Carey from Tool is probably the best I've heard.

[Simon6776]

Originally Posted by The Dude

On the subject of Dream Theater, If I love Images & words which album should i buy next ??

Without question - Scenes From A Memory (Metropolis Pt II). It's their best ever album. £10.99 from Play

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by overkill

Bill Bruford (sorry Kark I think he's a great jazz drummer),

Thats exactly my point, no apology needed. Sounds great with King Crimson, but just dies when he goes into a band playing straight rock.

[karkus30]

Dave Lombardo is pretty good, certainly made the transition from straight blitz rock to the more arty sound of the Fantomas without breaking stride. Hes also a percussionist as opposed to just a sticks man, so plays those instruments that are very difficult to spell without a dictionary......Zylophone ang Glckenspiell ?? etc etc.

[huwg]

Tim 'Herb' Alexander - Primus
Danny Carey - Tool
John Bonham - Led Zeppelin

3 different types of drummer. I consider each one to be the master their particular style

[overkill]

Thats exactly my point, no apology needed. Sounds great with King Crimson, but just dies when he goes into a band playing straight rock

Gottcha!! Chester Thompson was a bit like that. Saw him playing with Genesis where he was good (better than Collins by yards), then saw him with Santana where he was excellent. Obviously Sanantas Jazz flavoured style was more "him". A Lot of people slag Santana, but I've seen them a couple of times and they were terrific each time.

[verrellg]

Nobody mentioned Micky Dolenz, Dennis Wilson, or Dave Clark yet (Monkees, Beach Boys and DC 5, for those a lot younger than me).
Am I alone in rating their miming second to none.

Also a bit disappointing that the Hanson kid has not been mentioned.

My choices would be.

Steve Gadd - for everything he's played on.
Bernard Purdie - for some classic Steely Dan and Aretha Franklin grooves.
Vinnie Colaiuta - for 10 Summoner's Tales
and Steve Smith - for his amazing DVD.

and from the sixties

Brian Bennet of the Shadows
and Bobby Elliot of the Hollies.

and yes I do know know that I'm an old g*t

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by verrellg

Nobody mentioned Dave Clark yet

Who's rendition of Glad All Over is still played at Selhurst Park every Crystal Palace home game but the impact has been lost a little since they replaced the wooden floors in the stands.

I assume that he has been receiving royalties every Saturday for the last 40 years from the Crystal Palace faithful and perhaps now that they are in the Premiership and their games will be seen live on television, they may even think about re-releasing it

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by Ian J

Who's rendition of Glad All Over is still played at Selhurst Park every Crystal Palace home game but the impact has been lost a little since they replaced the wooden floors in the stands.

I assume that he has been receiving royalties every Saturday for the last 40 years from the Crystal Palace faithful and perhaps now that they are in the Premiership and their games will be seen live on television, they may even think about re-releasing it

self moderation time Ian, posting about the F word in the music forum shame on you !

[verrellg]

Originally Posted by Ian J

Who's rendition of Glad All Over is still played at Selhurst Park every Crystal Palace home game :

I bet he's really pleased with that being a lifelong Tottenham supporter.
Probably appreciates the money though.

Useless information #365 The Dave Clark 5 was apparently formed to raise some money for a Tottenham Hotspur juniors tour of Holland.

Actually I think I owe DC an apology after grouping him with others that definitely didn't play on their records. After a bit of research it seems DC did play on his.
He still wins the prize for highest drum stool in history though.
He used to lean against it rather than sit on it.

[t-force]

Despite what people may think of his solo output, Phil Collins has proved himself to be damn good in my book, particularly with early Genesis stuff, and certainly when he was playing with Brand X. His big band drumming isn't bad either.

[MartinImber]

I like Ian Paice (or more the bands he has been in - Deep Purple, WHitesnake, Gary Moore) but there are many good heavy rock drummers.

[huwg]

Mike Bordin - Faith No More (now playing with Ozzy I believe)