Greatest Drummers of All Time

AKPickin

A hard category, due to the number of drumming styles, but selected are the most complete and versatile drummers. These drummers should be able to play more than one style. In addition, their impact and influence in music should be felt on a global scale. Not just suburban America. Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.

The Top Ten

1Neil Peart
Neil Peart is the best! He can play Jazz. He plays for Rush and he plays really hard music. Nobody else could play Rush music in the hole list. I have went to other best drummer web sites and they all said that Neil Peart is 1. Neil Peart is the best! Go Rush! 1974-2112
Neil is so technically proficient and imaginative when it comes to drumming (and indeed lyric writing) that, like others have previously said putting him at number 4 isn't really giving him anywhere near the amount of credit he deserves.
Neil Peart is the best drummer ever and ever and will remain there for eternity. Nobody could beat the old drummers. I don`t listen to much to THE WHO but what I heart about him fascinates me. My favourite band is Led Zeppelin and that`s why Plant is my favourite vocal, Page is my favourite guitarist and "Bonzo" my favourite drummer. But I must be realist and say that they are in top 3 on what are they doing but not on the 1st place. Greetings from Romania. See my top 10 guitarist.

Cesterika

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2Shannon Leto
When Shannon drums, my heartbeat literally changes into what he's playing. When he starts playing you can tell it's so full of passion and energy. Wait. Scratch that. He does not PLAY the drums, he lets his passion take over and it basically becomes his life. He's seriously been doing this all of his life and he'll never stop. If you ever listen and watch him drum, you'll understand. It's basically heaven.
I can say anything, but it's better if you listen the This Is War. It'll tell you everything
I love his sounds *_*. He's the best drummer on the world and he is just Shanimal! My favourite drummer is Shanimal *_*
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3Yoshiki Hayashi
One of the best in the world and definitely the best in the top ten. X-Japan rock.
Yoshiki has the feel and the power when he plays yoru music!. He is the best!
My beloved Yoshiki?... He's the best! No one like him! That way of playing drums doesn't have comparation with anyone in this planet! His passion, his dedication... His madness when he's playing! He puts his soul in each note he plays on drums, and you can feel it! I can't explain it, you have to see it for understand it. He's a devil monster on drums and makes my heart explose! He's not only the best drummer in this planet, it's the best pianist, rocker, and human in this universe! I love him!
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4Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich was the Holy Grail of drummers. Any one who attempts to put a drummer ahead of Buddy Rich is insane. You can sum it up this way before Buddy died he said in an interview this his Music will Sustain forever. Buddy Rich was Right on time when he said that. You listen to Buddy Rich today at this time and all of his drumming sounds just as fresh and unbelievalbe as it did when he once performed it. What We are hearing today in drumming is just the same as a Washing Machine stuck in the Rinse Cycle. Same thing over and over no Creativity just pure noise. Buddy Rich just take a listen if or when he did take a drum solo. The Buddy Rich drum solo was like a GOOD BOOK it had a beginning a middle to it that kept you reading and staying with that solo and of course Buddy would give you a breathtaking finish. Today the drum solos you are hearing are just like the GRAND FINALE of a Fireworks Show. All noise and all loud loud louder FIREWORKS. No beginning just the END and a lot of noise. Man Buddy Rich we Miss you Big Time.
What a shame putting Buddy Rich in Ninth Place? Gene Krupa is up there with Louie Bellson laughing out loud. Buddy was the King of drummers. You put the other drummers that are on this so called list on a one and one battle with Buddy and they would go home crying. Just goes to show you where todays drumming has gone to? Travis Barker and Sullivan are you kidding. Sponge Bob Square Pants plays better drums than them.
For those of you that voiced their opinion towards Buddy Rich... You are spot on! Rich was hands down the most technically proficient of any of these drummers listed. Actually after Rich there isn't even a close second. Gene Krupa doesn't even get a mention here? Chick Webb? Rich, with his blazing one handed drum roles was a sight to watch. He's far and away in a completely different category. A bit of trivia: Carmen Appice used to sponsor a annual ' Drum Battle ' for all the elite drummers of the day. It was said that at the ' drum battle ' Carmen's heart sank at the rare times Rich would show up to aggravate and school the group that was nowhere near in his league. Take care all.
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5James The Reverend Sullivan
I'm a fan of avenged sevenfold and I love jimmy but I don't think his the BEST drummer in the world but his drum cover is godlike although it is not the fastest but it sounds damn awesome with each and every song... as I said I don't think his the best drummer.. but he is 1 of the best drummer in the WORLD... the drum cover of a7x's first album is so godlike that it already beat most of the drummers! a 3rd position for jimmy is wonderful! he deserved it!
For me, he should be the no. 1 best drummer of all time, cause he makes his own way of drumming and own beat.. I also love the skill he always do, the "Double ride thing". It's why he is awesome.. FoREVer.. AVENGED SEVENFOLD FOREVER..
Who the hell even is yoshiki hayashi, if the rev were still her that guy would be dirt, foREVer R.I.P
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6Mike Portnoy
mike is the second best drummer in HISTORY. Only Neil Peart comes first. Anyone who disagrees is not a rock fan and you should keep your pathetic opinions to yourself. This genre is personified by Mike. I give Neil first place ONLY cause he did similar first. Mike took it to the next level and is the BEST nodern drummer. Im a big fan of death metal drummers like Origin and Pete Sandoval but overall no one can stand up to Mike Portnoy. Thanks Mike for the years of inspiration!

chriscrim74

his jam, his speed and his odd time signature br the soul of metal. not only for dream theater, but also for all of metal bands after dream theater. he influenced them so much, by his skill and by his brain. MIKE PORTNOY!
personally, I think its a tie between portnoy and mike mangini. look him up. lars ulrich sucks. portnoy is amazing. buddy rich is also an amazing and respectable drummer. those should be top 3. portnoy, mangini, and rich.

deadgrass27

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7John Bonham
Why isn't Bonham #1? Also is it just me or are their about 7 names in the top ten I've never heard of? This list is a terrible representative of the best drummer of all time. Have you ever listened to one of Bonham's drum solos? He does so much with such a small set and can continue like 4 different rhythms at the same time. He is the best.
Shannon Leto at number one? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Shannon doesn't have the talent that Bonham had in his LITTLE FINGER. He shouldn't even be in the top 100 drummers, it's absolutely ridiculous. Bonham was the most influential drummer of all time, all modern drummers would have studied Bonham like their life depended on it. He's influenced the likes of Dave Grohl (Who should be on this list anyway) Joey Kramer, Lee Kerslake, Tony Thompson, Tommy Lee, Peter Criss, Stewart Copeland, Chad Smith, Dave Lombardo and Brad Wilk... Some of the greatest drummers of today who quite frankly would outplay Shannon Leto blindfolded and with a single hand.
There are only a couple that can even share his spotlight... The off beat by a billisecond he plays at sets all pace and direction like no other... We can only march when he beats... Only Ginger Baker is close... Most others only bang the gong... Not many drummers have true effect on the sound... I am not even a tap my hands on the desk guy... But when I hear Zeppelin or Cream - I am compelled to listen first to the Drums of these two geniuses... The expert background of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jack Bruce and Robert Plant are only supporting roles to these different drummers...
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8Craig MacIntyre
Craig can really get the blood to going! Love to watch him play. Drummers fascinate me. I can multi-task online but drumming takes something else my brain just can't compute. Thanks Craig for giving out tips to those that occasionally sit in a song!

anetnut

Craig is a fantastic drummer and fun to watch. Drummers have always fascinated me. Talk about multi-tasking... Amazing! Before joining Josh Groban's band, Craig performed with Jackopierce, Toni Lynn Washington, Jess Klein, Johnny A, and the Swinging Steaks, among others. Thanks for sharing your drumkit with you know who Craig. ;)

anetnut

This guy RAWKS!
Craig you deserve recognition for all the wonderful work you do.

Jerusha

9Keith Moon
Keith does it without even thinking about it as he was a pure natural talent when it came to playing the drums.

Keith was and still is the master of Rock and Roll drummers.

We can all have our opinions and who we think is best and there are many, many fine drummers in this world. So enjoy them all and remember keith was the best of his time on this planet.
The Loon at 11th? You blokes realize that this is a list of DRUMMERS, right? Not people smashing sticks on surfaces and calling it art. As for Peart, the current #2 guy, he was inspired by the Master of Exploding Toilets himself. (For you kids that think music is just WUB WUB WEOOW that are voting for other drummers, that means Keith). Listen to Love, Reign O'er Me. That crashing sound you hear at the end is Moon flipping over and destroying his drumset, because he's just that badass. Fully improvised, for no other reason other than destroying something.
KEITH WAS NOT ONLY THE GREATEST DRUMMER TO HAVE EVER EXISTED, HE WAS ALSO A REALLY NICE, CHARISMATIC PERSON, MOSTLY BECAUSE HE DOESNÂ'T ACTED LIKE ALL THAT "i'm-GREAT-AND-YOU-SUCK"-ROCKSTARS. HE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE THE GREATEST DRUMMER OF ALL TIME. HE WAS AND WILL BE THE MOST HONEST AND HUMBLE PERSON IN ROCKÂ'NÂ'ROLL HISTORY.

"MY FRIENDS CALL ME KEITH, YOU CAN CALL ME JOHN".
KEITH MOON, 1967, THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR.

ROCK IN PEACE KEITH.
I MISS YOU.
STEVE.
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10Vinnie Colaiuta

All of the drummers on top are the "popular" drummers that everyone knows. This guy is almost unknown yet he is far better than some of the drummers in the top ten

Wow goes to show how little people know about great drumming, vinnie has skills beyond any above him
On the list. You people need to hear his "going no where"

Watch his Baked potato performance. He is by far better than anybody who has ever lived. He is the Michael Schumacher of drumming

The Contenders

11Joey Jordison
joey is the best drummer ever he speed and the rythem is awesome

sic(6)sic

He is my favorite and in my opinion #2, Peart is just to great, and Travis Barker isn't good at drumming, he is good at keeping rhythm and creating beats. He is a slow drummer

zack182daley

Why isn't he number one! He is clearly the best drummer out there. He can do speed and precision perfectly.
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12Lars Ulrich
What the heck Lars Ulrich is the best drummer in the world he must be number one of this list. He was my inspiration to play drums!
How is Lars not #2? He should be there right after Buddy Rich! Who is Craig MacIntyre? And Yoshiki Hayashi? What the heck people. Without Lars and Dave Lombrado, modern metal drummers would have no idea what to do. Lars and Dave paved the way for every one else. They should have RESPECT!

gibsonrock53

That Japanese guy up in the top sucks unlike lars

metfan001

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13Danny Carey

I don't know why I voted in this list cause it has no credibility. The drummer from bon jovi is in the top ten. It has to be a joke, its like naming the backstreet boys drummer best drummer.

Jokes aside, there is a small number of very talented drummers in the world naming anyone among them is useless. My personal favorite is danny carey and he is among the top.

Carey is not necessarily as fast as most of the other drummers out there today. But he's definitely the most intricate and well versed in drums.
He deserves better than 16th. I don't know of any other drummer with as sound an internal clock and ability to play according to the song as him.

is it even possible to compare to him
sure some ppl can play really fast and do drum solos etc. but this is a man who has such an intricate way of playing that puts the songs together

Okami

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14Dave Weckl

what is dave doing all the way down here? God help me!

This dude is technically way more gifted than many of the names above. Jimmy "the REV" the best? he´s good but COME ON, i´m sure most of the people who voted never heard weckl

just a amazingly funky drummer the best I recoun

15Thomas Lang
Definitely a top 10 drummer, I saw him with Paul Gilbert in Zoetermeer. He did a solo for more than 10 minutes, he just doesn't stop. Fantastic
Why in the world his thomas lang 46, he should be in the top 5. His speed is incredible and when he plays his sticks look like lightsabers. I mean, you can't even see his hand when he plays. He can effing roll his brush sticks!
This list is just a popularity contest. There are only a few people on it who deserve to be. Thomas Lang would wipe the floor with all of them.

ThisIsTheArtOfStrato

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16Mike Mangini

Mike mangini's control is amazing. If there is someone who has the right to claim that he's mastered the Drums on a completely different level then most other proffesional drummers have then it is Mike Mangini. He has mastered absolutely each and every aspect of the drums

There is no possible sequence of drumbeats that can't be played by him. Every style at every speed. Hardly comprehensible poly rhythms. Not only a top category drummer, he's also a good teacher using his former studies on human nervous system.

17Roger Taylor
I have almost a million reasons why Roger Taylor is the best Drummer, Musician, and Person ever, First of all, Listen to Breakthru and think how he did that amazing sound with only Drums?! Next find a live version of I'm In Love With My Car and think how he could play drums, and sing and still be able to breath after wards, and people, Ringo Starr, you barely know there are drums in Beatles songs, and after that's all sunk in listen to the back-up vocals on Somebody to love and then think about how ROGER TAYLOR IS TOTALLY NUMBER ONE!

Queen-aholic

he should be number one cause of his style and his charisma. secondly the way he moves his stick while playing drums. he is also contributes greatly to rock music. he as written such wonderful songs such as these are the days of our life. he is a multitasker. he plays drums, sing song, plays guitar, electric guitar and sometimes even piano.
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HE IS THE BEST.
Oh my gosh he should definitely be number one he is amazing at playing drums, very gorgeous and good looking person, fantastic voice it's just amazing but also he is my number one inspiration for wanting to play drums and I'm a 17 yr old girl too. Not only long live Queen but long live Freddie Roger Brian and John incredible drum player awesome beats too!
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18Virgil Donati

19Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo is better, faster and more aggressive than Lars Ulrich.
He is in another level
Is the best and favorite metal drummer of all time
And SLAYER isn't as mainstream as many bands here
Slayer is true, rude and aggressive metal
dave deserves much more than 21st place. its disgrace for him to be so low in this list
dave lombardo is probably the world's fastest drummer, just listen to any slayer song and you will know, not even jusr my opinion, for a fact dave lombardo should at least be in the top five, that is how good he is people.
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20Nicko McBrain

The minimum that he deserves to be in the top 5. his extreme beats done with a single pedal and skills like the 14/8 riff that not any drummer can perform. I think the octupus Nicko McBrain is the best in his british heavy metal music.

this guy deserves to be in the top 10 for sure his skill is unmatched

Mr. Octopus. THE KING OF SINGLE PEDAL, he prefers to employ a fast, bare foot technique using a single pedal, so why not he be the first...

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21Dave Grohl
Dave has done the lot, Scream, Nirvana, Foo & Crooked Vultures, he has been a guitarist also on David Bowie's "Heathen" Tour and has even filled in guest drummer for a lot of other bands... he shows no signs of letting up and has just recently completed his new album with Foo in his garage. David is ace and a real nice dude too!
What the hell is wrong with you people?! Dave Grohl will ALWAYS win, hands down, best drummer of all time. He's the most talented man out there. He's the most amazing person in the world, so kind and gentle yet wild and crazy. You gotta love Dave Grohl, he should definitely be number one on this list. Always.
Dave Eric Grohl... simply him, only him... he MUST be in top 10! the best singer guitarist songwriter and drummer of ever... oh Dave I love you
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22Tre Cool
he is the best drummer ever because there is so much variety in his drum playing. he has the most energy of any drummer and puts so much effort into his drumming. he always makes sure he puts on a good concert with green day and he is the most lively spirited person I know haha. if you listen to homecoming in a part he plays the drums while singing. that's pretty hard to do considering that he's doing hard rolls and has a huge drum set(kit) s=and has to be able to move around to all of them while singing. he's amazing and will always be a big part of green day's fan's hearts. <3 (:
The. Best. Maybe he's not #1 because perhaps the others are better in some way(I don't listen to japanese music... ) But Mr. Wright deserves a position above #5, unanimously, hands down, and THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING!
Wow. How is Tre not at #1?!?!? That japenese guy sucks! Tre is amazing and plays with lots energy and anyone who watches him can totally tell he loves what he does! Go Tre and Go Germany!
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23Tico Torres
Even Gene Krupa rated Buddy as the greatest and that says it all. Not only was he fast, he also had a delicacy and variety of touch that placed him on a higher plane than both contemporary and younger drummers. Added to this he had a dry sense of humour which often came through during his playing. See him on the Muppet Show on YouTube.
TICO is the best drummer of the world and very beautyful persion one big is the best drummer TICO TORRES long life to TICO TORRES ^^ BON JOVI
Simply. Number 1. Greatest Drummer from the greatest ever band. No Band has ever performed live as well as Jovi. No band ever will do. Quite simply music perfection.
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24Antonio Sanchez

25Dennis Chambers

Denis Chambers at 10 was better than Gene Kruper who was himself a drum genius. He has played with santana and a whole number of funk bands. He is a virtuoso. Look up the tube clip with denis chambers and McGlaghlon playing and see the awe in his eyes when Chambers goes into a solo break which lasts for about 5 minutes. Buddy Rich was all speed by comparison to Chambers. Tony Royster Junior who I don't think is even on here was playing drums at age 4 and competed against Chambers in a drum off when Chambers was about 30 and Roster Jnr was about 10 - wow what a great drummer he is too. Jo Jo Mayer may not be pecifically a funk drummer but he is the quitessential 'everything drummer'. May just be better than Roster but not better than Chambers.

gumobe

Drum extrodinaire. Has play with George Clinton, Santana, various jazz musicians, as well as Latin and other types. Probably the most diverse drummer of our time.

AKPickin

26Rob Bourdon

Hottest drummer ever! Rob bourden should be in first place you inspired me to play the drum's I'm 14 years old and I've been playing since 2002!

Best drummer ever! He plays in my favourite band, and he's the best drummer I know! He should be at first place! VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE GO SOLDIERS!

Guys He is not the best but definitely deserves a spot in the top ten. He is one of the best. Rob Bourdon Rocks. GO go Rob Bourdon.

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27Steve Gadd

style, finesse, control and metronomic time-keeping! It's no wonder everyone was after him. In Japan he was called Steve God. Period.

If you asked pro drummers across all genres to compile this list, Steve Gadd would be in the top ten easily.

28Ringo Starr
"John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison have all said that Starr was the best rock and roll drummer in the world, although when asked in an interview once "Is Ringo Starr the best drummer in the world? " Lennon quipped "He's not the best drummer in The Beatles! " This was in reference to the songs on 1968's White Album "Back In The USSR" and "Dear Prudence", the first two tracks on the album, in which McCartney handled the drumming" LololI laughed so hard. By the way I love Ringo. He is the best.
Ringo starr is the best for his right-left hand style
Ringo, The Greatest Drummer Ever, Not Because He's The Best, He's The Greatest 'Cause Bacause Of Him There Are Drummers On Music, He Was The First, He Could Sing And Play Drums At The Same Time, He Made Awesome Riffs That The Modern Drummers Do. Love You Ringo!
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29Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was the best drummer of all time, followed by Buddy Rich, Jo Jones, Chick Webb, Lionel Hampton, Ray Bauduc, Big Sid Catlett, Ray McKinley, and Dave Black.
Rich was the most technically accomplished of all the drummers, but Krupa was more musical and swinging and his drums were beautifully tuned -- much better than Rich's. Hampton, better known for his vibe-playing, was a drummer first and foremost and was terrific. I have seen Louis Bellson and Art Blakey and they pale by comparison to Krupa and Rich. The rock drummers are terrible. They are not musical and they do not swing. They don't "play" the drums so much as pound them.
I am a young voter, 15, and I agree Gene Krupa is one of the best. I prefer his drumming over Buddy Rich's because Buddy's is mainly just "Hey, look how fast my hands go! ". Gene just puts a certain feeling into it that many drummers just can't.
I am simply astonished! This man is the greatest drummer of all time. What other drummer had a major movie made about him? He played for all the greats before starting his own orchestra. This number is ludicrus! This list must have been made by kids.
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30Stewart Copeland

Stewart Copeland's precision percussion, timing and rhythm must have this guy higher up this chart?

Bonham's really my favorite, but I had to vote Copeland to push him up a little in the polls. For me, when it comes to quintessential rock drumming, there are four names: John Bonham, Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, and Keith Moon (who is really off in his own, unique category. )

Probably controversial, but Copeland is wicked in many styles and worthy of his place on this list.

AKPickin

31Alex Van Halen
Eddie is the star in the family, but this guy is a monster. In addition to the method in which his drums are recorded (the sound is beautiful), his technique is flawless. His changes are dynamic and for the speed in which he plays, he is capable of downshifting in a nano-second. Very worthy of top 10 status.

AKPickin

Dudes a beast but not number one but definitely top ten maybe even five behind Portnoy, The Rev, and Peart. Just listen to hot for teacher. Sounds like there are 4 drummers. But who in the hell put Ringo in this. He isn't the best drummer in the world, he wasn't even the best drummer in the beatles.
Girl Gone Bad, Outta Love Again, Top Jimmy, Panama, Hot For Teacher. His touch and the way he finds the pocket of Eddies playing are paired with straight up showing off. He has a style like no other. Heavy Swing is the new category I'm inventing to put him in.
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32Bill Ward

50 piece drum set! come on!

probably the fastest drummer ever

33Tommy Lee

no body can did like him. play on the spinning cage! he's the best!

god

NUMBER 31!!!!!Who made this list,Im sorry to say but Tommy should be at least in the top 10 i mean drumming while spinning upside down and all the other stuff.Come on u must be blind or something.Who ever made this list needs to be shot or giving a new pair of ears.Tommy is one of the best drummers in the World.PERIOD

34Dominic Howard

Dom Howard, in my opinion, is one of the best drummers EVER! He should be in the top ten.
All of the members of Muse should at least be in the top ten of all their "fields". So, Matt should be in the top ten guitarists, Chris the top ten bassists and Dom in the top ten drummers. Because, in my opinion, they are ALL amazing. X

He is amazing drummer can play a lot of drum. He can play a lot of song that was so hard to play it. He can play fast as he can. He also can play very long time without exhausted and looking tired when play at the concert. He is the best player drum I had saw at the wembley stadium before.

Knights of cydonia. Resistance. Dom howard is the best. We love you dom! Keep up the good work

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35Snowy Shaw

36Cobus Potgieter

37Shawn Drover

38Ted Kirkpatrick

39Phil Collins

John bonham, Neil peart, phil Collins, Keith moon, ringo, Dave grohl, and Chad smith should all be in the top ten!

Anybody who has 15 minutes should go on youtube and check his solo's or his duets with Chester Thompson, especially Genesis in concert. Truely mesmerising!

good drummer and vocalist

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40Gusti Hendy

41Terry Bozzio
How did he get beat by these other dudes?! Except peart, makes little sense. Taste perhaps
determining who is the best needs to know all drummers. I don't! but o know that Terry was able to play "black page" composed by franck Zappa.

42Ian Paice
Ian paice solo on space truckin deserves a mention he is certainly up there with the sandy nelsons kieth monn and cozy powell greats
Ian was doing drum rolls in battlefields before purple, holding the best technique on the key of any drum kit makes him an out of this world 1st class musician! Ask Lars and chad smith among others what they think about paice + he's the one richie Blackmore chose for backing him up, now that explains everything would you think?

43Awaji Yukihiro

what makes a drummer the best? it is not only their technical performance, but also charisma and feeling. yukkie has all that

Yukihiro is simply amazing! Despite his skinny appearance, his tempo, beats and speed are unbelievable! He'll always be the best for me <33

did you see him perform live in DIES IN CRIES and L'Arc~en~Ciel? his beats are so fast that make his drumsticks fly.

ronluna

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44Scott Travis
Absolutely underrated and kickass drummer. Definitely deserves to be much higher on the list. Painkiller Drum Solo, enough said..

45Matt Greiner

46Jason Rullo

47Setyo Nugroho

48Larry Mullen Jr

Larry not only is the BEST drummer EVER, he's also the reason we have the best band EVER. Larry's a street drummer. He simply is unique and MAGNIFICENT! -Mary Brown Holland

If you play live for millions of people, if your band albums have sold millions of copies, that makes you the best drummer.

Desperado

Larry is just a genius. He is such a special and such a unique drum player. He also was the one who started U2 and should be given real credit for that!

He just has a great drum technique and was born to play the drums!

~ Thomas McKernan

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49Vinnie Paul Abbott

50Nick Menza

He is so complex and passionate player!

51Jared Falk
He's an incredible drummer as well as an awesome teacher

52Leon Ray Legoh

53Steve Smith
I'm happy I even found this man in the list. Most people probably don't know, but this is the drummer for Journey during their greatest years of success. He is flawless and sharp in his style, and if anyone out there loves Steve Perry and/or Journey, don't forget about the drummer!

54Gilang Ramadhan

55Longineu W. Parsons III
He is an amazing drummer in a band that is just as amazing. I love watching him play live. Also he's a very nice guy.
I love his work with LPMD the best but his work with YC is amazing as well. Love his hand speed! Not too many drummers have the ability to be great in multiple genres. I encourage everyone to listen to his other groups!
Longineu doesn't limit himself to one genre of music, he plays to everything. If you see him live you won't be disappointed and he is really humble in person.
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56Cozy Powell

he isn't the best but his work with rainbow was great

57Chad Smith

besides the fact that he was voted by drummer magazine the best drummer alive he also holds the world record for playing the worlds largest drum kit

Look up "RHCP-I Like Dirt, Rolling Rock Festival 2000". It's crazy.

Johannes9

chad play drums like a animal.. he has got a rocker spirit but he don't know that. red hot chili peppers the best ever.

58Jimmy DeGrasso
Some amazing Megadeth solos. Also check out his work with Alice on youtube.

59John Mitch Mitchell

Listen to Manic Depression, this man should be easily higher than position 42.

60Carter Anthony Beauford

Carter's style is versatile and his groove relentless. His presence in the ensemble's sound is both essential and completely natural.

He's the best, for sure!
No one play drums like Carter! I'm falling in love with his way to play drums!

He's the best! For sure! He may be in the top of this list! Where's the dave mathhews band fans?

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61George Kollias

62Gil Moore

63Lech

This guy's blast beats are so fast that sometimes you have to wonder if it's a drum machine put on 500 bpm. He manages to keep a perfect beat and play the fastest solid double bass I've ever heard. Some people can't even keep up with him with a triple bass. I don't see how this guy isn't number 1.

64Nick Augusto
Come on people. How is nick all the way down here? He should be in at least the top 20. He does the most insane double bass ever in shattering the skies above. GO TRIVIUM.

65Charlie Benante

66Frank Beard

67Carl Palmer
This list must be visited by 12 year olds who haven't listened to any music made after 2001. Carl Palmer is the reference standard by which every other drummer shows their weaknesses.
Oh come he should be at #1 his drumming fires faster than a machine gun, he's very inventive, he's just everything the perfect drummer has so how the hell is he only at 39!
Number 66! What is going on here! Carl in the 70's was voted the worlds best drummer in numerous polls and still, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest drummers living and ever!
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68Nick Mason
If Nick Mason is not the best, for sure he is one of the top 10.
Just listen to some of the Pink Floyd songs such as Run Like Hell or Time and you'll recognize his talent.

The greatest of the simple drummers. Solid Master of the funk style. Very underrated. Listen to Time, Money, Set the Controls to the Heart of the Sun.
Not an insane, crazy, drummer, but he set the mood for many of their greatest songs.

Darrell

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69John Dolmayan

Never misses a beat both live and at the recording studio. Fast, hard, and unforgiving.

Just the fact that he can do double base, fast drum rolls, and always has a natural rhythm set up in every System of a Down song puts him at #1 in my book. Listen to Soil. That's him at his best.

70Ginger Baker
Masterfully combining very heavy, rolling rock beats with jazz feel and fine nuances. He pioneered rock drumming by infusing jazz musical sense and sensibility: never the repetitive, boring stuff you get so much of in pop and rock drumming today. Always varied, creative, and in the tradition of jazz ensembles a soloist and equal co-creator to most of the classic Cream hit-songs.
Ginger's stuff was always really fun to listen to. If you haven't heard Sunshine of your Love, go find because it is awesome.
Listen the Cream-Song Toad and you will see that he is the number one.
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71Tim Herb Alexander

the only bassist alive that can keep up with les claypool's inhuman bass playing

72Rick Allen

Rick allen deserves to be in the top 20! He's only got one arm for gods sake! You try that and see how well you play the skins!

Rick Allen was a beast when he had two arms... Check out Pyromania and high n Dry! At the time, he was only about 20 years old... Had he matured and had both arms, think of all the legends he would've left behind. But alas, even with one arm, he'll destroy most of the drummers out there. I vote him as top 5 drummers of all time hands down!

Even before he had one arm he was truly great at drums. Listen to "Rock of Ages" and he was one fantastic drummer! Yet he can still do that work with one arm!

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73Tommy Aldridge

Pat Travers, Ozzy Osborne this guy can destroy a set of drums

74Bud Gaugh

That man made me wanna play drums!

Sublime is awesome. I would put bud in the top 10 if it were up to me. He is awesome he made me want to play

Thanks Dub and Had A that inspired me to take up the drums.

His high hat progression and use of the bass drum convinced me to buy a drum set and jam along to Sublime's tunes.

Can't deny it, the man is an underrated genius.

75Steven Adler
not the best drummer of all time but he deserves some credit. No one suited guns n roses bluesy/hard rock style on appetite for destruction like steven did. You gotta love that cow bell!!
On the drum, Mr. Steven "Popcorn" Adler

which is better than Matt sorum, Frank Ferrer and other drummers that guns n roses had

ronluna

Popcorn Adler. The Original Guns N' Roses Drummer. Brilliance was in his work. Deserves appreciation. Especially in Rocket Queen!

76Tomas Haake

A lot of people would not have heard Meshuggah's music and are able to digest the shear undeniable inventory of rhythm this man has created... A complete, totally unique and ground braking drummer of epic proportion... Tomas Haake has taken a simple 4/4 beat and created the most mathematical equations to blow your brain into separating peices... I think he is a genius and should be recognised for taking rhythm to a place we have never seen before... When talking about greatest drummers of ALL TIME, this man has re-created time and should be recognised as one of the most significant influences of the next many generations... It will be years before people actually realise the depth of this man's raw talent...

tomas haake is the best drummer of all time but few of them know about him his simply born as a drummer and after him is george kollias

ado006

why is this guy after lars ulrich? metallica are great but when it comes to talent meshuggah rape

Pravus

77Mike Derosier

Listen to Barracuda and you will agree.

Mike is as good or better than any one on this list.

78Travis Barker
If this is a list of human drummers Travis doesn't belong here. I mean he's like super human when he plays drums. I love his style hi's awesome. Blink
Simply the best, the one with a unique style! Just because he is open to play every type of music, and he kicks ass!
He must be in the top one in my opinion because every time I hear his composition my feet are tapping along the beat. I like his composition in miss you of blink 182.
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79Travis Smith

80Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo

81Scott Phillips

82Tony Royster Jr.

the best of all time
he also play dw drums, wtf, he so the best!

gerald_dk23

he can play any kind of music... he started out with jazz. then rock. then rnb. that covers almost all styles.

83Tetsu Kikuchi

Tetsu Kikuchi is one of the best (If not the best) drummers out there. I hope everyone votes for him. D'erlanger is one of the best bands, his fills and rhythm are just incredible. Long life to Tetsu Kikuchi! The best drummer of the world!

One of the best and fastest rock drummers in Japan from the band D'ERLANGER. He was the drummer of SAVER TIGER and ZI:KILL. He and CIPHER created CRAZE after D'ERLANGER disbanded and in 2007 his main band reunited again.

ronluna

84Bob Bryar

85Chad Sexton

The fact that travis barker was ranked way ahead of this guy is absolutely insane and ridiculous. Chads the man.

Chad is the best drummer of all time, yet he never gets any credit. Do yourself a favor and go check out a 311 show and you will be amazed by his drumming.

totally amazing if you see 311 eleven live he also will impress you with a inhuman drum solo and he does this unique drum style thing in "applied science"

86Charlie Watts

You only have to listen to a handful of stones songs to understand the genius Charlie brought to the high hat and snare. Songs such as jigsaw puzzle, honky tonk woman and stray cat blue all rely solely on his inventive fills and beats. Only a true talent like Watts could've brought together the ragged harmonies of Keith's guitar and Jaggers croon. Combined with Bill Wyman the Stones had themselves one of the greatest rhythm sections in history. Why isn't he higher?

87Billy Cobham
WAY underappreciated. One of the best of all time. When it comes to incredible speed, power, control, creativity and influence, he's hard to beat.
Billy is far above this whole list... Besides the likes of Buddy Rich and Carl Palmer.. They would be neck and neck for #1,2,3... His chops are so profound and Billy is also one of the first drummers to play open-handed lead.
his invation to playing drums with so much energy and groove... it was so innovative for his day...
... speed... technique... musical interpretation... diverse styles... he could play
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88Chris Adler

How? How? 59?!?! He is undoubtedly the best... Nobody can question his sheer brilliance. How many other drummers in his genre actually play without triggers? He is the reason I started playing the drums.

just the most talented drummer in the world... chris is my personal insperation on music and life. listen to blacken the cursed sun or 11th hour you'll see what I'm takkin about!

Just listen to now you've got something to die for or ruin. His drumming is fast yet unique. Probably one of the best metal bands out there right now. Won best metal drummer. I don't know why he is this low?

89Peter Kris

90Bill Bruford

To place Bruford at such a low rating means two things: First, you people need to learn what polyrhythmic drumming means (Bruford can play four separate time signatures at once, a different signature per limb) and Second, you people have no idea what qualifies a good/better/best drummer. Most of this poll is a popularity contest, NOT based on skill level.

He not only is technically perfect, but his tuned kits make music which separates Bill from just skin bangers

One word: Starless (of the red album), just listen to it and youÂ'll understand!

91Art Blakey

Probably the mentor of all great drummers to-day.. Brian Blakey Davison as he would have liked to have been known as.. Instead of Brian "Blinky Davison" of The Nice, refugee, etc. Not on this list.. An artist in the art of rhythm drumming. Art Blakey was his inspiration

Probably the most complete drummer to pick up sticks. Though jazz was his focus, he could play many different genres of music.

AKPickin

92Chris Slade

93James Kottak

94Mikkey Dee

Mikkey is the beast with motorhead. Like lemmy sad. "the best drummer he had ever played with"

Mikkey is insane! Rocked with Motorhead, Helloween, King Diamond and Dokken, thats a pretty impressive list. Listen to Hell Was Made In Heaven and tell me he doesn't belong in the top 10

95Matt Sorum

most underrated drummer. should be way ahead of steven adler.

DylanBr00ks

96Taylor Hawkins

97Gene The Atomic Clock Hoglan

One of the greatest drummers of all time...part of Dethklok's success is due to Mr. Hoglan.

98Aston Family Man Barrett

Responsible for a totally new style of drumming.

AKPickin

99Tony Williams

The most innovative drummer of them all - and his technique is unparalleled!

100Max Roach

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      List Info

      This list was created 5 years, 188 days ago and has been voted on over 22,000 times. This top ten list contains 208 items, has been remixed 17 times and has been blogged about 6 times.

      Updated Saturday, May 25, 2013

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