Greatest Drummer of All Time

created by 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? Place your vote or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on.

1) Craig MacIntyre

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

Jerusha

“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. ;)”

» more comments on Craig MacIntyre

2) Yoshiki Hayashi

“Yoshiki is the only drummer I know that risk his life for his drumming play. He put his passion, aggression, soul and emotions utterly into every piece of music he plays. Thus form him as the best drummer and musician alive.”

kurotenshi

“The most powerfull and energic drummer I’ve ever meet,,”

ragil_19

“the best drummer ever!”

kurenai_tenshi

3) Tico Torres - Bon Jovi

“Tico is the BEST!”

taladini

“bon jovi is one of the best bands.
Tico has done great work”

richie4life

4) Neil Peart

“neil should be number 1! and why isn’t mark portnoy on this list?”

icysk8r

“This is embarrasing. He’s better than all of these guys”

landocommando88

“If Jesus played drums, his alias would be Neil Peart.”

asphaltpilot

» more comments on Neil Peart

5) Buddy Rich

“The swingmaster should not be forgotten. He was definitely instrumental in pushing early jazz to its’ popularity.”

AKPickin

“Buddy Rich was the best ever... nobody on this list really comes close... but nobody nowadays ever really listened to his stuff... he was the master”

6) John Bonham - Led Zeppelin

“If you really know music you know he’s the best!”

iTunesJunky

“Hes great, no Neil Peart or Keith Moon, but um all drummers play with their hands...”

“dude he rocks, he should be first!”

» more comments on John Bonham - Led Zeppelin

7) Lars Ulrich - Metallica

“No One Can Beat Lars, He Kill’s ’Em ALL”

nacarckeckia

“seeing travis barker ahead of lars made me sick to my stomach please vote for this man he is a awesome drummer”

Chris-1

“He should be at least top 3.”

LeperMessiah

» more comments on Lars Ulrich - Metallica

8) Travis Barker - Blink 182

“Blink 182 is the best band ever and travis is the reason I play drums”

sebby12

“Travis is awesome so is niel pert but how the heck is Tico no1”

Go9ers

“He’s an amazing drummer end of.”

» more comments on Travis Barker - Blink 182

9) James "The Reverend" Sullivan - Avenged Sevenfold

“The Rev is seriously underrated.He’s exremely naturally talented.Listen to his work in Blinded in Chains,Almost Easy,Beast and the Harlot,Darkness Surrounding,Tension, or any other of they’re songs.”

AvengingTheRev

“His drumming is fast enough to kill lightning, hard enough to shatter a diamond and so perfectly executed that it becomes so engrained in your mind that it takes over the neurons that control involuntary breathing. Good luck breathing while sleeping :)”

Synester

“He is so fast at drumming. And he can drum and sing amazing at the same time. He even plays the keyboard. He does everything. Amazing guy.”

ziggy22

» more comments on James "The Reverend" Sullivan - Avenged Sevenfold

10) Joey Jordison - Slipknot

“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 rythm and creating beats. He is a slow drummer”

zack182daley

“It was a toss up between Joey and Danny Carey, who should definitely be in the top 10. Seriously, Tico Torres number one? Over Neil Pert and John Bonham? That’s just wrong.”

johnnywhiplash

“Joey for number 1 man he awesome drummer with exceptional talent!”

» more comments on Joey Jordison - Slipknot

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Choices Not In The Top Ten

11) Mike Portnoy

“he is the greatest neil peart has NOTHING on him!
he has such a unique style!

there is no one like him!”

“no one like him
”

“he is the greatest”

» more comments on Mike Portnoy

12) Keith Moon - The Who

“How can he not already be #1? best without doubt, just listen to almost ANY song by The Who, and you’ll easily see why. He didn’t have to even think about anything, and yet, he spun out the best drumlines EVER!”

rush2ryme

“#1 all the way”

Hannibalbarka

“This guy is one of the best drummers ever. He is definitely the most underrated on this list though. And no way should lars ulrich be there. HE USED PRO TOOLS TO KEEP HIM ON BEAT FOR A LOT OF SONGS. When Keith Moon was alive they didn’t have pro tools. That automatically eliminates lars from the top 100 drummers.”

shallowcal

» more comments on Keith Moon - The Who

13) Danny Carey - Tool

“Tool is not metal.

That said, I think Danny Carey plays perfect drum parts. That’s all that can be said.”

“AMAZING!”

“not only does he meet the critera but he’s the best drummer the metal scene has to offer. it’s not just double bass and blast beats with this guy.”

14) Dominic Howard

“How the hell can this guy not be in the top ten?
He is much better than travis barker and tico.
Dom = Awesome”

15) Dave Grohl - Nirvana

“aggressive hard hitting and precise style defined the 90s.”

16) Roger Taylor - Queen

“roger taylor brings the amazing drums and backing vocals for queen”

betleys15

“people listhin to I’m in love with my car on youtube youll see why he’s the best, drum solo while singer”

Queenmaniac

“Strong, good-looking, and talented, Roger Taylor is what keeps Queen on beat.”

17) Mike Derosier

“I like Mike.”

“Listen to Barracuda and you will agree.”

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

18) Ringo Starr - The Beatles

“Not technically better than most drummers, but it was his rhythm that allowed the Beatles to be who they became. The work of a true genius is in their ability to felt and not revered.”

AKPickin

19) Chad Smith - Red Hot Chili Peppers

“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”

20) Nicko McBrain - Iron Maiden

“amazing single triplets with one foot and has been consistent since his entrance to the band.”

“Nicko is the best and he should be first on the list”

“I think he is the best, and he deserved to be in first 10.”

» more comments on Nicko McBrain - Iron Maiden

21) Phil Collins

“good drummer and vocalist”

22) Stewart Copeland - The Police

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

AKPickin

23) Alex Van Halen

“I agree with the one above!
alex has an incredible talent”

richie4life

“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

24) Tre Cool - Green Day

“awesome drummer welcome to paradise”

greenday92gp

“One of the best of our time!”

“one song proves he is the best welcome to paradise”

» more comments on Tre Cool - Green Day

25) Carter Anthony Beauford - The Dave Matthews Band

“amazing drummer
absolutly insane
”

“carter can play many styles of drumming and besides that he is amazing when going crazy at the drums”

26) Ginger Baker - Cream

27) Larry Mullen Jr. - U2

“The greatest drummer of all time.
Listen to him.
”

28) Dennis Chambers

“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

29) Tommy Lee

“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”

30) Chad Sexton - 311

“Totally amazing! Period”

“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"”

31) Awaji Yukihiro - L'Arc~en~Ciel

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

32) Art Blakey

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

AKPickin

33) Rob Bourdon - Linkin Park

34) Dave Lombardo - Slayer, Grip Inc.

“omg guys, he is like the best drummer the earth has ever seen, he’s got the best speed, both hands and feet(listen to angel of death) and he plays in one of the best metal bands ever!”

dagreek77

35) Aston "Family Man" Barrett - Bob Marley & the Wailers

“Responsible for a totally new style of drumming.”

AKPickin

36) Longineu W. Parsons III - Yellowcard

“just listen to him go, he’s crazy, and it doesn’t even look like he’s trying”

37) Charlie Watts - The Rolling Stones

“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?”

38) Carl Palmer

“Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Are you people nuts? Probably one of the greatest percussion technicians ever.”

39) John "Mitch" Mitchell - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

40) Rick Allen

“I cant believe he’s not on this list... Playing extremely great on the drums and he only has one arm... you should really check him out!!!”

41) Tomas Haake - Meshuggah

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

Pravus

“just listen”

42) Cozy Powell

“he isn’t the best but his work with rainbow was great”

43) Steven Adler - Guns N Roses

“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!!”

44) Nick Mason - Pink Floyd

“Not an insane, crazy, drummer, but he set the mood for many of their greatest songs.”

Darrell

45) Gene Krupa

“for sheer power imagination and flat out rhythm gene is in the top five bonham has a name but he’s just a "good tempo keeper" next to dozens of drummers led zep is highly over rated slow and boring”

46) Tony Williams

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

47) Billy Cobham

“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”

48) Peter Kris - Kiss

49) Dave Weckl

“just a amazingly funky drummer the best I recoun”

50) Elvin Jones - John Coltrane’s Drummer

“The idea that he could keep up with the intellectual energy is amazing. The fact that he put a beat, rhythm and tempo to it is profound. Check him out on any of the classic quartet’s pieces.”

AKPickin

51) Chris Slade - Formerly AC/DC, Asia

52) Vinnie Paul Abbott - Pantera

“definatley the best metal drummer ever”

53) Bill Ward - Black Sabbath

“50 piece drum set! come on!”

“probably the fastest drummer ever”

54) James Kottak - Scorpions

“One word, "AMAZING!"”

55) Max Roach

56) Carmine Appice

57) Gene "The Atomic Clock" Hoglan

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

58) Bud Gaugh - Sublime

“That man made me wanna play drums!”

59) Jaska Raatikainen

60) Don Brewer

“GRAND FUNK RAILROAD JUST SEARCH YOU TUBE FOR INSIDE LOOKING OUT JUST LISTEN TO THE WHOLE SONG MAYBE THE GREATEST LIVE ROCK PERFORMANCE EVER, PERIOD. 1969, JUST 3 GUYS, NO TRICKS, JUST LIVE, RAW, POWERFUL. IT DONT GET MUCH BETTER THEN THIS”

61) Gilvanni Hildago

“This guy is absolutely amazing. His combinations in music boggles the mind at times.”

AKPickin

62) Bill Bruford

63) Michael Giles

64) Tim "Herb" Alexander - Primus

“the only bassist alive that can keep up with les claypool’s inhuman bass playing”

65) Terry Bozzio - Frank Zappa

66) Bill Kreutzmann - Grateful Dead

“one of the best drummers, probably should be behind bonham as number three best drummer”

67) Thomas Lang

“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

“why the hell is this guy not at #1. He can play every style, extremely technical and fast drummer, it is a sin that he’s not at the top.”

68) Alan White

69) Jose Pasillas - Incubus

70) Alphonse Mouzon

71) Stevie Wonder

72) Michael Shrieve

“Shrieve was only 17 when playing at Woodstock”

“Watch Santana at Woodstock. You cannot take your eyes off of Mike Shrieve.”

73) Andy Kubiszewski - Nine Inch Nails

“just listen to march of the pigs”

74) Liberty DeVito

“Great drummer for Billy Joel”

75) Bob Bryar - My Chemical Romance

76) Derek Roddy

77) Meg White - The White Stripes

“no not the best ever but probably the best female drummer ever”

78) Jim Keltner

79) Herman Rarebell - Scorpions

“A great drummer and songwriter.”

80) Raymond Herrera

“One of greatest, should be in top 20”

81) Sly Dunbar - Sly & Robbie fame

“Another drummer that is famous for his work in reggae, but has worked in other genres. In addition to spearheading the "DUB" movement in reggae, Sly has created beats in hip-hop, jazz, country, dancehall, pop and rock. His work with Kazumi Watanabi on the Mobo series is legendary; as well as being an early bandmate of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.”

AKPickin

82) Kenney Jones

83) Ed Shaughnessy

84) Louie Bellson

85) Terry Bozzio

86) Vinny Appice

87) Tommy Aldridge

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

88) Anton Fig

89) Lenny White

90) Narada Michael Walden

91) Spencer Smith - Panic! at the Disco

“he´s the best drummer”