# All-Time Greatest R & R Drummer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006 "2004-01-25T16:12:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/41 "2004-01-28T07:18:04Z")
I agree with all the people who named **John Bonham** as best drummer. But then, I’m a bit biased on this one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/42 "2004-01-28T08:10:07Z")
I am going to put in a mention for Mitch Mitchell. He is always doing something interesting that really adds to the music if you listen. Of course normally you aren’t focusing on him. He had chops out the ass. He was constantly creative (like every measure), tuned in to the music, and played with both feeling and amazing ability. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr.Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Roboto)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/43 "2004-02-02T06:51:13Z")
Ed Cassidy…Don’t Know Him? Bonham Does… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/44 "2004-02-02T07:07:53Z")
> [@Duderdude2](#): > > Neil Peart, without a doubt. That guy is amazing. > > Jonathan Chance; do you know if that video you mentioned can be found anywhere? I’d like to see it. I believe this is what he’s referring to… If it isn’t, it still kicks much ass: > **[Amazon.com: Neil Peart - A Work in Progress : Neil Peart: Movies & TV](https://www.amazon.com/Neil-Peart-Work-Progress/dp/B00006675P)** > > This 2-DVD box documents the "work in progress" of recording Rush's "Test for Echo" album, as well as Neil himself, in the studio. Neil's special approach to drums is featured in songs from "Test", also a 4 camera shoot as... I seem to recall the “Burning for Buddy” (Rich, btw, not Guy) projects were both CDs… Oh, and my votes (in no particular order): Peart, Moon, Ginger, Portnoy, Carey and the guy I forgot 🙂 -Rav ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/45 "2004-02-02T14:05:49Z")
I do recall that ‘Burning for Buddy’ had a limited release video component, too. But that ‘Work in Progress’ is an amazing tape for any drummer to watch. He really does just throw away his whole style of playing for a more classical approach. Just thinking about trying that makes my head hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/46 "2004-02-02T14:12:20Z")
Here’s a link to one of the videos. I don’t know what become of Vol 1. [Part 2 (on Ebay)](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3701196404&category=10175) ---
**Author:** ![akrako1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/47 "2004-02-03T22:19:43Z")
AFAIK, in this order: Giner Baker Danny Taylor Keith Moon Mitch Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![MarkD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@MarkD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkD)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/48 "2004-02-04T00:44:11Z")
What about the one armed guy from Def Leppard. Got to give him a hand! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006/49 "2004-02-04T01:32:39Z")
I’d have to go with Bonham, Copeland, and, to throw out a new one, Phil Collins. Bonham has that sexy, just-behind-the-beat bluesy swagger to his drumming; Copeland constantly surprises me with his subtlety and is always pushing the beat – he’s the consummate ahead-of-the-beat style drummer; Collins, on the other hand, is the guy who grooves dead center of the beat. It took me a long time to appreciate Ringo, but Ringo is a fabulously interesting and charming drummer. He may not be technical, but he’s got great feel and originality in his drum parts. His drumming is quirky and charismatic, almost never a straight kick-on-one-and-three, snare-on-two-and-four rock beat. Listen to it; he never seems to duplicate the same drum parts. As for modern drummers, I do happen to be a fan of Jimmy Chamberlain. He may get a bit flashy and overindulgent sometimes, but his style of drumming was completely appropriate for what the Pumpkins were doing. Listen to something like Gish, where you get more straight-ahead rock drumming, and the guy manages to play with pin-point precision and feel. His drumming has a “swing” to it, and within the pounding kick-high-hat-snare groove, there’s a lot of subtlety going on. Also, perhaps a bit underappreciated is Matt Cameron. I’ve always been impressed by his restraint and his musicality. He never overplays; he plays like a true musician and has that impossible-to-define quality I’ve been calling “swing.” Impeccible feel, that guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-greatest-r-r-drummer/226006.md?page=2)