# Best Rock And Roll Percussionist **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2001, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414 "2001-11-04T06:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JeffSociety](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@JeffSociety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffSociety)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/21 "2001-11-15T08:16:43Z")
Ray Herrera of Fear Factory is amazing. No one can compare to him speedwise with his feet. He is also accurate as hell live, which should be considered for all the drummers. Plus he does have great rhythm, along with the speed. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/22 "2001-11-15T08:25:09Z")
Lenny Kravitz’s girl drummer is really good…Can’t think of her name though. * * * Plato? Aristotle? Socrates? Morons! ~Now there is nothing but a mix tape left behind, and it won’t rewind -Better Than Ezra ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/23 "2001-11-15T09:53:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jcmckaig \* > Lenny Kravitz’s girl drummer is really good…Can’t think of her name though. Cindy Blackman ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/24 "2001-11-15T17:49:30Z")
neil peart. other greats mentioned earlier, too! bruford, reni, carey, “whipper”, fleetwood, barlow, abbruzzi (spelled wrong, im sure)-- lots of good ones out there. i’ll tell you one that really sucks-- alex van halen. the guy has about 100 drums and uses 2. the worst drum machine in the world is more exciting them him. thats just what i think. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/25 "2001-11-15T17:57:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mudshark \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Hamadryad \* > > was going to mention Buddy Rich until I saw the freakin’ THREAD TITLE…sigh > > Not sure who he is, but if he is a percussionist, he is a worthy mention. \*\* Aaaauuuugggghhh! Sorry. Buddy Rich was probably the best drummer of his (or any) generation. Go through your grandpa’s record collection, or ask him about Buddy Rich. Can I throw in Lars Ulrich? Also, Stewart Copeland did the percussion for Stan Ridgeway on “Don’t Box Me In” from _Rumble Fish_ and I liked that a lot too. You know, Alex Van Halen was given a guitar and lessons as a child, while Eddie was given a drum kit and lessons. Thank God they switched. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/26 "2001-11-16T03:08:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\* > slight hijack: Copeland is hooking up with Les Claypool in a band called Oysterhead. \*\* Past and present tense. They are currently on tour. Incidentally, the third member of this trio is Trey Anastasio. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/27 "2001-11-16T03:12:09Z")
Jimmy Chamberlin of the Smashing Pumpkins. no contest. ---
**Author:** ![Vector](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/dc4da7/32.png) [@Vector](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vector)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/28 "2001-11-16T14:13:04Z")
Neil P. from Rush - I add my vote to him as well. John Bonham from Led Zeppelin may have had the most rock and roll charisma. ---
**Author:** ![Bedrosian\_Bixby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@Bedrosian\_Bixby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bedrosian_Bixby)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/29 "2001-11-16T14:22:31Z")
Will Calhoun of Living Colour ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/30 "2001-11-16T19:47:41Z")
Oh, duh. How about Keith Moon? ---
**Author:** ![DaveX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@DaveX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveX)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/31 "2001-11-16T20:35:23Z")
Barrett Martin, of Screaming Trees fame. Check out his work with the band Tuatara, or his one off with Mad Season. ---
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/32 "2001-11-16T21:09:44Z")
I dig Mitch Mitchell…drummer for Hendrix. Billy Martin from Medeski, Martin and Wood is pretty damn sweet to. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/33 "2001-11-17T00:02:31Z")
Neal Peart and Stewart Copeland have already been chosen? There’s a surprise. Well chalk them up for one more vote apiece. I mean, you only need to look to songs like King of Pain, Walking on the Moon, or The Rhythm Method to see how much ass they kick. If Jimmy Chamberlin is Smashing Pumpkin’s original drummer, then I’d vote for him too. If he’s the replacement, good lord no. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Iron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Big\_Iron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Iron)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/34 "2001-11-30T10:32:12Z")
I feel compelled to mention Charlie Watts here. Also surprised to see no Moon votes. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/35 "2001-11-30T12:55:41Z")
Calling him Rock n’ Roll is a stretch, but I have to give it up for **Future Man**. The guy can sing too. ---
**Author:** ![Moon-Watcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@Moon-Watcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moon-Watcher)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/36 "2001-11-30T14:32:37Z")
Mike Portnoy from the band Dream Theater. ---
**Author:** ![deball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@deball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deball)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/37 "2001-11-30T14:48:45Z")
My humble votes: Keith Moon, for sheer insanity on drums, he was perhaps the most “rock-and-roll” guy ever, besides the guy from T-Rex, they really wrote the book on that lifestyle. “I drive a Rolls Royce, 'cause it’s good for my voice,” I mean, c’mon. Anyways, I digress. Bill Bruford of King Crimson for sheer technique. Charley Watts or maybe Ringo for taste. Mitch Mitchell or John B. for the way the kit sounded. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/38 "2001-11-30T15:10:03Z")
I can’t really add anything, except to say that another of the best to come along in recent years is Carter Beaufort of the Dave Matthews Band. Best ever, no, but pretty damn good. Oysterhead (Trey, Les, Stewart Copeland) also released an album recently. Stewart had all but given up serious rock drumming in favor of composing and film scoring; the Oysterhead disc shows that he hasn’t missed a day. I highly recommend it. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/39 "2001-11-30T16:09:12Z")
Well, so I won’t get nabbed by the OT police, I’ll talk about a rock’n’roll drummer then segue into a jazz drummer. About 20 years ago, me and my friend Pat, both avid Rush fans at the time, went over to his father’s house. Pat’s father was a jazz drummer, and his little brother had taken up drums, and had a natural talent for it. We’d put on Rush’s Tom Sawyer, and he’d play along with it, doing those 7 time rifts, with no problems at all. We were the types who did all those “we are not worthy” bows whenever Neil Peart would solo at Rush concerts. It was then that Pat’s dad told us about Gene Krupa and played us some of his stuff. Krupa had a technique that no other drummer, not even Buddy Rich, could match. He would take a regular stick and a brush and do a roll. His downswing on the stick would coincide with the upswing of the brush, so as he was upswinging his brush, his stick downswing would hit the brush and cause it to hit the drum surface again. So, he effectively managed to make one brush sound like it was sizzling. So, we were able to further increase our realm of progressive rock snobbery until we finally came to our senses years later. ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414/40 "2001-11-30T18:14:42Z")
.Someone already mentioned Mick Fleetwood, but I believe he deserves a second bow. . If you’ve ever seen him jumping around the stage wearing the synthetic drum vest you begin to really appriate him. Does anyone else in R&R have one of these toys? Granted, Mick is the most unhandsome man I have ever seen. . For sheer exuberence and zest for life,not to mention a seemingly great sence of humor,The nod must go to Ringo Starr. He’s so smiley and energy filled I believe he will outlive Paul. …LONG LIVE ROCK & ROLL… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-and-roll-percussionist/91414.md?page=3)