Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins and now Zwan)
Also the drummer from Wishbone Ash
I haven’t seen Mitch Mitchell listed, I’m a big fan of his. Contributed a lot to Hendrix’s early work and jams.
Tim Alexander (ex-Primus, and now Primus again) is very energetic, and he gets a lot of room to play with because of the way the band is set up.
I’ve never heard two drummers work together like Butch Trucks and Jaimoe from the Allman Brothers. Might seem obligatory, but I can’t imagine any other pair of players meshing their styles so well.
Anton’s the guy I was thinking of. He’s done some session work as well, and when I was 16 (this was 19 years ago mind you), he played on Patty Smythe’s first solo effort and I just loved the single called “Never Enough”. I have heard it in probably 17 or 18 years, but when I was 16 I loved playing that song (and listening too).
Carl Palmer has done some great work, but I think he’s more impressed with his abilities than anyone else is.
The guy I first took lessons from has a funny story about Buddy Rich (maybe just a joke, I was 12 when I heard it). Someone was interviewing Buddy and asked what made him such a great drummer. He asked if the person had a dime in his pocket. The interviewer pulls out a dime and holds it between his thumb and fore finger. Buddy pulls out his sticks and then plays a nice little march with perfect technique on the dime and it never falls to the floor. Buddy stops, puts the sticks away, says that’s why I’m so damn good and then keeps the dime. Apocryphal? Quite possibly. But also, I think, very funny. And demonstrative of Mr Rich’s personality from what I’ve heard.
IMO, Kenny Aronoff is very good.
Who is considered the best drummer of all time and why?
Some say Buddy Rich, but I like to think that this question is ultimately unanswerable.
What makes a drummer a great drummer?
A good drummer knows how to do all of these things at EXACTLY the same time:
Play a solid backbeat groove while guessing correctly the beats per minute of the tempo, subdividing it by three and hearing the diametrically opposed counter rhythm/beat displacement figure that he didn’t play because he has such restraint and taste, while mouthing “open the gate on the snare, my ghosted notes are not reaching the dance floor” to the soundman and smiling at the idiot guitarist while cursing him under his breath, while figuring out how many gigs he will have to play before the mortgage is paid this month,
AND while contemplating whether Stephen Hawking actually explained the theory of quantum mechanics to the layman with only three mathematical equations.
And all of this while fixing a fallen cymbal tilter, seducing the best looking and biggest chested blonde on the dance floor with only his eyes, telling the lead singer the words to the song, indicating the correct chord inversion to the pianist with a camouflaged obscene hand gesture, deducing the effectiveness of a seven strokeroll as opposed to a five stroke roll in the upcoming fill and finally figuring out when Coke stock is finally going to hit rock bottom so he can buy low, cash out, and quit playing with these losers…
And, oh yeah… are humble.
(from here 
)
Can you tell from a recorded song if the drummer is great or not, or do you have to see them live?, or improvise?
To me, the sound is what matters, but it’s also nice to observe a drummer’s clean technique, feel the actual soundwaves, etc.
So true, Joe K, so true. 
I’m not real fond of the music (sorta modern jazz) but I’ve heard it said by drummers that Dave Weckl is the best drummer alive. From what I heard, he must be up there at the very least
Oh, musicguy, I just wanted to say that I am in agreement with your assessment of Steve Gadd. Some people here may not be familiar with the caliber at which he plays. I’d like to refer those people to here, where there are Quicktime videos demonstrating his playing. I especially recommend the videos entitled “Paradiddle Groove”, “Around The Set”, “Ramaque [sic] Around The Set”, and “Laying It Down”.
Another drummer I like is the late Jeff Porcaro of session and Toto fame. He also laid down some bang-up (pardon the pun) tracks with Steely Dan, most notably on their 1975 album Katy Lied.
Good call. I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes Clem. In the studio, he’s like a freakin’ surgeon. Precision like there’s no tomorrow.
Rock: Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, Keith Moon
Jazz/misc: Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl.
I’d have to give Dave Weckl top status.
Bill Bruford has done incredible work with Yes and King Crimsom. As he also filled in for Phil Collins when Peter left the band and Phil had to sing live, we can say that he has been the drummer of the three best prog bands ever.
Keith Moon has no equals in the “pound everything in sight” school of drumming.
Jaki Liebzeit was a human metronome with Can.
Phil himself is no slouch. His work brought precision and virtuosism to Genesis.
Joe Morello. The man did Time Out. No more needs be spoken.
Biggest KISS fan in the world here. And, as much as I hate to admit it…Peter Criss was not a very good drummer(IMOHO)
Eric Carr was much better. God rest his soul.
Oh Man, Jeff was incredible. Nobody played a shuffle like he could, as far as I am concerned, except maybe Bernard Purdie. Just listen to “Roseanna” by Toto to hear what I’m talking about.
(Argh, I can’t believe I left him off of my list, considering I am a huge fan and was lucky enough to study with his dad. Shame on me)
I don’t think Tony Williams has been mentioned yet…
Nick Mason, while seemingly not technically excellent, nevertheless has a good, recognizable sound that, nonetheless, no one seems to copy all that much. I would think that with all its simplicity, someone would have copied it by now…
Let me just say you just described my thoughts during a show. That is spot on what goes through a drummer’s head.