Dave Mattacks. Drummed for Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, some with Jethro Tull. A very fluid drummer.
A.J. Pero of Twisted Sister
http://www.vicfirth.com/artists/aj_pero.html
"Born Anthony Jude Pero in October 1959 in Staten Island NY, A.J. epitomizes the saying “born with the sticks in his hands”. A.J. received his first drum kit at the age of 3 and began taking lessons shortly thereafter. A.J. was invited to perform as a solo artist on the Mike Douglas show at age seven, and he brought the house down! At 10, he played the Jerry Lewis Telethon with two other talented young performers, covering songs from jazz icons Charlie Parker and Dave Brubeck.
At age 11, A.J. was asked to join a college jazz band to fill in for a drummer who had broken their leg. A.J. went on a three week tour of Europe with this ensemble, during which he won 3 gold medals at the Paris Jazz Festival for the best performance as a drummer…"
Dude also took lessons from Gene Krupa and back in the 80s was known by his peers as the best double bass drummer in rock.
Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips. He’s like the bastard love child of John Bonham and Keith Moon, who grew up listening to Neil Peart.
Another XTC drummer! (Nonsuch, '92)
You just beat me to this one…for all the deserved plaudits the Lips get, Drozd’s drumming is rarely mentioned. I’ve rarely heard a drummer that filled up a song as well as Drozd, and considering everything else going on in their songs, that’s saying a lot.
I’m a huge Copeland fan but I wouldn’t call him underrated. He’s extremely highly rated!
Some others that are overlooked or overshadowed:
Michael Shrieve - Santana
Neil Smith - Alice Cooper
Chad Smith - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Allan White -Yes
Mike Bordin - Faith No More
Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain - both Iron Maiden drummers.
Alex Van Halen
Most of all, probably Ron Wilson of The Safaris. Genius!
Jon Theodore. I really only know him from The Mars Volta, and only the first two albums at that, but he is really, really good on those. I’m not usually one to pick out the drums in songs, so to be able to get me to take notice and just ‘wow’ at the drumming, I guess he’s got to be doing some right there.
It is because of him specifically that I think FNM’s cover of *War Pigs *is by far and away the best version of that song. Much love to Ozzy, but I have a hard time even listening to the original anymore, just because I want/expect to hear Bordin’s drumming.
B.J. Wilson of Procol Harum - Outstanding creativity, taste and swing, and he could rock like hell–check out the cowbell classic “Whisky Train.” He was one of the greatest rock drummers, but was barely known to the general public.
Clive Bunker of Jethro Tull. Tull has always had brilliant drummers, and they’ve always been overshadowed by the guy with the flute, but Clive in particular never got the recognition he deserved. He was the powerhouse behind the first four Tull albums, including Aqualung.
Michael Giles - King Crimson (first two albums only)
Andy McCullough - Greenslade, King Crimson’s Lizard
John Marshall - Soft Machine
Dallas Taylor from CSN/CSNY. Fits in so perfectly with everything on those early albums and really moved the songs along.