Nobody has mentioned Herb Alexander of Primus yet? For shame!
Also Bill Stevenson from such amazing bands as Black Flag, Decendents, and ALL.
Oh man there are tons of them
First you have the “seminal” rock drummers:
Charlie Watts
Ringo Starr
Keith Moon
John Bonham
Ginger Baker
Dallas Taylor - not a heavy hitter like Bonham or Moon but his playing for CSN is oh-so-tasty.
Billy Kreutzman/Mickey Hart
Graham Lear
Ian Paice
Clive Bunker
Then you have Zappa Alumni:
Chester Thompson (also with Genesis)
Terry Bozzio
Vinnie Calaiuta
Chad Wackerman
Then you have the “progressive” drummers:
Niel Peart
Bill Bruford
Carl Palmer
Phil Ehart
Alan White
Phil Collins
Then you have the “fusion” drummers
Billy Cobham
Narada Michael Walden
Lenny White
Rod Morgenstein
Tony Williams
Zakir Hussein
Trilok Gurtu
Steve Smith and Stewart Copeland fall in there somewhere
Then you have the journeymen:
John Guerin
Steve Gadd
Bernard Purdie
Carmine Appice
Cozy Powell
Manu Katche
I also have to mention all the funk drummers whose names I don’t know.
As well as the drummers of today in bands or ex-bands like Tool, Spin Doctors, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, Blues Traveler - there are lots of excellent drummers out there.
To address Niobium Knight’s question - it’s not that there’s less talent out there - it’s more like the old guys are the pioneers. Even though they made their names in rock a lot of them came from a jazz tradition and I think this gave their playing that special something.
Seem to remember Ringo Starr quoted in a Q “Who the hell…?” interview, declaring himself the greatest rock drummer in the world, “and it’s not just me saying that, a lot of really great musicians have said that”.
I think Alan Evans from Soulive is my favorite drummer ever, and he is still playing today. In fact, his career is just getting under way.
I also like Bonzo.
Has anyone mentioned Mitch Mitchell? I think he was the greatest drummer from the classic rock days.
The guy from Dave Matthews is pretty damn good too.
Absolutely! Having seen them live a few times, and heard them on numerous live/bootleg albums, I can honestly say he is one of the best drummers of the 90’s. Not that it makes him good, but he’s been on the cover of Modern Drummer at least once.
As far as the old guys go, I’m partial to Gene Krupa.
my votes (confined to rock music)
john bonham
stewart copeland
phil collins
jimmy chamberlain
neil peart (though i find him…eh…mechanical)
keith moon
I don’t know who has the highest reputation these days, since I don’t follow music the way I used to. I can say that if I were to put together a band to make music I would want to listen to, the first drummer I’d try to recruit would be Clem Burke. He may not be as pyrotechnic as some of the names mentioned so far, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard another drummer who combines high energy with musicianship quite like he does. Listen to Blondie’s “Dreaming” again with the volume way up before you argue. Clem Burke and wooden post on bass are a better rhythm section than most bands I’ve heard can claim.
I’m surprised no one has yet mentioned Mick Fleetwood.
rackensack’s point about Clem Burke is also a good one.
How about Karen Carpenter? 
pezpunk wrote
Herb the Ginseng drummer!
I’d just like to post additional votes for Stewart Copeland in his Police days, Clem Burke, and Phil Collins. Perhaps I don’t know enough about the subject to say where they rank technically, but I think all three have done outstanding work in the field of pop and rock music. They were driven to do so much more than just keep the beat, and all three really made me notice the way the drummer’s contribution (all snickering aside) could be as important as anyone else in the band.
Three names that won’t spring right away to most people’s minds, but without whom rock history would be incomplete:
Benny Benjamin–played the drums on most of the big Motown hits of the early- to mid-60s. Along with bassist James Jamerson, defined “groove.”
Hal Blaine–Perhaps the single most recorded drummer of all time. A staple of rock recordings since 1959. He has played with everyone.
Clyde Stubblefield–not nearly as famous or influential, on the whole, as the others in this thread . . . except for eight miraculous bars that he laid down on James Brown’s “Funky Drummer.” Those eight bars are still heard today on tons of hip-hop recordings.
Another choice of mine is Cindy Blackman, the drummer for Lenny Kravitz’s band. In addition to the rock/funk/soul grooves she puts down with Lenny, she’s also an accomplished jazz composer, and has put out three or four albums with her Miles Davis-influenced quartet.
Rush Geek Girl posts another vote for Neil Peart.
Mechanical? Bah!
Stewart Copeland
He gets extra credit in my book for composing the theme to The Equalizer.
Among studio musicians, there’s Jim Keltner, who has appeared on albums by, well, everyone:
Stewart Copeland is finally back behind a kit after barely touching the drums since the Police split; he just made an album with Oysterhead, which features Trey Anastasio (of Phish) on guitar and Les Claypool (of Primus) on bass. The album is great–Stewart doesn’t seem to have lost a day. They’re on tour right now, but good luck getting a ticket.
Jon Fishman (of Phish) is probably better known for his muumuu, his vacuum cleaner playing, or his other antics, but his drumming is excellent. His flashy stage persona makes up for his rock-solid groove drumming.
Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band is one of the best to come along recently. Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors is great, although I don’t know what he’s doing these days. (Their singer came down with some bizarre vocal cord malady and can barely speak above a whisper these days.) (After a Google search, he appears to be playing with the Istanbul Orchestra in NYC.)
Dr. J
Another vote for Tim/Herb from Primus. That man can play. Has he done anything since Primus?
also, I’m probably a tad biased, but Mac McNeilly (played on most of the Jesus Lizard’s albums) was a total stud. Once again, I must ask…is he doing anything nowadays?
Also, Damon Che from Don Caballero has to get a vote. He is all over the place, and in a good way. Here’s a pretty good quote about his style, lifted from an album review here–
Not disagreeing with any of the above mentions- just wondering if anyone else would consider adding Bill Ward to the list.
Since Buddy Rich and a few other not-so-rock drummers (though fantastic) have been given the nod, I’d like to bring up Mamady Keita. His influence on western percussion runs pretty deep – he’s arguably the godfather of the Djembe in the west. Though can’t forget Baba Olatunji. Again, I bring these folks up because you rarely see a complete setup without a couple African instruments. Congas are ubiquitous too, though I can’t point to anyone who brought them here.
And if you want to loose yours, your neighbor’s, your sister-in-law’s cousin’s and half of everyone you meet today’s socks, go out and give Zakir Hussain a listen.
Just my .02 – sorry if I got off track.
Rhythmdvl
Mouthbreather, I must rush to agree with you on Damon Che. I just picked up Don Cab’s “2,” and I listenn to it loud on headphones and get blown away. That guy rocks.
I can’t BELIEVE no one has mentioned John McEntire, most recently of Tortoise. He drums also for Stereolab occasionally. He has an instantly recognizable and unique style.
And to all of you who feel rock drumming has deteriorated since the classics, hurry up and die, guys. You’re breathing our air, for God’s sake.
Buddy Rich Verses Max Roach is a terrific album for this sort of thing. Technically hugely impressive.
Sometimes I wonder if Carl Palmer was trying to do a drumming battle with himself in his ELP days. I love his work.
If you ever get the chance, pick up the three-CD set called “The Big Bang” It’s got drumming from around the world, and much of it is truly amazing. Sometimes it makes the western drum set seem pretty limited.
And Gene Krupa, often mentioned as the guy who invented the drum solo.