# Who is/was the Best Drummer of All Time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118 "2011-06-11T15:40:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/21 "2011-06-11T19:00:32Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > How so? There is no “best.” It’s a silly idea. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/22 "2011-06-11T19:02:34Z")
I voted other. Animal. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/23 "2011-06-11T19:09:32Z")
How can you not list Neil Peart? Silly. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/24 "2011-06-11T19:11:05Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > How can you not list Neil Peart? Silly. Practicing paradiddles to an aimless chord progression is not exactly “drumming.” ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/25 "2011-06-11T19:12:07Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I voted other. > > Animal. 😃 Which, I think, is a half-vote for both Moonie and Bonzo…😛 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/26 "2011-06-11T19:14:43Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > How can you not list Neil Peart? Silly. Please note the source in the OP. This thread was an experiment to see if somebody else’s list might serve in place of an extensive search for names for a poll. The obvious answer to that is NO. If you would like to participate in discussion on how to improve on this list, please join in at the link two of my posts back. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/27 "2011-06-11T19:40:40Z")
Not a chance when both Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland were left off the list. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/28 "2011-06-11T19:47:21Z")
Of those listed, Buddy Rich, but Keith Moon trumps everyone. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/29 "2011-06-11T20:03:43Z")
[Trilok Gurtu](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM26r3cEAVY&playnext=1&list=PL7CF6815CE642C124) (listen to the last minute for the most incredible minute of drumming you’ve ever heard. Then go back and listen to the whole tune because it’s awesome.) ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/30 "2011-06-11T21:32:14Z")
chick webb ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/31 "2011-06-11T21:39:02Z")
> [@Docta\_G](#): > > There is no “best.” It’s a silly idea. And yet when picking the best movie, you had no problem. > [@Docta G](#): > > [The Apple Dumpling Gang](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13854281&postcount=64) There’s one in every group… ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/32 "2011-06-11T22:04:06Z")
[Honey Lantree](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-juca-sFWBU&feature=youtube_gdata_player) ---
**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:** [June 11, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/33 "2011-06-11T22:05:28Z")
> [@Docta\_G](#): > > There is no “best.” It’s a silly idea. I agree. My favorite of the bunch is Bonham. But I’m not voting him best. It’s like asking me who the best painter is. What does one mean by “best”? I’m not trying to be purposely pedantic, it’s a question I honestly cannot answer. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/34 "2011-06-11T22:23:11Z")
> [@Docta\_G](#): > > There is no “best.” It’s a silly idea. I sincerely agree. The best drummer ever is Levon Helm. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/35 "2011-06-11T22:26:47Z")
I don’t know all of them, especially not the jazz drummers, but Neil Peart blew me away when I first heard Rush. Not even on the poll? Joe ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/36 "2011-06-11T22:33:50Z")
I was pleasantly surprised to find Tony Williams on the list, but more than disappointed to find I was the only one to vote for him. You guys can have the limited rock guys, Tony can do it all. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/37 "2011-06-11T22:48:16Z")
The drummer professional drummers think is the best is Ginger Baker, of _Cream_ and _Blind Faith_ fame. [Witness the solo from _Toad_ and marvel.](http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Ginger_Baker.html) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/38 "2011-06-11T23:41:44Z")
I don’t know about ‘best’, but other worthwhile nominations include - Philly Joe Jones - Miles said of him “I don’t care if he comes up on the bandstand in his BVDs with one arm missing - he’s got the drive I want!” Bill Bruford for his outstanding work with Yes and King Crimson. Kenny Clarke, one of the most under-rated jazz drummers of all time. Art Blakey - not a particularly technical drummer, but a fantastic feel, and an amazing way of driving the soloist to greater heights. Chester Thompson for his fantastic way of making Frank Zappa’s odd metres sound really groovy. He was my favourite of all the Weather Report drummers as well. Lenny White. Return to Forever would not be the same without him. Al DiMeola can be replaced with Frank Gambale and it still sounds great; there is no substitute for Lenny White - Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke seem to feel that way, too. Phil Weathers of Gentle Giant - a huge contributor to an unjustly obscure band. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/39 "2011-06-12T01:13:42Z")
I’m the only Elvin vote? Weird! To me, he had it all – and could play it all. There are some dates with Art Pepper, George Cables, and George Mraz where he digs into straight bebop, which I’d never heard him do before, but that’s just one reason I like him. ETA I see someone above used the phrase “play it all” to describe Tony Williams. True that, he would have been my number two, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/40 "2011-06-12T01:26:01Z")
Joe Morello, no contest, followed closely by Louis Bellson. Buddy Rich was an overrated hack. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118.md?page=3)