# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/41 "2011-06-12T03:15:56Z")
Not the “best of all time,” but Greg Errico of The Family Stone was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/42 "2011-06-12T03:18:22Z")
Where is Peart in that list? And not a single metal drummer on there? Huh? ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/43 "2011-06-12T05:54:12Z")
Count me among the increasingly amusing number of voters for Neil Peart. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/44 "2011-06-12T15:57:22Z")
Lots of supremely great drummers listed here. Posting just to say…Roy Haynes. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/45 "2011-06-12T16:08:59Z")
No Clyde Stubblefield or Jabo Starks? ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/46 "2011-06-12T16:23:47Z")
Neil Peart. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/47 "2011-06-12T17:17:05Z")
I will second the outrage OUTRAGE that both Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland were left off the list for they are both equally the best and, I believe, will one day merge into some sort of Drumming God of Percussion that will usher in a new age of funky beats for all of us to enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/48 "2011-06-12T17:33:58Z")
It is kind of silly to compare rock drummers with Jazz drummers. I don’t know why Tito Puente isn’t on the list, the man could rock a conga and it’s really not fair to penalize Of the listed people Max Roach is my favorite because of the musicality he brings to the instrument and the music he wrote to play against. If you are going to run another poll you should break out Jazz and rock drummers though. The Jazz greats won’t ever get a fair shake against the Rush fans on this board. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/49 "2011-06-12T17:38:19Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eubi9YI2dKE) ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/50 "2011-06-12T17:55:05Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Buddy Rich with a side-order of Keith Moon. > > Also y’all are mistaken. Neil Peart is not a drummer. He’s a man struggling with a drum addiction :). Came in to say exactly this! Also love me some Mickey Hart. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/51 "2011-06-12T18:10:54Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > It is kind of silly to compare rock drummers with Jazz drummers. I don’t know why Tito Puente isn’t on the list, the man could rock a conga and it’s really not fair to penalize > > Of the listed people Max Roach is my favorite because of the musicality he brings to the instrument and the music he wrote to play against. > > If you are going to run another poll you should break out Jazz and rock drummers though. The Jazz greats won’t ever get a fair shake against the Rush fans on this board. Good plan! And any new polls on Drummers or Drumming I do will not have an Other option! I still welcome criticism and input in the linked thread upthread. It is great to see this amount of interest in the subject! ---
**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 12, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/52 "2011-06-12T20:34:53Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I will second the outrage OUTRAGE that both Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland were left off the list for they are both equally the best and, I believe, will one day merge into some sort of Drumming God of Percussion that will usher in a new age of funky beats for all of us to enjoy. Yeah. If I had to name my three favorite rock drummers, Stewart Copeland would get the nod, too, along with Bonham, and probably Phil Collins (even though I’m not much of a Genesis fan.) But it depends on context. Do I want a bluesy, behind-the-beat swagger with a lot of rock swing? Bonham is my boy. A propulsive, punky yet rhythmically intricate drummer that pushes the beat? Copeland. On-top-of-the-beat progressive rock power, without precision _and_ soul? Collins. ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/53 "2011-06-12T21:27:03Z")
Had to go with Buddy Rich. He’s superhuman! My personal favorite drummers, though, would be (in order): Stewart Copeland, John Bonham, and Steve Gadd. But, still, Buddy’s the best. ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/54 "2011-06-12T21:29:35Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Ringo Fucking Starr (who doesn’t suck but doesn’t belong within a light year of such company) That would certainly be news to scores of pro drummers, many of whom you probably are very much impressed by. ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/55 "2011-06-12T21:33:44Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > The best drummer ever is Levon Helm. Ooh, _good_ choice! (Of course, those who raised their eyebrows at anyone describing Ringo Starr as “great” will no doubt be mystified by this, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/56 "2011-06-12T21:40:34Z")
Also, the late [Jeff Porcaro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwFdExvCxM4) was certainly no drumming slouch. Also, anyone who calls [Buddy Rich a “hack”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWrxHP36N1Q) is someone who’s overly fond of utilizing hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/57 "2011-06-12T21:54:09Z")
Am I the only one who thought of Bobby Caldwell? ---
**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 12, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/58 "2011-06-12T21:55:23Z")
> [@Dietrich\_K](#): > > Ooh, _good_ choice! (Of course, those who raised their eyebrows at anyone describing Ringo Starr as “great” will no doubt be mystified by this, too.) I’ll throw Charlie Watts into that same circle with Ringo and Levon - the centre which holds the rest of the band together without doing anything particularly flashy. Levon gets extra points for being able to keep some great time and feel while singing freely… ---
**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 12, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/59 "2011-06-12T22:07:18Z")
> [@Dietrich\_K](#): > > Also, the late [Jeff Porcaro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwFdExvCxM4) was certainly no drumming slouch. > > Also, anyone who calls [Buddy Rich a “hack”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWrxHP36N1Q) is someone who’s overly fond of utilizing hyperbole. I have a preference for Krupa, but Buddy Rich a “hack”? I agree. I can’t see any reasonable metric by which one could consider Rich a hack. I mean, you can dislike him as a human being if you want, but his drum skills are unassailable. ---
**Author:** ![akrako1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118/60 "2011-06-14T22:41:30Z")
A second for Ginger Baker. Kinda sad to not see Mitch Mitchell listed either. I’d also have to put Danny Taylor (Silver Apples) up for nomination as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-drummer-of-all-time/585118.md?page=4)