There is no “best.” It’s a silly idea.
I voted other.
Animal. 
How can you not list Neil Peart? Silly.
Practicing paradiddles to an aimless chord progression is not exactly “drumming.”
Which, I think, is a half-vote for both Moonie and Bonzo…
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.
Not a chance when both Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland were left off the list.
Of those listed, Buddy Rich, but Keith Moon trumps everyone.
Trilok Gurtu (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.)
chick webb
And yet when picking the best movie, you had no problem.
There’s one in every group…
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.
I sincerely agree.
The best drummer ever is Levon Helm.
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
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.
The drummer professional drummers think is the best is Ginger Baker, of Cream and Blind Faith fame. Witness the solo from Toad and marvel.
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.
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.
Joe Morello, no contest, followed closely by Louis Bellson. Buddy Rich was an overrated hack.