# Your favorite drummers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933 "2008-12-28T05:43:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/41 "2008-12-29T04:34:59Z")
What’s the difference between a drummer and a drum machine? You only have to punch a drum machine ONCE to make it keep time correctly. Seriously, the best drummer I’ve seen recently is Antonio Sanchez, who plays with the Pat Metheny Trio. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/42 "2008-12-29T04:44:31Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > I was really impressed with Brian Blade (jazz drummer). Oh yeah! I saw him backing up Joni Mitchell about ten years ago. He was pretty amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/43 "2008-12-29T05:03:09Z")
Keith Moon makes the drums talk. No comparison. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/44 "2008-12-29T05:06:51Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Jack DeJohnette > Tony Williams > Art Blakey > Elvin Jones > Max Roach These, plus Roy Haynes. Among drummers I’ve seen live, I’m partial to John Betsch, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Ben Riley. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/45 "2008-12-29T05:31:43Z")
A hard-core blues nutcase’s opinion: You can’t get finer than Freddy Below. He also knew the best rib joints, chicken shacks, & chili parlors in ChiTown! 🆒 ---
**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:** [December 29, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/46 "2008-12-29T06:30:15Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Keith Moon makes the drums talk. No comparison. I used to hate Keith Moon, but I’ve since come to respect him, if not actually like his style of playing. I must say, he did have some of the most idiosyncratic drum parts ever and really played those drums with his own distinct voice. I cannot think of a single other drummer that approaches the kit like him, and that is part of why I have to respect and admire him. When I hear post-Keith Moon Who, it sounds all wrong to me. It sounds like a completely different band. I think that is the mark of a great drummer. And while we’re add it, I’m going to add Ringo Starr to the list for this reason. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/47 "2008-12-29T06:36:03Z")
Mitch had a tough job, being part of only a three-man group, and made a significant contribution to the bass/drummer combination of the rhythm section. Kudos to him and also the late Al Jackson Jr. who worked so closely with Duck Dunn of Booker T and The MG’s. Most of the soul groups I played drums for, I used Al’s licks on my Ludwigs. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/48 "2008-12-29T06:39:28Z")
If hotness is a consideration, Meg White. ---
**Author:** ![Buford\_was\_no\_angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Buford\_was\_no\_angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buford_was_no_angel)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/49 "2008-12-29T12:44:57Z")
Glenn Kotche Doug Clifford Kenny Aronoff ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/50 "2008-12-29T12:58:28Z")
Mini-Hijack: I feel bad that Fogerty didn’t recognize Doug and Stu when Creedence was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame. Those three **really** need to mend fences. Back to the thread. Q ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/51 "2008-12-29T14:49:12Z")
Love the drummer jokes! One of my favourites is [Stanton Moore](http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/stantonmooresprung.html), he was awesome with Corrosion of Conformity on their last album. Also, [Death From Above 1979’s Sebastien Grainger](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arL7FWupl7Q&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/52 "2008-12-29T15:46:34Z")
My favorites are: Keith Moon. John Bonham. Phil Rudd. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/53 "2008-12-29T16:05:57Z")
They’ve both already been mentioned, but my two favourites are Tony Williams and Clem Burke. Both fantastic players. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/54 "2008-12-29T16:06:12Z")
Stanton Moore rules. I have a bit of a mancrush on [Ken Schalk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1z9r0Gw_98) because of this vid. [Morgan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5YEqmIIdj8) [Agren](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MddKAK7unl4) kicks a lot of ass. [Dave Witte](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mazPrKI3TU0) is the man. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/55 "2008-12-29T16:21:45Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > My favorites are: > > Keith Moon. > John Bonham. > Phil Rudd. Have to agree. **Stewart Copeland** and many, many others do wonderful things, but I keep coming back to these three. I will add a shout out to **Ginger Baker** , simply because his tom-tom beat on Sunshine of Your Love - and my abilty to pick it out and understand how it drove the song - was an essential epiphany in my listening skills as a kid. From a jazz standpoint, I have always tried to understand \*\*Max Roach \*\*- between him for bop and \*\*Buddy Rich \*\*for swing, I learned how to listen for jazz drums. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/56 "2008-12-29T16:32:09Z")
I can’t believe I forgot about Joey Baron!!! Definitely one of the best drummers around. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/57 "2008-12-29T16:36:18Z")
I’ve been listening to “A Christmas Gift to You From Phil Spector” a lot this season, and I find the drumming of [Hal Blaine](http://halblaine.com/bio.html) absolutely breathtaking! It’s a shame his name doesn’t show up more in these “Who’s Your Favorite Drummer” threads. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/58 "2008-12-29T17:01:45Z")
I was always a fan of Buddy Rich and Ed Shaunessey back when I was playing the drums as a kid. Later on, I developed a real appreciation for Phil Collins as a drummer. More recently, I’ve really gotten into the highly under-rated Tony Thompson as well as Funk Brothers Uriel Jones and Benny Benjamin. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/59 "2008-12-29T17:16:26Z")
Antonio Sanchez. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWabRD0c_VQ) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lquY6eWnISo/hqdefault.jpg "Pat Metheny group - How insensitive part 1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lquY6eWnISo) (zoom ahead to 1:50 or so) ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933/60 "2008-12-29T17:22:30Z")
Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-drummers/478933.md?page=4)