A Band Is Only As Good As Its Drummer

Drummers, from their place at the back of the stage, are so often overshadowed by the lead guitarist or vocalist of a band. However, it's their explosive drum licks, groovy rhythms, and dramatic fills that form the backbone of the band. Let's give the percussion section its due by taking a look at the 20 best drummers of all time. 

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1. John Bonham

Led Zeppelin had to disband after drummer John Bonham passed away; that's how integral to the band he was. Every aspiring rock drummer since has looked up to him and learned (or attempted to learn) his grooves that seemed to come instinctively to him. 

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2. Phil Collins 

In addition to his solo stuff, Phil Collins' drumming can be heard on John Cale, Brian Eno, Eric Clapton, and Peter Gabriel albums. He gained mainstream recognition as a pop artist, but that made his drumming underappreciated. He developed his own style, played to complex time signatures, and created some of the most legendary fills.

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3. Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl is widely known as a vocalist, guitarist, and frontman for Foo Fighters, but he's also an iconic drummer who became famous when he joined Nirvana. Known for his aggressive drumming style, his grooves helped define the grunge sound.

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4. Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts was the drummer for the Rolling Stones from 1963 until he died in 2021. With a background in jazz, he was a highly disciplined and masterful drummer who created some of the most iconic fills of all time. His style was understated, but formed the backbone of the band.

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5. Gene Krupa

Gene Krupa is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. He's best known for his killer drum solo on Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing," and for changing the role of the drummer from accompanist to a solo act.

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6. Tony Williams

Tony Williams was one of the most respected jazz drummers of his time. He's known for his pioneering achievements with Miles Davis and his groundbreaking fusion grooves with Tony Williams Lifetime, which earned him a place in multiple halls of fame.

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7. Bernard Purdie

Bernard Purdie, often called the "Groove Master," created an iconic drum pattern, the Purdie Shuffle, which emulated countless other iconic drummers. He garnered over 4,000 recording credits over the span of his career and played with such greats as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Steely Dan.

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8. Vinnie Colaiuta

Vinnie Colaiuta is known for his genre-spanning session work. He worked with the likes of  Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, and Sting and is celebrated for his exceptional technical drumming, strange time signatures, and masterful rhythms.

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9. Chad Smith

Everyone goes ga-ga over Flea, Red Hot Chili Peppers' insane bassist, but Chad Smith also deserves some recognition. He's known for his unique and powerful rock-funk fusion drumming and his awesome improvisational skills.

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10. Alex Van Halen

Alex Van Halen is often overshadowed by his brother Eddie, but it was Alex's technical prowess that formed the foundation of the band. His unique style perfectly complemented his brother's wailing guitar, and his fills on classic songs like "Jump" influenced countless other drummers.

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11. Ian Paice

Deep Purple's Ian Paice is widely hailed as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. In addition to his extreme technical skill and speed, he's also extremely innovative, developing techniques that helped define heavy rock drumming.

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12. Bill Bruford

Bill Buford is best known for being the drummer of the English rock band Yes. He's one of the most sophisticated drummers in rock history, celebrated for his ability to master the weirdest time signatures and bridge and fuse several genres.

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13. Virgil Donati

Virgil Donati is in another stratosphere when it comes to drumming. Often described as a drummer's drummer, he's one of the most technically skilled drummers of all time, known for his insanely complex patterns and odd time signatures. 

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14. Stewart Copeland

More than just a drummer, Stewart Copeland is a stylist. Best known for his work with The Police, his sound is instantly recognizable, genre-blending, dynamic, and full of finesse.

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15. Mitch Mitchell

Mitch Mitchell is a name synonymous with the 1970s rock scene. He was the power and precision behind Jimi Hendrix's raw sound. Previously a jazz drummer, his style was complex, unpredictable, and complemented Hendrix perfectly. 

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16. Neil Peart

Neil Peart, nicknamed "The Professor," was best known being the powerhouse behind Rush. His drumming was insanely fast, complex, and precise, pushing the boundaries of what one man could achieve on a drum kit.

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17. Ginger Baker

Cream's Ginger Baker was known for his fusion of jazz, African rhythms, and hard rock. He possessed a sophistication few rock drummers had, and greatly elevated Cream's sound with his complex, high-energy, and creative drum patterns.

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18. Keith Moon

Keith Moon was the explosive rhythm behind The Who. He created some of the most legendary fills of all time and was known for his innovative style, treating the drum kit as a lead instrument. 

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19. D.J. Fontana

D.J. Fontana was Elvis's longtime drummer. He was instrumental in shaping the sound of early rock n' roll music. His style was understated, precise, groovy, and hugely influential.

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20. Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr deserves to be on this list simply for being the rhythm section of the biggest rock band ever. He created the fill for some of the most iconic songs ever created. His style was tasteful, tight, and steady.

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