Best drummer?

[Xenocrates]

I have a student that plays the drums so I gave her some English homework asking her to ID the best drummer.

I'm not very knowledgeable about 'drummery' so my choice could be improved:

John Bonham
Keith Moon
Joe Morello


J. Bonham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rOCa-qgbtc&mode=related&search

K. Moon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUogDbH8mlk&mode=related&search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hngmb0pTcMY

J. Morello http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDOgYw5-pNs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsKq3HD0EFc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewc-Z4gZDhU&mode=related&search

Personally I think Morello's number one + I'm more a fan of jazz than rock. However my student likes rock - can you suggest a few more drummers for me to show her?

 

[downtown]

My favorites are

Steve Jordan-Blues Brothers, John Mayer Trio
Carter Buford-DMB
Gene Krupa-jazz great
Buddy Rich-ditto
David Girabaldi-Tower of Power

Bonam is also a great rock drummer.
I'll look for youtubes.

 

[Whomp]

Though I think Keith Moon is the man...Neal Peart of Rush technically could be the best rock drummer ever.
Here's a monster solo by the man for the man.
Solo at the Buddy Rich Memorial concert

I would add a real sleeper Stewart Copeland of The Police. I really think he was the most talented musician in that band. His style is all about nuance and subtlety which causes most people look past him to the next overpowering bashers.

Synchronicity I

 

[MjM]

Dave Lombardo of Slayer is one of my favorites.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vQpIpy1xU74

 

[Left]

Ginger Baker of Cream was quite the stud.

 

[Maimonides]

I have a student that plays the drums so I gave her some English homework asking her to ID the best drummer.

I'm not very knowledgeable about 'drummery' so my choice could be improved:

John Bonham
Keith Moon
Joe Morello

Personally I think Morello's number one + I'm more a fan of jazz than rock. However my student likes rock - can you suggest a few more drummers for me to show her?

"Drummery?" Percussion or drumming will do nicely. Playing the skins is a slang term for it referring to the old days when drum heads were made of animal skins. On second thought, some types of drums still use skins.

Downtown & I are drummers if that helps any. I don't know about Whomp.

Keith Moon had a unique style, but it was more of the so-drunk-we-hope-he-doesn't-fall-off-his-throne-during-a-concert type of style. He was good, but far from the best.

Buddy Rich is hands down the best drummer ever. After that, I'd say:

2. Neil Peart of Rush
3. John Bonham of Led Zepplin
4. Ringo Starr of The Beatles
5. Alex Van Halen of Van Halen
6. Me
7. Downtown

I agree with Whomp that Stewart Copeland is very underrated.

I also have to throw in the drummer of Def Leppard(can't remember his name). He has recorded three very sucsessful albums with one arm. He is still on tour. He lost an arm in a car crash & taught himself how to play with one arm. Gotta respect that.

Since your student is interested in rock, start with Bonham, Starr, Van Halen, Peart & go from there.

Though I think Keith Moon is the amn Neal Peart of Yes technically could be the best rock drummer ever.

Neil Peart has never played for Yes that I know of. He's in Rush.

I met Yes' drummer several years ago in Honolulu. He had two amazingly hot women with him & gave me an autograph on a paper napkin.

I would add a real sleeper Stewart Copeland of The Police. I really think he was the most talented musician in that band. His style is all about nuance and subtlety which causes most people look past him to the next overpowering bashers.

I totally agree.

 

[Xenocrates]

Because drummers sit down at the back, they often become very zany to avoid being overshadowed by the front-men; Keith Moon for example. Still, it was a good excuse to post The Who's "dont get fooled again" great song - and very prescient I think.

I have a vid of Rich: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ5B7yqDYbA&mode=related&search

Thanks guys I'll swat up so that in my next class I don't look like the 'drumery' imbecile that I am.

I can't find a vid, but I'd like to get one for Art Blakey's Oscaplypso and Cubano Chant. Some nice drum solos in there.

PS I gave her homework on recognising the adjectives, nouns and verbs in :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWMIXgCaJPQ

So she might have a glazed look on her face in the next class

 

[Godwynn]

Keith Moon
John Bonham
Ginger Baker

There you have it.

 

[Maimonides]

Because drummers sit down at the back, they often become very zany to avoid being overshadowed by the front-men; Keith Moon for example.

Yeah, it's a bit of a bummer sitting behind the rest of the band & watching them jump around & interact with the crowd.

The drummer of Night Ranger places his drum set at stage left facing the center of the stage right at the front of the stage. That way, he can turn & sing directly to the crowd while he plays & the crowd can watch every move he makes as he plays.

How old are your students? If they're so young they're still learning to recognize nouns, they may not be old enough for the music suggested here. I'd suggest The Beatles, but child psychologists say that songs about romantic love aren't appropriate for young kids. Rush's songs are very political. Van Halen has "Hot for Teacher." Led Zepplin is best heard while stoned. As for the Who, their drummer drank himself to death so he's not the best role model.

 

[Perfection]

I forget his name but I once knew a little drummer boy who could do a really mean, "pa rum pum pum pum".

 

[GenMarshall]

I forget his name but I once knew a little drummer boy who could do a really mean, "pa rum pum pum pum".

Wasint that the drummer guy who drummed a beat to Jesus?

 

[Xenocrates]

TEFL in Shanghai - students are around 20.

Actually she asked me that question: "what's the difference between beat the drum and play the drum"? Good question I thought so I'll leave it with you.

She has a good ear and can repeat what I say flawlessly (too bad I'm always talking nonsense ), but I don't know how well she beats the membrane with the old splinter.

 

[aaglo]

Neil Peart - Rush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iONLKn5VHY4

Sami Kuoppamäki - Kingston Wall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN-ti95VUdE

 

[Maimonides]

Actually she asked me that question: "what's the difference between beat the drum and play the drum"? Good question I thought so I'll leave it with you.

Those are just different terms for the same thing. It's a percussion instrument so you could also say tap, hit or strike I suppose.

If you're using a brush instead of a stick, you're not applying as much force so it's hard to say you're beating, but it's all a matter of semantics. Some rock drummers tend to beat the drums as hard as they physically can, but that is a matter of putting on a show or just trying to produce enough volume depending on the situation. Or maybe they're angry about something & taking it out on their drum heads.

This reminds me of The Muppet Movie. Animal would yell, "Eat drums! Eat drums!" Kermit would respond, "No, Animal! Beat drums not eat drums!"

 

[DBear]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqU1rrQFr0o

Mike Portnoy, drum solo during the Images and Words tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCF2Tst-ohw

Mike Portnoy showing his chops at a drum clinic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXpyaSjF1DM

Live at Budokan

 

[sonorakitch]

Though I think Keith Moon is the man...Neal Peart of Yes technically could be the best rock drummer ever.
Here's a monster solo by the man for the man.
Solo at the Buddy Rich Memorial concert

I would add a real sleeper Stewart Copeland of The Police. I really think he was the most talented musician in that band. His style is all about nuance and subtlety which causes most people look past him to the next overpowering bashers.

Synchronicity I

Both Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland are the best in my opinion, but note that Neil Peart plays drums for Rush, not Yes.

~Chris

 

[Xenocrates]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yvHWyvexZA&mode=related&search=

IN THE LESSON PLAN - thanks for the tip!

I'll use it to teach the word "subtle". Animal's better than Milton Banana, the great Brazilian drummer.

 

[Perfection]

Wasint that the drummer guy who drummed a beat to Jesus?

Yep, I object to Jesus' religious stuffs, but that guy could sure appreciate a funky beat.

 

[Maimonides]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yvHWyvexZA&mode=related&search=

IN THE LESSON PLAN - thanks for the tip!

I'll use it to teach the word "subtle". Animal's better than Milton Banana, the great Brazilian drummer.

That's great! Thanks for that link! Animal was probably the biggest reason I learned to play the drums. I just watched all those Animal videos. Did you see the one with Animal & Buddy Rich? Fantastic stuff.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Best drummer is very subjective, but my favourite drummers are Mike Portnoy and Dave Grohl.