The Top 100 Drummers of All Time

Drummers: Top 100

This list was originally posted on the DMDB Facebook page on August 23, 2010, and then revised on January 22, 2011. 30 best-of lists (see resources at the bottom of the page) were aggregated to create this one. As tends to be the case with music lists, it heavily slants toward rock drummers, so while far from flawless, the aggregate approach to creating this list should assure that this is a more representative list than any other out there. When relevant, groups or performers most associated with the drummers are listed in parentheses. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Categories. Neil Peart, Rush’s “YYZ” 1. Neil Peart (Rush) 2. John “Bonzo” Bonham (Led Zeppelin) 3. Keith Moon (The Who) 4. Ginger Baker (Cream) 5. Ringo Starr (The Beatles) 6. Stewart Copeland (The Police) 7. Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters) 8. Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) 9. Bill Bruford (Yes/ King Crimson) 10. Lars Ulrich (Metallica) John Bonham, Led Zeppelin’s Moby Dick” 11. Ian Paice (Deep Purple) 12. Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones) 13. Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa/Jeff Beck) 14. Danny Carey (Tool) 15. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) 16. Roger Taylor (Queen) 17. Buddy Rich 18. Phil Collins (Genesis) 19. Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) 20. Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) Keith Moon, The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (isolated drum track) 21. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) 22. Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer/Asia) 23. Steve Smith (Journey) 24. Travis Barker (Blink-182) 25. Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) 26. Dave Lombardo (Slayer) 27. John Densmore (The Doors) 28. Alan White (Yes) 29. Maureen “Moe” Tucker (Velvet Underground) 30. Topper Headon (The Clash) Ginger Baker, Cream’s “Toad” 31. Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins) 32. Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe) 33. Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band) 34. Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa/Sting/Jeff Beck /Herbie Hancock/Chick Corea) 35. Larry Mullen, Jr. (U2) 36. Alex Van Halen (Van Halen) 37. Aynsley Dunbar (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers/Jeff Beck Group/Journey) 38. Cozy Powell (Black Sabbath/Rainbow) 39. Gene Krupa 40. Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy Osbourne/Whitesnake) Buddy Rich vs. the Muppets’ Animal 41. Tim Alexander (Primus) 42. Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) 43. Joey Jordison (Slipknot) 44. Bernard Purdie 45. Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac) 46. Frank “Tré Cool” Edwin Wright III (Green Day) 47. Steve Gadd (Paul Simon/Steely Dan/Eric Clapton) 48. Art Blakey 49. Michael Shrieve (Santana) 50. Al Jackson, Jr. (Booker T. & the MG’s) Gene Krupa vs. Buddy Rich 51. Billy Cobham (Horace Silver/Miles Davis/Mahavishnu Orchestra) 52. Jaki Liebezeit (Can) 53. Matt Cameron (Soundgarden) 54. Max Weinberg (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band) 55. Max Roach 56. Steven Adler (Guns N’ Roses) 57. Deen Castronovo (Bad English/Journey) 58. Elvin Jones (John Coltrane) 59. Tony Williams 60. William “Benny” Benjamin (Funk Brothers) Max Roach 61. Hal Blaine 62. Simon Phillips (Toto) 63. Klaus Dinger (Neu/LA Dusserldorf) 64. Zigaboo “Ziggy” Modeliste (The Meters) 65. Vinnie Paul (Pantera) 66. Brann Dailor (Mastodon) 67. Rick Allen (Def Leppard) 68. Zak Starkey (The Who/Oasis) 69. Phil Rudd (AC/DC) 70. Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) World’s Greatest Drummers Salute Ringo Starr 71. Mike Giles (King Crimson) 72. Louie Bellson 73. Jeff Porcaro (Toto) 74. Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa) 75. Don Brewer (Grand Funk Railroad) 76. Chris Adler (Lamb of God) 77. Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) 78. Jim “The Reverend” Sullivan (Avenged Sevenfold) 79. John French (Captain Beefheart) 80. Dominic Howard (Muse) Lars Ulrich of Metallica, drum solo 81. Dave Weckl (Chick Corea) 82. Dave Garabaldi (Tower of Power) 83. Anton Fier (Feelies/Pere Ubu/Golden Palominos) 84. Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle/Desert Sessions) 85. Jon Theodore (Mars Volta) 86. Stanton Moore (Galactic) 87. Don Henley (Eagles) 88. Tico Torres (Bon Jovi) 89. Levon Helm (The Band) 90. Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown) Phil Collins takes drum quiz 91. Scott Travis (Judas Priest) 92. Stephen Morris (Joy Division/New Order) 93. Earl Palmer 94. Alan “Reni” Wren (The Stone Roses) 95. Roger Hawkins (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) 96. Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp) 97. B.J. Wilson (Procol Harum) 98. Damon Che Fitzgerald (Don Caballero) 99. Thomas Lang 100. Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs/Winger) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Categories Amazon.com The Ten Greatest Drummers of All Time. By Julian Apostate. (date?). A personal top ten list with an album selection for each pick. AssociatedContent.com Best Rock Drummers of All Time. By Nick Mayer. (7/7/09). Top ten list with commentary. BBC News Zeppelin voted ‘ideal supergroup’. (7/10/05). Roughly 3500 music fans were polled at Planet Rock Radio for best singer, guitarist, bassist, and drummer. The top 10 of each are listed. CreativeLoafing.com Top 10 Sickest Drummers of All Time. By Ivan Pena. (2/9/10). Top ten list with commentary and video. Digital Dream Door 100 Greatest Rock Drummers. Edited by tommorello. (8/16/08). Top 100 list with no commentary. FanNation.com Top Drummers of All Time. By R.I.P. John Bonham/ Bon Scott’s blog. (2007). Top 20 list with no commentary. Gigwise.com The Greatest Drummers of All Time!. (5/29/08). Top 50 list with commentary. Having a separate page for each drummer is an annoyance. Glam-Racket The Bakers Dozen Greatest Rock Drummers of All Time. By Todd Totale. (3/3/08). Top 13 list with commentary and some video. Includes another 13 on an honorable mention list and 13 on an a dishonorable mention list. HubPages.com My Favorite Drummers. By Constant Walker. (2009). Unranked list with commentary and video. Listology.com Favorite Rock Drummers. By Callanyvegatable. (6/16/2009). Ranked list (8) with no commentary and 7 honorable mentions. Listology.com Top 10 Drummers of All Time. By SgtPepper. (7/15/2010). Top 10 ranked list with no commentary. Listology.com …Favorite Musicians…. By Feif Umgotnn. (4/2/2010). Best-of lists for singers, bands, guitarists, drummers, bassists, and other instrumentalists. 11 drummers on a ranked list as well as 6 honorable mentions. Includes groups most associated with drummer. Mademan.com 10 Best Drummers of All Time. By John Brhel. (4/17/2010). Ranked top 10 list with commentary. MusicRadar.com 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time. By Rhythm Magazine (10/22/2009). Top 50 list with commentary and photos. Annoyingly has a separate page for each drummer. Have to click through all pages to see total list. MyMusicLists.com Greatest Drummers. (2006?). Ranked list of 50+ drummers. Voted and commented on by registered users. PhilBrodieBand.com 100 Greatest Drummers – Jazz, Rock, Skilled. (2006). Three separate ranked lists – one focused on jazz (100), one on rock (100), and a third on most-skilled drummers (50). No commentary. Q Magazine. Best Drummer Ever. (12/24/2010). Originally in print magazine, issue 295. Top 10 ranked list with commentary. Rankopedia.com Best Drummer Ever. (8/9/2010). Voter-based top 25 list with no commentary. RateYourMusic.com 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time. By EVH1622. (year?). Top 50 ranked list with no commentary. Rockband.com The Top 25 Greatest Drummers of All Time. By Slashboi. (1/3/2009). Top 25 ranked list with no commentary. Scaruffi.com Greatest Rock Drummers of All Times. By Piero Scaruffi (1999). Top 28 ranked list with no commentary. Another 100+ honorable mentions. Share Ranks Greatest Rock Drummers of All Time. By pxc0. (2009). Voter-based list with 60+ drummers ranked. Includes voter comments. Squidoo.com The Top 10 Drum Legends and Their Drum Kits. By Andy Phillips (2009?). Top 10 ranked list with commentary. Includes video and photos. StylusMagazine.com 50 Greatest Rock Drummers. By Stylus staff. (7/30/2007). Top 50 list with commentary, photos, and “best of”. The-Top-Tens.com Greatest Drummer of All Time. By AKPickin. (year?). Top 100 voter-based list with comments from voters. Turkku.com Top 20: Drummers. By Jari Leppänen (2010?). Page is focused on top 100 rock albums, but has other lists in the side panel, including a top 20 ranked list for drummers. No commentary. Zuko.com Top 10 Rock Bands, Guitarist, Drummer, Bassist of All Time. By Dr. Von Zuko. (date?). Top ten unranked list with no commentary. First posted 8/23/2010; last updated 6/30/2026.

Today in Music (1938): Benny Goodman performed at Carnegie Hall

Complete Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert Benny Goodman

Recorded: January 16, 1938 Charted: December 20, 1952 Peak: 18 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, 0.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: jazz

Tracks, Disc 1: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks). Chart information is for original studio releases. Click for codes to singles charts. Benny Goodman Introduction (recorded 1950) [0:22] Don’t Be That Way (Edgar Sampson, Benny Goodman, Mitchell Parish) [4:12] (3/12/38, 1 US) Sometimes I’m Happy (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar, Clifford Grey) [4:13] (9/14/35, 12 US) * One O’Clock Jump (Eddie Durham, Buster Smith) [6:47] (3/12/38, 8 US) Applause; transition to Twenty Years of Jazz [0:41] Sensation Rag (Edwin “Eddie” Edwards) [1:12] I’m Coming Virginia (Will Marion Cook, Donald Heywood) [2:15] When My Baby Smiles at Me (Bill Munro, Andres Sterling, Ted Lewis, Harry Von Tilzer) [0:52] Shine (Cecil Mack, Ford Dabney, Lew Brown) [0:55] Blue Reverie (Duke Ellington, Harry Carney) [3:32] Applause, transition back to Goodman Orchestra [0:22] Life Goes to Party (Harry James, Benny Goodman) [4:05] Setting Up for Jam Session [0:40] Honeysuckle Rose (Thomas “Fats” Waller, Andy Razaf) [16:42] Applause; setting up and tuning up for BG Small Groups [1:00] Body and Soul (Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton) [3:10] (9/7/35, 5 US) Applause as Lionel Hampton enters [0:27] Avalon (Vincent Rose, B.G. DeSylva, Al Jolson) [4:04] The Man I Love (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) [3:35] (9/11/37, 20 US) I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) [4:51] Tracks, Disc 2: Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) [3:14] (8/17/46, 9 US) Loch Lomand (traditional) [3:04] (12/18/37, 12 US) Applause: Benny Goodman’s ‘No Encore’ announcement [1:14] The Blue Room (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) [2:36] Swingtime in the Rockies (Jimmy Mundy, Benny Goodman) [2:38] (8/15/36, 2 US) Applause: Martha Tilton returns to stage [0:21] Bei Mir Bist du Schön (Scholom Secunda, Jacob Jacobs, adapted by Sammy Cahn & Saul Chaplin) [3:54] (1/29/38, 4 US) Applause: setting up for BG small groups [0:32] China Boy (Dick Winfree, Phil Boutelje) [4:45] (6/27/36, 9 US) Stompin’ at the Savoy (Edgar Sampson, Benny Goodman, Chick Webb) [5:55] (7/11/36, 11 US) Applause: BG Quartet continues but changes program [0:24] Dizzy Spells (Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson) [5:37] Applause; transition back to Goodman orchestra for finale [0:41] Sing Sing Sing with a Swing (Louis Prima) [12:02] (4/9/38, 7 US) Applause until encores [1:03] If Dreams Come True (Edgar Sampson, Benny Goodman, Irving Mills) [2:34] * Big John’s Special (Horace Henderson) [3:41] * unique to Complete Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert Total Running Time: 101:04

Rating: 4.650 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings) Quotable: “One of the greatest concerts ever captured on record.” This “belongs in every serious music library.” – Scott Yanow, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: Band leader and clarinetist Benny Goodman, “touted as the ‘King of Swing’ at his peak,” NRR was “the first real jazz musician to capture a mass bourgeois white audience in America.” AZ He was also the first to stage a full jazz concert at Carnegie Hall. SY His publicist, Wynn Nathanson, initially suggested it as a publicity stunt, but after “his film Hollywood Hotel opened to rave reviews and giant lines, he threw himself into the work.” WK It sold out its capacity 2,760 seats at the then-high top price of $2.75 a seat. WK This “belongs in every serious music library, capturing Benny Goodman and the swing era in general at its height.” SY His “fantastic performance at Carnegie Hall” AZ started with three contemporary numbers, then played a history of jazz, and then a jam session on Honeysuckle Rose, “which found sidemen of the orchestras of Duke Ellington and Count Basie interacting with Goodman's star.” SY Later some “trio and quartet numbers were well-received and a vocal on Loch Lomond by Martha Tilton provoked five curtain calls.” WK “This concert has been regarded as one of the most siginificant in jazz history” WK and “one of the greatest concerts ever captured on record.” SY This was “a turning point in the way jazz is judged by outsiders.” SY It had “finally been accepted by mainstream audiences.” WK “It is hard to believe that tapes of this momentous event were kept in a closet, forgotten until rediscovered by accident in 1950” SY by Benny’s sister-in-law in a closet in his apartment. WK The performance “captures Goodman and his orchestra at the peak of their performance.” AZ He is “fronting top performers and appearing before an energetic audience.” NRR His “stellar bandsmen were joined by Lionel Hampton and members of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington ensembles for this famous festival of jazz during the height of the swing music era.” NRR “There are many, many high points, including exciting versions of Don’t Be That Way and One O’Clock Jump, a tribute to the 20 years of jazz that were then on record; …exciting performances by the Trio and Quartet; and, of course, Sing, Sing, Sing with Gene Krupa’s creative (if not too subtle) drumming and Jess Stacy’s remarkable ad lib piano solo.” SY Three of these songs are featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953, albeit not the versions by Goodman. Ben Selvin had a chart-topper with Blue Skies in 1927, Red Nichols took I Got Rhythm to #5 in 1930, Coleman Hawkins had a #13 hit with Body and Soul in 1940. Notes: When issued on CD in 1999, the original Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert was expanded (track listing reflects that) and retitled The Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert.

Resources and Related Links: AZ Amazon.com NRR National Recording Registry SY Scott Yanow, All Music Guide C1 WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 11/14/2008; last updated 1/29/2022.