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.

This Month in Music (1957): Miles Davis Birth of the Cool released

Birth of the Cool Miles Davis

Released: February 1957 Recorded: January 21 and April 22, 1949; March 9, 1950 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): 0.28 US, 0.06 UK, 0.34 world (includes US and UK) Genre: cool jazz

Tracks: Move Jeru Moon Dreams Venus de Milo Budo Deception Godchild Boplicity Rocker Israel Rouge Darn That Dream (with Kenny Hagood on vocals) * * bonus track added to 1989 CD reissue Total Running Time: 35:29 The Players: Miles Davis (trumpet) Kai Winding, J.J. Johnson (trombone) Junior Collins, Sandy Siegelstein, Gunther Schuller (French horn) Bill Barber (tuba) Lee Konitz (alto sax) Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax) Al Haig, John Lewis (piano) Joe Shulman, Nelson Boyd (bass) Max Roach, Kenny Clarke (drums)

Rating: 4.646 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Quotable: “Where the sound known as cool jazz essentially formed” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: An argument can be made that Miles Davis is the most influential artist in the history of jazz music. He was at the forefront of every major movement in the genre from the mid-‘40s until his death in 1991. The renowned musician was born in 1926 and raised in an upper middle class home in East St. Louis. He took up trumpet at age 9 and by 16 was playing gigs. After high school, he got to play with other jazz greats like trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and saxophonist Charlie Parker. He was part of bands assembled by Benny Carter, Billy Eckstein, and Parker before moving from sideman to frontman in 1948. After landing a contract with Capitol Records, he went into the studio in January 1949 to record the first of three sessions which would become The Birth of the Cool. The title refers to the idea that it was out of these sessions that “the sound known as cool jazz essentially formed.” AMG It is one of the “defining, pivotal moments in jazz.” AMG The music has “a hip, detached elegance, never getting too hot, even as the rhythms skip and jump.” AMG Cool jazz marked the point “where the elasticity of bop was married with skillful, big-band arrangements and a relaxed, subdued mood that made it all seem easy, even at its most intricate.” AMG Cool jazz dated back as far as the mid-‘30s with tenor saxophonist Lester Young and pianist Leonard Joseph Tristano. However, it was Davis who “took the form ahead a generation, inspiring an entire school of jazz artists to move the music forward.” CS That first session, in New York on January 21, 1949, produced Jeru, Move, Godchild, and Budo. ON April 22 of that same year, Davis & Co. produced Venus De Milo, Rouge, Boplicity, and Israel. The third session birthed Deception, Rocker, Moon Dreams, and Darn That Dream. Jazz legend and big band innovator Gil Evans collaborated with Davis on the project, helping him to assemble the musicians and serving as arranger on some of the material. CS The sessions also highlighted what became a lifelong talent “as a collector of similarly brilliant musicians who would bring about radical changes in musical direction.” CS The assembled musicians for The Birth of the Cool keep “things short and concise (probably the result of the running time of singles, but the results are the same), which keeps the focus on the tones and tunes. The virtuosity led to relaxing, stylish mood music as the end result – the very thing that came to define West Coast or ‘cool’ jazz – but this music is so inventive, it remains alluring even after its influence has been thoroughly absorbed into the mainstream.” AMG The four tracks from the first session were released as singles, as were “Israel” and “Boplicity.” In 1953, Capitol released eight of the tracks on a 10” LP called Classics in Jazz – Miles Davis. WK In 1957, eleven songs from the three sessions were released as The Birth of the Cool. In 1989, a CD reissue added “Darn That Dream,” the only remaining song from the sessions.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Miles Davis AMG, All Music Guide review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine CS Chris Smith (2009). 101 Albums That Changed Popular Music. Oxford University Press. Pages 7-9. WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/28/2008; last updated 3/17/2024.