11 Greatest Drummers of All Time

Deciding which musicians are in the 11 greatest drummers of all time can be an ungrateful job. There are many things that distinguish one drummer from another, like the style of playing, the genre of music they are playing, do they like to break the routine and many more.

Drummers are important but often overlooked part of the band. They give the base for the sound and decide the rhythm of the entire band. Of course, this is the case for live music and bands that prefer the old school style. If you are interested in the money those bands are earning, check these Richest Bands Of All Time.

Rock’n’roll and jazz music are genres where the drums reach their full potential. Just take Queen’s “We will rock you” song. Would it be the same without that haunting drum solo from Roger Taylor? Of course not.

Drummers have the ability to leave their unique mark on the songs, but also to ruin the band. Without the fitting drummer, bands tend to struggle with the sound they are trying to create. One of those examples is Nirvana, the greatest band of the 90’s. They changed numerous drummers, and only when Dave Grohl stepped in, their journey to greatness began.

As we told you before, it is pretty hard to decide 11 greatest drummers of all time, so we turned to music fans and music journalists. In the pool organized by Rolling Stones magazine and Ranker, people could vote for drummers they think are the best of all time. Gibson and LA Weekly magazine journalists also compiled their list. We checked each one, assigned points for the ones who ranked on the top, summed them up and compiled our own list.

11. Josh Freese

Overall score: 6

This man is one of those music freelancers that just can’t settle. He is among the most appreciated studio drummers and contributed to more than 300 tracks in various music genres.

10. Danny Carey

Overall score: 8

While we wait for new Tool’s album, let’s appreciate their drummer Danny Carey, who gets himself busy with numerous other projects, and regularly contributes to other bands’ tracks.

9. Charlie Watts

Overall score: 8

11 Greatest Drummers of All Time wouldn’t be complete without the man from one of the greatest rock bands in history, The Rolling Stones. Although overshadowed by Keith and Mick, Charlie is the man who always knew how to keep his cool and bring us good rhythm.

8. Stewart Copeland

Overall score: 9

The Police’s drummer Stewart Copeland didn’t satisfy himself with just being the drummer of one of the most popular British bands. He also wrote music for opera, ballet, movies, theater. The man knows how to make some groove.

7. Ginger Baker

Overall score: 11

Known as one of the first rock’n’roll drummer superstars, Baker was known by his lengthy drum solos and jazz groove he contributed to the band Cream. Besides his work with Cream, he collaborated with numerous other musicians in various music genres.

6. Buddy Rich

Overall score: 13

One of the greatest jazz drummers in history, he was known for his drumming speed and precision. He was an influence for modern era rock drummers and remains one of the most appreciated drummers of all time.

5. Mike Portnoy

Overall score: 15

One of the most skilled technicians in the world of drummers, he formed the band Dream Theater and went down in the history as one of the most known metal drummers. He is also known as a gifted lyricist and has written the lyrics for many Dream Theater songs.

4. Dave Grohl

Overall score: 20

Although newer generations will remember him as a screaming vocal, guitarist and frontman of the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl was the drummer with whom Nirvana created their best songs. He still likes to sit behind the drums and give us a reminder of what made him so great.

3. Neil Peart

Overall score: 26

Neil Peart became the youngest inductee in Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, and that is not without a reason. He’s known for including hard rock and jazz in his drum playing, and also for being the main lyricists for his band Rush. He is highly appreciated among the audience as well as music journalists.

2. Keith Moon

Overall score: 31

Legendary drummer Keith Moon from The Who was known for his ability behind the drum kit as well as his destructive behavior off the stage. He was only 32 when he died from an overdose when his career was on the peak. There are many who describe him as the “greatest drummer in the history of rock music”.

1. John Bonham

Overall score: 40

You can rarely find a unanimous opinion when it comes to music. John Bonham as the greatest drummer of all time is one of those opinions. Every source we checked had his name on the top. During his time with Led Zeppelin, Bonham was praised for his speed, efficiency and unique style of drumming. Like Keith Moon, John Bonham also died very young, he was 32.