Who is the best drummer?

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   kerrygposted 16 years ago

   There's a thread for best guitarist floating around already, so how about best drummer?
   
   Partly I'm looking for inspiration:
   
   My son (11) started band this year on drums. He's really enthusiastic about performances and things like that, but getting him to practice is like pulling teeth. At this point, the stuff he's doing is easy enough that he doesn't really need to practice, but I guess I'd like to see if I can inspire him to start playing instead of working when he's practicing. Unfortunately, I like listening to rock but don't know very much about it from a technical perspective, and probably wouldn't know a good drummer from a mediocre one if they bit me on the nose.
   
   Also, I would like to introduce him to some better bands and just playing their music all the time doesn't seem to be working! His favorites steadfastly remain Nickelback and Linkin Park.

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      lisafwg01posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      In no paticular order:
      Ian Paice (deep purple), Keith Moon (the who), John Bonham (Zeppelin), Neil Peart (rush), Ginger Baker (Cream)

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      1. 62

         Capable Womanposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Yes. Also ( I hate to mention Big Country twice in one night) but Mark Brzezicki of the aforementioned.
         
         Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix/Band of Gypsies)
         
         I play drums, by the way, and if your son doesn't need to practice then it's time to step up the lessons to the next level. He should always need to practice, even when he is a competent player.

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2. 59

   Junksterposted 16 years ago

   You should introduce your son to the drumming genius Keith Moon!
   
   There is no other drummer that can compare lol, maybe Animal out of the muppets

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3. 59

   Pete Maidaposted 15 years ago

   I don't know his name but he was the drummer for Deep Purple.  He never played a standard beat; I call him the hardest working drummer in rock and roll.

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   Profmaggyposted 15 years ago

   The Late Keith Moon definitely, but Roger Taylor of the Group Queen is still alive and touring and still has IT!

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5. 59

   Colebabieposted 15 years ago

   Ok so here are some drummers/bands your son might like. I'm not saying they are "the all time greatest" but they are amazing and your son would be able to relate to them more than classic rock which he may see as "dad's music"
   
   1. Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters <--- Taylor Hawkins is drummer for them)
   2. Travis Barker (Blink 182, Box Car Racer, Transplants, and I think +44)
   3. Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing Pumpkins but not in the band anymore )
   4. Chad Sexton (311)
   5. John Dalmayan (System of a Down, not sure if I spelled his name right)
   6. Tre Cool (Green Day)
   7. Matt Pelissier (My Chemical Romance)
   
   Been to all of their concerts Travis Barker doing the upside- down- rotating drum set- tommy lee- motley crue act was very cool!

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6. 61

   curiozitiesposted 15 years ago

   How about Larry Mullen, Jr.?
   
   Larry Mullen, Sr. suggested to then teenager Larry Mullen, Jr. that he do something useful with his drumming skills... like perhaps start a band.  So Larry Mullen, Jr. posted an announcement at his school seeking a bass player, a guitarist and a singer. 
   
   One bass player and three would-be guitarists showed up.  They were Adam Clayton (the bass player), Dave Evans, Paul Hewson and Dave Evans' brother Dik.  Dik never clicked with the others so he left.  And it was clear that Paul Hewson wasn't that good at the guitar but was very charismatic.  But the remaining four guys clearly had chemistry and at least two of them (Larry and Dave) actually knew how to play their instruments. 
   
   The band started out with the name "Feedback" and they began playing at the school, at local bars, etc.  Eventually, a man named Paul McGuiness discovered them and agreed to be their manager.  The four guys had an opportunity to play in England but they needed money to make the trip.  None of their families had a lot of money to spare, but they loaned them the money anyway. 
   
   They were a hit in England, and became a hit in their native ireland.  Eventually, they went on to play in the U.S. and they ultimately became one of the biggest rock bands in the history of music. 
   
   So who were these guys?  Well, you know Dave Evans as "The Edge" and Paul Hewson as "Bono" and you know the band as U2.  And now you know, the rest of the story...

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7. 83

   DonnaCSmithposted 15 years ago

   Anybody else old enough to remember Buddy Rich?

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   1. 58

      darksideposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      No. But yes.
      
      He was on an episode of The Muppets and participated in a drum battle with Animal. Magnificent stuff!
      
      kerryg, all the suggestions thus far have been excellent. Though they're probably too old (or too dead) for your son to appreciate.
      
      I play the drums though my favorite drummers, who are probably the era after the ones mentioned here, are probably too old school for your son too.
      
      Does your son merely want to rock out to Nickelback and Linkin Park? Or does he want to excel in it. To do things that will make people stand in awe?
      
      If he is into extreme sports, whether it's bmx stunt riding, snowboarding, skateboarding, you may be able to point out that what he's currently capable of is like riding a bike or a skateboard down the road to the shops. It gets you there, but no one stops to watch. If he wants to be like those freaks of nature that do things that appears to be like magic and incapable of by mere mortals, then he's going to have to practise, practise, practise.
      
      Here's a good place to learn some stick control and technique.
      
      And if you can get ahold of some advanced instructional of Virgil Donati. I haven't checked to see if there's anything at Youtube, so maybe try there first before trying to track down a DVD to buy straight off. Virgil has played with several bands which haven't showcased his amazing talent. But get him with just a drum kit and it's like watching an illusionist pull off cunning stunts. I saw him play live with Planet X and I wanted to go home and burn all my drumsticks. Because I knew I had not the focus and determination to ever rise to that level of genius (though I'm sure if I had seen it when I was a teen I would have dedicated my life to becoming just like him).

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