Rhythm Magazine top 10 drummer poll -past 25 years

Posted by: JamieL_v2 on 30 August 2010

Leading UK drum magazine Rhythm to find readers' top choice of drummer for the past quarter century.

01. Joey Jordison (Slipknot, Rob Zombie)

02. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)

03. Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)

04. Neil Peart (Rush)

05. Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Them Crooked Vultures)

06. Travis Barker (Blink-182, Transplants)

07. Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)

08. Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Sting, Jeff Beck)

09. Phil Collins (Genesis)

10. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot)

Daily Telegraph article

May I just say a bit heavy on technique and a bit lacking in feel, that said Joey Jordison is a damn good drummer.

No jazz drummers there, when I saw the list I thought it was probably Kerrang.

I would also like to add 'DANNY CAREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

From the past 25 years, the drummers who have stood out to me are (no jazz I am afraid, Art Blakey had left us by then or he would have definitely been in there):

Danny Carey (Tool)
Dave Grohl (Nirvana, etc)
Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson)
Josh Freeze (A Perfect Circle, sessions)
Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, etc)
Guy Evans (Van Der Graaf Generator)

I admire the technique of Neil Peart and Gavin Harrison, but find them to be a bit lacking in feel. Their breaks are truly amazing, but their rhythm playing always seems to be a let down. Gavin Harrison absolutely murders some of the early Porcupine Tree tracks by cluttering them.

I love Phil Collins and Bill Bruford, but don't think they have made any great new statements with their playing in the last 25 years.

I am sure others have some opinions.
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by Steve2701
No Billy Cobham or Manu Katche?
No doubt there will be a great many more!
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by GraemeH
Keith Carlock
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by Hot Rats
How any poll on drummers could come up with these results is beyond me. The only one that I would put on the list is Vinnie Colaiuta.

No Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Terry Bozzio, Bernard Purdie etc.
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by Nick Lees
A second for Keith Carlock, and a big mention for Adam Deitch, whose drumming for John Scofield's Uberjam Band was mesmeric (despite the fact he looked all of 15 years old).
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by JamieL_v2
A poll of the top 10 jazz drummers of the past 25 years would be interesting. I couldn't add much to it, as my love of jazz tails off after the 70's. I could thrown in Tommy Chase from the late 80's he was amazing, but unfortunately in the wrong time and place to make it big, also probably the wrong personality, not the most easy going of people.

Manu Katche and of course Steve Gadd should be in there.

Weckl and Bozzio I never got, no doubt of their technique but their feel always seemed a bit abstract to me. My drum tutor worshipped Dave Weckl though.

Purdie was amazing on some of those Steely Dan recordings, but haven't heard him since then, and I haven't really followed them since their 70's music, so can't comment on Keith Carlock.

I haven't heard any Billy Cobham since the 70's either, his playing on Miles Davis Jack Jonson sessions is some of the greatest drumming I have ever heard. His solo stuff was pretty amazing too. What are the 'Drum n' Voice' albums like?

Michael Shrieve (originally with Santana) might be worth a mention too.
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by Guido Fawkes
Well I know nothing - never heard of half of those drummers.

My favourite drummers include Bev Bevan, Aynsley Dunbar, Graham Edge, Jon Hiseman, John Marshall, Dave Mattacks, Carl Palmer and Ringo in no particular order and I'm sure there are plenty of others. No idea if they have made much of a statement in the last 25 years though - just like the way they play on many of the records I have.

If I had to pick one then it would be JH.
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by JWM
I would add Gomez' Olly Peacock.
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by pcstockton
Tomas Haake. PERIOD. Whether you like Meshuggah or not. This guy is insane. Playing different signatures with his hands and feet. Nuts.

Notable Mention: Joey Baron
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by pcstockton
quote:
10. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers

He's not even their best drummer.
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by cto007
This list says more about their readers than it does about a quarter century of drum talent.
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by mudwolf
No Gene Krupa who could swing!
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by JamieL_v2
quote:
Originally posted by mudwolf:
No Gene Krupa who could swing!

Gene Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973
Not exactly in the last 25 years though.
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by Paper Plane
Is it 25 years since Cozy Powell died then?

I'd have put in votes for Ian Paice and Christian Vander but still think Peart just takes it though.

steve
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by Guido Fawkes
5 April 1998 - Colin (Cozy) was a great drummer



Carl recommended Colin when he was tied up contractually with Asia.

The one album they made is very listenable and Touch and Go remains an ELP concert favourite.
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by northpole
My my, Bonzo didn't get a look in either. Shows how little I know....

Peter
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by Nick Lees
quote:
Originally posted by northpole:
My my, Bonzo didn't get a look in either. Shows how little I know....

Peter

The clue's in the "last 25 years" bit.
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by northpole
Oops - fair point Gary! Red Face

Peter
Posted on: 31 August 2010 by JamieL_v2
The previous 25 years to that could hardly be limited to 50 great drummers, let alone 10.

Bonham, Bruford, Blakey, Copeland, Collins, Cobham, and we have only touched two letters of the alphabet!
Posted on: 05 September 2010 by mudwolf
Yeah, but I'm over twice that age of 25 and definitely appreciate my parent's music era. Not so much the last 20, I can't keep up so I shouldn't have posted.