I'm glad you said that -- I thought I was going crazy for a minute there. Looks like its a picture of the drummer for American English -- a Beatles tribute band.
I'd agree to all of the above and add Bryan "Brain" Mantia of Primus and numerous other projects/bands
After CBFC's comment, I was thinking...what? is that John. but, Mrs. Jeff...bingo <img src="http://www.americanenglishbeatles.com/images/ringo.jpg"> BobFinn*...look at the link to your photo. This means BobFinn* has to listen to the Beatles for the rest of the day to appease the Beatles gods for his sacriligeous post.
I should have mentioned Phil Collins and the guy who has played alongside him in Genesis and solo for many years, Chester Thompson. Collins was and is a real innovator as a player and Thompson is an amazing drummer who has done tons of jazz work and played for Frank Zappa years ago. A note on Carter Beuford, the guy is a chops machine for sure, however, he is almost a carbon copy of Dennis Chambers, who played with Parliament Funkadelic and has worked with many, MANY jazz, funk and fusion musicians. It should be no surprise that Beauford plays like that, though, since Chambers was his mentor. The irony is that they even look alike and they both have that REALLY laid back, relaxed while they are playing thing. They even both chew gum and wear baseball caps! Beuford also adapted some playing from Simon Phillips because he is ambidextrous like Phillips - playing his ride and hats with his left hand instead of his right. The thing about Beauford is that he is so incredibly gifted as a technitian. His chops are really beyond amazing. He is also really starting to mature as a groove player as evidenced by some other work he has done over the past few years. When he can finally get to the level of groove his mentor Chambers was at with P-Funk, Beauford will become one of the most formiddable rock drummers ever. If you like him, by the way, you'll love Tony Thompson, who played with Chic and Power Station, and Sonny Emory, who's played with Earth, Wind and Fire among many others.
My first thought was Neil Peart. I also thought about "that guy from Power Station." Thankfully, Jeff supplied the name.
Dang, your guys are good (CBrownFanClub, Mrs. JB) Thought I snuck that by everyone HP, that sentence will be carried out with joy
Jeff, thanks for the props sent in Dennis Chambers' direction. Though Beauford is the only thing I like about DMB, he's still half the player Dennis is (more touch, tact, all that stuff). Here's a few votes for Levon Helm, Jimmy Keltner, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Roger Taylor (the Queen one), and whoever plays for Thin Lizzy.
I love Elvis but your drummer choices are some of the worst possible. I really hope you were being sarcastic. I in that case, good call. Peart and Kerry are both good. Another good drummer is Roger Taylor of Queen. He was a former tympanist for the London Symphony. I forget the name of the brazilian guy who did all the session work for Paul Simon in the 70's. He was an awesome percussionist. But as far as pure Rock Drummers go I think it is pretty hard to beat Lars and I'm not a huge Metallica fan.
I can not believe the snubs goin out to Neil Peart. He is the most technically proficient drummer, percussionist, and song-writer of just about all the guys mentioned already.. Oh, jeeze..This isn't the Best Drummer of All Time thread? oops..sorry Anyway..thats why he's my #1 drummer. Then it'sBonzo of course Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche) Phil Collins-- he's a helluva drummer and song-writer also..not too bad as a singer either.. Nicko Mcbrain--gotta give credit to my favorite band and Jonathan Mover does some fantastic work with Satch theres a ton of other really good drummers out there..but I dont remember all their names. Get a Favorite Guitarist or Bassist thread goin, then we'll talk..
Probably because good drumming is as much about feel as it is chops. Neil Peart knows alot of tricks, but he's a rather square drummer. His primary concern has always seemed to be throwing in fills and flourishes rather than making the music move. As a result, Rush's music always sounds sterile - the rhythm doesn't breathe. LeGrouper may not like Elvis Costello's choices, but I think that some of them are great examples of drummers who inject real life into the music. I've knows several drummers who have chops like Neil Peart's, but I don't know any drummer who can play like Charlie Watts. To be fair, it takes alot of discipline to be as technically adept as Peart and he's certainly not the worst example of "all chops, no feel" drumming (that would be Alex Van Halen). And it would be nice if some "feel" type drummers showed a little more concern for their technique, as it would allow them to expand their natural abilities. In general, I'm not a big fan of most rock drummers because they always seem way too lead-footed to my ears. I like jazz drummers much better.
