OK, time to clarify what I think makes a great drummer. It's all about the skill, the rhythm, the tone and the ability to play off the other members of the band. It's not about flash, flying sticks or flailing around looking cool. I was not impressed with Kieran Gaffney on Britain's Got Talent. I played Wipe Out better than he did after only drumming for a year when I was 14. It's not a hard song to play - just fast and loud.
Here is my list of top drummers - not in any particular order. Many are jazz drummers because rock & roll doesn't need a lot of talent to count to a beat of four over and over. The exceptions to that statement are the studion guys who make four beats sound perfect.
Levon Helm of The Band for his ability to sing and play at the same time with songs that used a funky back-beat rhythm. Also for contributing so much to the music scene starting way before Woodstock and ending only with his death this year. He was a cancer survivor in the later years and kept touring with his own bands.
Peter Erskine - one of the all time greatest drum technicians, known for his jazz work with Weather Report and Steps Ahead. As a drum educator, he has trained more drummers than you can imagine.
Elvin Jones - another powerhouse legend, played with John Coltrane for many years.
Gerry Conway - Fairport Convention, Fotheringay, Jethro Tull and extensive studio work . The leading drummer for the British/Celtic folk rock scene for 40 years.
Tony Williams - Miles Davis, Lifetime - Tony was a drummer, band leader, orchestral composer and wrote many of the tracks that his bands recorded. He died of a heart attack in 1997 at the age of 52.
Don Henley of the Eagles for drumming and singing at the same time. In the later years, he copped out and used a backup drummer when it was his turn to sing. Also because he is such a good business man who made Mega-Millions for the band with Glenn Frey as his business partner. Watch the documentary on Netflix 'The History Of The Eagles' to see him in the early years.
Top Craziest Drummer goes to the late Keith Moon of The Who for his wild playing and destruction of the drums during each concert. Not a great drummer but a great showman and true maniac. Another rock start who died at 27 after a short life in the fast lane.
Top Contributor to Pop Music Hits of the 60’s and 70’s is Hal Blaine. In March 2000, Hal Blaine was one of the first five sidemen inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in the studio with singers from Frank Sinatra to the Beach Boys to the Mamas and Pappas. see his long discography here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Blaine#Discography
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