Greatest Rock Drummers

You guys crack me up with these "best in class" threads. Without the variety and talents of so many, many, great drummers, we wouldn’t even be having such a discussion.

To me, if the drumming serves the song as well as the rest of the band, it is "best" for that context. When it comes to art, "best" is an oxymoron.

Of course Neil Peart. And Phil Collins, Steve Gadd, Hal Blaine, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl, Mitch Mitchell, Jack DeJohnette, Max Roach, Art Blakey.

Not Ginger Baker (I have all  Cream's albums and Blind Faith). I just think he's sort of a plodding clod troglodite and plays the toms way too much, the ONE exception is his work on Deserted Cities of the Heart and I only wish he played more in that style. I mean you can actually hear the SNARE on that track. But I digress...

Yes: Jim Hodder; Jim Gordon, Jeff Porcaro, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Paul Humphrey, Rick Marotta, Jim Keltner, Simon Philips, even Bill Ward dammit.

No band before or after Zeppelin ever sounded like Zeppelin. They were truly unique and had a sound, songs and style all their own.

Bonham and Jones were far more inventive and musical than Danko and Helm could ever hope to be.

I’ll bet people here remember more Zep songs than Band songs. Nuff said.

bdp24: "I’m going to guess Steve Cham also considers Bonham a more inventive and musical drummer than Jim Gordon"

I have no idea as to what your supposition is based on. I like Jim Gordon very much. I like Levon Helm too. John Bonham left very deep tracks in the drum canon.

Phil Collins