1. Keith Moon (is the best ever. Too young to have seen him, but he is without equal)
2. Buddy Rich (sorry, but yer #2.)
3. Neil Peart (seen him 3 times, the last two from the 7th row and he is the best alive today)
4. John Bonham (used to be my #2, but he fell because the more I listened to Led Zeppelin, I realized how "bad" he was. Extremely sloppy, and not a very "Technical" drummer. Sure he could beat the snot out of a crash cymbal, but it wasn't until Presence that he "was good".
5. Ginger Baker - his unique style of play has created "the stuff of legends".
Various other drummers:
Cozy Powell - (often forgotten in these types of threads. He was a true magician, that added to the music, always had "good fillers".)
Roger Taylor - (in his prime Lars Ulrich couldn''t touch him for "speed" and Lars uses a double kick bass.)
Nick Mason - (like Ringo, he wasn''t the greatest, but was a perfect match)
Mitch Mitchell - (often overlooked as he is not a household name, but makes my Top 5 every time. A shame Jimi gets all of the attention)
Carl Palmer - (have no clue how he slipped through the cracks either. I''ve seen him live once and nearly pissed myself.)
Max Roach - (IMO, he is JUST AS good as Buddy Rich, but Buddy Rich is a household name just as Robert Johnson is, when it comes to Guitarists)
Richard "Pistol" Allen - (was a member of the Funk Brothers)
Benny Benjamin - (was "Pistols" mentor and is one of the greatest session drummers ever. Most folks outside of Detroit area, do not recognize the Funk Bros. But he is a very astute technician.)
Jim Gordon - (He played with Delaney & Bonney and Frank Zappa, but schizophrenia took him from music.
Most people do not realize he played drums on Pet Sounds. I was told this when I was 6. He was most noted for Derek & the
Dominoes)
Eric Delaney - (one of the others that could give Buddy Rich a run for his money)
Ian Paice - (one of the greats, his best work was with Deep Purple, but even better on Paul McCartney - Live at the Cavern Club)
Nigel Olsson - (one the greats as well that are never mentioned. His work with Elton John is Legendary, not to mention his backing vocals)
Bill Ward - (you helped keep time for a heavy metal group and were very technical at the same time.)
Mick Avory - (The Kinks, a prime example of "A Tight Band". Too bad his onstage fights with Mick Davies ended it all.)
Current Drummers:
Eric Kretz - (the best of the crop)
Chad Gracey - (damn good, rarely makes a mistake either)
Danny Goffey - (Supergrass is the best band not many have ever truly heard of)
Matt Cameron - (always liked him too, rarely made a mistake)
I could go on with Drummers that haven''t been mentioned but it would be pointless. I rarely post stuff like this because IMO, threads like this are an excuse to post names that we hear everyday and whip out Google or Wiki and find obscure names. Buddy Rich will be listed sometimes and when quizzed, folks haven't a clue about him. I gave up on ClassicRockForum for the very reason, a bunch of manufactured answers in another "poll thread". IMO, you should give some reason why they are listed. Most have in some way.
Before the "but wait!" comments happen. I was a self taught drummer of decent capability from the 3rd grade to 22 years of age. My oldest brother bought a beat up Remo kit and I put on my Panasonic "Walkman" and was drumming to Bill Ward of Black Sabbath. I took up snare in the 3rd grade to be able to read music. I haven''t been behind the kit in over 10 years and never will again. Drumming at the age of 21 was "no longer a challenge for me." I had a DW kit in 1984 in the 6th grade and sold it for twice the money I paid for it in 1996 (I didn''t get a xmas gift or B-day present from anyone from 1984-1987).
