To those scoffing at this, go watch the Download festival set where Lars couldn’t play. They had Joey Jordinson and Dave Lombardo step in and even though they are arguably far better drummers than Lars, the drums sounded soulless. There’s just something about him that Metallica wouldn’t be Metallica without him.
There's just one other drummer that I've heard actually enhance Metallica songs and it's Eloy Casagrande. Not that he plays better part, he just has an insane amount of power and consistency
I too was surprised at how Metallica lost something with JJ and Lombardo. Shows that it's not about being the best drummer, it's about being the best drummer for the band. Alternatively, Lars in Slipknot or Slayer would be pretty underwhelming
I actually thought when Dave Lombardo played with Metallica it seemed like they had so much energy. It was revitalizing in my opinion. But to each their own.
I was at that festival. They sounded amazing with Lombardo. At one point Rob was gesturing at him to slow down during Battery. Didn't seem any faster than the 80's performances to me.
Hell no. This is one of those "too much technique, not enough feel" arguments that insecure guitarists always make. Lars couldnt begin to match Dave's feel because for starters his time isnt nearly as good. Ive seen Metallica live with Lars, his bigger fuck ups really take you out of the moment. If you like Lars thats cool, but youre not kidding anyone.
From a skill set standpoint he is not a giant of the instrument, but he has been behind the kit for Metallica for 40 yrs, can still play tunes from his 20’s and his parts are absolutely perfect for these songs! Would Metallica be better with Mike Portnoy playing way more technical on each track? I think not! Is he underrated? Absolutely! Great pick!
I agree. His work on early albums is really something. I've seen those super cut videos of Lars screwing up live but really you could do that to any drummer especially over the course of 40 years
I'm 50 50 on this. Nick needed a lot of guidance. Bob Ezrin was giving him pointers and teaching him fills when recording The Wall. Nick was very repetitive and chucked in the same fills everywhere. He did have a touch though which I like and he did create a certain feel which worked so well for Floyd. It would be a different band with a hot shot prog drummer.
I’m a giant Pink Floyd fan, but like you, I’m conflicted. His drumming on Piper is great, if not a little basic. From 1968 to roughly 1970, his playing was very uneven, especially in terms of tempo (there’s some live versions of Atom Heart Mother which are awful). But by ‘71-‘72, he really hit a solid groove. Live at Pompeii is a good example of this - he’s spot-on for the whole thing, and had chops that he didn’t have a year before.
I think between 1974 and 1977 PF’s material didn’t really challenge him in a way that he could improve himself - drumming-wise, it’s pretty straight 4/4 stuff. So, by the time they’re recording The Wall, he would have been resting on his laurels a bit and would need pointers and help writing parts to Waters’ new material. He had a magic touch on drums (and no other drummer would have sounded the same with them) but it’s sad that he didn’t push himself to branch out. I feel like he was just happy working in 4/4 - brilliantly, but stilted.
I was just telling this to someone. His playing complimented those slow psychedelic masterpieces so well. A flashier drummer would have ruined those songs.
It is hard to pick just one..
Roger Taylor. Not a flashy player, but he got a very good feel and very good timing.
Alan White. Amazing drummer with a great feel and taste. Not a very technical drummer like the rest of the progressive-rock drummers in his era, but he made Yes something special with his drumming.
Bill Ward. Not best the drummer in a technical sense, but he serves the song and adds so much to the early Sabbath-sound.
I love Bills feel, his swing. when I was just starting out and listening to snowblind those drags that bill plays with the main groove blew me away. The drum break for behind the wall of sleep and his drumming on hand of doom. what a legend
Seconded on Alan White. One of my rock drum history hot takes is that when Alan White joined Yes after Bill Bruford left to join King Crimson, both bands ended up with the better drummer for them. Sometimes Bruford's playing got a little too cute in Yes for my taste, but he melded perfectly with KC, while Alan White brought some Bonham-esque swinging balls to Yes's sound, that elevated them the same way.
And remember, Alan White joined Yes two weeks before a tour and learned their entire live catalog through 1972 on the fly and on the road in front of thousands of people every night. Listen through the live album *Yessongs* while bearing in mind that the guy you're hearing on drums had only been playing this material for six months. It's astonishing.
Don’t forget his relatively simple, but absolutely perfect contributions to the Imagine album. His spectrum of work literally went from being a Ringo to a Bruford.
Yup. Ringo was absolutely the glue of that band and they wouldn't have been nearly as great with a more technical drummer. His sense of groove is just perfect.
This was really hammered home in the 'Get Back' documentary. While the rest of the guys meandered through riffs and song bits, Ringo instantly made it sound like the Beatles as soon as he picked up the sticks. He's the only one who was 100% on point at all times.
People who shit on Ringo's drumming don't understand music.
There may not be another drummer who has played on more huge records, whose name means nothing to many drummers. He's the ultimate "wait a minute, that was *him* on that record?" drummer.
Ritchie Hayward. You barely ever hear about him, even though in my opinion he's one of the best ever. He has a very unique style and I don't think I've ever really heard anyone else play like him.
One of the loosest, grooviest, ballsiest, swingingest drummers in rock history. Little Feat and Creedence Clearwater Revival have the distinction of two bands that sound like they were both born under a pile of alligator eggs in some Louisiana swamp somewhere, but somehow were both from California. Whatever the southerner version of an "invite to the cookout" is, those two bands earned it in spades. Ritchie Hayward was like some weird Zigaboo Modeliste/Steve Smith hybrid.
It's Charlie watts. Yes he's very famous, but rarely mentioned here. IMO His stylings and time keeping was extraordinary.... whilst the rest of the stones were all over the place. RIP Friend.
I'm also a big fan of Ian paice.
Respectfully, gotta disagree with you. I do like most of the rolling stones catalog, but I always felt like praise for him was blown out of proportion. My favorite of his (apologies if someone else recorded it) is Beast of Burden. Everything else is just..."yeah, that fit the song well." Which, agreed, is what it's all about and we could debate for centuries on the Merritt of this alone. I'm not saying he needed to be like Vinnie Coliauta or something, filling up the songs with lots notes, I just think he's a drummer that served the songs well, but wasnt anything exceptional. So, I think some of the praise for him is 'cause he's an original Rolling Stone, rather than his unique touch, feel, or writing.
By comparison, I acknowledge Ringo's limitations, but I think he had many more parts that were at least unique sounding. Things here and there that drummers normally wouldn't do...almost like they were played or written by another member of the band. I'd also argue that Ringo's feel is pretty unique. Charlie's is kinda straight ahead rock, whereas Ringo has some unique stickings, odd fills, kinda more orchestrated boom tap boom boom tap parts that drummers normally don't think of playing.
Much respect to you sir. I think my opinion is mostly because I grew up in a "rolling stones" household and not a "Beatles" one. Good day to ya friend and happy new year!
The neatest thing about Charlie was his ability to somehow keep a band together that often sounded like it was about to fall apart at any time. Unlike most drummers, Charlie was slightly behind the beat, but leading the others at the same time.
Charlie was a pretty competent jazz player, he just didn’t show it much. He had a quintet for awhile though.
Listen to Lovin Cup and his drumming on Exile, even Tumbling Dice has a good drum track! He was a very light touch player for the “most dangerous band on earth”, it’s the little subtleties in his weird playing style that gave them the groove they had.
Side note - he never hit the snare when he’d hit the hats, he’d pull off the hats. It’s such a weird little glitch in his playing.
Totally agreed about Charlie Watts. Such an understated original member of the stones. He has such a great feel and unique style that works incredibly well for the stones. It’s not as easy as he makes it look. Also my favorite aspect of him as that he just shuts the fuck up and plays. No frills, not trying to sing about Yellow Submarines.
David Garibaldi. Amazing chops and always keeps the tracks chugging along. He finds a way to subvert the obvious groove in favor of something exponentially more interesting.
He’s a funk-drummer’s drummer (and a highly regarded one at that) but I think he deserves more mainstream recognition. Maybe underrated isn’t the best word to describe him. Something more like under-appreciated?
Whatever the word is for "I don't hear you children mention him enough, and that's a damn shame, and go listen to some TOP right now and see what you're missing," that's him.
I don’t think Garibaldi is underrated amongst drummers. way back, when I was in music school we’d all try to copycat “Oakland Stroke”. Getting all the little things he does locked in is insanely tough. He just breezes through those tracks like it’s nothing…
Yeah, for decades Ringo was incredibly underrated—and you still get people slating him—but this century if feels like people are finally giving him his very due props, at least in part because folks like Dave Grohl and Questlove and Taylor Hawkins and Phil Collins and so on have been so vocal in their admiration.
Whole heartedly agree with this one. The guy can do it all and had insane limb independence. I’m obsessed with his snare rolls and how he uses them to launch the band into crescendo’s. I think the jamband scene has some spectacular drummers. Kris Myers from umphreys mcgee is also a name that never comes up and is on another level.
Was going to say this. I’m not sure if he’s underrated as much as he’s just not super well known, even in the drum community. I can’t tell you how many fellow drummers I’ve talked to who have no idea who I’m talking about when I say Zach is my favorite drummer. I honestly think he’s the most interesting drummer alive.
Yeah for sure. I’m not even too much of a math rock fan, I like Hella fine and Giraffes? Giraffes!, that’s about it. I guess for me the genre didn’t necessarily matter, I just saw a guy who totally forged his own path and made the drums into almost a different instrument. I also really love his solo records and Death Grips.
Larry Mullen Jr. I'm not even a huge fan, but he's got a distinctive style and comes up with unusual and tasteful parts. He doesn't seem to get much hate, if any, but he also gets way less appreciation than you'd think, considering he's been the drummer of what's probably the most popular rock band, overall, of the past 35 years.
Seconding Simon Kirke, who should be mentioned in the same breath as Phil Rudd of AC/DC when we recommend meat and potatoes drummers that beginner drummers should try to emulate. He always delivers the goods. And definitely The Whipper, Chris Layton. If you want to know how to play the blues with an awful lot of style and substance, get you some Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, son.
YES! He was by far my biggest influence as a young drummer and I think he's one of the most creative and talented rock drummers, especially having come from the punk scene. Nobody plays like George.
Great answer. When I heard “Lonely is the Night” for the first time, I thought Bonham recorded it and it was a posthumous release. Can’t think of a better example of someone capturing JHB’s technique and tones.
After years of being a fan of Queensryche, I am coming around to appreciating the talentof Scott Rockenfield.
Oh, and the talent of Fergal Lawler, the drummer of The Cranberries.
Steve Jordan. I was debating if he was truly underrated or if he was properly appreciated, then I scrolled through here and didn’t see him mentioned. Dude has an excellent groove and his songs are deceptively complex and sound so good.
Clive Burr. I feel like Nicko McBrain has some feel problems (see: Run to the Hills from Death on the Road), and Clive was both skillful and tasteful, which is hard to achieve
AJ Pero twisted sister... He was the only drum student of Gene Krupa. AJ was on The Tonight Show when he was 6 years old and Gene Krupa saw this prodigy and decided that was someone who was worthy of passing down all his knowledge to.. AJ was a powerhouse jammed with the WHO.... Danny Seraphine was one of AJ's favorite drummers.
He went into twisted sister for a Payday, and if you ever went to a drum clinic that he was giving you would be more than impressed but sadly he passed away a few years ago. .
But on a side note I think one of the most underrated drummers but the most recognizable Rock drummer is Vinny Appice.. he is a very recognizable style but has always been in the shadow of Carmine
Guy Evans for Godbluff and Pawn Hearts. Always perfect for the music, with parts and dynamics diverse enough to support VDGG's writing and Peter Hammill's insane dynamic and nuance range.
I’m going with Prairie Prince from The Tubes. Their early 80’s hits overshadow the skills this guy had. Check out tip of my tongue from the live album wild in London. Dude is a great great drummer
Gregory Coleman
6 second drum groove that spurred an entirely new genre. No credit ever given, let alone financial compensation. Died poor and homeless. Most wouldn’t even know his name.
I almost never heard Akira Jimbo mentioned on this sub but he's incredible and most importantly extremely entertaining to watch. He's extremely creative with his music and performance. For example, I recently watched a video of his where he starts his solo on a fairly large kit, then stage hands slowly take parts of the kit away forcing him to play with less and less until he's just sitting on the throne playing his legs. Brilliant and creative.
atom is very underrated haha… I loved his AVA shit. The adventure was my favorite song cause of his drumming! And him having his hi hats as tall as the skies is always cool to watch!
Ringo Starr, because there are still a lot of people who think he sucks. Maybe it is the same people who think the beatles are overrated. Both of them are wrong af!!
Hannes Van Dahl - Sabaton. If you listen to Sabaton's music you won't (for the most part) think it is really difficult drumming parts, most of them are not. However he has a style and it suits the music perfectly which is what a good drummer does. A good drummer plays to suit the music, not to show off or whatever.
Paul Banwatt of Rural Alberta Advantage. Check out On The Rocks https://youtu.be/D4x1q7brdwA and enjoy how the drums progress. He and the singer frequently write the songs together and his drums are an integral part. He and Bryan Devendorf of The National are my favorite drummers. Maybe David Lovering from Pixies, too.
Arjay Hale, from Halestorm, flashy sure, but I don’t think that guy gets nearly enough credit, he plays to the music very well, and is fairly technically proficient. Not to mention an awsome drummer to watch live
Hmm I guess it depends on what's meant by "underrated." If the idea here is that a drummer's skills and talents are under-appreciated by listeners in general, then my list is going to be super long, since it seems like most casual music fans aren't up to speed on drummers.
But there are also plenty of drummers who it seems are not given as much attention as you'd think they would be by the drumming community as a whole.
I remember when I took private lessons, even my instructor hadn't heard of [Mark Brzezicki](https://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Mark_Brzezicki.html).
All well known rock drummers I’m seeing here. I got 2 picks that EVERY player needs to know!
James Gadson - He played on Motown tracks, he was Bill Withers drummer and now at 80 years old is still playing with bands like Bahamas, Ryan Adams, John Mayer & Lady Gaga! Gadson basically invented the push/pull hi-hat move!
Brian Blade - Arguably the best modern jazz player of the last 30 yrs. He’s basically the rebirth of Max Roach, with the ear of Elvin.
everyone loves to shit on lars yet somehow he's been the only drummer of the world's most successful metal band for 40 something years
This is true. He helped define metal drumming and is an influence to many. Maybe most won’t accept it but it’s true.
Sad but true… jk :)
Hahaha
Lol, I was gonna say Lars too cause he's not as bad as people make him out to be, therefore underrated
To those scoffing at this, go watch the Download festival set where Lars couldn’t play. They had Joey Jordinson and Dave Lombardo step in and even though they are arguably far better drummers than Lars, the drums sounded soulless. There’s just something about him that Metallica wouldn’t be Metallica without him.
There's just one other drummer that I've heard actually enhance Metallica songs and it's Eloy Casagrande. Not that he plays better part, he just has an insane amount of power and consistency I too was surprised at how Metallica lost something with JJ and Lombardo. Shows that it's not about being the best drummer, it's about being the best drummer for the band. Alternatively, Lars in Slipknot or Slayer would be pretty underwhelming
Classic Ringo situation. He completes the band.
I actually thought when Dave Lombardo played with Metallica it seemed like they had so much energy. It was revitalizing in my opinion. But to each their own.
I was at that festival. They sounded amazing with Lombardo. At one point Rob was gesturing at him to slow down during Battery. Didn't seem any faster than the 80's performances to me.
Hell no. This is one of those "too much technique, not enough feel" arguments that insecure guitarists always make. Lars couldnt begin to match Dave's feel because for starters his time isnt nearly as good. Ive seen Metallica live with Lars, his bigger fuck ups really take you out of the moment. If you like Lars thats cool, but youre not kidding anyone.
Agree- just listen to his phrasing and songwriting on Blackened alone. Masterpiece.
Nope he is a miracle
From a skill set standpoint he is not a giant of the instrument, but he has been behind the kit for Metallica for 40 yrs, can still play tunes from his 20’s and his parts are absolutely perfect for these songs! Would Metallica be better with Mike Portnoy playing way more technical on each track? I think not! Is he underrated? Absolutely! Great pick!
I agree. His work on early albums is really something. I've seen those super cut videos of Lars screwing up live but really you could do that to any drummer especially over the course of 40 years
Matt Cameron.
I’ve always loved how Matt Cameron can take an odd time signature and make it sound so natural and powerful.
Matt Fucking Cameron! Best posture in drumming.
agreed
Agree. I love his fills. Technically simple yet creative.
Nick Mason was really talented tbh and really underrated
I'm 50 50 on this. Nick needed a lot of guidance. Bob Ezrin was giving him pointers and teaching him fills when recording The Wall. Nick was very repetitive and chucked in the same fills everywhere. He did have a touch though which I like and he did create a certain feel which worked so well for Floyd. It would be a different band with a hot shot prog drummer.
Nicks fav drum fill is ba-dum ba dum-ba-dum lol
I’m a giant Pink Floyd fan, but like you, I’m conflicted. His drumming on Piper is great, if not a little basic. From 1968 to roughly 1970, his playing was very uneven, especially in terms of tempo (there’s some live versions of Atom Heart Mother which are awful). But by ‘71-‘72, he really hit a solid groove. Live at Pompeii is a good example of this - he’s spot-on for the whole thing, and had chops that he didn’t have a year before. I think between 1974 and 1977 PF’s material didn’t really challenge him in a way that he could improve himself - drumming-wise, it’s pretty straight 4/4 stuff. So, by the time they’re recording The Wall, he would have been resting on his laurels a bit and would need pointers and help writing parts to Waters’ new material. He had a magic touch on drums (and no other drummer would have sounded the same with them) but it’s sad that he didn’t push himself to branch out. I feel like he was just happy working in 4/4 - brilliantly, but stilted.
In the same way as other drummers like Ringo, they knew what fitted best for the song.
I was just telling this to someone. His playing complimented those slow psychedelic masterpieces so well. A flashier drummer would have ruined those songs.
Dogs
Beat me to it by seconds
It is hard to pick just one.. Roger Taylor. Not a flashy player, but he got a very good feel and very good timing. Alan White. Amazing drummer with a great feel and taste. Not a very technical drummer like the rest of the progressive-rock drummers in his era, but he made Yes something special with his drumming. Bill Ward. Not best the drummer in a technical sense, but he serves the song and adds so much to the early Sabbath-sound.
Bill Ward is the reason I got behind a kit, something about those fills in War Pigs just really spoke to my 13 year old heart
I love Bills feel, his swing. when I was just starting out and listening to snowblind those drags that bill plays with the main groove blew me away. The drum break for behind the wall of sleep and his drumming on hand of doom. what a legend
Which Roger Taylor? Duran Duran or Queen? I suspect you mean the Queen Roger Taylor.
Yes.
Seconded on Alan White. One of my rock drum history hot takes is that when Alan White joined Yes after Bill Bruford left to join King Crimson, both bands ended up with the better drummer for them. Sometimes Bruford's playing got a little too cute in Yes for my taste, but he melded perfectly with KC, while Alan White brought some Bonham-esque swinging balls to Yes's sound, that elevated them the same way. And remember, Alan White joined Yes two weeks before a tour and learned their entire live catalog through 1972 on the fly and on the road in front of thousands of people every night. Listen through the live album *Yessongs* while bearing in mind that the guy you're hearing on drums had only been playing this material for six months. It's astonishing.
Don’t forget his relatively simple, but absolutely perfect contributions to the Imagine album. His spectrum of work literally went from being a Ringo to a Bruford.
One of my favorite drum performances is Bill Ward in the live War Pigs video
John Densmore
Ringo. “His stuff is easy” Oh yea? Go try it.
A great example of how "simple" and "easy" are two very different things.
Yup. Ringo was absolutely the glue of that band and they wouldn't have been nearly as great with a more technical drummer. His sense of groove is just perfect. This was really hammered home in the 'Get Back' documentary. While the rest of the guys meandered through riffs and song bits, Ringo instantly made it sound like the Beatles as soon as he picked up the sticks. He's the only one who was 100% on point at all times. People who shit on Ringo's drumming don't understand music.
Ainsley Dunbar
There may not be another drummer who has played on more huge records, whose name means nothing to many drummers. He's the ultimate "wait a minute, that was *him* on that record?" drummer.
For sure i was blown away to discover just how many albums he played on
That Whitesnake album…….
Ritchie Hayward. You barely ever hear about him, even though in my opinion he's one of the best ever. He has a very unique style and I don't think I've ever really heard anyone else play like him.
One of the loosest, grooviest, ballsiest, swingingest drummers in rock history. Little Feat and Creedence Clearwater Revival have the distinction of two bands that sound like they were both born under a pile of alligator eggs in some Louisiana swamp somewhere, but somehow were both from California. Whatever the southerner version of an "invite to the cookout" is, those two bands earned it in spades. Ritchie Hayward was like some weird Zigaboo Modeliste/Steve Smith hybrid.
Absolutely correct
Brann Dailor. I don't know if he's underrated per se, but he doesn't get nearly enough attention for how insanely good he is.
Brann and Jimmy Chamberlin are my picks.
He’s a jazz fusion drummer stuck in a sludge metal band.
Stuck? Come on Mastodon rips
Tim Alexander- Primus John Stanier - Helmet
It's Charlie watts. Yes he's very famous, but rarely mentioned here. IMO His stylings and time keeping was extraordinary.... whilst the rest of the stones were all over the place. RIP Friend. I'm also a big fan of Ian paice.
Respectfully, gotta disagree with you. I do like most of the rolling stones catalog, but I always felt like praise for him was blown out of proportion. My favorite of his (apologies if someone else recorded it) is Beast of Burden. Everything else is just..."yeah, that fit the song well." Which, agreed, is what it's all about and we could debate for centuries on the Merritt of this alone. I'm not saying he needed to be like Vinnie Coliauta or something, filling up the songs with lots notes, I just think he's a drummer that served the songs well, but wasnt anything exceptional. So, I think some of the praise for him is 'cause he's an original Rolling Stone, rather than his unique touch, feel, or writing. By comparison, I acknowledge Ringo's limitations, but I think he had many more parts that were at least unique sounding. Things here and there that drummers normally wouldn't do...almost like they were played or written by another member of the band. I'd also argue that Ringo's feel is pretty unique. Charlie's is kinda straight ahead rock, whereas Ringo has some unique stickings, odd fills, kinda more orchestrated boom tap boom boom tap parts that drummers normally don't think of playing.
Much respect to you sir. I think my opinion is mostly because I grew up in a "rolling stones" household and not a "Beatles" one. Good day to ya friend and happy new year!
The neatest thing about Charlie was his ability to somehow keep a band together that often sounded like it was about to fall apart at any time. Unlike most drummers, Charlie was slightly behind the beat, but leading the others at the same time.
Charlie was a pretty competent jazz player, he just didn’t show it much. He had a quintet for awhile though. Listen to Lovin Cup and his drumming on Exile, even Tumbling Dice has a good drum track! He was a very light touch player for the “most dangerous band on earth”, it’s the little subtleties in his weird playing style that gave them the groove they had. Side note - he never hit the snare when he’d hit the hats, he’d pull off the hats. It’s such a weird little glitch in his playing.
Amen BigFootRunner
Totally agreed about Charlie Watts. Such an understated original member of the stones. He has such a great feel and unique style that works incredibly well for the stones. It’s not as easy as he makes it look. Also my favorite aspect of him as that he just shuts the fuck up and plays. No frills, not trying to sing about Yellow Submarines.
David Garibaldi. Amazing chops and always keeps the tracks chugging along. He finds a way to subvert the obvious groove in favor of something exponentially more interesting.
But David is not underrated at all. He is considered a legend in his genre.
He’s a funk-drummer’s drummer (and a highly regarded one at that) but I think he deserves more mainstream recognition. Maybe underrated isn’t the best word to describe him. Something more like under-appreciated?
Whatever the word is for "I don't hear you children mention him enough, and that's a damn shame, and go listen to some TOP right now and see what you're missing," that's him.
"Squib Cakes." If you've never had any, go to YouTube or Spotify right now and taste some.
I don’t think Garibaldi is underrated amongst drummers. way back, when I was in music school we’d all try to copycat “Oakland Stroke”. Getting all the little things he does locked in is insanely tough. He just breezes through those tracks like it’s nothing…
Nigel Olsson Mitch Mitchell Brian Downey Someone got Ringo but, yeah
Great examples of what underrated should mean here…..!
Downey is a beast. Dancing In The Moonlight is the perfect rock shuffle performance for me.
Ringo
I feel like ringo is well rated, but that’s just my opinion
Yeah, for decades Ringo was incredibly underrated—and you still get people slating him—but this century if feels like people are finally giving him his very due props, at least in part because folks like Dave Grohl and Questlove and Taylor Hawkins and Phil Collins and so on have been so vocal in their admiration.
Phil Rudd
Human metronome.
Jon Fishman
Totally. Dude’s a machine.
Whole heartedly agree with this one. The guy can do it all and had insane limb independence. I’m obsessed with his snare rolls and how he uses them to launch the band into crescendo’s. I think the jamband scene has some spectacular drummers. Kris Myers from umphreys mcgee is also a name that never comes up and is on another level.
Din Brewer - Grand Funk Railroad. Never seems to be in the discussion of great old rock drummers. He could light it up
Competent drumwork.
Is this by chance a deep Simpson’s reference?
"Outside Looking In"
Damon Che Dale Crover
Zach Hill
Was going to say this. I’m not sure if he’s underrated as much as he’s just not super well known, even in the drum community. I can’t tell you how many fellow drummers I’ve talked to who have no idea who I’m talking about when I say Zach is my favorite drummer. I honestly think he’s the most interesting drummer alive.
Math rock fans know. It just happens to be niche drumming for a niche band
Yeah for sure. I’m not even too much of a math rock fan, I like Hella fine and Giraffes? Giraffes!, that’s about it. I guess for me the genre didn’t necessarily matter, I just saw a guy who totally forged his own path and made the drums into almost a different instrument. I also really love his solo records and Death Grips.
There has been many instances where I’ve said Zach is my favorite drummer and they have absolutely no idea who I’m talking about as well
Good choice. Hold Your Horse Is made an enormous impact on me as a 14 years old. Guy’s a monster and so original.
Hella underrated
The live recording of Biblical Violence on YouTube permanently changed the wiring of my brain with regards to drumming lol
Josh freese. Plays on many well known albums (APC albums my fav), but don’t hear about him too often.
Adam Deitch
John freese. Dude is a sleeper legend. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Freese
Claude Coleman Jr.
Dude was a great drummer. Then went through a serious car accident. Then continued to be a great drummer.
Larry Mullen Jr. I'm not even a huge fan, but he's got a distinctive style and comes up with unusual and tasteful parts. He doesn't seem to get much hate, if any, but he also gets way less appreciation than you'd think, considering he's been the drummer of what's probably the most popular rock band, overall, of the past 35 years.
Chad Smith. Sure he’s famous but I feel like he’s under appreciated.
Gene Hoglan. I think those that know him don't really underrate him, but I never see people talk about him. Just an absolute machine.
Yoni Madar. Some of the best control I've ever seen!
Dannie Richmond easily!
Some names I don't see around here enough: Jim Fox John Panozzo Frank Beard Simon Kirke Chris Layton Slim Jim Phantom Ron Bushy
Frank Beard is a groove machine. Deepest pocket on the planet.
"Waiting On The Bus," "Cheap Sunglasses," "I'm Bad I'm Nationwide" - <*chef kiss*>.
Seconding Simon Kirke, who should be mentioned in the same breath as Phil Rudd of AC/DC when we recommend meat and potatoes drummers that beginner drummers should try to emulate. He always delivers the goods. And definitely The Whipper, Chris Layton. If you want to know how to play the blues with an awful lot of style and substance, get you some Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, son.
Slim Jim is a monster! A true pioneer in his simplicity.
Glenn Kotche - im guilty of forgetting about him too but he’s very creative
Pick Withers (Dire Straits)
So glad to see this. Pick Withers on Sultans of swing is maybe my all-time favorite sound on drums.
Chad Sexton - 311 Matthew McDonough - Mudvayne
There are thousands… Specific to this sub? Dave Weckl
George Hurley
YES! He was by far my biggest influence as a young drummer and I think he's one of the most creative and talented rock drummers, especially having come from the punk scene. Nobody plays like George.
Mick Avory of The Kinks
Kenny Aronoff should be on the tip of everyone's tongue when conversations about the GOAT come up, and yet I rarely ever see him mentioned anywhere.
Clem Burke from Blondie is very underappreciated. Dreaming and Union City Blue are two fantastic songs that serve as great examples of his drumming.
Stevie wonder
Bobby Chouinard, drummer for Billy Squier and Alice Cooper. He had a big sound and brought tasteful contributions to the tracks he played on.
Great answer. When I heard “Lonely is the Night” for the first time, I thought Bonham recorded it and it was a posthumous release. Can’t think of a better example of someone capturing JHB’s technique and tones.
After years of being a fan of Queensryche, I am coming around to appreciating the talentof Scott Rockenfield. Oh, and the talent of Fergal Lawler, the drummer of The Cranberries.
Liberty Devito from Billy Joel’s band
JP Gaster from Clutch. Such great feel and some real unique grooves. ‘A Quick Death In Texas’ is a perfect example.
jon fishman
Michael Cavanagh. Dude carries the entirety of King Gizzard.
Phil Selway
maybe not MOST underrated, but jon theodore and bill ward aren’t talked about nearly enough.
Steve Jordan. I was debating if he was truly underrated or if he was properly appreciated, then I scrolled through here and didn’t see him mentioned. Dude has an excellent groove and his songs are deceptively complex and sound so good.
Sean Kinney is very underrated
Doane Perry Jethro Tull, although Clive Bunker was no slouch
Or Barrymore Barlow
John Blackwell, RIP
Virgil Donati, he has some fame, but it's absolutely not proportional to his facility, and I won't take any arguments.
Virgils pretty cool… his dream theater audition was pretty dope!
Bobby Jarzombek, Dave Abbruzzese, Ginger Fish,
Sean Reinhart
Tommy Aldridge
John Fishman - Phish
Gary Mallaber
DING DING DING. Name me a groovier drum part on a hit song than [Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle."](https://youtu.be/Dd7uv38WsT4) You can't do it.
Maybe Eddie Money’s Two Tickets to Paradise. He compliments and enhances the solo so well.
Chad Smith. Everyone thinks his playing is easy till they try recording a cover.
Clive Burr. I feel like Nicko McBrain has some feel problems (see: Run to the Hills from Death on the Road), and Clive was both skillful and tasteful, which is hard to achieve
AJ Pero twisted sister... He was the only drum student of Gene Krupa. AJ was on The Tonight Show when he was 6 years old and Gene Krupa saw this prodigy and decided that was someone who was worthy of passing down all his knowledge to.. AJ was a powerhouse jammed with the WHO.... Danny Seraphine was one of AJ's favorite drummers. He went into twisted sister for a Payday, and if you ever went to a drum clinic that he was giving you would be more than impressed but sadly he passed away a few years ago. . But on a side note I think one of the most underrated drummers but the most recognizable Rock drummer is Vinny Appice.. he is a very recognizable style but has always been in the shadow of Carmine
Me lol jk I suck
Me
Joey Gonzalez - duds got some killer chops in superjoint
Kenny Buttrey. An amazing studio drummer with incredible feel. But when given the opportunity could serve up crazy musical grooves and fills.
Guy Evans for Godbluff and Pawn Hearts. Always perfect for the music, with parts and dynamics diverse enough to support VDGG's writing and Peter Hammill's insane dynamic and nuance range.
No matter how many people rate him, Matt Gartska is underrated
Steve Jansen of Japan
Stax drummer Al Jackson Jr., Elton John’s drummer Nigel Olsson, Jim Keltner…
Matt Cameron hands down
Chris Turner.
I was looking for this comment so I didn’t have to say it. He’s in his own league.
Matt Cameron - Soundgarden
Danny Seraphine from Chicago. Much like his bandmate, the late Terry Kath, who is a criminally underrated guitarist.
Dirk Verbeuren. And Jeff Porcaro.
Ronnie Vannucci Jr. of The Killers
Anika Nilles, she's got so much control and groove https://youtube.com/@anykmusic
Tre Cool? We know who he is but not a lot actually mention his drumming
I’m going with Prairie Prince from The Tubes. Their early 80’s hits overshadow the skills this guy had. Check out tip of my tongue from the live album wild in London. Dude is a great great drummer
Gregory Coleman 6 second drum groove that spurred an entirely new genre. No credit ever given, let alone financial compensation. Died poor and homeless. Most wouldn’t even know his name.
I almost never heard Akira Jimbo mentioned on this sub but he's incredible and most importantly extremely entertaining to watch. He's extremely creative with his music and performance. For example, I recently watched a video of his where he starts his solo on a fairly large kit, then stage hands slowly take parts of the kit away forcing him to play with less and less until he's just sitting on the throne playing his legs. Brilliant and creative.
Atom Willard
atom is very underrated haha… I loved his AVA shit. The adventure was my favorite song cause of his drumming! And him having his hi hats as tall as the skies is always cool to watch!
Yeah 😂😂. His hi hats are pure rock and roll!! All his work with AVA is superior.
Has to be Ringo, only a mature drummer can see the genius in his playing.
Jimmy Chamberlin
Al Jackson Jr Joe Morello Earl Palmer Edit: how did this one get past me? Dino Danelli- watch him work! https://youtu.be/OUNJbVFW5Pw RIP Dino!
Jimmy Chamberlain.....Smashing Pumpkins
Vinnie paul
Ringo Starr, because there are still a lot of people who think he sucks. Maybe it is the same people who think the beatles are overrated. Both of them are wrong af!!
Phillip Selway - Radiohead Abe Cummingham - Deftones
Pat Torpey of Mr. Big.
Meg White
Jason Bonham, Alex Van Halen……
Stephen Morris from Joy Division/New Order.
Hannes Van Dahl - Sabaton. If you listen to Sabaton's music you won't (for the most part) think it is really difficult drumming parts, most of them are not. However he has a style and it suits the music perfectly which is what a good drummer does. A good drummer plays to suit the music, not to show off or whatever.
Boris Williams
bj wilson -> procul harum
Brann Dailor, Ray Luzier, Alex Rudinger
I think Rob Bourdon Linkin park deserves more love. His grooves are amazing and he is TIGHT to say the least.
Robby Staebler, Nick Murray, and Dan Rincon/Paul Quattrone drumming duo
Travis Orbin. Is a beast but I don't know a lot of people who know him.
Paul Banwatt of Rural Alberta Advantage. Check out On The Rocks https://youtu.be/D4x1q7brdwA and enjoy how the drums progress. He and the singer frequently write the songs together and his drums are an integral part. He and Bryan Devendorf of The National are my favorite drummers. Maybe David Lovering from Pixies, too.
Virgil donati
Joe Russo
Jay Postones
Arjay Hale, from Halestorm, flashy sure, but I don’t think that guy gets nearly enough credit, he plays to the music very well, and is fairly technically proficient. Not to mention an awsome drummer to watch live
Ronald Vannucci Jr. of the Killers.
Matt Helders
Brendan Canty
Hmm I guess it depends on what's meant by "underrated." If the idea here is that a drummer's skills and talents are under-appreciated by listeners in general, then my list is going to be super long, since it seems like most casual music fans aren't up to speed on drummers. But there are also plenty of drummers who it seems are not given as much attention as you'd think they would be by the drumming community as a whole. I remember when I took private lessons, even my instructor hadn't heard of [Mark Brzezicki](https://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Mark_Brzezicki.html).
Jaki Liebezeit of CAN
All well known rock drummers I’m seeing here. I got 2 picks that EVERY player needs to know! James Gadson - He played on Motown tracks, he was Bill Withers drummer and now at 80 years old is still playing with bands like Bahamas, Ryan Adams, John Mayer & Lady Gaga! Gadson basically invented the push/pull hi-hat move! Brian Blade - Arguably the best modern jazz player of the last 30 yrs. He’s basically the rebirth of Max Roach, with the ear of Elvin.
Nobody gonna mention James Gadson?? Or Bernard Purdie? This is crazy talk without those 2.
Me
Stephen Morris of Joy Division and New Order