Top 10 Best Female Drummers of All Time
A list for the talented women in a supposed man's world.
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard Carpenter, formed the 1970s duo Carpenters. Karen Carpenter is one of the greatest drummer-singers of all time. She is the reason I wanted to play the drums and sing. Without her, I don't know if I would have entered into that arena because, back in the Sixties and Seventies, there were very few, if any, female drummers, and I personally knew of none. She was a maverick, breaking down walls and making it possible for women to be recognized as drummers as well as singers.
Karen was an outstanding musician and one of the greats. She even played bass guitar. She became more known for her voice than her drumming once she was pretty much told that she had to get up and out from behind the kit to front the band. Sadly, a lot of younger people have no idea that she ever played drums. She was always a drummer before a singer and always considered herself a drummer who happened to sing.
She started playing when she was 15 years old and began to perform live by 16. Karen was an outstanding person, musician, and singer. RIP, beautiful lady. You were the best and broke down the barriers for us all.
I always say that Pau does more with less. She doesn't waste any beats. She's the master of asking, "What does the song need?" and then delivering exactly that. As the primary songwriter, the process begins at the family piano (which is charmingly slightly out of tune). From there, Dany and Ale add their input, and then they vote. Majority rules.
Pau wrote the concept album Queen of the Murder Scene when she was 14-15 years old. I'm not sure I could have even written my name in cursive at that age.
These ladies have been playing together for over 10 years now, and the oldest sister is just 24. The future looks very bright for rock music.
Number 13... HOW? She is easily top three. Playing for Ringo Starr and Prince says all there is about her quality. Her style and versatility might make some forget that, yes, she was first and foremost a badass percussionist.
Remarkable talent, musician, and drummer. I recently had the chance to see her perform at the Golden Nugget, Lake Charles, LA. She was awesome! I can't wait to see her again.
The Legend - powerful, unique, and owns the pocket.
Her idiosyncratic, tom-heavy sound was critical to The Velvet Underground, easily one of the greatest and most influential bands in rock history. (Incidentally, she paved the way for Yo La Tengo's Georgia Hubley, inexplicably left off this list.)
Moe Tucker is one of the best drummers of all time, regardless of gender. No one can touch what she created.
Jennifer "Jen" Carole Ledger is a English drummer mostly known for playing in the band and being the co-vocalist for Skillet since 2008 when Lori Peters decided to retire from the band... read more First, a little bit of history on Skillet and where they were when Jen joined them:
In 2006, Skillet released their sixth album, Comatose, which is regarded by many as their best and highest-quality album, both before and since. A year later, their drummer of seven years, Lori Peters, left the band. Their new drummer would have to learn all the music, techniques, and the feel for the style in only a few months, all while being dropped into a relentless touring and performing schedule that helped solidify Skillet's reputation as one of the hardest-working rock bands in history.
Jen did all of that and more.
She's amazing. Her charisma and attitude give her a very compelling stage presence. She's a skilled artist who illustrated their latest single and album covers, and she has generated a gigantic new fanbase for Skillet, playing a significant part in what the band is today.
And she is a complete beast on the drums. She usually performs a solo between songs during concerts (which I have had the pleasure of experiencing twice), and her level of quality, speed, and sound surpasses anything else I have ever witnessed.
Jen Ledger is definitely the best female drummer of all time.
Megan Martha "Meg" White is an American drummer known for her work with Jack White in the Detroit rock duo The White Stripes. She may not be as energetic and fast as some others mentioned above, but she is an excellent drummer nonetheless.
I personally think Meg is an astounding drummer. She hits the skins hard and effectively.
Incredible talent. One of the best drummers I have ever heard. She's got a bright future and a long, promising career ahead of her. I am very much looking forward to following it.
Hopefully, she will come to Norway so I can see her perform. Otherwise, I will travel abroad within the next five years to see her. I am 40 years her senior, just retired, and simply have to see her live before I'm gone!
Senri is the best, and there are other Japanese girls hot on her tracks. Watch out for Kanade Sato and Junna, also from Japan.
Best female drummer in the world, and she just turned 17.
Check out her work with Phantom Blue! Amazing!
Samantha Maloney is an American musician best known for playing drums in the bands Hole, Mötley Crüe, Eagles of Death Metal and in Peaches' live band "The Herms".THE BEST! She was better at 15 years old than most drummers twice her age, male or female, past or present. A rank of 17 is a joke! Her friend and colleague Joan Jett compared her to John Bonham. Very high praise from someone who knows.
How can you forget her? She is the best female drummer of all time. Watch her covers on YouTube. I love her and, more than that, her drumming. Hell yeah, Meytal, for playing good metal for us.
Meytal has a very fluid style of play. She makes the complex look simple.
She's a really good drummer. Her speed with the single pedal, which I saw in her cover of Pull Me Under, amazed me so much.
She is the most talented female drummer. She began playing the drums at 15 years old and plays them perfectly. She showed everyone that a woman can play drums.
She plays drums with so much grace! She always plays the drums with a big smile! I love her because of her overflowing love for music!
She is the prettiest and most badass drummer ever, with solid drum fills and smooth chops. Rina deserves a spot among the top female drummers. Unforgettable.