Top 10 Most Revolutionary Drummers
Obviously, there is no "Greatest" drummer of all time, but compared to the other crap lists out their that have people like the rev at #1 I thought I'd make one that was at least half way decent.
Now I know that I said there is no best, but if I had to place someone in this spot it would be Rich. Watch his 1970 solo on youtube if you haven't seen it. His solos are out of this world, he's not even a drummer I really listen to or take influence from, but I believe that most drummers will agree that he's usually regarded as #1
Never practiced. Never took a lesson. Never had to. Played to perfection. Who else can say that?

Bonzo as he was called, rocked the drums like no one else before him. Along with guys like Ginger Baker, and Keith Moon he played, and he played HARD. Every single rock drummer out there today plays in the style that Bonham helped to pioneer. His feel and nack for groove was godlike. Triplets, triplets and more triplets, he was a master at the "rock" solo. Another one gone much too early.
Everyone above Bonzo is absolute crap! No one is better than the master, John Bonahm!
What can I say? Vinnie is easily one of the best drummers to have ever lived. His superior level of musicianship, speaks for itself when you hear him play. He can read, write, he plays with feel, but he's still technical. Plus I love the fact that he has always stayed true to traditional grip.
The dude drums for Sting... There's your reason!

I love Elvin. He's my favorite jazz drummer, and a huge influence on my playing, more so than Vinnie or Rich. His groundbreaking style and creativity sent even the best drummers of his era running back to their kits to practice. Instead of a solid swing, he broke up the patterns and played with a continuous flow of rhythm, and when he played a solo, he played with his soul out. His work with Coltrane was surreal. RIP Mr. Jones, your playing lives on.
If there was such a thing as a perfect drummer it would be Gadd. Groovemaster with feel from his afro-top down to his piggie toes, god is good, Gadd is great. His use of rudiments and applying them to grooves and fills was highly influential. Another session man like Vinnie, has played on many, many albums in many different genres of music. My favorite Gadd quote says it all "Fills bring the thrills, but groove pays the bills. "
Defiantly not as well known as he should be, Dave is probably the most creative and spastic player ever. He plays jazz, soul, hip-hop whatever, but throughout all of them he shows us that his concept of "time" is completely different from ours. Weaving in and out of 4/4, playing with Robert Glasper, Dave has a feel like no other, he is straight from the soul. I think he could care less about technical prowess, he relies on feel and feel alone to make his point. Pick up Glasper's Double Booked, and listen to the jazz trio side of it. You will worship Chris Dave for the next couple of months I can guarantee it.
Chris "Daddy" Dave is remarkable. He has an incredible "feel" lightning speed, and tight pocket timing. King of syncopation. Without question the most slept on drummer of the last 6 years.

If your playing with Miles Davis at 17 years old then you must be good. One of the jazz greats, and then a founding father of fusion Tony's contributions can't be overlooked. Another big influence on my playing he had a very distinct way of playing fills or playing a solo. He died much too early and he is sorely missed by drummers and musicians alike.
He is gone but far from forgotten. He've got such insane skills and a kind of playing that no one could ever play like him. He is my idol and the reason I start drumming.
Jimmy should be in the top 10! No doubt!



Hailed as "Fusions greatest drummer" Cobham is not someone that you want to mess with. He plays open handed, and was one of the first guys to do so. Playing with Horace Silver in the 60's on a small 4-piece, and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the 70's on a double bass kit, he can do anything. Crazy fast, with loads of control, and finesse Cobham has influenced countless amounts of players, and he continues to do so.
Another drummer who I wish was more popular. He played with Zappa in the 90's, he's from Sweden, and he plays math-fusion. First time I watched him solo, I thought that he picked up his first pair of drum sticks earlier that day. After watching it again, and again I realized that he had opened up a whole new realm of drumming. Rudiment fragments, odd spacing and phrasing, playing in time when it sounds like he's in free form. A true "think for yourself" kinda guy.


Josh Freese is probably one of the best drummers alive today. This guy has played with many notable names such as Devo, A Perfect Circle, Guns N Roses, Paramore, and The Vandals, among others, and his drumming easily tops Lars Ulrich. Considering the hundreds of releases he has appeared on, there is no denying he is committed to his work as a drummer.

This guy is highly responsible for helping to create the type of drum set we play on today. He helped companies develop the hi-hat from the "low riders" when hi hats where plays at ground level just with the feet. His facial expressions, stick tricks, he was the first guy to record using the bass drum. Just a founding father of modern drumming, who often gets the cold shoulder in my opinion. Respect your elders.

Bells, 4 sticks, rim shot, speeding round kit, everyting. Legend. He was a cloes friend of buddy rich and both of them could own the kit. Superb

If we're talking revolutionary, he was the whole revolution for any kind of Bop jazz. End of story. He was also the first drummer to play melodic solos. And Mr. Hi-Hat was a revolution unto itself. Who else played an entire solo on just a Hi-Hat?


The drummer of Queen.
