Best Progressive Rock Drummers

I have the highest respect for Progressive Rock Drummers, as their songs have overly complex rhythms and odd time signatures!

That's why I decided to make a list about those drumming legends!

The Top Ten

1 Mike Portnoy Mike Portnoy Michael Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater. Known for his technical skill as a drummer, Portnoy has won 30 awards from the Modern Drummer magazine.

No one plays like Mike Portnoy! He will always be the best!

He is my favorite Drummer...of all time..

A real legend!

Relentless with a Beathoven-like compositional understanding of exactly what is needed for any piece of music

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2 Neil Peart Neil Peart Neil Ellwood Peart (born September 12, 1952 in Hamilton, Canada) is a Canadian-American musician and author, best known as the drummer and primary lyricist for the rock band Rush. Peart has received numerous awards for his musical performances.
3 Mike Mangini Mike Mangini Mike Mangini is an American drummer. Since 2010, he has been a member of progressive metal band Dream Theater, following the departure of founding drummer Mike Portnoy.
4 Gavin Harrison

This guy seems to always know the perfect fill and has an insane amount of creativity. Porcupine Tree became a heavyweight when he came on board.

The best drummer in the world. Makes every song he plays in so much better.

A genius on drums.

5 Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who has also worked as a record producer and actor.

The most lyrical of all drummers. I've never known a drummer that can enhance the song as Phil. For me he's the best.

6 Bill Bruford Bill Bruford William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English retired drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner.

There are a lot of great drummers on this list. I voted for Bill Bruford because he managed to play really complex rhythms and polyrhythms while remaining tasteful and serving the song. He is the only man who has played in Yes, King Crimson, and Genesis. That says a lot. - Gg2000

Really glad to see him on this list. - IronSabbathPriest

Godfather of prog percussion

7 Brann Dailor Brann Dailor Brann Timothy Dailor is an American drummer/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he is the drummer, backing vocalist, lead vocalist and primary lyricist.

Mastodon has a interesting mix of sounds, which this master drummer manages to pull off! Basically his drumming shows a lot of technic and energy! - CastlevaniaFanboy128

8 Carl Palmer Carl Palmer Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist most famed for playing with the progressive rock bands Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Asia.

An incredible drummer who rightly belongs on this list who demonstrated keen precision and creativity while complementing both Keith Emerson and Greg Lake's music. The solo on Karn Evil 9 live version is still one of the best ever...

In my opinion, Carl is in the top 5 best in the world. Saw live performance of Fanfare for the Common Man-remembering it still takes my breath away. But ELP is sadly under appreciated in my opinion

Just hear his unique drumming in "Brain Salad Sugery" studio album and in the live "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show that Never Ends". There is nothing like it! A genius!

He is still playing great today with his legacy band. What is great about this you get to see a top notch musician in a small venue. Besided if Buddy Rich says your good, Your good.

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9 Alan White
10 Martin Lopez

Check out "April Ethereal" (Opeth) - IronSabbathPriest

Martin lopez is awesome. Very underrated

The Contenders

11 Danny Carey Danny Carey Daniel Edwin "Danny" Carey, born May 10, 1961 in Lawrence, Kansas, is an American drummer and instrumentalist best known for his work in American Grammy Award-winning progressive rock band Tool. He has also contributed to albums by and played with such artists as Zaum, Green Jellÿ, Pigface, Skinny ...read more.

He isn't a drummer. He's a percussionist.

12 Matt Garstka

Can't touch him

13 Nick Mason Nick Mason Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English musician and composer, best known as the drummer of legendary rock band Pink Floyd.
14 Tomas Haake Tomas Haake Tomas Haake is a Swedish drummer and main songwriter of the experimental metal band Meshuggah. He is known for his polyrhythms and technical ability. In 2012, he was named the 5th best Modern Metal drummer by MetalSucks.net. He was named the number one drummer in the "Metal" category, in the July 2008 ...read more.
15 Terry Bozzio Terry Bozzio Terry John "Ted" Bozzio is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.

I can't believe I almost forgot Bozzio! He played with Fran Zappa, but honestly this guys talent is mostly shown in his great solo career!
Also Bozzio has the biggest drum kit I've ever seen! - CastlevaniaFanboy128

16 Andy Ward

The rhythmic heartbeat of Camel!

17 Rob Bourdon Rob Bourdon Robert Gregory Bourdon is an American musician, best known as the drummer and one of the founding members of the American rock band Linkin Park.

Who added this? Linkin Park aren't prog.

Not progressive at all.

18 Scott Rockenfield
19 Jon Theodore
20 Phil Ehart
21 Lenny White
22 Jason Rullo
23 Michael Giles

In the court of the crimson king has some of the most amazing drum parts in prog rock ever made by Michael Giles

24 Steve Judd
25 Roger Taylor Roger Taylor Roger Meddows Taylor is an English musician , multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter born on April 26th,1960 in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. He was the drummer of the band Queen and wrote few of many hits such as including Under Pressure, A Kind Of Magic and Radio Ga Ga. Despite being well known in Queen ...read more.
26 Christian Vander
27 Tim Alexander

One of the top ten greatest alternative metal drummers of all history

28 Craig Blundell
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