Best Punk Drummers
Here they are the best punk drummers of all the time... if your favorite is not here please put itvote vote vote :P
Frank Edwin Wright III, known professionally as Tré Cool, is a German-born American drummer, best known as the drummer for the American punk rock/pop punk band Green Day. He replaced the band's former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990. Tre Cool is a good, solid drummer, but he is far from the best drummer. He keeps good time, but he will tell you himself, "I tend to have the same quiver of licks I can throw into everything." Tre is a self-taught drummer who is limited technically, but that does not matter that much as Green Day are limited too, so Tre is perfect.
This is simple, straight-ahead 4/4 punk rock. He has power and energy, but he keeps it simple. He will say himself he is not a Brooks Wackerman or a Thomas Pridgen.
To whoever said "Burnout" is top-notch, it is a good song but easy to play. Simple 4/4 beat, and the solo part is simple enough if you master basic fills. The first part is just a single stroke roll with the first accent on the tom. The second rolls along the toms. The third break is similar but played between the tom and snare and finishes with two small snare rolls and a triplet on the toms. But I agree, it sounds good. I like Tre, but he is not a drummer's drummer. He is that chap with natural talent and sticks to what he knows.
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician and producer, and the drummer for the American rock band Blink-182. Barker has also performed as a frequent collaborator with hip-hop artists, and with the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock group the Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car... read more Travis Barker should be number 1. I am a fan of Tre Cool, but I feel like Travis Barker is at a different level of punk drumming. A lot of his songs are pretty technical for a pop punk band, and he can do different kinds of drumming.
I really think Tre Cool is extremely talented and is a great punk drummer, but having him at number 1 feels a little wrong. Just listen to the Box Car Racer album or even songs such as Anthem Part Two, First Date, Feeling This, and Down from Blink-182. He is really good at feel, but also his plate is very full as a drummer, so he should be first. However, Tre Cool and Travis Barker should be the top 2.
Marky played with The Voidoids and Ramones. Pretty good resume.
Thomas Erdelyi, better known by his stage name Tommy Ramone, was a Hungarian American record producer, musician, and songwriter. Come on, guys! If it weren't for the Ramones, we wouldn't be sharing opinions about punk drummers! Now I'm just a punk from the South, and who am I to criticize, but y'all need to buy some Ramones or Sex Pistols CDs or buy it off of iTunes. I don't really care what ya do to buy 'em, just do it and then see what REAL punk sounds like!
And why isn't Paul Cook on here, hmm?
He was a genuine, original, energetic punk - not like Blink-182 or Green Day. Tre Cool is a good drummer but not punk.
This is the main dude when it comes to punk drumming: solid, loud, and created some amazing beats. He was just as revolutionary as the Sex Pistols themselves. He also was a proper heavy hitter compared to a lot of tappers back then. Love watching him play live, the real backbone and driver of the Sex Pistols. Love this dude.
Actually decent when you consider his subtle fills and hard-hitting sound.
Rotten's favorite band member.
Probably the most underrated pop-punk drummer on the list. Definitely in my top 5.
Josh Freese, along with Brooks Wackerman, is simply one of the best drummers in punk at the current time. This comes from a drummer, so apart from the speed, I also appreciate the finesse of these drummers. The work Josh Freese did with The Offspring cannot be underestimated.
If you do not believe me, listen to Wish by Nine Inch Nails. All good stuff, and as laChoquette says, who would not want him in their band? His work with The Vandals is legendary, and it is how he made his name. It is the backbeat of his career.
This guy shaped punk drumming so much that it bled into grunge and other genres. Hudson should be at the top of the list. Bad Brains are legends.
Come on, this guy was good...very good. Perfect timing. Stop, start, then full on. He could swap easily between thrash, hard rock, and reggae, etc. in a mini second. Deserves more recognition.
I toured with The Clash, Ramones, and many first wave punk bands, and Topper was very solid (but didn't hit 'em as hard as Cookie did). Tommy did create that 4 on the floor, no-nonsense drumming that's still his trademark.
There will always be good punk-style drummers, but most now play in actual "pop 40" bands that aren't changing the world like the real first punk bands did. Original punks scared people, and it was dangerous. Today, it's sponsored by Pepsi and marketed to children. As my friend Joe Strummer once said to me about the new punk bands, "So, what's the latest corporate-sponsored revolution?" Plus, the "latest" band is always the one in fashion, for the moment.
One of the best drummers in the world! He was a big influence on me growing up. His recording with Killing Culture is phenomenal! Much love, Pat. You deserve this! - Aaron Rossi (Ministry, Prong, John 5)
Pat not only plays punk but can rip up metal, funk, soul, rock, you name it. Pat is a man of all styles. Don't let the long hair fool you!
Translating the Name is an album with orgasmic drums. Pat makes the simplest beats so complex. Thank you, Pat!
Chuck Biscuits should be in the top 5, along with Felix Griffin and Bill Stevenson.
First off, it's Stevo32, and second, Steve Jocz has way sicker beats than many of these drummers on this list. Being a big punk rock fan and a drummer, I've played to many of these drummers' beats, and by far, I enjoy Jocz's the most. His personality is also great and fits in with the rest of the members of the greatest band in the world.
Why is Steve so far down here? He is AWESOME! He should be at least number 3. Honestly, Travis Barker is better than Steve, but I think Steve definitely tops Tre Cool.
Sum 41 is the best band, and this band wouldn't be good without Steve-O. He is an amazing drummer, and he is really funny sometimes. He's my favorite drummer. I hope I'll be like him when I'm older. He also sings Pain for Pleasure. He is amazing.
Oh yeah, also for those who don't know, he drums for Poison Idea.
This dude rips. Listen to their album Feel the Darkness.
This guy right here should be number 1!
YES! This guy is literally the most underrated drummer of all time!
Fantastic drummer! He's the best Offspring drummer ever!
Such an underrated drummer! He's a human metronome.
If anyone does not know Brooks Wackerman, please purchase a copy of any Bad Religion album over the past 10 years. I would choose The Empire Strikes First, as his fills on this album are brilliant, and you will never hear a better end to a song than Popular Consensus, which he seems to play at half-time and throws in some lovely fills.
He is the definition of speed and finesse, and I was lucky enough to see him live in London recently. Truly outstanding.
Along with Josh Freese, two of the most technical and talented punk drummers of all time.
Best,
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DH Peligro was one of my boyhood hero drummers, and I spent many happy hours playing away to him. He is solid, fast, and very talented. He also gives a great hug.
Peligro was a brilliant drummer.
I think for anyone in the know, Smelly would be in anyone's top 5. He is not a virtuoso like Brooks Wackerman, and I think even he would agree. However, having seen him recently, I can vouch for his speed and timekeeping. To put the two together consistently on a single bass drum is amazing.
I play along to "Linoleum," but after those two minutes, I am patting myself on the back for not making a mistake, whereas Smelly is straight into another song. From memory, it was a slower one, but then he is back up to speed with "Perfect Government." At those speeds, I would say he is the best. It is much more difficult to play at those speeds with a single bass drum, but it sounds much better.
To the person below who has written "double kicks," that is incorrect. He plays with one bass drum with the snare played on the "and" of 1. People think he plays another bass drum because he is so fast, but I can confirm I know every NOFX song, and one bass drum is all he needs. "Double bass drums are for heavy metalers who can't play." That is a quote from Smelly, by the way.
This list is crap. The best punk rock drummers in no particular order are: Dave Raun (Lagwagon, Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies), Sean Sellars (Good Riddance, Authority Zero), Byron McMackin (Pennywise), Eric Sandin (NOFX), Josh Freese (Vandals, Tool, Devo), Brooks Wackerman, and the king, Bill Stevenson.
I personally think Dave Raun is one of the best rock drummers in any sub-genre. He's a monster powerhouse with metronomic timing and tons of amazing fills. He just makes music fun.
Tre Cool better than Dave Raun? People are just voting for their favorite band. Anyone who knows about drums and punk rock will have this guy in their top 5.
