Best Drummer Lists Must Stop!

The ubiquity and absurdity of “Best Drummer” lists have finally become enough of a retching mindkill that I feel the need to expound on them. More like heave onto them…

You see, there’s simply no “best drummer”. There are way too many points of debate, way too many genres for specialization, and far too much emotional pandering because the creators of these lists simply preferred the music, met the drummer personally, or grew up during the drummer’s peak. Bias.

Cases in point:

Best Drummer lists almost always have John Bonham on top. Sorry, no. Although grateful, even he would have laughed at any such notion. He’d tell you it was probably Buddy Rich, and that would be an erudite selection. Even so, Bonham was no jazzer, no reggae expert, no African Mozambique specialist, and wouldn’t laud himself as an expert on Indian polyrhythms. Trilok Gurtu or even Billy Cobham might. To further pound on Bonham, I probably wouldn’t choose him for a wedding band drummer, although that might make for interesting outing. Fusion? Forget it. Dave Weckyl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dennis Chambers, Tony Williams and so many others own that category. Progressive? Maybe Neil Peart, Bill Bruford, Carl Palmer, or Mike Mangini — and for different reasons… Technical vs. Inspirational. All greats, yet… let the debate begin on household name, air drumming, music and all that. I'm sure Tool's Danny Carey will get a mention. Probably Mike Portnoy too.

Bonham was simply a great heavy rock drummer in one of the greatest rock bands. Every drummer loves Bonham, including me, but I know his place.

So, what about those in Bonham’s era who are quick to cite Buddy Rich? He was technically unsurpassed, a superb showman, and renowned for what, five decades as (40s, 50s, 60, 70, and part of the 80s) the defacto greatest? Sure, but how’d you think he’d sound on a Metallica disc? Hmm… that too would be interesting.

Also, what makes a drummer “great”? What rubric or methodology are these list makers using to determine “best”? Is it the chops? Diversity? Reliability? Their confidence? Appearance? (please) Showmanship? Their career longevity? Number of hit recordings? Most insane solo? Pure popularity? And by that I mean both known *and* liked. If you judge by YouTube, the best drummer is a sexy young Asian chic performing covers. Maybe the best drummer was first to do something profound? Their power to inspire?

That last one — inspiration — is a splendid measurement. No greater compliment for a drummer than another drummer saying they were inspired by them. The reasons for inspiration vary as much as all those questions above. 

Anyway, I hope you can see where “best” is subjective. Best in a genre, best in an area, best this, best that. It is — and I fully believe most pro drummers would agree — quite impossible to name a single “best” drummer. Even so, not all pro drummers are infallible. Even Lars Ulrich thinks John Bonham is “The Best”. Best Lists are click bait, nothing more.

Oops, almost forgot to mention the unsung (literally) drumming greats — the people who wail away in countless small clubs, events, teaching rooms, and even garages or basements… or shanties and huts. Phenomenal masters, instructors and performers you’ve never heard of because for any number of reasons they don’t appear on a top-selling music production or viral video. 

Truly great drummers are literally everywhere.