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The best drummers of all time: the Rolling Stone's Top 15
Among the rankings that the well-known U.S. magazine Rolling Stone has published is a list of the best one hundred drummers of all time.
In making this list, Rolling Stone mainly considered the ability of various drummers to enhance songs and their ability to become innovators in the use of this musical instrument.
As references, the magazine mainly used music rock and pop: that's why there may be no essentially jazz musicians. Here is what is the Top 15 best drummers ever according to Rolling Stone.
The best drummers ever: the Top 15 according to Rolling Stone
Among the rankings that the well-known U.S. magazine Rolling Stone has published over the years is one for the best 100 drummers of all time. In making this list, Rolling Stone took into consideration especially the ability of various drummers to enhance songs and their ability to become innovators in the use of this musical instrument. As references, the magazine mainly used the music rock and pop. Here is what Top 15 of the best drummers ever according to Rolling Stone.
15. Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich has been an inspiration to so many drummers in different genres of music, from rock to jazz. His colleague Gene Krupa called Buddy Rich the greatest drummer ever.
14. Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
With Beatles Ringo Starr he not only played drums, but also sometimes sang lead vocals. A curiosity: Ringo is left-handed, but he used a right-handed kit, creating a style all his own.
13. D. J. Fontana
Dominic Joseph Fontana was among the undisputed stars of rock and roll. In fact, in his career, he played for more than 460 RCA Records recordings with Elvis Presley, for whom he was drummer during the 1950s and 1960s.
12. Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)
Charlie Watts was the last of the original members of Rolling Stones to join the band. Initially Watts played in some groups blues, but he was impressed by Mick Jagger and his bandmates in January 1963 when he asked to join Stones, with whom he played until 2021, the year of his death.
Gobonobo, Wikimedia Commons
11. Benny Benjamin
Benny Benjamin was one of the most prominent drummers of Motown Records, for whom he worked on so many hit songs such as Money (That’s What I Want). In addition, Benjamin was also one of the teachers of Stevie Wonder, who gives credit for his own skill with percussion to Benjamin himself.
10. Stewart Copeland (The Police)
A founding member of Police, Stewart Copeland contributed to the unique sound of its band. Copeland also worked as a solo artist under the pseudonym Klark Kent.
9. Al Jackson Jr.
Al Jackson Jr. was the historic shift drummer for the label soul Stax. Because of his skill he was known as the Human Chronometer: his rhythm was an inspiration for funk and thehip-hop
A. Vente, Wikimedia Commons
8. Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
John Graham "Mitch" Mitchell was the historic drummer of the trio The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Following his experience with Jimi Hendrix, Mitchell then collaborated over the years with other great guitarists such as John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, Jeff Beck and Muddy Waters.
William P. Gottlieb, Wikimedia Commons
7. Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was among the leading exponents of jazz: Krupa itself was one of the first musicians to come up with drum solos, a musical instrument that until then was considered only an accompaniment.
6. Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks
In sixth position we find a duo: Stubblefield and Starks were the historic drummers of James Brown. Different from each other, each in their own way contributed to the stylistic evolution of Brown and their contribution is evident in songs such as Cold Sweat, Superbad and Funky Drummer.
5. Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine is a legend: we are talking about the most in-demand session drummer in music in the 1960s and 1970s. In addition, Blaine was the most prolific drummer in history, having played on more than 35 thousand songs. Among his most famous collaborations are those with Elvis, Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys.
4. Neil Peart (Rush)
Neil Peart is regarded by audiences, critics and other musicians as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time: in particular, many believe that Peart was one of the best performers of solos during concerts. But Neil is not only a drummer: in fact, most of the lyrics of the songs of Rush, were written by him.
3. Ginger Baker (Cream)
Ginger Baker was a member of several English bands, but he reached the peak of his popularity with Cream. Baker was also known for his very skillful and very long solos.
2. Keith Moon (The Who)
In second place we find the historic drummer of The Who, who based his style on immense artistic creativity. Moon was the idol of so many drummers, one above all Phil Collins: the former drummer of Genesis revealed that his dream was indeed to play with The Who.
1. John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
At the top could only be John Bonham, who according to a great many music fans changed the way of drumming forever in rock. The style of Bonham was unique and perfectly blended creativity, technique and even a certain aggressiveness in sound. All Led Zeppelin albums feature the unique sound of Bonham, which has inspired so many other drummers rock and beyond.
Rankings
25/04/2024
The well-known US magazine Rolling Stone in 2021 has updated the list of the 500 most beautiful songs of all time.
The ranking was first published on December 11, 2003 and was compiled by a jury chosen by the editorial staff, composed of 172 musicians, music critics and experts in the recording industry. Subsequently, the ranking was changed twice: the first in 2010, the second in 2021, when 254 songs that were previously not present were added.
Obviously, there is nothing more subjective than music: these songs are considered the best according to the criteria defined by Rolling Stonemagazine, but each of us has his own personal ranking of the best songs ever. Here, however, is the Top 20 of Rolling Stone.
Rankings
23/04/2024
In 2008, 'Rolling Stone' compiled a list of the 100 best singers of all time.
This ranking was compiled 15 years ago by 180 people, including several musicians (e.g. Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Justin Timberlake, George Michael, Keith Richards), journalists and music experts.
On 1 January 2023, however, 'Rolling Stone' published an update of the ranking that revolutionised the list, especially with regard to the Top Ten. As the well-known US magazine was keen to point out, this ranking does not only take into account technical and vocal abilities (it is not a list of the best voices of all time), but also the originality of the vocal timbre, the record catalogue, the writing ability and the musical legacy of the singers in question. Here are the top 20 positions.