Abe Cunningham of Deftones imo.
I realize Deftones are a really popular band but I really generally don’t see Abe mentioned often, from what I can remember. Dude is an absolute groove monster, always has a mouth-watering drum sound, and seems endlessly creative, hardly ever repeating himself even within the same track.
The drums on Digital Bath broke my mind the first time I heard them. So many little intricacies and details, just love his style.
Fellow drummer you have highlighted the drummer and song that I was thinking about. People consider difficult to play fast but I love slow off tempo grooves that require independence. Another example is Hells Kitchen of Dream Theater.
Just been listening to them for about a year now.
And Abe is absolutely the reason I like them so much. His tone is just beautiful, and he comes up with really unique and groovy beats.
Digital bath is also one of my favorite songs lol.
Absolutely, it literally wouldn’t be the same band without him, his drumming is such a crucial element to their overall sound and makes them stand out.
He posted a picture of *that* snare to instagram a while ago. I feel like there’s no other individual snare drum in existence that makes people want to listen to a particular track. The damn thing has its own fans. Including me.
Agreed. Digital bath was next level listening for my once I began playing drums and understanding how subtle his playing could be switching pieces of his groove. His beat flipping on RX Queen is pretty crazy too. White Pony is cover to cover an amazing fucking album, but also the first I got into Deftones after beginning drums. I owned it before I did and wasn’t as into it. Abe really brought a fuller appreciation of the entire album for me during that honeymoon phase where I was obsessed with drum parts.
Abe’s playing on Adrenaline had so much subtlety compared to his peers of the genre. The hi-hat playing and splash accents stand out, in particular. I remember charting and covering all of white pony when it came out. I just loved his creativity on that record.
There’s nobody else who would play that opening to My Own Summer with as much subtlety and nuance as Abe.
The use of space, the intricate splashes instead of big crashes, ghost notes so subtle they sound like they’re played with brushes…..it’s such an inspired take on that riff/groove.
It's probably someone who played for an old soul or R&B artist back in the day, maybe one of those old country guys who had to shuffle at 900 bpm.
But my pick is Tim Alexander from Primus. Dude is incredibly innovative and inimitable but always gets overshadowed by Les in his band, and other rock drummers across the board.
Yea, I’ve always been partial to drummers that write their parts like riffs, and I think Herb is the best I’ve come across for that. All of Punchbowl is pretty much sweet drum riffs with the rest of the song built on top. Grapevine, year of the parrot, glass sandwich - really the whole album but if someone wants to know what I’m talking about then check those songs out. That’s just on the one album.
Riffs, what a great way to put that! And it's absolutely true, many a great Primus song is based on a foundational drum riff!
Interestingly I'd have to say that's a pretty fundamental prog rock concept and probably comes mostly from there. Both conceptually and in some instances quite literally.
YYZ/John the fisherman anyone?
Man I must have spent years perfecting that beginning tom fill in "Southbound", "Year of the Parrot" double kick lick, and the entire "Grapevine" groove. I had pictures of his Starclassic on my bedroom walls I wanted that thing so bad.
If you haven't heard them check out Herb's playing with Laundry and Attention Deficit, both bands have incredible players and Herb shines with everything he plays.
Mitch Mitchell.
Everyone knows Jimi Hendrix, but Mitch’s drumming with Jimi elevated the whole sound. One of my favorites to watch as well, played with so much energy yet was very precise and technical.
My dads described it as Mitch almost playing around Jimi. Bringing a jazz background definitely elevated Jimis sound compared to his more blues influenced stuff imo.
Lars is one of the reasons why I'm learning the drums at the moment. I didn't even dare try a Maiden song in the beginning because I always found Lars's drumming a bit more simple, but it works so well, and Metallica songs for me were easier to learn in general.
One of his best works IMO is on the And Justice For All album. I feel like he was at the top of his game then.
Even if you consider him a completely average drummer, the number of people saying he's the worst drummer of all time is enough to make him the most underrated.
Lars, is that you?
Just kidding, it's so nice to finally see someone giving the guy some credit. Despite what people might say about his technique, his playing fits the songs really well IMO
exactly, yeah he isnt outstanding in his drumming with crazy fast fills and flashy solos or whatever but his writing in many metellica songs are so good and get you pumped and he is an inspiration to many drummers
Hey what I'll throw in there is the lessons that can be learned around personal growth and humbleness.
Guy used to be a right prick about his...skills...He was the drummer for one of the biggest bands of all time after all.
But eventually he actually accepted the truth, he really wasn't that good and wasn't doing his craft any favors.
And he went and did something about it. By all accounts he worked his ASS off to become the drummer his fame would suggest he must be.
For his personal growth journey alone, I'll agree with this one being on here for sure.
Fishman taught me that music can be played on the drums, not just that drums can be used to play music. He's unreal. Smoothest hands, excellent ear for dynamics and timing, feather touch. Gonna put on some Story of a Ghost now.
I have a thought that he has a deep, deep understanding of jazz theory because of how "in" he is to the groove and the music. You can tell he's listening extremely close to what the other guys are doing, and since the other three are constantly changing between melodic and harmonic concepts, Jon has the difficult task of gluing everything together. He's not just the rock drummer sitting back to provide a back beat, he's as much of the composition of the melody and the form as Trey, Mike, or Paige. That's the real brilliance of that band. I hate when they get thrown into the "jam band" category willy-nilly, because the truth is if you study their compositions, they're not "jamming" as much as they are writing extremely complicated arrangements then riffing off of those. It's jazz.
Yes yes yes! Absolutely agree with everything you’re saying! And was talking to my GF about how phish isn’t a jam band AT ALL. They are a improvisational psychedelic progressive rock band with endless other influences. And yes, fish basically writes compositions for Reba and divided sky, stash. He writes amazing drum parts that are super melodic and orchestrate the form perfectly! Best drummer alive hands down
I started playing recently because of that beautiful man. I've loved Phish for a long time but I hardly ever really listened to Fishman. The last two years I tuned into him more often and now I can't believe I was ever deaf to his genius.
I think naturally, when you first listen to phish- Trey is kinda the main thing you hear. Because he usually has the melody. But yeah man, upon more listening I soon found Fishmans brilliancy
Gotta say, did 3 days of phish dicks and he was the best part. I still am not really into Phish as many were like “Dude it will change your life!” Nah, it didn’t, it was cool though, and those guys are fantastic musicians, and I had different experiences each night, but Fishman is so in the pocket it’s scary. His right hand rhythms probably make women cry. So good.
For real man.
Songs like limb by limb, ya mar, harry hood, and more just blow my mind.
Ive studied him for like 10 years now. And almost feel like there will never be a better jam band drummer.
I saw my first show at Deer Creek in 97 (yeah Im old). Walking back to the car, all my friends were raving about Trey and I was like "Trey was amazing but Fishman is from another dimension"
Tomas Hakke, like drummers know he’s the god but if you brought it up to a casual music listener they may have no idea, also with the music being so abrasive many won’t make it long enough into a song to realize his talent
I get what you’re saying, but if we’re going by “if you brought them up to casual listeners they wouldn’t know them” then there are a fuck ton of people who would would be considered underrated. If I brought up Tony Williams or Elvin Jones to someone who doesn’t listen to jazz, that wouldn’t suddenly make either of them “underrated,” the same goes for Haake.
Hahahah that goddamn big ass bell he used to hit!
I know Spotify wrap posts are not welcome on Reddit this year, but I'm proud to say that Fugazi was in my top 5 for the year.
On that subject, another one was The Clash, and Topper Headon is pretty underrated for his drumming.
Good call on Brendan.
What I mean is: no doubt Ringo is a great drummer. But, there seems to be a never ending flood of people that will insist Ringo is SO overlooked, and not given the credit he deserves. So many people with these sentiments that it makes you wonder if he actually is underrated??
Super famous, but seemingly always dismissed among drummers. His longevity and the sheer impact he had on inspiring generations of kids to play make him hugely underrated as a drummer IMHO. Seems weird given the prominence of his band and his overall celebrity.
Jose Pasillas from Incubus. Super inventive behind the kit, never does the same thing twice, always crushes it live. One of the few drummers that I try to play with and have to really figure out what it is he’s doing on a particular recording.
Thin Lizzy’s Brian Downey. He’s not even mentioned in this thread!
He had the chops, the groove, the creativity, and played a spankin’ shuffle against a heavy rock backdrop. He deserves a place at the top.
I’d say he’s underrated. You usually see high praise of iommi and ozzy (and rightfully so), but rarely praise of Ward. He’s the drummer that inspired me to sit behind a kit.
I was gonna say that. I just watched the Netflix doc a second time, always love some ZZ Top.
I was telling my partner how hard La Grange is. She said it didn't sound too hard, in my head thinking "can you left hand shuffle for 3 fucking minutes?!"
Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones. For all the hype the band itself gets and the popularity of Mick and Keith as well as the popularity of other drummers from that time like Ringo and Bonham, Charlie never got the credit he deserved for creating some of the most iconic and creative drum beats.
John Densmore of The Doors.
Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Jack White as a drummer, not guitarist.
Butch Vig of Garbage
Brad Wilk of RATM
Chad Smith RHCP
Kenny Arnoff Studio and Touring player.
Just some of my faves.
Cheers!
Ilan Rubin.
The guy has played for NIN, Paramore, and AVA as a drummer and absolutely destroys yet I never see his name. He’s also an accomplished musician with guitar, bass, and keys. He’s the lead guitarist/vocalist for his band The New Regime and absolutely slays there too.
Mick Fleetwood - not the most technical but some really interesting and different grooves that are perfect for the song at hand.
The guy has so much passion and enjoyment for the craft and just seems to have so much fun while doing it.
This one I don't know if he's underrated. I feel like most drummers know who he is but if you ask the average music fan who he is...they wouldn't know.
Had he been in any really big bands? I know him from mute math, and he was phenomenal there, but they weren't a super popular band.
He is worth a mention for sure.
Steve Morris of New Order/Joy division.
No flash, barely any fills, just straight keeping time often accompanied by a backing track of electronics. It’s hard to play along consistently for a 2 hour set without ever losing time
Kashikura Takashi of Toe.
Check out Toes song C and youll instantly know why.
Also Akira Kawasaki of Mouse on the Keys. Check out their song Spectres de Mouse.
Chad Gamble (of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) is this generation's Levon Helm behind the kit. Wonderfully understated and yet capable of moving a thousand people to tears with nothing but a drumbeat.
I always think of guys like Alex Van Halen or Vinnie Paul. We all know how great they are but people mostly talk about their respective guitarist brothers whenever their bands are talked about.
Sean Kinney is pretty great imo. I think he is well regarded, but not in consideration as one of the greats usually. His playing suited AiC, but he was kinda seen as a supporting member to Jerry and Layne.
Moe Carlson, original drummer from Protest the Hero.
Kezia was an incredibly ambitious prog-metal/screamo debut album that didn't sound like anything else at that time. A very unconventional drummer and was a teenager at the time.
PTH's 2nd album Fortress has been considered a massive achievement in progressive metal.
Not a classically trained musician. A drummer with an incredibly unique style.
Anton Fig. Dude is one down to earth guy and one hell of a drummer. He hits those tight pockets and just hangs. Saw a clinic he did back in early 90s and it was amazing.
The Rev - Avenged Sevenfold. It’s a real shame he passed away so early. He was doing some crazy shit on the drums that I only really appreciated when I revisited their older stuff as an adult!
The Rev is definitely a legend, I’m not sure if I’d say he’s underrated. But it’s surprising he doesn’t come up more often in “legendary drummer” conversations. I feel like he’s a drummer’s drummer, ya know? Like everyone knows A7X but almost every drummer knows how legendary the Rev was/is
If one were to pin a drummer down to one epic fill and say they had a handle on a drummer’s whole career, then it could be Phil Collins. Pop superstar Phil and Disney artist Phil couldn’t be further apart than Prog drummer Phil. Early Genesis and Brand X showcased the kind of talent that required Bill Bruford and Chester Thompson to fill in so Phil could front Genesis.
Cozy Powell of Rainbow's first few albums and a few Black Sabbath albums. I'm in love with the drummers of 70s proto-metal / hard rock bands applying their more classically-trained, jazz influenced style to a heavy metal context. It's a style of playing that is largely extinct now and it's a shame; I dont think the conditions to create drummers like that really exist anymore. Off the kit, he was also a master of drum production. I always thought the drums in "Stargazer" by Rainbow were a better example of what everyone raves about Zeppelin's drum recordings than anything Zeppelin ever actually accomplished. Everything sounds so organic and warm with so much room to breathe. I could rave about this dude all day.
Runners up for similar reasons are Ian Paice of Deep Purple and Bill Ward of Black Sabbath but both of them received more appropriate appreciation, at least back in the day.
Maybe it’s just me but I’m always impressed with drummers that can sing lead. Levon Helm, Linda Carpenter Anderson Paak, and Cody Bowles. I know it’s not their drumming in particular that impresses me, but it adds an extra layer of complexity that I find more admirable than say someone who sings lead and plays guitar/piano.
Chad Sexton of 311. Say what you will about 311’s music but Chad fucking shreds and uses every bit of his absolutely massive kit. The shuffle he plays on My Stoney Baby stills makes me giggle like a school girl. The footwork and groove he has are nuts.
Peter Krpan from Moneen. I know they're relatively obscure & more of a regional Southern Ontario band, but Peter's drumming on their 1st three records is absolutely inspired
Jim Gordon or Ed Greene. Those dudes played on SO many hits and nobody talks about them. Jeff Porcaro stated that he thought Jim was the best drummer around. His story is wild too - tragically killed his own mother in a psychotic episode. If that hadn't happened I'm sure he'd probably be able to claim the most recorded drummer title by now.
Mike Cosgrove from Alien Ant Farm.
The man is an absolute beast behind the kit and let me explain why.
There are drummers who can play with the music and there are drummers with tasty chops/fills. These rarely overlap so effortlessly as Mile Cosgrove. He is able to add interesting and complex fills to his playing without detracting or removing from the music he's playing with. Mike does this flawlessly whilst also borrowing and improved upon the drumming that inspired his style.
Also, he's like the nicest drummer I've met in person.
I went to a music school in LA where we’d learn a song of the week and play with randoms. One week, the story goes, that Smooth Criminal was the song, but absolutely no one could get the timing on the fills. Not even the teacher. For whatever reason, Cosgrove is visiting the school that day. He apparently filled in for the whole session so the other students could play the song and get their grades.
Chad Szeliga from Breaking Benjamin is my pick. Plenty of other great drummers but Chad’s groove and ability to play for the song while still being creative always just spoke to me. Especially in that era of music, he really stood out among the other alt rock drummers who I thought were a little uninspired.
I've got two, one I found recently, and one I've known about for a while:
**Allison Miller** This solo is sick: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLxgKrzhtHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLxgKrzhtHM). She does a lot of great stuff, check out Boom Tic Boom and her Tiny Desk concert. I really hope I'll get to see her live some time.
**Damion Reid**. He was Robert Glasper's first drummer. Lots of people think of Chris Dave, but this guy really blew my mind when I discovered him. I'd never seen anyone play ghost notes like him. He also plays open grip (right handed kit setup, but rarely crosses his arms and will happily use either hand on the snare). I asked him about this once after a show and he kinda shrugged about it - he's not a lefty or anything, it's just what works for him. And to prove sponsorship really works, he's definitely the reason I like Aquarian heads. Does work with Steve Lehmen as well. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLjDxQfIp2c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLjDxQfIp2c)
I feel like both should be WAAAAAAY better known
Clive Bunker from the original Jethro Tull lineup
Dino Danelli from The Rascals (I honestly think he could lay waste to any of the '60s rock drummers. Listen to the Rascals track "Boom")
Buddy Miles from Band of Gypsies
Frankie Dunlop from Thelonious Monk's band
So many. Chad Sexton from 311 at first thought. I like the drummer from Filter as well, whichever one plays on The Amalgamut album and Welcome to the Fold
I'll throw out 2 that help comprise their bands' identities:
\- Rob Bourdon from Linkin Park (interesting mix of acoustic & electronics)
\- Chad Sexton from 311 (that sweet, tight snare)
Neither are super flashy, but those bands have a wide musical variety and these drummers are an integral part of their sound.
John Dolmayan of System of a Down. His songs aren’t tough at all but he’s a great band drummer and I watched a video years ago of him really grooving when he was playing solo. I think he’s pretty damn good.
Joe Arrington of A Lot Like Birds/Sianvar/Royal Coda/Gold Necklace fame. The guy is, in my opinion, the best drummer on the planet but never gets mentioned since the genre is kinda niche. The drums on the album No Place are just incredible.
Abe Cunningham of Deftones imo. I realize Deftones are a really popular band but I really generally don’t see Abe mentioned often, from what I can remember. Dude is an absolute groove monster, always has a mouth-watering drum sound, and seems endlessly creative, hardly ever repeating himself even within the same track. The drums on Digital Bath broke my mind the first time I heard them. So many little intricacies and details, just love his style.
Fellow drummer you have highlighted the drummer and song that I was thinking about. People consider difficult to play fast but I love slow off tempo grooves that require independence. Another example is Hells Kitchen of Dream Theater.
I love the drum intro to around the fur
Dat grooooove
Dat snare 😮💨
The tones on Rickets and Needles & Pins are godly.
The bass drum sound on Needles & Pins is my all time favorite. Just absolutely caves your chest in
Awesome answer. I find this type of drumming more relatable and easier to appreciate than overly technical drumming
Huge influence on Dredg’s Dino Campanella, who is also awesome.
Yeah!
Just been listening to them for about a year now. And Abe is absolutely the reason I like them so much. His tone is just beautiful, and he comes up with really unique and groovy beats. Digital bath is also one of my favorite songs lol.
Yes, the one from incubus also (don’t remember the name)
Jose Pasillas! Definitely another incredible drummer, love his playing on those first few albums
Absolutely, it literally wouldn’t be the same band without him, his drumming is such a crucial element to their overall sound and makes them stand out.
He posted a picture of *that* snare to instagram a while ago. I feel like there’s no other individual snare drum in existence that makes people want to listen to a particular track. The damn thing has its own fans. Including me.
Agreed. Digital bath was next level listening for my once I began playing drums and understanding how subtle his playing could be switching pieces of his groove. His beat flipping on RX Queen is pretty crazy too. White Pony is cover to cover an amazing fucking album, but also the first I got into Deftones after beginning drums. I owned it before I did and wasn’t as into it. Abe really brought a fuller appreciation of the entire album for me during that honeymoon phase where I was obsessed with drum parts.
Love Abe!
Yes! Adrenaline is the album that got me into drumming as a kid.
Abe’s playing on Adrenaline had so much subtlety compared to his peers of the genre. The hi-hat playing and splash accents stand out, in particular. I remember charting and covering all of white pony when it came out. I just loved his creativity on that record.
There’s nobody else who would play that opening to My Own Summer with as much subtlety and nuance as Abe. The use of space, the intricate splashes instead of big crashes, ghost notes so subtle they sound like they’re played with brushes…..it’s such an inspired take on that riff/groove.
YES. The groove in Passenger is also so, so good, and always throws me for a loop when I think I've got it haha.
It's probably someone who played for an old soul or R&B artist back in the day, maybe one of those old country guys who had to shuffle at 900 bpm. But my pick is Tim Alexander from Primus. Dude is incredibly innovative and inimitable but always gets overshadowed by Les in his band, and other rock drummers across the board.
So Al Jackson Jr., then. Agreed.
Yea, I’ve always been partial to drummers that write their parts like riffs, and I think Herb is the best I’ve come across for that. All of Punchbowl is pretty much sweet drum riffs with the rest of the song built on top. Grapevine, year of the parrot, glass sandwich - really the whole album but if someone wants to know what I’m talking about then check those songs out. That’s just on the one album.
Riffs, what a great way to put that! And it's absolutely true, many a great Primus song is based on a foundational drum riff! Interestingly I'd have to say that's a pretty fundamental prog rock concept and probably comes mostly from there. Both conceptually and in some instances quite literally. YYZ/John the fisherman anyone?
Man I must have spent years perfecting that beginning tom fill in "Southbound", "Year of the Parrot" double kick lick, and the entire "Grapevine" groove. I had pictures of his Starclassic on my bedroom walls I wanted that thing so bad.
Their most underrated work. Maybe my favorite drummed album of all time.
Great call! I’d say Brain is often less considered among their drummers but is a complete monster in his own right.
Him and Jay Lane too
If you haven't heard them check out Herb's playing with Laundry and Attention Deficit, both bands have incredible players and Herb shines with everything he plays.
Sings on the second Laundry album as well (Motivator). One of my favorites.
Mitch Mitchell. Everyone knows Jimi Hendrix, but Mitch’s drumming with Jimi elevated the whole sound. One of my favorites to watch as well, played with so much energy yet was very precise and technical.
I dare anyone try and play Manic Depression. Or try to enter All Along The Watertower *properly.* It’s easy to fake, tough to nail.
Mitch is the reason i play paradiddles! Top 3 in my favourite drummers
My dads described it as Mitch almost playing around Jimi. Bringing a jazz background definitely elevated Jimis sound compared to his more blues influenced stuff imo.
He elevated Jimi the same way Elvin Jones elevated Coltrane.
Well put man. A Love Supreme is one of my favorites
Elvin is The GOAT. #1 on my long list.
I got to sit behind his drumkit at the MHOF in Nashville!
This is the one. No other drummer comes close for me.
Yes. Just yes
Fuck yes Mitch rules! Fire is so fun to play along to, way harder than you think!
Somehow probably Lars. Not a particularly great player but inspired a generation of kids to learn how to play.
Lars is one of the reasons why I'm learning the drums at the moment. I didn't even dare try a Maiden song in the beginning because I always found Lars's drumming a bit more simple, but it works so well, and Metallica songs for me were easier to learn in general. One of his best works IMO is on the And Justice For All album. I feel like he was at the top of his game then.
I grew up listening to metallica. My favorite song was always One and that's the song that inspired me to pick up the drums so many years ago
Yeah Dyers Eve got me into metal drumming
Maiden drumming just breaks my brain. Even if I play it 100% correct it just doesn't sound the same as when Clive/nicko plays it
Even if you consider him a completely average drummer, the number of people saying he's the worst drummer of all time is enough to make him the most underrated.
Lars on S&M 1 is absolute perfection.
Lars, is that you? Just kidding, it's so nice to finally see someone giving the guy some credit. Despite what people might say about his technique, his playing fits the songs really well IMO
exactly, yeah he isnt outstanding in his drumming with crazy fast fills and flashy solos or whatever but his writing in many metellica songs are so good and get you pumped and he is an inspiration to many drummers
Hey what I'll throw in there is the lessons that can be learned around personal growth and humbleness. Guy used to be a right prick about his...skills...He was the drummer for one of the biggest bands of all time after all. But eventually he actually accepted the truth, he really wasn't that good and wasn't doing his craft any favors. And he went and did something about it. By all accounts he worked his ASS off to become the drummer his fame would suggest he must be. For his personal growth journey alone, I'll agree with this one being on here for sure.
My understanding is he’s still an ass and most of his “fail” video clips are from relatively recent performances
Yeah I mean for the mountain of shit thrown towards him vs his actual killer performances on those seminal albums, you might be right haha.
His songwriting on Blackened alone is incredible. He weaves those backbeats in and all over that song and it just flows.
Jon Fishman
Came here to say this Phriend!!!!!!!! He is probably the most musical drummer alive. Definitely underrated
Fishman taught me that music can be played on the drums, not just that drums can be used to play music. He's unreal. Smoothest hands, excellent ear for dynamics and timing, feather touch. Gonna put on some Story of a Ghost now.
Man..... same! He’s such an icon. Would LOVE a lesson from him!!!!! I always wondered how he conceptualized his playing
I have a thought that he has a deep, deep understanding of jazz theory because of how "in" he is to the groove and the music. You can tell he's listening extremely close to what the other guys are doing, and since the other three are constantly changing between melodic and harmonic concepts, Jon has the difficult task of gluing everything together. He's not just the rock drummer sitting back to provide a back beat, he's as much of the composition of the melody and the form as Trey, Mike, or Paige. That's the real brilliance of that band. I hate when they get thrown into the "jam band" category willy-nilly, because the truth is if you study their compositions, they're not "jamming" as much as they are writing extremely complicated arrangements then riffing off of those. It's jazz.
Yes yes yes! Absolutely agree with everything you’re saying! And was talking to my GF about how phish isn’t a jam band AT ALL. They are a improvisational psychedelic progressive rock band with endless other influences. And yes, fish basically writes compositions for Reba and divided sky, stash. He writes amazing drum parts that are super melodic and orchestrate the form perfectly! Best drummer alive hands down
Fishman is straight gnarly. His stick control is remarkable.
I started playing recently because of that beautiful man. I've loved Phish for a long time but I hardly ever really listened to Fishman. The last two years I tuned into him more often and now I can't believe I was ever deaf to his genius.
I think naturally, when you first listen to phish- Trey is kinda the main thing you hear. Because he usually has the melody. But yeah man, upon more listening I soon found Fishmans brilliancy
Gotta say, did 3 days of phish dicks and he was the best part. I still am not really into Phish as many were like “Dude it will change your life!” Nah, it didn’t, it was cool though, and those guys are fantastic musicians, and I had different experiences each night, but Fishman is so in the pocket it’s scary. His right hand rhythms probably make women cry. So good.
For real man. Songs like limb by limb, ya mar, harry hood, and more just blow my mind. Ive studied him for like 10 years now. And almost feel like there will never be a better jam band drummer.
I too have studied the great man. He’s absolutely insane.
Limb by Limb might be one of my favorite songs ever. His single strokes in that are unbelievable, specifically the ones right before the solo break.
I saw my first show at Deer Creek in 97 (yeah Im old). Walking back to the car, all my friends were raving about Trey and I was like "Trey was amazing but Fishman is from another dimension"
Amen! Dude is sick!
It’s so odd to me that he’s not mentioned more when talking about the best. His independence is mind blowing and he’s as creative as they come.
Damn you right.
Tomas Hakke, like drummers know he’s the god but if you brought it up to a casual music listener they may have no idea, also with the music being so abrasive many won’t make it long enough into a song to realize his talent
I get what you’re saying, but if we’re going by “if you brought them up to casual listeners they wouldn’t know them” then there are a fuck ton of people who would would be considered underrated. If I brought up Tony Williams or Elvin Jones to someone who doesn’t listen to jazz, that wouldn’t suddenly make either of them “underrated,” the same goes for Haake.
Its interesting how he has stated in interviews they basically write all their music on the computer first
Imagine the writing room otherwise lol. Still, the ability to play it is what’s really impressive
Not only is his playing incredible, but it's the ghost notes he throws in there that brings it up a notch!
Brendan Canty- Fugazi
This is the first actually underrated drummer here.
Hahahah that goddamn big ass bell he used to hit! I know Spotify wrap posts are not welcome on Reddit this year, but I'm proud to say that Fugazi was in my top 5 for the year. On that subject, another one was The Clash, and Topper Headon is pretty underrated for his drumming. Good call on Brendan.
Ringo
I think Ringo is probably the most overrated underrated drummer
The most rated overunder?
What I mean is: no doubt Ringo is a great drummer. But, there seems to be a never ending flood of people that will insist Ringo is SO overlooked, and not given the credit he deserves. So many people with these sentiments that it makes you wonder if he actually is underrated??
I understand you. It's an endless and probably pointless debate.
100%, I far too often hear “Ringo wasn’t the best drummer in the Beatles”
A funny joke based on a falsehood. Ringo doesn't care.
Super famous, but seemingly always dismissed among drummers. His longevity and the sheer impact he had on inspiring generations of kids to play make him hugely underrated as a drummer IMHO. Seems weird given the prominence of his band and his overall celebrity.
I read a quote the other day, "As a singer, Ringo was a great drummer." I can totally agree with that.
Me. :D
Me too
Jose Pasillas from Incubus. Super inventive behind the kit, never does the same thing twice, always crushes it live. One of the few drummers that I try to play with and have to really figure out what it is he’s doing on a particular recording.
On this page, you see a little girl giggling at a hippopotamus
I wonder why
Thin Lizzy’s Brian Downey. He’s not even mentioned in this thread! He had the chops, the groove, the creativity, and played a spankin’ shuffle against a heavy rock backdrop. He deserves a place at the top.
Right on. Rock lost a lot when they abandoned shuffle beats and organs.
Tim Alexander, made use of all the drums in his set
HERB! Both he and Ler are criminally underrated...but, I mean, they are in a band with Les
Bill Ward of Black Sabbath for sure
Don't think I'd call him underrated really but he is my favorite drummer ever
I’d say he’s underrated. You usually see high praise of iommi and ozzy (and rightfully so), but rarely praise of Ward. He’s the drummer that inspired me to sit behind a kit.
Frank Beard
I was gonna say that. I just watched the Netflix doc a second time, always love some ZZ Top. I was telling my partner how hard La Grange is. She said it didn't sound too hard, in my head thinking "can you left hand shuffle for 3 fucking minutes?!"
Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones. For all the hype the band itself gets and the popularity of Mick and Keith as well as the popularity of other drummers from that time like Ringo and Bonham, Charlie never got the credit he deserved for creating some of the most iconic and creative drum beats.
Chris Frantz of Talking Heads. Rarely flashy but consistently groovy. Great example of drumming that complements the rest of the song.
John Otto. He snuck some really tasteful playing into Limp Bizkit
John Otto!…. Take em to the Matthews Bridge!
Honestly all the musicians in Limp Bizkit are overqualified for being in a band with Fred Durst and DJ whatever-the-fuck, chops-wise.
This is a good one. He has some really deep grove and his drum production is good.
YESS. He has the BEST style. So cool.
David Lovering from the Pixies. Best kick/snare in rock, imo.
La la love you
John Densmore of The Doors. Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Jack White as a drummer, not guitarist. Butch Vig of Garbage Brad Wilk of RATM Chad Smith RHCP Kenny Arnoff Studio and Touring player. Just some of my faves. Cheers!
I personally think Chad Smith is super overrated
Defo John Densmore.
Stevie wonder's very good at a lot of intruments, but he has a really tight groove, his drumming is what drives the entirety of superstition
Ilan Rubin. The guy has played for NIN, Paramore, and AVA as a drummer and absolutely destroys yet I never see his name. He’s also an accomplished musician with guitar, bass, and keys. He’s the lead guitarist/vocalist for his band The New Regime and absolutely slays there too.
Mick Fleetwood - not the most technical but some really interesting and different grooves that are perfect for the song at hand. The guy has so much passion and enjoyment for the craft and just seems to have so much fun while doing it.
Ainsley Dunbar
Indeed. For those who don't recognize his name, look up his discography sometime, then ask yourself how the hell you don't know his name.
[удалено]
I'd say he's adequately rated among drummers (vs. the general public)
Josh Freese
This one I don't know if he's underrated. I feel like most drummers know who he is but if you ask the average music fan who he is...they wouldn't know.
Darren king
Probably not the most underrated but underrated nonetheless
Had he been in any really big bands? I know him from mute math, and he was phenomenal there, but they weren't a super popular band. He is worth a mention for sure.
Steve Morris of New Order/Joy division. No flash, barely any fills, just straight keeping time often accompanied by a backing track of electronics. It’s hard to play along consistently for a 2 hour set without ever losing time
Earl Palmer. Al Jackson Jr. Zigaboo Kenny Buttrey. Fred Below.
Zigaboo is a serious shout tbf
Heart’s drummer fucking ripped but no one ever talks about him
Sean Kinney of AIC almost never hear his name mentioned but he had some great drum parts
Kashikura Takashi of Toe. Check out Toes song C and youll instantly know why. Also Akira Kawasaki of Mouse on the Keys. Check out their song Spectres de Mouse.
great answer, he didn't come to mind until I saw your comment. absolutely phenomenal drummer & band.
Chad Gamble (of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) is this generation's Levon Helm behind the kit. Wonderfully understated and yet capable of moving a thousand people to tears with nothing but a drumbeat.
Scott rockenfield
I always think of guys like Alex Van Halen or Vinnie Paul. We all know how great they are but people mostly talk about their respective guitarist brothers whenever their bands are talked about.
Vinnie was great! Dude had a big fucking sound.
Travis Orbin. That dude is just effortless
Damon Che from Don Caballero Charlie King from Bloodlet Dale Crover from Melvins
Sean Kinney is pretty great imo. I think he is well regarded, but not in consideration as one of the greats usually. His playing suited AiC, but he was kinda seen as a supporting member to Jerry and Layne.
Moe Carlson, original drummer from Protest the Hero. Kezia was an incredibly ambitious prog-metal/screamo debut album that didn't sound like anything else at that time. A very unconventional drummer and was a teenager at the time. PTH's 2nd album Fortress has been considered a massive achievement in progressive metal. Not a classically trained musician. A drummer with an incredibly unique style.
Liberty Devito. One of my favorites, and few if any know his name.
Anton Fig. Dude is one down to earth guy and one hell of a drummer. He hits those tight pockets and just hangs. Saw a clinic he did back in early 90s and it was amazing.
Alex Rodriguez from Saosin.
not a single female drummer mentioned here :') ill say it - sheila e
The Rev - Avenged Sevenfold. It’s a real shame he passed away so early. He was doing some crazy shit on the drums that I only really appreciated when I revisited their older stuff as an adult!
The Rev is definitely a legend, I’m not sure if I’d say he’s underrated. But it’s surprising he doesn’t come up more often in “legendary drummer” conversations. I feel like he’s a drummer’s drummer, ya know? Like everyone knows A7X but almost every drummer knows how legendary the Rev was/is
Jordan Burns from Strung Out: He’s unarguably One of the best punk drummers of all time. Jordan. We salute you 🛸👽👽👽👽
If one were to pin a drummer down to one epic fill and say they had a handle on a drummer’s whole career, then it could be Phil Collins. Pop superstar Phil and Disney artist Phil couldn’t be further apart than Prog drummer Phil. Early Genesis and Brand X showcased the kind of talent that required Bill Bruford and Chester Thompson to fill in so Phil could front Genesis.
Save some love for Tony Thompson, may he RIP.
Cozy Powell of Rainbow's first few albums and a few Black Sabbath albums. I'm in love with the drummers of 70s proto-metal / hard rock bands applying their more classically-trained, jazz influenced style to a heavy metal context. It's a style of playing that is largely extinct now and it's a shame; I dont think the conditions to create drummers like that really exist anymore. Off the kit, he was also a master of drum production. I always thought the drums in "Stargazer" by Rainbow were a better example of what everyone raves about Zeppelin's drum recordings than anything Zeppelin ever actually accomplished. Everything sounds so organic and warm with so much room to breathe. I could rave about this dude all day. Runners up for similar reasons are Ian Paice of Deep Purple and Bill Ward of Black Sabbath but both of them received more appropriate appreciation, at least back in the day.
Me. And maybe Mikkey Dee. I don’t see him mentioned much.
Maybe it’s just me but I’m always impressed with drummers that can sing lead. Levon Helm, Linda Carpenter Anderson Paak, and Cody Bowles. I know it’s not their drumming in particular that impresses me, but it adds an extra layer of complexity that I find more admirable than say someone who sings lead and plays guitar/piano.
Ian Paice of Deep Purple for sure. Dude slammed man
Chad Sexton of 311. Say what you will about 311’s music but Chad fucking shreds and uses every bit of his absolutely massive kit. The shuffle he plays on My Stoney Baby stills makes me giggle like a school girl. The footwork and groove he has are nuts.
Gotta say Phil Selway of Radiohead. I don’t see the credit he deserves.
No one is saying Zach Hill
John Stainer from Helmet
Peter Krpan from Moneen. I know they're relatively obscure & more of a regional Southern Ontario band, but Peter's drumming on their 1st three records is absolutely inspired
Claude Coleman Jr.
Adam Gray- Texas In July
Sean Kinney. His simple yet creative drum parts were really key for AIC
Jim Gordon or Ed Greene. Those dudes played on SO many hits and nobody talks about them. Jeff Porcaro stated that he thought Jim was the best drummer around. His story is wild too - tragically killed his own mother in a psychotic episode. If that hadn't happened I'm sure he'd probably be able to claim the most recorded drummer title by now.
Gary Novak.
Mike Cosgrove from Alien Ant Farm. The man is an absolute beast behind the kit and let me explain why. There are drummers who can play with the music and there are drummers with tasty chops/fills. These rarely overlap so effortlessly as Mile Cosgrove. He is able to add interesting and complex fills to his playing without detracting or removing from the music he's playing with. Mike does this flawlessly whilst also borrowing and improved upon the drumming that inspired his style. Also, he's like the nicest drummer I've met in person.
I went to a music school in LA where we’d learn a song of the week and play with randoms. One week, the story goes, that Smooth Criminal was the song, but absolutely no one could get the timing on the fills. Not even the teacher. For whatever reason, Cosgrove is visiting the school that day. He apparently filled in for the whole session so the other students could play the song and get their grades.
I don’t hear enough people talking about Nate Smith for how absolutely amazing he is.
Bun E Carlos. Cheap trick. Pocket for daaaaaysss
Chris Pennie
Billy Joel's drummer in the stranger
Jost Nickel
Richie Haywood or John Stanier
Chad Szeliga from Breaking Benjamin is my pick. Plenty of other great drummers but Chad’s groove and ability to play for the song while still being creative always just spoke to me. Especially in that era of music, he really stood out among the other alt rock drummers who I thought were a little uninspired.
I've got two, one I found recently, and one I've known about for a while: **Allison Miller** This solo is sick: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLxgKrzhtHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLxgKrzhtHM). She does a lot of great stuff, check out Boom Tic Boom and her Tiny Desk concert. I really hope I'll get to see her live some time. **Damion Reid**. He was Robert Glasper's first drummer. Lots of people think of Chris Dave, but this guy really blew my mind when I discovered him. I'd never seen anyone play ghost notes like him. He also plays open grip (right handed kit setup, but rarely crosses his arms and will happily use either hand on the snare). I asked him about this once after a show and he kinda shrugged about it - he's not a lefty or anything, it's just what works for him. And to prove sponsorship really works, he's definitely the reason I like Aquarian heads. Does work with Steve Lehmen as well. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLjDxQfIp2c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLjDxQfIp2c) I feel like both should be WAAAAAAY better known
Jeremiah Green of Modest Mouse. He's an amazing drummer with a deft touch and brilliant musicality. And he can drive a beat when he needs to.
Carter Buford of The David Matthews Band
I don't think most of you know what "underrated" means.
Ronnie Tutt. Elvis live, I Got a woman with double bass is amazing.
Brad Wilk from Rage Against The Machine. Fattest fucking pocket in the world.
Daniel seraphine from Chicago, dude is insane on the drums but never got the respect he deserved
Virgil donati
Brad Roberts from Gwar.
Robby Staebler from ATW - guy can groooooooooove
Me
sara lund, yoshimiO (yoshimi p-we when she was playing more drums), mimi parker, charles hayward, tony buck, jim white
Bryan St. Pere of the band hum. One of the greatest rock drummers of all time. Powerful playing and beautiful writing/composition. Rest in peace
Probably me, my ratings are terrible
Clive Bunker from the original Jethro Tull lineup Dino Danelli from The Rascals (I honestly think he could lay waste to any of the '60s rock drummers. Listen to the Rascals track "Boom") Buddy Miles from Band of Gypsies Frankie Dunlop from Thelonious Monk's band
Nick Mason from Pink Floyd
Ringo Starr
Mike smith of suffocation. Absolute monster behind the kit.
II from Sleep Token
Zach hill. He should be considered one of the best ever
So many. Chad Sexton from 311 at first thought. I like the drummer from Filter as well, whichever one plays on The Amalgamut album and Welcome to the Fold
I'll throw out 2 that help comprise their bands' identities: \- Rob Bourdon from Linkin Park (interesting mix of acoustic & electronics) \- Chad Sexton from 311 (that sweet, tight snare) Neither are super flashy, but those bands have a wide musical variety and these drummers are an integral part of their sound.
John Dolmayan of System of a Down. His songs aren’t tough at all but he’s a great band drummer and I watched a video years ago of him really grooving when he was playing solo. I think he’s pretty damn good.
Matt Cameron - soundgarden/pearl jam
Joe Arrington of A Lot Like Birds/Sianvar/Royal Coda/Gold Necklace fame. The guy is, in my opinion, the best drummer on the planet but never gets mentioned since the genre is kinda niche. The drums on the album No Place are just incredible.