Tom's Top 10 Drummers

Greetings, fans of legendary skin-pounders. Here we go again with another ‘stick your head above the parapet’ launch into who is best in the rock annals of history. Let me say from the outset that what I know about drumming can be written on the back of a postage stamp. However, I like to think I have a sense of rhythm and know a good beat when I hear one. So, what are the criteria for a kick-ass drummer? Some of my listings are not the most technically adept – although I am as partial to a para-diddle as the next man. My top 10 all have that mystical quality of ‘feel’. Each has had their moment where they have been able to send a tingle down the spine. Also, they have character. They are larger than life and form the backbone of the bands they have played in. Let’s kick off then …….

Number 10: Alex Van Halen
                                                                              
I was always impressed by the album covers of Van Halen 1 and 2 which showed Alex with flaming drum-sticks or reduced to a blur of frenzied action. I was also impressed that, around the time of ‘Diver Down’ he was photographed with 4 bass drums. Did he play them all? Who knows – but it sure looked good. Alex is very under-rated but he is as integral to the Van Halen sound as Eddie’s ‘brown-sound’ guitar tone. I like his use of cymbals and quirky fills on the faster VH songs. He is also master of the time signature. Even when Eddie stretches or compresses the standard timing of a song. Alex still keeps up with Michael Anthony on bass following close behind. Finest moments: Intro to ‘Hot for teacher’ and ‘Hang em high’.

Number 9: Bev Bevan

ELO were one of the first bands I got into and I was immediately struck by Bevan’s drum sound on ‘On the third day’ - Really heavy. He’s a solid drummer and really brings a sense of class to Jeff Lynne’s orchestrally influenced songs. Mr Blue Sky wouldn’t sound the same without his percussive intro. Little wonder that Black Sabbath scooped him up for the Gillan-fronted version. He did not sound out of place at all. Finest moments: ‘Evil woman’ and ‘In the hall of the mountain king’.

Number 8: Eric Carr 

I saw Eric play on the Kiss ‘Lick it up’ tour at Leeds. I had wanted to witness first hand the man behind the awesome sound on the aforesaid album and ‘Creatures of the night’. He didn’t just fill Peter Criss’ shoes he burst through them. A classy drummer – his solo was made bearable (drum solos often leave me cold) by the fact that his kit was set up like a tank and moved forwards, backwards, up and down. Sadly, he is no longer with us having died in the 90’s of heart cancer but his spirit lives on. Finest moments: ‘Creatures of the night’ and ‘Fits like a glove’.

Number 7: Roger Taylor

As famed for his operatic high-pitched vocals as well as his rock-solid drumming. His sound was part and parcel to the overall Queen sonic onslaught. Mn4 do quite a few Queen numbers and it’s great to hear our Jamie produce Roger’s rhythms on numbers such as ‘Tie your mother down’. Understated but very effective. Finest moments: ‘We will rock you – Live. Especially the speeded up version on ‘Queen live killers’ (at the end). Also, ‘Ogre battle’ from Queen II.

Number 6: Ian Paice

 
Ian Paice added the missing ingredient during his sojourns with Deep Purple and Whitesnake. He has a kind of ‘shuffly’ sound which is unmistakeable. His prowess is revealed on any of the Purple live albums where he has to keep up with, and sometimes second guess what Blackmore and Lord are going to do on their improvisational jaunts. His drum kit was always very simple – only one bass drum, a tom and a few extras – and yet such a big sound. If I was ever to deign to offer a criticism of Paicey it would be – ‘Leave out the drum solos!’ ‘The mule’ is the one number that I constantly skip over on the otherwise classic ‘Made in Japan’ live album. Finest moments: Just after Blackmore’s first solo on ‘Black night’ and the opening to ‘Smoke on the water’ where the snare comes in after the main riff. Easy stuff but so effective.

Number 5: Cozy Powell

Another RIP. Alas, the M4 claimed him back in the nineties. But not before he left an indelible impression on the rock world. There must be something about a drummer who was sought after by Blackmore, Plant, Coverdale, Michael Schenker, Tony Iommi and Brian May. As well known for his forthright character as well as his power house drumming. I witnessed his ‘Dambusters’ solo at Donington ’83 when Whitesnake played. Only he could have thought of having it accompanied to 4 choppers circling overhead with spotlight beams. With bad production he sometimes came across as playing a set of dustbin lids (listen to MSG 2 for an example) but most of the time he was at his unmistakeable best. Finest moments: Basically the whole of ‘Rainbow Live on stage’ and ‘Resurrection’ from Brian May’s solo album. His drum sound on ‘Long Live Rock n’roll set the templa6te for Kiss: ‘Creatures of the night’ – a sound to rival Led Zep IV!

Number 4: Mike Portnoy

Destined to rise through my ranks as the years progress, no doubt. I am always in awe of someone who can play the drums and sing at the same time. Mike Portnoy has to be seen as well as heard. Check out the latest Dream Theater DVD – 20^th anniversary with the Octovarium orchestra to see him at his best. He makes it look effortless – and that drum kit! Small drums, large drums, gongs, cymbals of every size, bells, chimes. It must take 3 hours just to set it up. Master of the odd time signature. Watch him play the beats in unison with keyboardist Jordan Rudess and guitarist John Petrucci and be amazed. Yet he still plays with feel – unlike some of the speed metal merchants I hear. Finest moments: too many to mention. Buy any Dream Theater album, sit back and enjoy.

Number 3: Phil Collins

A past master. Also an amazing and distinctive vocalist. Very much an experimenter with novel drum sounds. His work with Genesis is well documented but he has worked with Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin also. Watch his synchronised drumming with Genesis sidekicks on any video from the 80’s and you’ll see the extent of his prowess.

Finest moments: ‘Los Endos’ on Genesis ‘Trick of the tail’ and virtually the whole of ‘Duke’.

Number 2: John Bonham

Bonzo – the loudest drummer of them all. If feel were the only criterion then this man would steal the show. Once again, another RIP. (What is it about drumming that cuts your innings so short?) Distinctive and unmistakeable. He is every drummers drummer, playing with his hands as well as sticks. Led Zep IV is a good place to start. The sound created on this album was apparently obtained by setting his kit up in the hallway of Hedley Grange. His ‘When the levee breaks’ is purported to be the most sampled drum sound of all time. Finest moments for me are the intro to ‘Rock n’ roll’ and, of course ‘Kashmir’. Mesmerising stuff!

Number 1: Neil Peart

Yes, the ‘professor’ is at number one. He earns his place through virtuosity, amazing feel and a progressive spirit of adaptability and learning. This is the man who learned a totally different technique of drumming halfway through his career (from overhand to underhand) and can now interchange between the two with ease. This is the drummer who has raised hairs on my skin on too many occasions to mention. On top of this he also writes amazing lyrics and books as well. When I saw him at Glasgow on the Rush 30^th anniversary tour he played the most entertaining drum solo, (normally a hate subject of mine) – complete with musical interludes, samples and a synchronised video back drop. His only problem is that he needs to re-grow his hair and adopt the William Shakespeare image as shown in the picture above. Finest moments: ‘Tom Sawyer’ – straight after Alex Lifeson’s solo, ‘Xanadu’ and ‘YYZ’.

Alternative Number 1:

Jamie Grant of Mn4. Yes, he is the unsung drumming hero of Annan. Well versed in the practice of ‘rimming’ – no it’s not what you think – he clacks his sticks on the snare drum rim and tends to break them in the process. True to Scottish form, he doesn’t buy new ones but simply tapes up the old. Don’t live in expectation at the end of Mn4 gigs – you won’t find him chucking his precious sticks into the audience – Remember a Scotsman is a Yorkshireman with all the generosity squeezed out. If that statement doesn’t get me into trouble then nothing will! This man is popular – his fan club doubled in numbers during the last 6 months – there are now two of them – and one of them is that cooling device he keeps next to his kit (see picture) to stop him getting so sweaty. Move over John Bonham!

Other also-rans on Tom’s list:

  Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath/Dio)

Tommy Aldridge Frizzy-haired hired hand, seen in Whitesnake, Ozzy’s band and Thin Lizzy)

Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heep, Ozzy Osbourne)

Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy)

Bob Dalton (It Bites)