Musical selection of the Evening.. Tonights Artist: Battle of the R&R Drummers

[bsnicely]

This evening is going to be a little different. I am going to post some videos of some of the greatest Rock & Roll drummers. Watch the videos and we will discuss who is the best. We will probably not come to a conclusion but thats OK, everyone has their favorite, as I do. I think everyone knows I vote for Neil Peart, but thats just me ( but if you disagree with me you are wrong!!  )



The drum is a member of the percussion group of music instruments, technically classified as a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with parts of a player's body, or with some sort of implement such as a drumstick, to produce sound. Other techniques have been used to cause drums to make sound, such as the "Thumb roll". Drums are the world's oldest and most ubiquitous musical instruments, and the basic design has remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years. Most drums are considered "untuned instruments", however many modern musicians are beginning to tune drums to songs; Terry Bozzio has constructed a kit using diatonic and chromatically tuned drums. A few such as timpani are always tuned to a certain pitch. Often, several drums are arranged together to create a drum kit.

The shell almost invariably has a circular opening over which the drumhead is stretched, but the shape of the remainder of the shell varies widely. In the western musical tradition, the most usual shape is a cylinder, although timpani, for example, use bowl-shaped shells. Other shapes include a frame design (tar, Bodhrán), truncated cones (bongo drums, Ashiko), goblet shaped (djembe), and joined truncated cones (talking drum).

 
Drums with cylindrical shells can be open at one end (as is the case with timbales), or can have two drum heads. Single-headed drums normally consist of a skin which is stretched over an enclosed space, or over one of the ends of a hollow vessel. Drums with two heads covering both ends of a cylindrical shell often have a small hole somewhat halfway between the two heads; the shell forms a resonating chamber for the resulting sound. Exceptions include the African slit drum, made from a hollowed-out tree trunk, and the Caribbean steel drum, made from a metal barrel. Drums with two heads can also have a set of wires, called snares, held across the bottom head, top head, or both heads, hence the name snare drum.

On modern band and orchestral drums, the drumhead is placed over the opening of the drum, which in turn is held onto the shell by a "counterhoop" (or "rim), which is then held by means of a number of tuning keyscrews called "tension rods" (also known as lugs) placed regularly around the circumference. The head's tension can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the rods. Many such drums have six to ten tension rods. The sound of a drum depends on several variables, including shape, size and thickness of its shell, materials from which the shell was made, counterhoop material, type of drumhead used and tension applied to it, position of the drum, location, and the velocity and angle in which it is struck.

Prior to the invention of tension rods drum skins were attached and tuned by rope systems such as that used on the Djembe or pegs and ropes such as that used on Ewe Drums, a system rarely used today, although sometimes seen on regimental marching band snare drums.

Drums are usually played by the hand, or by one or two sticks. In many traditional cultures drums have a symbolic function and are often used in religious ceremonies. Drums are often used in music therapy, especially hand drums, because of their tactile nature and easy use by a wide variety of people.

Within the realm of popular music and jazz, "drums" usually refers to a drum kit or a set of drums (with some cymbals) and "drummer" to the actual band member or person who plays them.

In the past drums have been used not only for their musical qualities, but also as a means of communication, especially through signals. The talking drums of Africa can imitate the inflections and pitch variations of a spoken language and are used for communicating over great distances. Throughout Sri Lankan history drums have been used for communication between the state and the community, and Sri Lankan drums have a history stretching back over 2500 years. Chinese troops used tàigǔ drums to motivate troops, to help set a marching pace, and to call out orders or announcements. Fife-and-drum corps of Swiss mercenary foot soldiers also used drums. They used an early version of the snare drum carried over the player's right shoulder, suspended by a strap (typically played with one hand using traditional grip). It is to this instrument that the English word "drum" was first used. Similarly, during the English Civil War rope-tension drums would be carried by junior officers as a means to relay commands from senior officers over the noise of battle. These were also hung over the shoulder of the drummer and typically played with two drum sticks. Different regiments and companies would have distinctive and unique drum beats which only they would recognize.

YYZ - Rush ( Neil Peart Drum Solo )	powered by Aeva

YYZ drum solo Neil Peart / Rush

John Bonham - Moby Dick Drum Solo (1973)	powered by Aeva

Moby Dick drum solo   John Bonham / Led Zepplin

Carl Palmer solo	powered by Aeva

Carl Palmer drum solo  Emmerson Lake & Palmer

Keith Moon Drum Solo - Intro By Carmine Appice	powered by Aeva

Keith Moon drum solo

Cream - Toad (w/ Extended Drum Solo)	powered by Aeva

Toad drum solo  Ginger Baker / Cream

Bill Bruford solo em "Long Distance Runaround" - ABWH	powered by Aeva

Bill Bruford drum solo / Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe. Long Distance Runaround

impossible drum solo by mike portnoy	powered by Aeva

Mike Portnoy of Dream Theatre

Ian Paice Drum Solo	powered by Aeva

Ian Paice from Deep Purple

carmine appice-Evil Solo	powered by Aeva

Carmine Appice

Blake Richardson - Prequel to the Sequel pt. 2	powered by Aeva

Blake Richardson from Between the Buried and Me

Tommy Aldridge Drum Solo 1973 - Black Oak Arkansas: "UP"	powered by Aeva

Tommy Aldridge, who has played for everyone....

I know there are more great drummers, if you have a fav to post put it up and we'll listen, then let the " discussion " commence. We will do a like post later RE: Jazz Drummers.


Thanks Russ.........

[the inspector]

Vinnie Colaiuta

found a you tube vid but don't know how to post.....

[Mike in AR]

Ron Bushy of Iron Butterfly on the drum solo on In-a Goda-Divida(sp)

[fstsix]

Cool special edition tonight here is Vinnie, inspector

Vinnie Colaiuta Solo during "Actual Proof"	powered by Aeva

[Cowbell]

Good post.  Zach told me he made you add Blake Richardson

Blake is amazing, the best since Buddy Rich in my opinion.

[the inspector]

Thanks for posting that for me fstsix.

"the inspector"

[Scott in Ok]

Alex Van Halen:

Alex Van Halen - Drum Solo OU812 tour

Alex Van Halen - Drum Solo

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I went and checked the 100 best of all time ( according to the link below ) ...Ringo Starr # 13     You know whoever made that list needs to step away from the bong.

I'll agree with you Brian but just barely John Bonham would have gotten better with time just as Peart has.
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_drummers.html

[thumper]

Keith Moon hands down.  Listen to "I can see for miles"....the drums are the lead instrument.

The best drum solo I ever saw was Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" from Woodstock.  Dude rocks.

JMHO

[Gilligan]

Wow!!!  I had a good time with these.  Thanks, Brian.         

PS
My vote goes to Neil Peart

[Scanner]

[aeva]

I went and checked the 100 best of all time ( according to the link below ) ...Ringo Starr # 13     You know whoever made that list needs to step away from the bong.

I'll agree with you Brian but just barely John Bonham would have gotten better with time just as Peart has.
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_drummers.html

[/aeva]

Can you imagine The Beatles with Peart as their drummer? No, I don't think so.  Ringo was perfect for The Beatles as they made music and songs, not drum solo's. If the question was best soloist, well that is one thing and best drummer is entirely different. 

Playing in bands for the last 40 years, I've auditioned many a "drummer" who can solo like crazy but couldn't play with a band if his life depended on it.  Soloing and making the band fit together are separate skills, and I'll take the drummer over the soloist every time.

Give me Ritchie Hayward (Little Feat), Benny Benjamin, Hal Blaine, Al Jackson and the like any day over a "soloist".

[6jugzz]

I just gotta go with Ginger Baker........Cream. I saw this guy play "back in the day" he had his sticks taped to his hands and they rolled him out in a wheel chair,and he blew us away......I think,alot of stuff got smoked back then!!!

[Gilligan]

Soloing and making the band fit together are separate skills ...

Having played drums in dozens of bands since 1962, I have to agree with you, Scanner. A drummer is a musician and an artist after all. The musicianship and artistry of a drummer can make or break a band, whether or not he can play great solos.

[Steve K (IA)]

OK, after listening to all of them, my vote goes to Ginger Baker first and Tommy Aldridge second.  The others are Good with the bands they are a part of, but I wouldn't care to have to sit through a drum solo.  Seen Black Oak twice back in the mid 70's so I've seen/heard Tommy Aldridge before. 

Here's my favorite;

Don Brewer.
Grand Funk Live - T.N.U.C.(with drum solo)

[fstsix]

Well my son seems to think this is the new rock,I stayed away from jazz lol  ........Mr lester Estelle. Pillar - Frontline live

[Cowbell]

[aeva]

[aeva]

I went and checked the 100 best of all time ( according to the link below ) ...Ringo Starr # 13     You know whoever made that list needs to step away from the bong.

I'll agree with you Brian but just barely John Bonham would have gotten better with time just as Peart has.
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_drummers.html

[/aeva]

Can you imagine The Beatles with Peart as their drummer? No, I don't think so.  Ringo was perfect for The Beatles as they made music and songs, not drum solo's. If the question was best soloist, well that is one thing and best drummer is entirely different.  

Playing in bands for the last 40 years, I've auditioned many a "drummer" who can solo like crazy but couldn't play with a band if his life depended on it.  Soloing and making the band fit together are separate skills, and I'll take the drummer over the soloist every time.

Give me Ritchie Hayward (Little Feat), Benny Benjamin, Hal Blaine, Al Jackson and the like any day over a "soloist".

[/aeva]

A drummer myself, I have to agree with you, but it should also be said that just doing what a band needs doesnt make a good drummer.  I'm not suggesting big drum solos or anything, but while Ringo did what the Beatles needed drum wise, that's all he did.  He brought nothing special or technical to the table.  

I look at a band like Between the Buried and Me and see a group of musicians who are all the best at what they do, with no weak links.  A drummer shouldn't steal the attention away from the band, but he shouldn't sit in the back either.  The entire band should be on the same level of playing, constantly progressing to a point where you can have the technical drumming that makes an amazing drummer without it becoming obnoxious due to the fact that its just overpowering.

[the inspector]

Cowbell....you are correct. That's where Vinnie Colaiuta excells, check him out.

"the inspector"

[Gilligan]

A drummer myself, I have to agree with you, but it should also be said that just doing what a band needs doesnt make a good drummer.  I'm not suggesting big drum solos or anything, but while Ringo did what the Beatles needed drum wise, that's all he did.  He brought nothing special or technical to the table.  

A drummer shouldn't steal the attention away from the band, but he shouldn't sit in the back either.  The entire band should be on the same level of playing, constantly progressing to a point where you can have the technical drumming that makes an amazing drummer without it becoming obnoxious due to the fact that its just overpowering.

   I totally agree, Cowbell.  Some of us older drummers, however, aren't progressing anymore. We might even be slipping a little. The arms, wrists and fingers aren't as fast and strong as they used to be.      But we still enjoy playing.   

PS
I agree with you about Ringo, too.  He never impressed me.

[Scanner]

Ringo never tried to impress anyone.  His job was to serve the music and he did that with great skill.

http://www.classicdrummer.com/archives/vdmarchives/Drummers/GreggBissonette.pdf

By the way, I fully agree, Vinnie Colaiuta is a monster!  Check out his work with Jeff Beck on You Tube.

[fstsix]

Looking back, and at this list one thing is for sure i am gettin old . Its been 30+ years since i have played percussion, but i do have in my truck, (Beck Bogert Appice) CD 'Superstition' is awesome by Appice,. 'Anlsey Dunbar' 'Ralph Humphry' so many tight drummers hard choice here. started playing @ 12 and retired @ 18 played the the R&R circuit in OC CA for a few years. even seen Van Halen at a big party in a back yard before they hit the big time.My drum teacher was from Germany and was Amazing he took lessons from Jeff Porcaro's father Joe Porcaro.The one thing that always impressed me was a drummer that could make a POS small drum kit sound Massive using all the cymbals not just a loud performance but crisp and could play Hard rock or Jazz even the Polka lol.Amazing Drum Solo

[Gilligan]

[aeva]

Looking back, and at this list one thing is for sure i am gettin old . Amazing Drum Solo

[/aeva]
Hey, fstsix, thanks for the link to the 16-year-old drummer in New Zealand.  I sent it to my youngest grandson, who wants to be a drummer.

PS
I was 16 in 1960, and this is what I was playing.   

The Ventures "Walk Don't Run"

[fstsix]

Ya have a couple of years on me,but i was body surfing @ Seal Beach every weekend back in the sixties just a 'kid' and that song just brings it back  BTW that 16 year old has 'what' 2.000.000 hits lol. I would give him a dollar for each time i have watched him he could be all set $  .  Send your grandson Thomas also.Thomas Pridgen at Modern Drummer Fest 2008 (New footage)

[Gilligan]

[aeva]

Ya have a couple of years on me,but i was body surfing @ Seal Beach every weekend back in the sixties url]

[/aeva]

Aha!  You surfed and are a drummer too?  Here's a drum solo that captures the essence of drumming and surfing.  (I played this a "million" times at gigs.)
The Surfaris Wipe out 1963

And of course, there's this one for an old drummer and surfer ...
The Chantay's - Pipeline (Lawrence Welk Show 5/18/63)

[Cowbell]

Greatest drummer that ever lived; Buddy Rich

Buddy Rich stick trick solo

At the end of the day though, I prefer marching drums to sets.  My favorite DCI drumline (albeit not my favorite DCI corps), the Blue Devils

DCI 2009 - Blue Devils Drumline in the lot @ Dallas, TX - 7/17/2009

And Tim Jackson, an Ex Blue Devils tenor player

Tim Jackson - Drum Solo 2005

[Gilligan]

Buddy Rich --- the Blue Devils --- Tim Jackson

You sure put up some great drumming, Cowbell.  I'm going to send Tim Jackson's solo to my grandson.  That is jaw-dropping technique.     He even went to traditional grip with his left hand.  Is he right-handed?  Sixteenth notes on each hand!  Are you kidding me?

Thanks.

[thumper]

[aeva]

Greatest drummer that ever lived; Buddy Rich

Buddy Rich stick trick solo

At the end of the day though, I prefer marching drums to sets.  My favorite DCI drumline (albeit not my favorite DCI corps), the Blue Devils

DCI 2009 - Blue Devils Drumline in the lot @ Dallas, TX - 7/17/2009

And Tim Jackson, an Ex Blue Devils tenor player

Tim Jackson - Drum Solo 2005

[/aeva]

Don't really think that Buddy Rich qualifies as a R+R drummer.  I was taking drum lessons as a kid and stayed up late to see Buddy Rich on the Johnny Carson show.  Two drummers played against each other and I thought the other guy was Rich because he was much better.  His name was Louis Belson.

If we're going this route shouldn't we give props to probably the first guy to put drumming in the spotlight....Gene Kurpa?

[fstsix]

The Buddy Rich Bomb got dropped  In golf it was Arnold Palmer and then came Tiger,but tiger is still young got a lot of time left. And then it was Buddy Rich and  now comes Tony Royster jr, still young and still learning give him 20 more years to perfect his skills.Tony Royster Jr. and Thomas Pridgen on GospelChops.com

[fstsix]

But can Thomas due ROCK? i think he could even do some Polka lol.The Mars Volta on Letterman (HQ)

[judd]

Add this fella to the mix...................insane Mike Terrana - Ddrum Promo

[Gilligan]

Add this fella to the mix...................insane

Hey, Judd, I'd never heard of Mike Terrana before. He does some impressive stuf. Thanks for posting him.