Drummerworld's "Top 10 Drummers" UPDATED to Top 15 *

[Isaac Lee]

They forgot to add Joey and Travis.

On a serious note. Its hard for me to imagine a top 10 list without Virgil. I really think DiCenso is incredible as well. More so then some of the giants on that list imho.

If it's "just" about the drumming (boring...) sure you could add Virgil or DiCenso, but the question we have to think is : what these did bring to the music industry ? Not that much...

They are great drummers/musicians, but their discography, their impact on the music industry is too minor, don't you think so ?

Ya. I can see your point for sure man.

[beat hit]

Billy Cobham definitely needs to be in there... I'd remove Louie Bellson and insert Billy instead.

[Manu]

I think HOD's top ten would have Cobham and Erskoman and maybe even Steve Smith.

[Rodge]

Why Steve Smith ?

If you put Cobham, that I want, and Ersko, who do you get off ?
As we are not that rock here at HoD, you could put off Bonham, and maybe Krupa as we have Buddy and Louis. (is he the 1st one playing with two bass drum ?)
Maybe we should entire our own top 10 ? I start, no order :

- Vinnie
- Tain
- Omar
- Stewart
- Fish
- Jeff
- Billy
- Elvin
- Tony
- JR

[matthughen]

Billy deserves to be on the list and I think maybe, just maybe he bumps Weckle or Chambers. . . .
I have girlfreinds (ok one) who knew who Bonham was but never Weckle/Chambers. I think when there is a social component (like Krupa) to the impact a DRUMMER has that makes them pretty special.

Why oh why couldn't Drummerworld make it a top 12???!!!???!!???!!

[mind_drummer]

If I could replace only one name in that list, well, I'd remove Elvin Jones and replace it with Max Roach...

[YamahaPlayer]

"what these did bring to the music industry ? They are great drummers/musicians, but their discography, their impact on the music industry is too minor, don't you think so ?"

Exactly. That's why a "Top 10" list needs to be based on something quantifiable, for instance, Most Recorded would be interesting. It'd be something like..

Vinnie
Hal Blaine
Gary Chester
Bernard Purdie
Jeff Porcaro
etc...


Otherwise, it's a purely arbitrary list. Just as arbitrary as picking 10, as opposed to 12 or 8.

[Christopher]

Yep.

Open ended, non- genre specific type lists like these (although well intentioned, I’m sure) most times do little but just cause controversy. Even in the intended audiences.

And 10? Way too short in this day and age.

Maybe 10 would have cut it 50 or 75 years ago. When there were far fewer top players. Dunno

So many great and influential players, 10 is way too short.

Besides the aforementioned Billy Cobham, Peter Erskine and Virgil Donati, let’s look at a few others who didn’t make the cut…

Joe Morello
Simon Phillips
Jeff Porcaro
Papa Jo Jones
Keith Moon
Art Blakey
Neil Peart
Max Roach
Roy Haynes
Philly Joe Jones
Stewart Copeland

All monster players that had major influence over tons of drummers. Most of us here included.

Yeah, 10 is way too short for me.

[Pocketplayer]

...are STUPID!

Let's reduce an artist's life to a roundhouse of ten individuals so we'll have something to say at the next party.

UGH!

It's great for late night TV...but not for the drummers who gather to talk drums. John Bonham is better than Ian Paice
because Ian Paice is better than Keith Moon, because Keith Moon is better than Bill Ward because Bill Ward is better than
Doanne Perry because Doanne Perry is better than Mitch Mitchell because Mitch Mitchell is better than Terry Bozzio because
Terry Bozzio played roto toms in the 80's and sounds like a girl when he speaks.

HELP ME!

[Sam]

Jesus yeah, didn't even think of Joe Morello.....obvious candidate right there.