Ten Most Underrated Drummers in Rock

[Squirrel Man]

I went from totally disrespecting him when I was a kid in the 90s to marveling at him creating the perfect parts for every song today. I love his drumming now, but I for sure wouldn't put him on an underrated list.

Looking at his creativity, accomplishments and positive approach to the craft...

I'm a big fan in a lot of ways, that's all I can say.

 

[supershifter2]

Roger Earl - Savoy Brown , Foghat

Curly Smith - with everybody, but especially Jo Jo Gunne

Semi anonymous .

yep ! good ole Roger over and out !

 

[SKINZ]

A bad ass mofo and former client I teched for..... Matt is Sublime ......

 

[Deafmoon]

Larry Mullen?!?!

I vote for JOHN WEATHERS... Gentle Giant

Also... Curly Smith... Have not heard that name in years! Really dug the JO JO GUNNE album back when.........

Pugwash is way too under-rated!

 

[Deafmoon]

Dave Grohl is also on the Over-Rated list.

 

[Houndog]

A bad ass mofo and former client I teched for..... Matt is Sublime ......

I consider him an influence.
He’s in my top ten list ...

 

[Bandit]

I went from totally disrespecting him when I was a kid in the 90s to marveling at him creating the perfect parts for every song today. I love his drumming now, but I for sure wouldn't put him on an underrated list.

I just wish he could string three words together without swearing.

 

[Grooovepig]

How about Mick Fleetwood and Roger Taylor?????

Not exactly technical virtuosos on the instrument (although Dragon Attack off Queen - The Game slays me ((see what I did there?)) every time), but both come up with amazing parts that fit the song perfectly; and both have a feel that is very difficult to imitate.

 

[Morello Man]

Graham Edge?

 

[supershifter2]

1. Richard Hughes(Johnny Wniter)
2.Bill Marshall(LarryRaspberry)
3.Bobby Caldwell
4.Uncle John Turner
5.Edgar Winter
6.Bobby T.
7.Brian Hitt(REO)
8.Fito D La Parra(Canned Heat)
9.Bobby Rondinelli
10.Chuck Burgi

 

[langmick]

I have a few to ad.

Max Weinberg
Jerry Marotta
Don Brewer
Graham Lear

Caught a Foo Fighters show...the lyrics must have been written in ALL CAPS. A one-dimensional show imo.

 

[supershifter2]

1.Dave Holland
2.Johnnie Bolin
3.Les Binks
4.John Halsey
5.Gil Moore
6.Bobby Ramirez
7.Danny King
8.Bobby Chouinard
9.Peter Criss
10.Ron Bushy

 

[WLVN]

May he rest in peace...
Barry ‘Frosty’ Smith

 

[mydadisjr]

EDGAR WINTER, BABY!!

Check him out... 24 years old, playing an early version of FRANKENSTEIN, 1970 in Europe with brother Johnny... Edgar starts a 2:30, and he really does have some chops.

 

[DBC]

Mel Gaynor - Simple Minds
Manny Elias - Tears for Fears
Topper Headon - The Clash
Steve Ferrone - Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, etc.
I'll even throw in W.S. Holland! Johnny Cash's drummer. Very creative and unique setup

 

[speady1]

Technically, the drumming is and has evolved. What we don't see anymore is much personality in playing or signature sound. Everyone sounds the same. That's my opinion though.

That's what the music industry has become over the last 20 years. If you want to work at the highest level, you have to play and sound like what the "industry" wants. I can list at least 30 incredible drummers I know personally, that play on dozens of records every year where they don't even recognize their parts when finally released. Snapping to the grid and sound replacement via Ableton is the industry standard these days. Even if you play/record your parts with a signature sound, it gets whitewashed by some producer/engineer in the mix to make the "industry" happy. It's all SO stupid, but it is what the industry has become.

We are currently re-living the disco era in recorded drumming without the snazzy bad fashion. Everything is cyclical and I pray for the change to arrive daily.

 

[ludwignut]

I never hear any drummers mention Pierre Van Der Linden as an underrated drummer , or let alone mention him at all , even though he is an amazing drummer.

 

[langmick]

We are currently re-living the disco era in recorded drumming without the snazzy bad fashion.

I think there was plenty of real drumming on those disco tracks, except the ones by Giorgio Moroder. Someof them ha some personality as well.

 

[gra7]

Nah - that list doesn’t mention hardly any drummers that get next to no acknowledgement.

when I think underrated I think of:

Simon Kirke (Free / Bad Company)
Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello)
Stefan Kaufman (Accept - from 1979 to 1989)
Terry Chambers (XTC - and Dragon in 1983/1984)
Urs Hiestand (The Young Gods)
Alan White (Yes)

 

[drawtheline55]

To me drummers who help shape the sound of the band....when you take them out something is missing.
Joey Kramer
Mr. Carlos
Stephen Jo Bladd
Jeff Porcaro (Toto has never been the same without him)