The Best Drummers of All Time Bands/Musicians
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The Best Drummers of All Time

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Who is the greatest drummer ever? This is a list of the best drummers of all time, voted on and ranked by music lovers worldwide. Add your own list or vote on the greatest drummers here. Although many of the top drummers in history are inarguably rock drummers, this list is not restricted to just rock music.

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Rank     Name Genre(s) Career Began Albums
  1. 1
    Up 258
    Down 189
    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Folk rock, Blues-rock
    Most Listed
  2. 2
    Up 206
    Down 162
    Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock, Heavy metal, Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Power pop, Blues, Surf music, Art rock, Protopunk, Skiffle More
    Harlesden
    Two Sides of the Moon
  3. 3
    Up 281
    Down 186
    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Heavy metal, Jazz, Swing, Big band
    Hamilton
    A Work in Progress, The Hockey Theme, Anatomy of a Drum Solo
  4. 4
    Up 170
    Down 153
    Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Big band
    Brooklyn
    Very Live at Buddy's Place, Buddy Rich Presented by Lionel Hampton, Krupa and Rich, Stick It, Rich in London, The Lionel Hampton Art Tatum Buddy Rich Trio, Sing and Swing with Buddy Rich, The Roar of '74, Class of '78, Live At Ronnie Scott's, Buddy's Rock (feat. Lionel Hampton), Swingin' New Big Band, Buddy Rich in Miami, Playtime, Buddy Rich Just Sings, Buddy and Sweets, Very Live at Buddy's Place, Rich and Famous, Compact Jazz, In Miami, Midnite Jazz & Blues: Courage, Richcraft, The Greatest Drummer That Ever Lived With... The Best Band I Ever Had, The Swinging Buddy Rich, Rich and Famous, Are You Ready for This?, The Bull, Live at Ronnie Scott's, Rich Versus Roach, Plays and Plays and Plays, Big Band Machine, Big Swing Face, The Voice Is Rich, The Lester Young Buddy Rich Trio, No Funny Hats, No Jive, Giant Steps, Together Again: For the First Time, Rich Ala Rahka, The Buddy Rich Band, Mercy, Mercy, A Different Drummer, Buddy Rich Sings Johnny Mercer, The Wailing Buddy Rich, Rags to Riches, Buddy & Soul, Time Out, Jazz Off the Air, Volume 5: The Cinch, The Legendary Buddy Rich, This One's for Basie, Burnin' Beat, The Jazz Masters, The Flip Phillips Buddy Rich Trio, The Driver, The New One!, Wham!, Time Being, Great Moments, The Best of Buddy Rich: The Pacific Jazz Years, Mr. Drums: Buddy Rich & His Band Live on King Street, Blues Caravan, That's Rich, Last Blues Album More
  5. 5
    Up 193
    Down 90
    Rock music, Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Pop rock, Soft rock, Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Jazz, Rock and roll, Blue-eyed soul, Big band More
    Chiswick
    The Platinum Collection, Strangers Like Me, Live and Loose in Paris, Tarzan: The Broadway Musical, Both Sides, Hits, Sussudio, Going Back, That's Just the Way It Is, True Colors, Finally... The First Farewell Tour, Best Ballads, Hello, I Must Be Going!, Wear My Hat, Buster, Every Day, Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack, Son of Man, You'll Be in My Heart, Dance into the Light, Testify, Serious Hits… Live!, In The Air Tonight '88, Two Hearts, It's in Your Eyes, Dance Into the Light, The Very Best Of, Tarzan, In the Air Tonight, Tarzan, I Missed Again, Phil Collins, True Colors, Live USA, 12"ers, Face Value, Tarzan (2007 Original Dutch Cast), No Jacket Required, 2001 Diamond Collection, No Matter Who, Tarzan, The Platinum Collection, Easy Lover, Don't Lose My Number, Tarzan (Deutsche Originalversion), ...But Seriously, Hand in Hand, SW 49 Phil Collins Live, Another Day in Paradise, Brother Bear: Original Soundtrack, Thru' These Walls, Hero, No Song of Mine: The Best of Collins, Live and Loose in Paris, At Fukuoka Dome: Live, Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore, We Wait and We Wonder, If Leaving Me Is Easy, Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New, Wild Connections (feat. Gary Moore and Rod Argent), You Can't Hurry Love, I Wish It Would Rain Down, A Groovy Kind of Love, Separate Lives, Both Sides of the Story, Like china, Lalo's Selection: Best of Phil Collins and Genesis, Can't Stop Loving You, Tarzan En Español, In the Air Tonight, Collection 2000, A Little Bit of Something for the Weekend, Wake Up Call, Do You Remember?, Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now), Flying Hits 6 More
  6. 6
    Up 89
    Down 160
    Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Blues-rock, Jazz, Psychedelic rock
    Live !, Horses & Trees, Stratavarious, Do What You Like, No Material, African Force, Middle Passage More
  7. 7
    Up 108
    Down 128
    Alternative rock, Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal, Punk rock, Thrash metal, Death metal, Hardcore punk, Post-grunge, Stoner rock, Doom metal, Grunge music More
    Warren
    Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, Foo Fighters, Pocketwatch, Probot, Touch More
    Controversial
  8. 8
    Up 97
    Down 41
    Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Pop rock
    Mas de Ti con Don Moen, Paul Wilbur y Aline Barros
  9. 9
    Up 100
    Down 166
    Rock music, Jazz, New Wave, Pop music, Reggae, Reggae rock, Progressive rock More
    Alexandria
    The Equaliser & Other Cliffhangers, The Leopard Son, The Rhythmatist, Rapa Nui, Silent Fall, Klark Kent, Klert Kant, Kollected Works, Rumble Fish, The Stewart Copeland Anthology, Rumble Fish, Talk Radio / Wall Street More
  10. 10
    Up 92
    Down 129
    Rock music, Pop music, Psychedelic rock, World music
    Liverpool
    Concert for George, Beaucoups of Blues, Sentimental Journey, Goodnight Vienna, Bad Boy, Time Takes Time, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, Ringo Starr and His third All-Starr Band-Volume 1, Y Not, Blast From Your Past, Vertical Man, Old Wave, Ringo Rama, Ringo, Photograph, Tour 2003, Photograph: The Digital Greatest Hits, Ringo the 4th, Most Famous Hits, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, Volume 2: Live From Montreux, Liverpool 8, Ringo 5.1: The Surround Sound Collection, It Don't Come Easy, Goodnight Vienna, Choose Love, Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Live 2006, VH1 Storytellers, Ringo Starr: Live at Soundstage, Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr, Y Not, Extended Versions, Ringo Starr and Friends, Anthology... So Far, I Wanna Be Santa Claus, Stop and Smell the Roses, Scouse the Mouse, Starr Struck: Best of Ringo Starr, Vol. 2, Time Takes Time, Ringo's Rotogravure More
    Controversial
  11. 11
    Up 54
    Down 125
    Rock music, Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Jazz, Instrumental rock
    Sevenoaks
    Master Strokes: 1978-1985, Fragile, Summerfold Collection (disc 1), Yessongs, Symphonic Music of Yes, Close to the Edge, Gradually Going Tornado More
  12. 12
    Up 87
    Down 164
    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Heavy metal, Thrash metal, Progressive metal, Metalcore More
    Prime Cuts, Cover to Cover
    Controversial
  13. 13
    Up 54
    Down 87
    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Thrash metal, Speed metal
  14. 14
    Up 51
    Down 97
    Alternative rock, Progressive rock, Drum and bass, Punk rock, Hip hop music, Pop punk, Power pop, Rapcore, Rap metal, Electronic rock, Ska, Post-hardcore, Ska punk, Third-wave of ska, Skate punk More
    Fontana
    Give the Drummer Some, Let the Drummer Get Wicked
    Controversial
  15. 15
    Up 57
    Down 138
    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock
  16. 16
    Up 43
    Down 89
    Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock, Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Psychedelic rock, Rock and roll, Reggae, Blues More
    London
  17. 17
    Up 45
    Down 52
    Jazz, Swing, Dixieland, Big band
    Chicago
    Krupa and Rich, Quadromania: Drummin' Man, Drums Drums Drums, In Concert, Giants of the Big Band Era, The Gene Krupa Story, Jazz Masters: Gene Krupa, Compact Jazz, Gene Krupa Live at the New School, Gene Krupa Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements, Dejavu Retro Gold Collection, Drummin' Man, That Drummer's Band, Wire Brush Stomp, The Instrumental Mr. Krupa More
    Most Passionate
  18. 18
    Up 58
    Down 96
    Hard rock, Heavy metal
    Nijmegen
    Controversial
  19. 19
    Up 37
    Down 62
    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock, Psychedelic rock, Glam metal More
    Guitar Zeus, Guitar Zeus, Volume 2, Carmine Appice, Guitar Zeus, Volume 1, Ultimate Realistic Rock More
  20. 20
    Up 31
    Down 76
    Progressive rock, Psychedelic rock, Instrumental rock
    Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports
  21. 21
    Up 54
    Down 97
    Rock music, Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Jazz, Psychedelic rock
  22. 22
    Up 53
    Down 132
    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock, Pop rock, Electronic dance music, Electronica, Art rock More
    'Do Ya Wanna Play Carl?', Welcome Back, My Friends, to the Show That Never Ends... Ladies and Gentlemen, Working Live, Volume 2, Working Live, Volume 1 More
  23. 23
    Up 41
    Down 89
    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock, Doom metal, Blues
    Ward One: Along the Way, Beyond Aston, When the Bough Breaks
  24. 24
    Up 41
    Down 58
    Rock music, Blues-rock, Blues
    I'm Not Me, Blue Again, The Visitor
  25. 25
    Up 38
    Down 74
    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock
  26. 26

    Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan

  27. 27
    Up 44
    Down 125
    Classical music, Alternative rock, Rock music, Jazz fusion, Synthpop, New Wave, Jazz More
    Prime Cuts, Chamber Works, Drawing the Circle
  28. 28
    Alternative rock, Pop rock, New Wave
    Electric Fire
  29. 29
    Up 39
    Down 63
    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Punk rock, Thrash metal, Black metal, Death metal, Alternative metal, Funk-rock, Glam rock, Power metal, Progressive metal, Glam metal, Metalcore, Doom metal, Oi!, Extreme metal, Horror punk, Nu metal, Industrial metal, Avant garde metal, Groove metal, Glam punk More
  30. 30
    Up 49
    Down 102
    Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Heavy metal, Experimental rock, Progressive metal, Industrial rock More
  31. 31
    Up 34
    Down 64
    Rock music, Popular music, Jazz
    Newark
  32. 32
    Alternative rock, Rock music, Hard rock, New Wave, Punk rock, Pop punk, Hardcore punk, Garage rock More
  33. 33
    Up 40
    Down 103
    Heavy metal, Thrash metal, Death metal, Speed metal, Avant garde metal, Groove metal More
    South Gate
    Drums of Death, Drums of Death
  34. 34
    Alternative rock, Hard rock, Heavy metal, Alternative metal, Neo-Psychedelia, Garage rock, Grunge music, Psychedelic music More
  35. 35
    Up 33
    Down 52
    Alternative rock, Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal, Punk rock, Experimental rock, Funk-rock, Jazz-funk, Punk jazz More
  36. 36
    Heavy metal, Thrash metal, Glam metal, Southern rock, Groove metal
    Dallas
  37. 37
    Up 40
    Down 108
    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Heavy metal, Blues-rock, Instrumental rock More
    Cirencester
    Over the Top, Octopuss, Especially for You, Dance With the Devil, The Drums Are Back, Tilt, Master Series: Cozy Powell, The Best of Cozy Powell, Sooner or Later More
  38. 38
    Up 37
    Down 99
    Rock music, Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Soul music, Jazz, Funk, Rock and roll, Bebop, Post-bop, Jazz-funk, Kozmigroov More
    Magic / Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought, The Traveler, Mississippi Knights: Live, Alivemutherforya, Shabazz, By Design, Nordic / Off Color, Billy's Best Hits, Powerplay, A Funky Thide of Sings, The Billy Cobham Anthology, The Art of Three, Spectrum, Total Eclipse, Flight Time, Culture Mix, Focused, Spectrum, Crosswinds, The Best Of, Warning, Stratus, Art of Four, Crosswinds, The Art of Three, Inner Conflicts, Nordic, Incoming, Drum'n'voice: All That Groove, Fruit From The Loom, Life & Times, Palindrome More
  39. 39
    Up 34
    Down 73
    Jazz, Bebop, Hard bop
    Pittsburgh
    Feel the Wind, A Night at Birdland Vol. 3, Indestructible, At the Jazz Corner of the World, Drums Around the Corner, The African Beat, Jazz in Paris: Paris Jam Session, Orgy in Rhythm, Volume Two, Birdland Masters, Volume 2, The Jazz Messengers, Holiday for Skins, Volume 2, Blakey with the Jazz Messengers, Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!!, Free For All, Quadromania: Out of Nowhere, Three Blind Mice, Volume 1, On View at the Five Spot Cafe, A Night at Birdland Vol. 2, Roots & Herbs, Ascenseur pour l'échafaud / Des femmes disparaissent, Jazz Messages, Art Blakey with the Original Jazz Messengers, Originally, Orgy in Rhythm, Ugetsu, The Witch Doctor, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Live at Ronnie Scott's, In This Korner, Just Jazz: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Live, Mosaic, A Night in Tunisia, Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers, The Jazz Messenger, Ken Burns Jazz: Definitive Art Blakey, Blakey, Midnite Jazz & Blues: My Romance, Birdland Masters, Volume 1, Pisces, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers With Thelonious Monk, The Big Beat, Midnite Jazz & Blues: The Breeze and I, A Jazz Hour with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Blues March, The Best of Art Blakey, Once Upon a Groove, A Night at Birdland, Volume 1, A Night at Birdland Vol. 1, At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1, At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2, Sound of Jazz, Jazz in Paris: 1958 Paris Olympia, A Night in Tunisia, Live Messengers, Latin & Jazz, Volume 1, Theory of Art, The Freedom Rider, Africaine, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, A Jazz Message, The African Beat, Child's Dance, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Africaine, The Concord Jazz Heritage Series, Caravan, A Jazz Message, The History of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Mirage, Orgy in Rhythm, Volume 1, Au Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Blues March, Paris 1958, Drum Suite, Like Someone in Love, Planet Jazz More
  40. 40
    Up 39
    Down 116
    Alternative rock, Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Black metal, World music, Fusion More
    Charlottesville
    Controversial
  41. 41
    Up 22
    Down 55
    Post-bop, Hard bop, Avant-garde jazz, Modal jazz
    Pontiac
    Youngblood, Mr. Jones, The Main Force, Poly-Currents, Brother John, The Ultimate, Genesis, IN EUROPE, Live at the Lighthouse, The Complete Blue Note Sessions, Time Capsule, Live at the Village Vanguard, Puttin' It Together, The Complete Blue Note Sessions Disc 1, Summit Meeting, Elvin!, Dear John C., Love & Peace, Remembrance, On the Mountain, It Don't Mean a Thing, Momentum Space, Flute By-Laws, The Complete Blue Note Sessions Disc 2, Coalition, At This Point In Time, New Agenda, Merry-Go-Round, Illumination!, Dear John C. More
  42. 42
    Alternative rock, Jazz fusion, Alternative metal, Experimental rock, Funk-rock More
  43. 43
    Up 19
    Down 54
    Rock music, Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Heavy metal, Jazz
    Another Lifetime, Force Majeure, Symbiosis, Protocol, Out of the Blue, Out of the Blue More
  44. 44
    Up 27
    Down 73
    Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Bebop, Blues
    Gadd About, Live at Voce, The Gadd Gang
  45. 45
    Hard rock, Heavy metal, House music, Alternative metal, Post-grunge, Glam metal, Electronic dance music, Electronica, Rapcore, Nu metal, Rap metal, Progressive electronic music, Electro house More
    Never a Dull Moment, Trying to Be Me, Tommyland: The Ride
  46. 46
    Up 18
    Down 48
    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock, Glam metal, Instrumental rock, Southern rock More
    Jackson
  47. 47
    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock, Pop rock, Heavy metal, Glam rock More
    The Unblinking Eye, Pressure On, Fun in Space, Happiness?, Man on Fire, My Country, I Wanna Testify, Electric Fire, Future Management, Surrender, Nazis 1994, Strange Frontier, Strange Frontier, Happiness, Surrender More
  48. 48
    Up 19
    Down 48
    Rock music, Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Blues-rock, Jazz, Psychedelic rock, Blues, Acid rock More
    Los Angeles
  49. 49
    Alternative rock, Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock, Punk rock, Alternative metal, Post-grunge More
    Fort Worth
  50. 50
    Up 17
    Down 47

    Ansley Dunbar

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The Best Drummers of All Time

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    1. subvertex
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 9/27/2011 1:43 PM
      Is there seriously no Phil Rudd in this list?
    2. DarthKarl
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 9/05/2011 9:51 AM
      It's a joke having Beauford that high. The fanboys must have raided this list
    3. rafa
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 5/29/2011 5:24 PM
      deen castronovo 68? scott travis 89?
    4. james
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 3/02/2012 1:49 PM
      wheres jimmy the rev sullivan?
    5. Rooky
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 1/14/2012 9:11 AM
      I've looked at a lot of these lists... Where is Jimmy Sullivan? anyone ever notice that "double bass ride thing" he did? Amazing. Totally agree with John Bonham being #1 tho.
    6. eltrut
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 2/05/2012 11:31 PM
      WTF....Ringo Starr is on this list? Are you effin' kidding me? This is a joke, right?
    7. unbelievable
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 2/28/2012 9:37 AM
      Lars Ulrich in the top 40? Ringo Starr in the top 20?? LOL
    8. krowten
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 11/16/2011 7:41 AM
      um... the late richie hayward of little feat? no one cut time as idiosyncratically as richie.
    9. Toolnut
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 11/25/2011 7:46 AM
      Where's Neil?
    10. druss300
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 1/13/2012 8:04 AM
      where's Buddy Miles?
    11. bobm839
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 11/15/2011 4:20 AM
      where is Albert Bouchard?
    12. dave5544
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 2/11/2012 12:26 PM
      Albert Bouchard drummer of Blue Oyster Cult, wrote most of the songs from Tyranny and Mutation 1973. Dynamite song is track 8, Mistress of the Salmon Salt, only missing some more Cowbell.
    13. Richard
      The Best Drummers of All Time at 3/03/2012 11:59 PM
      where is eric carr of the 80's lineup of KISS?

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