Greatest Drummers In Rock And Roll History

Drummers don’t get the attention that lead singers, guitarists, and bassists do, but they are indispensable to the band as they keep the time and give the signature rhythms that define the greatest rock and roll songs. You may not always recognize their faces, but the music would not be the same without them.

Many great drummers have been valuable creative forces in the studio as well, and various percussion innovations have changed the sound of popular music as we know it. They’ve kept you dancing and kept the energy from flagging over countless hard hitting rock songs. Read on to learn about the four greatest drummers in rock and roll history. 

Roger Taylor

The drumming in Queen’s music has a way of taking center stage, with stripped down arrangements highlighting the percussion on songs such as “We Will Rock You” and “Another Bites the Dust,” complex rhythms on “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and in your face anthemic percussion on “We Are The Champions.” The drums came courtesy of Roger Taylor, whose unique style added to the unique character of the group’s music.

Roger Taylor also played a role in a number of the band’s competitions, a notable example being their classic collaboration with David Bowie “Under Pressure.” He played more instruments than just drums as well, and he also drummed for great artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Eric Clapton. Showcasing his versatility and numerous talents was his solo work which saw him writing his own material, playing all of the instruments, and singing the songs himself.

John Bonham

John Bonham was the drummer for Led Zeppelin, and his percussion work was so vital to the group’s musical identity that when he died in 1980, the band split up as it could no longer be the same without the signature drumming of Bonham. Nicknamed “Bonzo” and “The Beast,” Bonham showed signs of his drumming talent at a young age, picking it up when he was only five years old and having it dominate his life ever since. 

One example of Bonham’s skills is on the song “Moby Dick,” where his lengthy solo is one of the song’s most notable features. Beyond Led Zeppelin, there were also his collaborations with the Wings, Lulu, Jimmy Stevens, and other artists. Many of the top drummers of the next generations, including Dave Grohl and Chad Smith, have cited him as a major inspiration, and his drumming style was hugely influential. Sadly, he was only 32 years old when he passed away from alcohol asphyxiation.

Charlie Watts

Being the Rolling Stones’ drummer, Charlie Watts is a shoe-in for an appearance on any list of the greatest drummers. His style is truly distinctive, and on songs such as “Brown Sugar” and “Paint it Black,” he showed how you can use unconventional rhythms and still have a hit rock and roll song. Never one to play by the rules, Watts went left when other drummers would go right, and the results were always spectacular as he took inspiration from blues and jazz drumming and fused it with rock and roll percussion. 

When you listen to the Stones, his drumming sticks out and adds greatly to the personality of the music. Beyond the music, he was involved in the design process for the group’s artwork. He was also known to be a decent human being with a good heart, and was according to Roger Daltrey a “perfect gentleman.” In 2021, he died when he was 80 years old.

Ringo Starr

Compared to Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, Ringo Starr seems like something of a fourth wheel on a three-wheeler, someone who added stability to The Beatles without quite being an essential figure to the group. This may be true when you have him being directly compared to his bandmates who are some of the greatest talents in the history of popular music, but he is a fierce drummer in his own right and is one who deserves to be recognized for his greatness.

Ringo got lucky getting the opportunity to join The Beatles, as it was only after the original drummer Pete Best was fired that he joined the group. Beyond drumming, he got a chance to shine singing the lead on songs such as “Yellow Submarine” and “With a Little Help from My Friends,” and it is hard to imagine those songs without Ringo’s signature vocals. He also has a signature drumming style which stems from him being left handed, and while he never reinvented the art of drumming, he was always on point and never missed a beat. He also was an important figure within the group despite not being one of its key creative forces. He was known for catchy sayings that often made their way into the group’s lyrics, such as the titles “Eight Days a Week” and “Hard Day’s Night,” and as a laid back member of the group without the ego of some of the other members, he was a great peacekeeper who kept the group’s stability intact through tough times.