Consequence’s Drum Week gets rolling with our list of the 100 Best Drummers of All Time. Make sure to stay tuned for additional lists, artist-driven content, and more as we celebrate the visceral instruments that give us all the beat. You can also revisit our tribute to the other half of the rhythm section, our list of the 100 Best Bassists of All Time.
Todd Rundgren put it best: “I don’t want to work/ I want to bang on the drum all day.”
Now, Rundgren might not be one of the best to ever sit upon a drum throne, but he was definitely onto something. Drums are a damn thing of beauty. Few instruments are as physical, visceral, or powerful. They’re the glue that keeps the band together, a driving force that gets your hips moving — and as any drummer will tell you, they’re a hell of a lot of fun to play.
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So, we decided it was high time we made some noise for the backbone of the rhythm section, and we knew we couldn’t go about it alone. After all, ranking the greatest drummers of all time is no small feat. Luckily, we had nearly 70 of our favorite players from a range of genres, eras, and styles to help us out by taking our artist survey. Guided by their rhythmic wisdom, we managed to emerge on the other side with a rundown of history’s most killer drummers.
Raw skill, innovation, swagger, and cultural contributions were all taken into consideration. As a result, some of the drummers on the list are technical wizards, able to play syncopated tuplets and 14:39 polyrhythms without breaking a sweat. Others were creative progressives, helping develop the art form as new styles and trends emerged. Some are just bad motherf*ckers who know exactly what to play, when to play it, and how it should sound.
So, grab some pots, pans, and something to bang on them with, and join us as we chart through the 100 Best Drummers of All Time. You’ll hear from Consequence staffers, as well as direct testimonials from our survey participants, including Josh Freese, Mike Portnoy, Dale Crover, and more.
Then, keep an eye out for more drum-tastic lists, interviews, and editorials as Consequence’s Drum Week continues.
— Jonah Krueger
Editorial Coordinator