Which drummers 'serve the music'?

equalsql

I picked up the new Beatles CD+DVD set called '1' at the weekend and whilst watching I realised just how good a drummer Ringo was for the music that they were playing. His drums 'served' the songs so well. He didn't play the 'hey look at me role' but just laid down the perfect beat to compliment the songs.  I think this is probably a rare thing nowadays.  

Any other players come to mind?

I'll add Levon Helm to the mix too.

not_the_dj

Max Weinberg (Sprinsteen and the E-Street Band).

On the money all the time, never overly flashy but rock solid and never takes his eyes of Bruce or misses a cue.

richardhomer

Steve Gadd, Steve Ferrone, Jim Keltner.

HollowAxis

Dave Grohl

IanSavage

Undisputed king of 'as much as required and no more' drumming is of course Phil Rudd with AC/DC.

When I played drums live I had 'WWPRD?' (What Would Phil Rudd Do?) written on my snare head to remind me not to be a flash bastard.

Rox

IanSavage said:

Undisputed king of 'as much as required and no more' drumming is of course Phil Rudd with AC/DC.

When I played drums live I had 'WWPRD?' (What Would Phil Rudd Do?) written on my snare head to remind me not to be a flash bastard.

Hopefully you didn't organise a hit out on someone?

axisus

I think that most drummers serve the music to be honest. It doesn't really work if they don't. Unless you are playing jazz of course, in which all the rule books go out the window and you don't all play the same song.

xSkarloey

axisus said:

I think that most drummers serve the music to be honest. It doesn't really work if they don't. Unless you are playing jazz of course, in which all the rule books go out the window and you don't all play the same song.

Ha ha! But au contriare. 

The best jazz drummers definitely play within themselves and always in the service of the song. 

Let's see: 

Philly Joe Jones

Elvin Jones

Jimmy Cobb

My favourite Tony Williams

Even a fusion drummer like Billy Cobham is so obviously superb and can get flashy, but if listen to what he's doing and it reveals he's the rock everything else is based on. 

That said, in order to back up your argument I humbly submit this as evidence (assuming one can call it jazz). Sincere thanks to Youtube user Dieter Wanke for uploading this gem:

PolarityMan

Josh Freese with APC is a really good example.

hobbio

Nick Mason maybe?

axisus

Isn't 'Drummer who serves the song' a euphemism for 'Not that good'?

RocknRollDave

Frank Beard Larry Mullen Jr Mel Gaynor Paul Cook Mike Joyce Rick Buckler

JezWynd

Keith Moon. Not a choice that springs immediately to mind perhaps but his playing was a large part of what defined the Who's sound.

dtr

Bernard Purdie has probably served more songs than anyone else.  He was the go-to session guy for everybody for good reason.

Then there are drummers who serve the music so well they pretty much define it, like Tony Allen.

koneguitarist

Levon Helm is undoubtedly the master at this but yeah, would have to say a Drummer that always adds to the song is Jim Keltner. My favourite in the rock arena is Ian Paice, he can swing, or rock as hard as anyone, amazing technique and feel for a heavy rock drummer.

NPP

Steve Gadd, Ian Paice, Phil Rudd all good choices. I also like Charlie Watts and in certain contexts, someone slightly more busy such as The Meters's Zig Modeliste also serves the song

StageStruck

John Coghlan, original Status Quo drummist. Nothing too flashy, but definitely has the feel for Quo's music. While his successors were decent enough drummers, none of them have had the groove or feel of Coghlan

Danny1969

John Bonham,generally he not only played the perfect parts to go with the music but the parts were so good they were the music. Even as a teenage kid who knew nothing about drums I could tell he was special. 

I really like the drummer in KOL as well, whatever his name is

lasermonkey

Bill Berry.

Chuffola

Unfashionable, but my favourite drummer is Phil Collins. He underpins any Genesis track on which he played with understated brilliance.

The drumming on Cinema Show is sublime. 

Cirrus

lasermonkey said:

Bill Berry.

great farmer too!