Which drummers 'serve the music'?

equalsql

miserneil said:

Simon Kirke

Oh yep @miserneil, can't believe I didn't mention him.  Funny thing is though, his style is not showy, but is so unique that he really defined the music of the bands he was in.

Gassage

So, second page and no-one has mentioned one of the greatest of them all.

Sugarfoot (Jonathan Moffett) Michael Jackson's musical director? (which really says everything you need?)

He is incredible. And visually the coolest ever.

NickL

Actually I'm struggling to think of well known/ pro bands where you think FFS sack the drummer.

Metallica?

EricTheWeary

JezWynd said:

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.

At least the second mention of Moon in these parts in recent days. I was listening to Live at Leeds earlier and some of the drum work is pretty shoddy ( I'm going to get shot for this I know). I think he was good at serving the song because he took cues from the vocal melodies but left to do drummy bits ( technical term) on live versions ( like Young Man Blues) revealed his limitations. I think the great drummers served the song and then showed they could be flash bastards if called for. 

EricTheWeary

NickL said:

Actually I'm struggling to think of well known/ pro bands where you think FFS sack the drummer.

Metallica?

For possibly the biggest rock band in the world it's suprisingly hard to find anyone who rates their individual members ( ie members of the band, not their penises). 

Cirrus

Imagine what a laughing stock they'd be if they hadn't produced a few good albums under intensely controlled studio sessions with an expert team of producers and engineers round them to present them in the best possible light.

DrJazzTap

See I like showy drummers. I love Jimmy Chamberlain, Clem Burke, Copeland, Bryan Mantia and Brann Dailor.

 I'd have been such a naff drummer.

PolarityMan

EricTheWeary said:

NickL said:

Actually I'm struggling to think of well known/ pro bands where you think FFS sack the drummer.

Metallica?

For possibly the biggest rock band in the world it's suprisingly hard to find anyone who rates their individual members ( ie members of the band, not their penises). 

I dunno you hear rightfully a lot of respect for James Hetfield, obviously Cliff Burton is idolized. I actually think Jason Newstead was seriously good too.

Fretwired

Ringo Star, Jim Keltner, Bernard Purdie, Colin Allen, Clayton Fillyau, John ‘Jabo’ Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Melvin Parker ..

RobDavies

PolarityMan said:

EricTheWeary said:

NickL said:

Actually I'm struggling to think of well known/ pro bands where you think FFS sack the drummer.

Metallica?

For possibly the biggest rock band in the world it's suprisingly hard to find anyone who rates their individual members ( ie members of the band, not their penises). 

I dunno you hear rightfully a lot of respect for James Hetfield, obviously Cliff Burton is idolized. I actually think Jason Newstead was seriously good too.

And while he may not be technically gifted, don't forget that Kirk wrote the riff that has become the modern equivalent of Smoke on the Water.

Rocker

Drummer and bassist lay down the foundation of the song. Anything else and you have no music.

RocknRollDave

Steven Adler on Appetite For Destruction

Fuzzdog

RocknRollDave said:

Disagree re Copeland, Peart and Moon. Don't dislike any of them or their playing, just don't feel they are the kind of selfless drummer that fits in this thread. Just my two cents!

I'd say that Peart in particular is possibly one of the best examples there is of a drummer who does what is needed for the song, rather than his drumming - every hit, roll and fill has a musical place, and fits the arrangement perfectly to fill out the sound of the three piece yes still leave plenty of space for all the other instruments.  It's always interesting hearing him when he's not playing with Rush, as he'll happily sit back there in the pocket and do exactly what the song requires, even if that's sitting there playing a basic backbeat.

Copeland is very much the same - I can't imagine any other drummer being able to do what he did in the Police yet stay as restrained and tasteful as he did.

Moon was just a freaking monster, but then so were the rest of the band, so it kind of worked perfectly.

Also +1 for Nick Mason in the earlier Floyd days and Phil Collins.

RocknRollDave

Stewart Copeland...restrained?!

Fuzzdog

RocknRollDave said: Stewart Copeland...restrained?!

Compared to what he could have done with all that space he was given, yes - most drummers would have made most Police albums essentially one long drum solo.

Haych

In no particular order I would choose:

Stewart Copeland 

Ash Soan 

Ian Thomas 

Marco Minnemann 

Pick Withers

StefB

Brian Downey and +1 for Simon Kirke and John Coghlan.

Bidley

Lars Ulrich. And I'm not even trying to be funny.

RocknRollDave

Chap out of Black Crowes...Steve Gorman, is it?


Cracking stuff. Nice groove and swing to his playing, but never trying to break out to the front of the stage, metaphorically speaking.

koneguitarist

Larry Mullen Jnr, not a fan of U2 but he did some great work on Emmylou Harris wrecking ball album in 95