From explosive rock solos to subtile jazz grooves, a great drummer can make a good band great. Whether you're looking for the top 18 drummers of all time, interested in exploring famous rock drummers, or curious about who ranks among the best drummers of all time, here's hoping that our shortlist has at least some of the drummers you think deserve a spot. However, if you disagree and think we should have included some other drummers, please let us known in the comments, as picking just 15 amazing drummers is impossible.
| Rank | Drummer | Primary Style | Signature Recording | Hallmarks / Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) | Rock | Moby Dick | Defining hard-rock power; feel + speed |
| 2 | Neil Peart (Rush) | Prog rock | YYZ | Precision, odd meters, lyricist |
| 3 | Buddy Rich | Jazz | West Side Story Medley | Virtuoso speed & control |
| 4 | Tony Williams | Jazz / fusion | Emergency! | Invented jazz-rock fusion at 19 |
| 5 | Elvin Jones | Jazz | A Love Supreme | Thunderous triplets; redefined time-feel |
| 6 | Hal Blaine | Pop / session | Be My Baby | 150+ US Top-10 hits |
| 7 | Clyde Stubblefield | Funk / hip-hop | Funky Drummer | Most-sampled drum break ever |
| 8 | Keith Moon (The Who) | Rock | Won't Get Fooled Again | Chaos, energy, lead-drum style |
| 9 | Ginger Baker (Cream) | Rock / fusion | Toad | Jazz roots, polyrhythms, double-kick |
| 10 | Gene Krupa | Swing / big band | Sing, Sing, Sing | First drum star; iconic solos |
| 11 | Max Roach | Bebop | We Insist! | Pioneering bebop drumming |
| 12 | Jack DeJohnette | New Age / jazz | The Out-of-Towners | Being a leader for many musicians |
| 13 | Ringo Star | Rock and roll | Abbey Road | International fame with The Beatles |
| 14 | Carmine Appice | Rock | Vanilla Fudge | Inducted in both the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame |
| 15 | Phil Collins | Rock | In the Air Tonight | Being the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis |
| 16 | Dave Grohl | Rock | Something in the Way | Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |
| 17 | Cindy Blackman Santana | Jazz / rock | Straight Cold Player | Playing for Lenny Kravitz on multiple world tours |
| 18 | Janet Weiss | Rock | Mirror Traffic | Playing as the drummer for Quasi |
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
John Bonham is often hailed as the greatest drummer of all time because he combined raw power with remarkable precision, creating grooves that were both heavy and deeply musical. His thunderous bass drum triplets, innovative fills, and legendary solos like “Moby Dick” pushed rock drumming into new territory. More than speed or volume, it was Bonham’s feel—his ability to make complex rhythms swing—that set him apart, influencing generations of drummers and defining the sound of Led Zeppelin.
His innovative single-foot kick technique made him one of the most renowned rock drummers in history, and even decades later, his recordings continue to be used as examples for hard rock and heavy metal drummers. Bonham's huge sound came partly from his mastery of different drum set types and kit setups.
Great drumming is about more than speed; it's about groove, feel, and sound. From the heavy bass of John Bonham to the iconic fills of Keith Moon, the greatest rock drummers could make a whole band come alive. Their playing style shaped the way entire generations listened to music, proving that the right rhythms can define both drum songs and albums.
Neil Peart (Rush)
Neil Peart raised the bar for rock drumming with complex patterns, a mastery of odd time signatures, and meticulous solos. For progressive rock fans, he's a hero, and he also wrote most of Rush's lyrics, which contributed to the band's intellectual edge. Peart's sprawling setup included an array of cymbals and toms, making him a master of the parts of a drum kit. Peart is a model of precision and creativity and easily one of the finest drummers of all time.
Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich was an incredible drummer famous for outstanding speed, explosive solos, and exceptional control. He was the benchmark for jazz drumming. He led big bands and regularly appeared on television. He was one of the first drummers to become a household name, and even decades later, performances like the West Side Story Medley are essential viewing. Take a look.
Tony Williams
Tony Williams was a jazz drummer who played with Miles Davis as a teenager in his Second Great Quintet. He formed The Tony Williams Lifetime at the age of 19. He released Emergency!, a landmark record that influenced jazz and rock drummers. With a mix of speed, power, and innovation, he's easily one of the best drummers of all time.
Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones' drumming revolutionized jazz rhythm. He was the powerhouse behind John Coltrane's classic quartet, where he elevated drumming from accompaniment to the driving and expressive voice in the music. Have a listen to A Love Supreme, where you can hear the balance between the pulse and freedom.
He's easily one of the most influential and greatest drummers of all time, influencing jazz, rock, and other genres. For more interesting drum facts, Elvin Jones' style is often cited as a case study in jazz education.
Many of the best-known drummers were not just band members; they were innovators who transformed the world of rhythm. Whether in jazz, metal, or funk, they found new ways of playing and pushed the limits of what drums could do. Legends like Dave Grohl, Phil Collins, and Taylor Hawkins built iconic reputations not just as session players, but as front-line figures in their own right.
Hal Blaine (The Wrecking Crew)
Hal Blaine was a drummer who worked with artists like The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, and many more as part of The Wrecking Crew. The drumming on "Be My Baby" is among the most famous drum intros ever recorded. Blaine was a creative and adaptable behind the kit, shaping the sound of modern pop and rock music.
Clyde Stubblefield
Clyde Stubblefield was James Brown's “Funky Drummer”. He's one of the best drummers of all time, but not for flashy solos but through pocket and groove. His syncopated rhythms were the driving force behind Brown's band.
The drum break from “Funky Drummer” is one of the most sampled rhythms in hip-hop and has been used by artists from Public Enemy to Dr. Dre. If you’re a beginner looking to learn grooves like Clyde’s, start with some easy drum songs that focus on pocket and timing.
Keith Moon (The Who)
Keith Moon was the drummer for The Who and helped redefine what a drummer was for. Rather than keeping steady time, he filled songs with crashing cymbals, fast tom runs, and a manic energy that almost made the drums the lead voice in the music. He famously hated drum solos and preferred to just be creative within the songs themselves. Stylish, destructive, and relentless, he was a great drummer and an unforgettable character.
Ginger Baker (Cream)
Ginger Baker was one of the founding members of Cream alongside Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce. He fused jazz and rock, creating a style that inspired many other drummers. The solo on "Toad" is often cited as one of the earliest recorded rock drum solos.
A fiery personality combined with technical mastery, Baker was one of the greatest drummers of all time and demonstrated what rock drumming could achieve, becoming an icon during the late 1960s rock explosion.
An iconic drummer isn't just someone who can play fast tracks; it's about the style, creativity, and the unique way they approach rhythm. Think of the fills that make a song instantly recognizable, or the new age approaches that fused jazz with rock. From John Bonham's heavy sound to session legends who quietly shaped entire albums, the list of great drummers shows how rhythm can be both subtle and powerful.
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa helped put drummers in the spotlight. His tom-tom work on "Sing, Sing, Sing" with Benny Goodman helped make the drum solo a centrepiece of jazz and swing concerts. Krupa was a showman, and his energy and charisma helped show how a drummer could be a star rather than just another musician.
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His drumming went beyond swing and even inspired early rock drummers, such as Keith Moon and John Bonham. Whether you're inspired by Bonham's thunder, Peart's precision, or Krupa's showmanship, the best way to improve is with guidance. Find a drum tutor near you to start your journey.
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Max Roach
Well-known for his virtuoso use of drumsticks, Roach also revolutionized the bebop scene in the 1940s by using the ride cymbal to emphasize the beat. He is known for his instinct in finding just the right accompaniment and is considered one of the best jazz drummers of all time.
Jack DeJohnette (1942 - )
Amazingly adaptable, DeJohnette could play any jazz style there is, though he had his heyday during the fusion era. He recorded a number of solo albums, but is also known for his drumming with the Miles Davies band. He is still active, with his own band the DeJohnette Group and appearances with a number of other groups.
You too can learn easy drum licks played by the best rock'n'roll drummers!
Ringo Starr (1940 - )
Because of his more sedate style, opinions vary about Ringo Starr’s place among the best drummers in the world. Less flamboyant than Keith Moon, the Beatles drummer invested his playing with a lot of feeling and a wonderful sense of just the right flourish of the cymbals or fillip of the drums to make each of their songs memorable. He was also eminently reliable so that each performance was the same as the last. Not showy or flamboyant, but always just right.
Carmine Appice (1946 - )
Appice first made a splash with the late 1960s psychedelic band Vannila Fudge. Apart from writing The Realistic Rock Drum Method, still used as a textbook for learning drums since it came out in 1972, Carmine also drummed a blues-rock rhythm with the band Cactus and Beck, Bogert & Appice, then with Rod Stewart. His younger brother Vinny played with Dio and Black Sabbath.
Phil Collins (1951 - )
Though Phil Collins also played jazz, he is best known for being the lead drummer in the Prog-Rock band Genesis. He is widely considered to have been the best drummer of the 1970s, often coming into the studio to support other well-known names. He is known for his “gated snare” drum sound. Nerve damage has forced him to retire as a drummer in 2007, but his legacy lives on.
Learn which drums make up a traditional drum set...
Dave Grohl (1969 - )
From playing on pillows with snare sticks to contributing to Nirvana’s hard, uncompromising sound, Grohl has truly come up in life. He is the lead guitarist and main songwriter for the Foo Fighters and still drums for Them Crooked Vultures.
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Cindy Blackman Santana (1959 - )
A versatile drummer who has worked in jazz drumming and rock, she first rose to prominence drumming for Lenny Kravitz. She has drummed with a variety of bands including Spectrum Road, Sam Rivers and her husband Carlos Santana.
Janet Weiss (1965 - )
Considered as one of the top fifty best drummers in the world, Janet Weiss has played with bands such as The Furies, then got taken on with Sleater-Kinney after an impromptu jam session after one of their shows. She also played for Quasi, the Jicks and Wild Flag.
Discover also the history of playing drums through the ages!
🥁 Who is the greatest drummer of all time?
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Meg White, really?
Missing Earl Palmer and Hal Blaine
And where is Steve Gadd?
Where the hell is mike portnoy?
I agree with some of your picks but you for got one of the greatest drummers of all time Don Brewer of Grand Funk !
Brian Blade
Tony Williams
Lenny White
Billy Cobham
Peter Erskine
Steve Gadd
Dennis Chambers
Barry Barrymore Barlow – he’s also my neighbour, as well as Iain Paice.
What about Rick Allen aka The Thunder God?
Currently in New York City the top female drummer is Camille Gainer – Jones.
Stewart Copeland, Carl Palmer, Louie Bellson, Carter Beauford, Bernard Purdie, Jeff Porcaro should not be ignored.
Tony Royster Jr
Thomas Lang
Eric Moore ii
Vinnie colaiuta
I know it gets old but I have to give number one to john Bonham’s because in my opinion he is simply the best. He is the hardest for me to try and replicate. My stepsons mouth dropped open towards the end of the moby dick video. Bonham was just awesome. I’ve also noticed that he never ranks below 3 and is almost always number one on every best drummer list I have ever seen.
Best drummer
Ringo never was a good drummer he was just at the right place at the right time he still sucks
Matt Cameron
For the life of me. I can’t understand why they never include Dino danelli
He is absolutely a great drummer.
I can name 115 greatest drummers and I’m sure the listed 15 would appear. But there’s only one that would top the list. Rufus “Speedy” Jones
Thanks I guess helped so much