Bonham, Ziggy, Britt, and John French are all valid candidates, but the most impressive drummer I've ever seen play live was Chuck Biscuits circa 1982. So fast, so powerful, so much chaotic elan.

My money goes on:

The guy from the original line up of the Bad Brains (I forget his name...for shame!) and Don Bolles of The Germs for not only being powerful, fluid drummers but for also creating (or at the very least perfecting) two drum styles that would come to dominate their respective coasts of America throughout the 80's.

Dale Crover - no ego, plays for the song, subtly deploys awesome chops. Also a very melodic player (see the outro to 'Night Goat' and the whole of 'Oven')

The kid from Squirrel Bait (Ben something?) - Pure Youthful exuberance, with good skills. I have no doubt he ended up in some wanky fake jazz band or something.

Danny Lommen - Gore/Caspar Brotzmann Massaker.

porkie wrote:My money goes on:

The guy from the original line up of the Bad Brains (I forget his name...for shame!)...

Earl Hudson?

I wanted to keep the list small...so I'm going to go with my top 3.

TOP 3:
Dale Crover
Ches Smith
Coady Willis

The fact that Dale and Coady will soon share the same stage has me more excited than I've ever been. About ANYTHING.

Another big favorite of mine: Patrick Byrne (original Urge Overkill drummer, played on Big Black's "Bulldozer" EP). Very powerful. He's pretty good, but certainly not the best.

I find it a little ridiculous to argue who is and isn't the so-called "best drummer" (if there is such a thing). There are many good drummers out there, each one is a little different from the next. They all have their individual strengths and weaknesses. So is it really possible to differentiate one from the crowd and proclaim him "best drummer"? That would depend on what your definition of "best" and "good" is.
As far as I'm concerned, they're all good.

My faves:

Earl Palmer
Ziggy Modeliste
D. J. Bonebrake
Charlie Watts
Nick Knox
Dave Grohl
Keith Moon
Dennis Thompson
Todd Trainer
Dave Mattacks

Oh, and Prince programmed one hell of a good drum machine in the '90's.

I can't believe after 6 pages, nobody mentioned any of these.

Joey Baron.
Christian Vander
Tatsuya Yoshihide (Ruins)
Gene Krupa
Lionel Hampton
Jim Black (Dave Douglas Tiny Bell Trio)
Mongo Santamaria
John Wright
Miko (Deep Turtle)
Tacopo Bataglia (Zu)
Cyro Baptista

Well at least no one said Dr Avalanche.

b

ps

Bun E Carlos

My Favourite Drummer is

TERRY BOZZIO

Keith Moon really there is more discussion. Do I sound enough like an old cranky cunt for you