The 10 most UNDERRATED Drummers of ALL TIME | RANKED

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[@DrOz-007]

Animal from The Muppets.

[@DemokratiedesProletariats]

Best drummer ever! 👍

[@syn707]

Mickey Dolenz 😁

[@jackr.1609]

Good chops but poor technique

[@michaelsmyth3935]

Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem

[@JackSparrow-yb3lq]

Way underrated.

[@alandesgrange9703]

Aynsley Dunbar. Any style. Any band. All time favorite drummer.

[@AlmostEthical]

Yes, AD is always brilliant. His drumming on Grand Wazoo and Journey's Topaz are amongst my favourites. Great Canterbury scene drummers tend to miss out too. Pip Pyle, John Marshall and, especially, Pierre Moerlen, were cream of the crop.

[@LorraineHinchliffe-vg5cb]

Cosey Powell was much better than people think aswell.

[@colinburroughs9871]

The Zappa stuff is fire

[@alandesgrange9703]

@@colinburroughs9871 Zappa once said Aynsley was one of his favorites that he's played with.

[@edyb2097]

​@@AlmostEthical oooohhhh yeeessss, Pierre Moerlen ❤ His drum parts in Angel's Egg are among the best ones I've ever heard.

[@robertlamkin6464]

Danny Seraphine - Chicago…1969-77; the Kath years. Great technician and power drummer. His fills - a symphony unto itself. No one has ever captured my attention like he did.

[@charlesbishop4000]

I agree.

[@garyh.238]

Excellent pick Robert. I love Danny's drumming.

[@robertlamkin6464]

@@garyh.238 Hey, thanks!

[@scottdouglas935]

totally agree with you

[@kfitz2711]

He is a phenomenal player. Good call

[@frankpentangeli7945]

Ian Paice is criminally underrated. Even given the greatness of Blackmore and Lord, Deep Purple could not have become the massive force they became without Ian Paice. Another vastly underrated drummer is Terry Chambers from XTC.

[@nalbizo2]

I think most people rate Ian as one of rock's greatest drummers.

[@frankpentangeli7945]

@@nalbizo2 I disagree. Most people don't even know who he is, and most lists of greatest drummers don't include him. John Bonham, Keith Moon, Bill Ward and Neil Peart, among others, are always mentioned ahead of him in the conversation (if he's even mentioned at all), even though I think he kicks all their asses. The people who appreciate him are mainly Deep Purple fans and true 70s hard rock fans. Otherwise he's pretty much a non-entity.

[@garyh.238]

@@frankpentangeli7945 I concur, absolutely. Deep Purple and its members are often overlooked in the various lists of the greatests...despite being superior musicians compared to many of their peers. A lot of the blame goes to the rock music press for this.

[@Matt__B]

@@nalbizo2 We need a third list of the top ten drummers who are rated about right.

[@gillan5]

A guy who underestimates Ian Paice is simply an idiot!

[@dantesinfernopurgatory7826]

"Barriemore Barlow is the finest drummer England has ever produced." - John Bonham

[@drumboyd]

"Gavin Harrison is the finest drummer England has ever produced" - John Bonham's ghost 😉😁

[@danburnes722]

@@drumboyd👍

[@heimomoilanen9654]

​@@drumboydLOL

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

How about Bill Bruford?

[@dantesinfernopurgatory7826]

@@PeterBrown-mz4nv Bruford is definitely up there.

[@derekcummins9088]

Michael Giles from the original King Crimson band. 1969, probably recorded on a 4 track and the drumming is astonising and groundbreaking. It is my Aja

[@jdmresearch]

Agreed. Little known fact: He was one of Neil Peart heroes, together with Buddy Rich. (Both, Rich and Peart, overrated of course). Edit: The Rich and Peart comment is based on Andy's 'overrated drummers' video.

[@gillan5]

Greg Lake said about Mike Giles that he could play different time feels at the same time.

[@colinburroughs9871]

@@jdmresearch overrated, they're bad! I read the comments

[@AssociationAdmirer]

Yeah, I love the drumming on that album. He does a pretty outstanding job on McDonald and Giles and The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles, and Fripp too. (I like his solo album Progress as well, but it's not his finest moment.)

[@bloodofmyenemies]

Carmine Appice invented heavy metal drumming. He deserves to be on this list imo.

[@neil993]

The Geezer Butler explaining War Pigs impression was everything!!!!

[@carlosgaspar8447]

oh lordy, bloody hell.

[@jaaguero]

Kudos for remembering Carlos Vega, one of the greatest yet sadly forgotten. Dino Danelli from The Rascals is another fantastic drummer that was criminally underrated.

[@johnsoos6907]

Dino Danelli was awesome and very few knew about it!

[@novola1972]

and a very sad ending to his life, rip

[@gordonwaite4571]

Totally agree with you regarding Bill Ward. So good, so funky. No Black Sabbath without Bill Ward, no Who without Keith Moon.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Lee Kerslake fits that scheme

[@BlueBlazer47]

Brian Downey's genius recognised, and by a drummer! That's just great. Lizzy were so popular in England and Ireland that I'm amazed they're not spoken of the way Zeppelin are. Thin Lizzy had a cool factor found in few rock bands, and there was substance behind it. Bad Reputation is so rhythmically interesting, and that's just one of many tracks.

[@davidbewick9208]

Thin Lizzy were one of the worst live bands I ever saw. Lord and Blackmore went to a Lizzy concert as they were considering asking Lynott to join. They left having decided he wasn't good enough.

[@BlueBlazer47]

@@davidbewick9208: Asinine comment. Got any more?

[@BlueBlazer47]

@@davidbewick9208: Boring comment. Got any more?

[@davidbewick9208]

@@BlueBlazer47 Live and Dangerous was so overdubbed that it was a studio release rather than a live album because they were so bad live.

[@BlueBlazer47]

@@davidbewick9208: Misinformation. I have a lot of Thin Lizzy live bootlegs. With a couple of exceptions, due to poor health (Japan '83), Lizzy were an excellent live band. Watch the video again.

[@nigelelliott4901]

I saw Phil & Chester have their massive drum-off on the Genesis tour in 1980. Highlight of the night.

[@funkyandy72]

Most underrated - Pierre Moerlen. His best stuff is with Gong obviously, but played on Tubular Bells and still under appreciated in my book. Precision and beauty at work

[@thewestfaceofdhaulagiri6697]

Ya I listed him as one of the most underrated too.

[@genghis1971]

So happy to see Brian Downey on here. No one ever talks about him and it feels like he's just been forgotten but he was a fantastic drummer.

[@Darrylizer1]

I watched a live DVD of Thin Lizzy with Gary Moore playing a couple of years ago and Brian Downey just blew me away. Fantastic drummer.

[@EyesofCustard]

Brian and Phil were one of the best rhythm sections in rock for me. Great to see Brian get some recognition from Andy who obviously knows his stuff.

[@Number1ZERO69]

I thought Terry Bozzio on missing persons was very underrated as well. He has a very unique style.

[@jdmresearch]

Andy, as a fellow drummer, you totally nailed it with Phil C. Including the reasons why he’s underrated. Between 75-79 he produced some *amazing* drumming with both Brand X and Genesis. People don’t realize how good he was. One of my favorites: Riding the Scree from the Lamb. Both the studio and the live version, which are quite different. Great fills in 9/8 time signature. Astonishing playing.

[@RubesGoodBrainCoffee]

Also, Collins had the wherewithal to know not to let his drums upstage the song. What he chose not to play was as important as what he would actually play.

[@Lesiga1]

Born Ugly.... Euthanasia Waltz! ❤❤❤

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Phil Collins was cheer brilliance in his heyday.

[@aarthoor]

I never noticed Phil until I heard Grace and Danger by John Martin. Amazing performance

[@jokermaan1]

Absolutely agree about Phil Collins. I saw him live with Eric Clapton and he was a monster.

[@NicholasSadlier]

I saw him live with Clapton too!!

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Saw him with Robert Plant Moments tour. Something In The Air was a hit at the time and he performed that to the crowd’s delight.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

He was the best versatile drummer in the seventies.

[@lornestein7248]

The most Underrated Drummer is: Bob Siebenberg of Supertramp! Once again overlooked, unacknowledged and dismissed.

[@tookmyjob]

A very tasty drummer. Not flashy, but you know it’s him.

[@camerondean6804]

My favorite drummer. I love so many drummers, but he's my #1. By a large margin.

[@lornestein7248]

@@camerondean6804 Thanks. hardly hear anyone say that!.. I saw him twice with Supertramp and thought he played the instrument like a concert pianist. So precise.. Could duplicate the recordings perfectly live. Appreciate the agreement.

[@camerondean6804]

@@lornestein7248 I would have loved to see them live. Still would, but alas.... Yes, I saw a video where it was almost like Papa Jo Jones exquisite finesse applied to rock music. Hard to describe. Your concert pianist analogy is spot on. Peace.

[@Cape-Dweller]

Supertramp was one of the best live shows I ever saw. Famous Last Words tour

[@NIGHTFRIGHT2011]

Mick Tucker of The Sweet rarely gets mentioned. His playing on The Man with the Golden Arm from the 1973 live album where he trades solos with himself on a pre recorded backing track is not only innovative, but showcases his amazing double bass drum playing while wearing platform boots. Steve Jansen of Japan and Andy Ward of Camel are other names that rarely feature on lists like this.

[@johnsoos6907]

I'm glad someone else appreciates Mick!!! He deserves to be celebrated! Awesome drummer! And singer!

[@maddog8621]

Mick was superb!

[@AndrewjWilson]

I've learned to respect Ringo. He is probably the ultimate song drummer. Never overplays and has a slight back beat

[@SphericalHang]

Mitch Mitchell was perfect for Hendrix and also Ralph Humphrey for his work with Zappa, Roxy in particular.

[@WelshVegan]

What you said about Barrymore is exactly what I've been saying for yonks - to anyone that'd listen. Hilarious Brum impressions 🤣

[@andym6256]

Peter Erskine

[@rodrigoodonsalcedocisneros9266]

@@andym6256 Definitely.

[@marcblum5348]

Peter Erskine underrated??? By whom?

[@andym6256]

@@marcblum5348 perhaps by all the drummers who have not even heard of him? I suspect there’s quite a lot of them…

[@doubleyouranger]

@@marcblum5348 'overhyped' more like.

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

I don't think Peter Erskine is underrated. He's not as famous as Neil Peart or John Bonham, but he is extremely well known in the drumming community and everybody that knows him knows how good he is.

[@PentUpPentatonics]

Brian Downey 🙌 So good! My favourite drum moment of all time is on ‘Still in love with you’ on ‘Live and dangerous’. That subtle groove change from just before the 6mins mark to the end of the track is perfection. The fill at 6:20. Locking in with Phil moments later. It’s as good as it gets.

[@hermannrudi9688]

Ringo on "Rain" is just incredible especially considering that the originally recorded version is faster than the one we all know. It was slowed down to make the drums sound heavier.

[@shadhansen739]

Drummers of Kansas and Triumph: so under-rated i dont even know their names

[@timjacobi5672]

Phil Erhart and Gil Moore

[@danaaronmusic]

@@timjacobi5672 It's Ehart. And he's always been one of my favorite drummers.

[@seppoinnanen5577]

😂

[@TheTVisions]

They're underrated because the silly rock press tends to focus of really big bands and neither bands really were it was always more of a cult level even though they had hits the members weren't widely known, same with Prarie Prince from The Tubes never on any lists either. Surely Ehart deserves a spot over Rudd, but it's Andy's list.

[@LorraineHinchliffe-vg5cb]

Bill Ward was/is SO underrated. I totally agree about Tony Thompson.... he was incredible.

[@BobToasty-cd2hl]

Love Bill Wards drumming for over 40 years. One of my all time favorites. Everything swings! Live at last although panned for sound quality is a drumming masterclass.

[@Matt__B]

I thought they did a decent job of cleaning up Live At Last for the Past Lives set. The second disc has some great performances too.

[@TinnyHidge]

So, so happy you mentioned Barriemore Barlow!! (A very sporting gent)... I could never understand how he wasn't regaled as a master of experimentation on the drums. Definitely one of my major influences, for sure. Nice one, Andy! 🙂👍

[@davidmillschills]

love your Birmingham accent, still lying on the floor laughing.

[@timjacobi5672]

I was dying laughing too…

[@chrishenson4450]

I'm no expert mimic by any means, but as a work-from-home schlub with my dog Archie at my feet, I've begun talking to him on occasion with the Andy Edwards Birmingham accent and find it most satisfying. "An' thot brengs meh ta tha noombah two most oondahretted dog ehn tha room - an' ahm ganna get soom angray comments on thess one - Airchie tha flet coat rehtreevah!" As the second best dog in the room, Archie takes it in stride.

[@Alanb_69]

Gregg Bissonette is a great drummer that can play any genre of music. He is also a very cool guy. Many drummers know him, but the average person never heard of him. He is criminally underrated.

[@Erschophone]

I used to give guitar lessons in the early 1980s in the SFV Valley section of Los Angeles in a music store next to the studio where a young Gregg Bissonette gave his drum lessons. He was a great guy, but half of the time my studio would erupt in a 8,0 Richter scale earthquake as Bissonette showed one of his students his latest licks. He knocked us out of our seats!!!

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

Phenomenal brush player.

[@fuzzycrab8653]

Bun E Carlos made 5 piece drum kit sound like 20 piece, Carmen Apiece is also forgotten in conversations

[@seanm3933]

Bunny is just a nerd playing the coolest drum lines.

[@johnsoos6907]

Bun E. is like Keith Moon meets Ringo. Not sure he is under rated, though. Tim Werman said he was the best drummer he ever produced.

[@MHep-qy9yv]

Barriemore Barlow is my favourite drummer and I teared up a bit at your testimonial of him.

[@alexmanne]

You’re exactly right why Phil Collins is overlooked. I never knew how great he was until I heard the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis for the first time. I love his playing. People crap on Ringo but I always defend him. Influenced millions of drummers.

[@user-gw5pr1sy8m]

Mick tucker from the sweet was a great drummer apparently he used to chat with Ian paice and they would compare notes about each other’s work ,can’t get much higher commendation than that ! Thanks for all the videos Andy . You do make me chuckle

[@seanm3933]

Mick was the best man. You could hear his love for music in the drumming. Dude had a blast playing and you could feel it.

[@scarcam]

The Sweet were great, don't get all hung up on the fact that a lot of their songs were written for them, they were still a tremendous band, and the songs they did write were absolute stormers!

[@doubleyouranger]

@@scarcam there's the sweet with 'give us a wink', and then there's everyone else.

[@maddog8621]

Mick was an incredible drummer. Brilliant singer and showman also

[@nationaltrevor255]

Topper Headon. Stunning player.. Good shout for Brian Downey! Love too for Levon Helm, Richie Hayward and Andy Newmark.

[@normandaubry]

So happy to see Barriemore Barlow in the list. I saw him with Tull in 1979, with UK and Bozzio as the opening act. What a feast for drum lovers!

[@normandaubry]

And I have the same reaction you have: as much as I like Peart (I saw him live multiple times between 1979 and 1986), everytime I see someone calling him the GOAT I can’t help but think about Barlow and some other greats such as Cael Palmer, etc.

[@FireMoon42]

It could have been... "Generals gather in their map rooms, just like witches under black moons."

[@ronnelson7828]

@@FireMoon42..... just like witches with their thatch brooms

[@shadhansen739]

Will never hear the same again😮😢😅

[@stuff3219]

Now fix "Are you for my brain? Oh yeah!"

[@FireMoon42]

@@stuff3219 Can you ease my pain? Oh yeah...

[@stuff3219]

@@FireMoon42 OK nice! If I'm ever in a Quantum Leap scenario, I'll know what to do.

[@headboy]

Here ya go... Pierre Van Der Linden, John Weathers & Michael Tucker, yes, drummer from The Sweet...great drummer. 😎

[@mfversluis]

I concur with Mick and especially Pierre. Besides Focus (Still awesome today in his late 70's) he was fantastic in Trace. Reason enough for me to now check out John Weathers

[@scarcam]

I'm a guitarist, Thin Lizzy were and still are my fave band. I took Brian Downey for granted for a long time, it was only when I started listening closely to other stuff I realised that his shuffle and all that other stuff he does is pure genius. He's the drummer I judge all others by

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Always! So happy to see Brian on the list! Do you have the newer Live and Dangerous box set that forever quashes the idea of too many overdubs? There is a version of Johnny The Fox that is just on fire with Brian’s work just superb. I have always said that Brian always plays with a certain amount of funk that moved Lizzy in a way that other 70/80s heavy bands just didn’t. I along with two teenage freined fortunate enough to spend a couple hours backstage with the band after a show in Tokyo in the Chinatown tour in 1980. Most of it was spent talking to Brian. He was humble and treated us well. ( as did the entire band) Brian talked about his early influences including fife and drum corps on his playing. I think this in part accounts for his fantastic snare capabilities .

[@michaelmarino3013]

I seen Brian n lizzy open for queen.monster

[@scarcam]

@@edwardyazinski3858 I don't have the new version I'm sorry to say, I'll have to look into that. Must have been great meeting the boys back in the day. I saw them in '83 on their farewell tour, I wouldn't bother with their newer incarnations.

[@derekclacton]

Fellow guitarist - I think Brian Downey’s drumming was as important to Thin Lizzy as the twin lead guitars! I can’t understand why he isn’t more highly rated. His rhythmic feel is so unique - never heard anyone else like him. 👍

[@seanm3933]

Fighting My Way Back is one of the finest drumming songs imo. I'm not a drummer but I love that song for the drumming alone.

[@chrishenson4450]

Ringo Starr changed my life. The drum beat at the beginning of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper Reprise" was the first thing I ever played on drums. And It's the reason I'm a musician today. It quite literally changed my life. I was 13 and had been fascinated with that beat for months. One Saturday, David Smith's drum set was set up in our living room for practice with my brother Ned's band. While they played I watched his drumming like an awkward hawk - a "hawkward," if you will. While they broke for lunch I sat down at the kit, picked up the sticks and tried to figure the beat out. I'd memorized how to hold the sticks and work the pedals and determined which thing made what sound when struck. And within a couple of minutes I had the "boom-chick - boom-boom-chick" going pretty steadily. The band came back and caught me playing the drums and Ned was furious. But David pulled me aside and showed me a few other things to practice - fills with triplets, when to open the high hat and so on. Then he left his drums in our living room for a few days for me to play. Later he invited me to join the high school marching band, which I did. I was a gawky, pimply, croaky tween. My mom cut my hair. My clothes were hand-me-downs. I was quiet and shy and was even bullied verbally. A couple of redneck kids liked to follow me around and threaten to kick my ass. I felt ugly and stupid and weird. But then I figured out the "boom-chick" - the heartbeat of rock 'n' roll. After that, nothing could stop me. So, thank you, Ringo. Great list, Andy. Although I'd love to see Joey Baron on there.

[@joegillam1497]

Barriemore Barlow and Brian Downey. Yes, yes, yes!

[@dantesinfernopurgatory7826]

Two of my favorite drummers!

[@jjdiazmiro]

Mike Shrieve, Bernard Purdie, Zigaboo Modeliste, Mick Fleetwood, Chris Slade. All of them great drummers that never get mentioned

[@chriscoughlin9289]

Sorry - but I'd hardly regard Mick as some knd of an - under - the - radar figure of his era. Given that he first came to teenaged prominence with the likes of Mayall's Bluesbreakers. And - not much later - provided the thunderous shuffle backbeat behind the likes of Greeny's 'Lazy Poker Blues' Which would - remarkably - eventually provide the template for the mega gazillion selling 'Don't Stop' a decade - and THREE Mac incarnations - later. Don't be fooled - it wasn't just Greeny's genuine humility that had him naming the band after Mick and McVie. Legendary - right alongside Baker and Bruce or Mitchell and Redding.

[@paulmcelroy547]

Pat Mastelotto... I only saw him live once, with the Stickmen and Manchester Academy 3 playing a double header gig with GH05 (Gavin Harrison!! and guitar/bassist 05Ric...aka Ric Byer) Being a bass player I expected to be focused on Tony Levin as they played (the only time I have seen him live too). But no.. Pat was a visual and sonic spectacle... The sounds he coaxed out of that kit...just amazing. Possibly the best drum performance I have seen? Anytime there's a chat going on about drum performances I always have to mention that gig. Never a drummer you hear mentioned much. Shame

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

The underrated sublety of Jim Keltner. No bells, whistles, gongs or fireworks. Quiet power

[@SeaMark782]

Jeff Porcaros first double drumming partner at 17 years old. Jack Dougherty Class of 1971, a supersession of the top LA studio musicians in 1971. 3 songs with Keltner and Porcaro, just fantastic and they work so well together. Porcaro gets to play with his hero.

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

@@SeaMark782 Well said Sir!

[@jonwalter6317]

So glad you mentioned Mark Craney. I was one of those nodding yes. I was in a record shop on Market Street in downtown Troy OH in the fall of 1978 trying to find something to buy. I looked at BTB several times. The only song I knew was I've Just Gotta Stop, which was a hit that summer, and which was a great song. A slow song but with Gino's voice, and the music so strong but still nicely arranged. I took it home and it changed my life. I remembered thinking after listening to the first side - holy crap IJGS might be the weakest song on the side! River Must Flow and Love & Emotion bracketing it are terrific. The I flip it over, and Mark's drumming on BTB just blew me away. I had heard Aja, which had come out prior, and had acknowledged Gadd's solo, but had not really tuned in to what Gadd was doing. BTB was such a great song, I had to listen to it over and over. I never envisioned what Craney was doing was possible (I was naive and ignorant). Since that moment I have aspired to play BTB on my drums and never come close. But that's OK; a man's got to know his limitations. the song BTB is my favorite song ever, and IMO the album is the best album of the 20th century. Awesome songs, awesome vocals, and tremendous musicianship. Yes Carlos Rios is on guitar, and he's fabulous too. Thanks again. I had to send you a tip for this one. PS we used Put The Weight On My Shoulders from Nightwalker as our wedding song. She finally divorced me after 37 years, but at least I got Gino and Vinnie Colaiuta for that dance.

[@Aladinsarsipius]

The Fact that Bill Ward is not Mentioned in the same sentence as Moon and Bonham Is the greatest injustice in Rock Music

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Exactly my thoughts too

[@DavidGarcia-yv1fp]

This list is underrated drummers. So, would you say Bill Ward IS underrated or is Not underrated. Moon & Bonham are not underrated.

[@stevenpape2021]

Do you think Bill Ward was influenced by Michael Giles? In 1969 Giles is playing something both jazz and heavy on 21st Century Schizoid Man, then the next year similar jazz licks on the song Black Sabbath. I don't think Giles gets the credit for his innovation, and he's not the best of King Crimson's drummers.

[@charlesbritt842]

Not mentioning Levon Helm from The Band is absolutely criminal. He had amazing timing and groove. Especially live.

[@DSM9]

I've had the 'Phil Collins argument' many times. Got my first drum kits as a teenager in 1979. Not long after, saw him on BBC2's OGWT with Brand X playing a song called And So To F, which just blew my mind.

[@paulsalter3099]

Ringo got the last laugh hr married Barbara Bach!

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Wow. Beautiful.

[@FallenOverture]

Hi Andy. This is an excellent list. Thanks for giving proper respect to Clive Bunker, even though he’s not on your main list. Here’s a bit of Clive Bunker esoterica for you. I grew up in Luton and Clive was local boy made good. After he left Tull (ostensibly to start a family and breed spaniels) he set up a small recording studio and rehearsal facility in Luton called Quest Studios. Loads of top bands of the time recorded demos there - Steeleye Span, Wishbone Ash, and, oddly enough Split Enz, who eventually morphed into Crowded House - if you search KZbin for the Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes you will find those Split Enz demos. As you say, Clive is a really lovely guy. He was incredibly supportive of local musicians in Luton.

[@F.O.H.]

Phil Ehardt - KANSAS

[@TheTVisions]

He's always been my own #1, I think even Peart can fit in Ehart's little pinky. 🥁

[@danburnes722]

Phil Ehart, yes

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Clockwork, hard to beat by anyone

[@markgreene6349]

Phil's incredible ... He's also kept Kansas together all these years

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

I got to sit in the percussion section of the orchestra for the rehearsal when Kansas came to Trenton to play with the orchestra. That was thrilling.

[@webbvandiver9139]

Andy…love your inclusions of - Barriemore, Phil (but think all drummers know he’s an ace), Downey (whatta pro talent!) and esp Craney…his stuff with Gino is purely magical

[@fab208athome]

So glad Brian Downey made it, hard rock and a dash of funk - fantastic. If I was making a list I would put Mick Tucker from Sweet in there. Ballroom Blitz alone is so iconic. I've seen a lot of KZbin vids where they show you how to play that part, and none of them get it right.

[@brianparker663]

Mick Tucker - good call!

[@tomborgenkristiansen9581]

1. BJ Wilson (Procol Harum) 2. Skip Alan (Pretty Things) 3. Pete Rivera (Rare Earth) 4. Barrymore Barlow (Jethro Tull) 5. Tony Fernandez (Strawbs) 6. Stuart Elliot (Alan Parsons Project 7. Michael Schrieve ( Santana) 8. Simon Kirke (Free,Bad Company) 9. Corky Laing (Mountain) 10. Terry Sullivan (Renaissance)

[@callmeal3017]

In his younger days Craney was a cohort of Tommy Bolin. Mark Craney also played with Tower of Power. By then he was touring with a portable dialysis machine. Craney's drumming is well featured on Brother to Brother as well as Imaginary Voyage. Mark said a real hilite of his career was auditioning for Stevie Wonder. Stevie ended up keeping the drummer he had at the time but jamming with Stevie was an experience. Find him on KZbin playing live with Tull and also with Gino. I did a gig with Mark backing an Elvis impersonator. In rehearsal Mark was killing it and the band was loving it. The Elvis opener CC Rider. Band grooving hard. The Elvis could not find the one. We had to show it to him. He had never been around that sort of drummer....

[@kentrichardson9070]

Rare Earth overall an underrated band. Guitar is phenomenal.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

BJ Wilson the master of cowbell

[@maddog8621]

Of course! Skip was ace!

[@neilodette4236]

Great video AE. Love the Brian Downey shout. The essence of drums as an instrument in a band within a team framework is summed up so perfectly with the vast majority of Lizzy’s catalogue and in particular, Downey’s ability to drum flawlessly in the pocket

[@EliphasDesni]

Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon, John Guerin, Earl Palmer, Larrie Londin, Roger Hawkins, Kenny Malone, Buddy Harman, Ron Tutt, Richard Hayward, Richard Bailey, Idris Muhammad, Steve Jansen.

[@treff9226]

I was looking at my extensive CD and vinyl collection the other day - Jim Keltner is drumming on 90% of it!😁

[@nationaltrevor255]

Great shouts! Ronnie Tutt and Richie Hayward bend my head! 👍

[@SeaMark782]

The first 3 were strong influences on Jeff Porcaro. John Guiren playing with Tom Scott and the LA Express is nothing but great.

[@reidwhitton6248]

Jim Keltner is not underrated. He's one of the most respected drummers in the business.

[@treff9226]

True that - the man is sought after by a plethora of musicians who want tasty drum sound and a drummer who ALWAYS plays for the song, giving it exactly the backbone that is needed, no more, no less! I notice music fans like to show their love of an artist by plugging in the word "underrated" not really thinking fully about how many other love the artist as well. The other day I saw a comment listing JAMES HETFIELD AS UNDERRATED! SMH😁!​@@reidwhitton6248

[@richardjones4466]

Andy Ramsay of Stereolab is a superb drummer. He reminds me of Paul Thompson(where was he on the list? Grrr!) a rock drummer in the engine room of an arty band.

[@h.m.7218]

And Stereolab is a great band.

[@juliangreetham3903]

A fine piece of work. So glad to see Phil, Barriemore, Bill, and particularly Brian getting the respect they deserve. You also made me laugh....a lot... cheers

[@ronmazurkiewicz3331]

Mike Clark his druming on Herbie Hancock's Thrust was groundbreaking.

[@dwill123]

Mike Clark-The Godfather of Linear Funk

[@astronomer747]

Even Dennis Chambers, who is one of the most revered players, said he never wants to play after Virgil Donati! And Simon Phillips said he had the greatest technical facility of any drummer he had worked with when he was recording Moonbabies. He's that intimidating.

[@thewestfaceofdhaulagiri6697]

Ya but the problem listing Donati as one of the most underrated drummer as far as I'm concerned is that already I've heard countless people say how good he is but I don't see him being better than Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams and others.

[@astronomer747]

@@thewestfaceofdhaulagiri6697 I don't think players as different as those can necessarily be compared. It would be like comparing Salvador Dali to a Da Vinci. Which is better? Well they both are great but for in their own ways. Chambers and Donati both play fusion and technical music very well, but there isn't much that their styles share in common beyond this. I think in terms of what he is trying to achieve on drums, Donati is in a category of his own. It's not that he is better in the sense that he can be Dennis Chambers as well as Chambers can because that's where individuality has to separate out different kinds of styles and what makes them great in unique ways. I just think certain technical concepts are done so well in his playing in so many respects that in that sense he is hard to match. But as I said before, virtuosity isn't everything in music. It's one aspect of what makes certain music challenging or interesting. I would say he is underrated because he is not as popular as those other players you mention. Among musicians he might be fairly well known, but I think this kind of music is not very accessible and he is not nearly as well known as Danny Carrey and other metal/progressive players that he is far more accomplished then. Let's face it, very few if any drummers will every play anything remotely like as well because the level of dedication you need to get this good is so demanding.

[@gillan5]

I checked out that Donati guy: boring technical stuff, does not swing for a minute. Only chops.

[@astronomer747]

@@gillan5 with respect, that's just laziness. You obviously have not taken the time to appreciate it or understand it. There is nothing remotely boring about his music. It has so much tension and subtlety. Requiem for Humanity is beautiful. The string parts are well composed. His orchestral work is fantastic. That has tons of emotion. You're like the guy who says, ugh, Bach is boring. Who can listen to these fugues? Someone who wants to explore the limits of composition style will be fascinated. Someone who just wants a McDonalds fast food type immediate gratification will not enjoy it, but that says more about you probably than the quality of the music.

[@astronomer747]

@@gillan5 Can you get more technical than Bela Bartok? Was his music genius? I think it was.

[@markanderson1313]

Bill Ward was a big band/jazz drummer, he had chops ! I saw Clive Bunker at the Isle of Wight with Jethro Tull and he was FAST with incredible chops. John Wilson of Taste incredible on a tiny drum kit also IoW 1970. Shout out to Jon Hiseman and Danny Seraphine who between them invented jazz rock drumming.

[@sidoughty428]

John Wilson! Yep he never gets mentioned ❤

[@maddog8621]

Clive Bunker!

[@dano1962]

I was laughing with tears about War Pigs lyrics! Priceless!!!!!

[@karlsinclair9918]

Having watched Barriemore Barlows solo on KZbin with Tull... there's no doubt.. he's astonishingly good. Tip of the hat to Clive Bunker. Adore his style and agree his stuff with Tull is the best.

[@garyh.238]

IAN PAICE of Deep Purple. One of the top drummers in rock for over 50 years, but barely gets a mention in most peoples' lists.

[@roy421000]

When you have listened to the early DEEP PURPLE for a while, something becomes clear: all the instruments work in well together. Each instrument seems to fit into the arrangement without the use of much production. And this is apparent in DEEP PURPLE more than most bans. This indicates that DEEP PURPLE understood the premise of being a musician : working as a unit to create the magic. And Ian Paice, being part of the rhythm section, was a big part of this. I have been listening to his hi-hat on ' Woman From Tokyo ' since the 70's. He makes the hi-hat sing. I never tire of it.

[@garyh.238]

@@roy421000 Well stated. Masters of their craft working in unison. Another great example of how well they all gelled, with Paice holding it all together, was the 20 minute live version of Space Truckin on Made In Japan.

[@roy421000]

@@garyh.238 MADE IN JAPAN. One of the great live albums. You know, I have been listening to DEEP PURPLE since the 70's. I always knew they were great but it is only on the last 20 years that I have really come to understand just how brilliant they are.

[@garyh.238]

@@roy421000 Same for me....since 1973 when I had the 45 rpm single of Smoke on the Water, studio edit one side, and MIJ live edit on the other. For me, MADE IN JAPAN is the pinnacle of Deep Purple's catalogue....they were firing on all cylinders, in perfect alignment, and playing their hearts out. MIJ is, even after all these years, of the 2,500 or so albums in my collection, my true "desert island" disque.

[@roy421000]

@@garyh.238 Can't disagree about MADE IN JAPAN... You appear to have the same amount of passion about music as I do. Music is my main interest and I consider myself blessed to get so much pleasure out of it. My favourite acts beside Deep Purple : Rolling Stones; Steely Dan; Allman Brothers; Doobie Brothers; Yes; Focus; Jethro Tull; Supertramp; Jimi Hendrix; Van Morrison.

[@DrummerK]

that bit on black sabbath and geezer just had me rolling on the floor laughing... pure genius!!!! you got yourself a new subscriber mate...!

[@landoflittlerain]

Bill Ward on "War Pigs" live in Paris 1970 is just insanely good. I never realized how creative and integral he was to their sound (and the genre as it would unfold over time) before seeing this video. Punch it up here on YT and prepare to be amazed.

[@DM-he1ug]

My reaction exactly! He absolutely beats the c**p out of those drums in Paris... but with swing!

[@Audiojunkabus]

#1 Andy Edwards

[@BarbarraBay]

🔥🔥

[@delorangeade]

Brian Downey is my favourite, so it's good to see him make the list. I think he's the consummate all-round rock drummer, and makes it look effortless. It's also worth listening to the first three Thin Lizzy albums where the band was still a trio and trying out a variety of different styles. And yes, music from Birmingham and the Black Country has never received the accolades it deserves. It will never be cool or romantic. I think it has something to do with being in the centre of the country and not being able to see the sea.

[@danbretherton]

Doing Highway to Hell 😂😂😂funniest thing I’ve ever seen on KZbin but sums up AC/DC perfectly 😂

[@Justin_Kipper]

Gotta agree about Tony Thompson. His bombastic sound put the power into the Power Station Station album, an album that is certainly underrated as well. Here's a few of my own picks, off of the top of my head: -Mick Avory: It hard to imagine that a Hall of Famer that played on 20 albums of one of the greatest rock bands ever is pretty much ignored. I recently listened to the Kinks' entire run on the Pye label, and Mick's playing is just what the songs needed and yet, imaginative and diverse. -Clem Burke: The guy is a rock machine. Maybe it's hard to realize how good he is until you watch an old Blondie live performance. -Albert Bouchard: He's the guy that got me interested in playing drums at an early age. His playing, full of interesting, unique patterns and fills really stood out from other rock drummers. BÖC was never the same after he left. -Andy Edwards: A very fine drummer that excels in various styles, from jazz to prog to rock. Hell, he's even played with Robert Plant (we know this because he mentions it in every video that he posts!)

[@hertstraveller]

I agree about Mick Avory. He realised that with the Kinks what mattered was the song and the lyrics and he played to enhance those, not showboat his skills. On Waterloo Sunset you hardly notice he's there but you would immediately miss something crucial if he wasn't.

[@jeffhadland3705]

Great video 👌 #1 Jerry Mercer #2 Steve Smith #3 Alan White #4 Kenny Jones #5 Chester Thompson #6 Brian Downey #7 Bill Ward #8 Ted McKenna #9 Phil Collins #10 Herman Rarebell😊.

[@dewdew34]

Todd Sucherman has the chops, the feel and can play live as good as anyone.

[@toddwalker4301]

Amen to this. He may be the best live rock drummer I have ever heard.

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

Good pick. He can really solo, too.

[@MultiSkyman1]

Yes! Mark Craney was a monster. All the "heavy cats" knew who he was for sure! And when you got to number six, I just knew knew knew you were going to say Barriemore Barlow!!

[@Darrylizer1]

John Weathers of Gentle Giant is pretty underrated as is John Densmore and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols.

[@gregorygreene1940]

One of the great moments in YT history, "I'm doing Highway to Hell aren't I". LOL The incredible thing is that I just went along for the ride with you. I didn't even realize it myself. Anyways, fantastic list as always. I had a feeling Ringo would be #1 as so many people seem to unjustly marginalize him.

[@nalbizo2]

Barrie Barlow, my favorite rock drummer!

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

BarrieMORE because his playing is just MORE. And like Yngwie J. Malmsteen said probably about Barrie's playing "More is more!" 😉

[@MattMcQueen1]

Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & the Attractions) and Clem Burke (Blondie) always deserve a mention.

[@zootallures6470]

_Christian Vander_ of Magma. When it comes to Magma most of the people get stuck on the language. Some listen to the guitar or the keyboards. Vander is outstanding on drums! _Michael Shrieve_ of Santana.

[@h.m.7218]

No, no, no... Believe me : Vander was the center of attention on stage for most of Magma's career.

[@zootallures6470]

@@h.m.7218 It seems we are talking different things. You are saying Vander was the centre of attention on the stage. I am saying Vander was not known as a drummer for the most part of the people who are listening to prog. They hardly knew about the band.

[@h.m.7218]

@@zootallures6470 OK. In France, which is where I live, Magma was kind of huge ( kind of... ) in the 70s and even the 80s. Their fans were very aware of him being a drummer.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Woodstock 1969 what a treat!

[@zootallures6470]

@@heimomoilanen9654 ... and he was 19.

[@user-et1tk5sq9v]

When I saw the title, I watched your video hoping that Mark Craney's name would be on your list. You did not disappoint! Mark was great even though he faced tremendous physical obstacles. His work with Gino and Ponty is at the top of my list of Craney moments. I was lucky enough to see Mark during his tenure with Tower of Power during their lean years. Mark was a great guy and is greatly missed. [He pronounced his last name as if it rhymed with 'granny'.]

[@11000038]

Downey is just brilliant. Never misses a beat!

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Sublime.

[@user-se1vl4cu3i]

Listening and simply watching Ringo play drums has always been pure joy!

[@jamestejada3673]

Mark Craney.Yessssssss!¡!!Love his playing.Thanks for mentioning him.

[@rogerdavis3454]

Andy, thank you for giving some love to Barriemore Barlow. He has never gotten the recognition that he deserves. I laughed until I cried while listening to your take on Bill Ward and the Birmingham bands. I enjoy your humor almost as much as your musical knowledge.

[@drytool]

I think Gavin Harrison is underrated because he's hard to overrate.

[@Colinl3052]

Finally! Someone giving long overdue recognition to Brian Downey. Downey is a fantastic drummer with an amazing feel and sound. He has been criminally overlooked in the drumming world for the last 50 years. Well done Andy!

[@jamesjmh]

Here's a vote for Pierre Moerlen!!! ♥

[@notmyrealname9032]

Great video - love the Black Sabbath lyric parody.

[@callmeal3017]

Craney. From Zero Ted to Tommy Bolin in his early days to Imaginary Voyage and Brother to Brother and Jethro Tull and touring with Tower of Power with a portable dialysis machine. Live footage of him with Tull and Gino are very telling. Mark was always on. Did an Elvis Impersonator gig with Mark. Whole band cooking along with Mark's giant groove on CC Rider. We had to show the Elvis where the one was. Poor guy had never been around drumming like that. Mark said a big highlight was auditioning for Stevie Wonder. Stevie kept his old drummer but just jamming with Stevie for the tryout was a peak experience.... Mark was gone too soon...

[@derekclacton]

As a guitarist, I do wonder why Jon Hiseman doesn’t seem to get mentioned often. I love Colosseum II Electric Savage and Wardance. I was lucky enough to see him play with his wife, Barbara Thompson, in the United Jazz + Rock Ensemble.

[@anthonyriley7517]

Fantastic drummer 👌

[@clayfoster8234]

Next video should be the ten greatest drummers not known outside of the drum community. Guys like Thomas lang, Marco Minneman, etc.

[@scotthjackson5651]

came for the drummers and absolutely in tears at the sabbath comedy deconstruction

[@AntonMekanik-h2j]

Christian Vander. Unique drummer and vocalist...

[@danalawrence4473]

This is the correct answer.

[@tookmyjob]

Hell yeah! I got to see him in 2015 and he was amazing.

[@danalawrence4473]

@@tookmyjob i’ve seen magma three times, all in Chicago. The first time was 1999, and then 2015 and 2016. All three were astonishing shows. I even have the Chicago show from 1999 on CD. 😀

[@tookmyjob]

@@danalawrence4473 That’s awesome. I saw them in Chicago as well. They did two nights and I think I saw the first night if memory serves.

[@danalawrence4473]

@@tookmyjob the first night was the night that I was there. I was in the second row dead center with my son.

[@Inchbonnie154]

The war pigs dialogue made me burst out with laughter, the people around me in the bar thought I was having a fit..or possibly crying

[@glennbateman4483]

Brian Downey , John Hiseman and Brann Dailor are my top three but my god there's so many more

[@Darrylizer1]

Brann is a jazz drummer who plays metal. Amazing guy.

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

Love your list. Thank you for including Brian Downey, long one of two drummers that I do not feel get much recognition, in relation to their contributions. Andy Parker from UFO being the other.

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Barlow on "Bursting Out" live album! Conundrum!!

[@Jan-m5c2r]

And ditto on No Lullaby

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Oh yeah! It's like The Only Thing She Needs by UK on Danger Money. Bozzio's opening! Or The Sheriff by ELP.

[@derekclacton]

Great to see my favourite hard rock drummer - Brian Downey - being rated for once (even though it’s for the wrong reason)! As a guitarist, not a drummer, I think there’s something unique about his playing - he has a rhythmic musicality that I can’t explain but you’ll know what I mean! 👍🙂

[@bodowen]

And Mick Tucker remains the most overlooked and underrated.

[@normangeleri1522]

Agreed most people don't realize how talented and heavy Sweet really. was

[@TheTVisions]

While we're on the glam, don't forget Don Powell. I used to think him and Cozy were brothers. lol

[@heimomoilanen9654]

As well as their bubble gum era early 1970s they were amazing in that genre

[@heimomoilanen9654]

​@@TheTVisionsSlade would have been a different animal without him I'd say

[@sunlightglider6772]

Great list Andy, so glad to see Barriemore Barlow in there, never mentioned...ever, keep up the good work x