Best Drum Performances

I'd have to say Alan White on Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil [sp?]) by Yes.

I don't know if i could pick out just one performance from one drummer I liked above all others, because there are so many factors that go into a great drum performance. However, i will say that Mike Portney has gone a notch up in my book now that I just bought the fantastic concept album Sola Scriptura by Neal Morse. Normally I get aggrivated by all the double bass that Portney dishes out, but in this recent album he plays only a little of that double bass. Mostly, though, he plays very laid back and its VERY refreshing. He even goes on to do some fantastic latin grooves towards the middle of Track 2: The Conflict. It actually impressed me a lot because I was beginning to think double bass and speed was ALL Portney could do. Considering I have heard Images & Words, Scenes Part 2, and Awake, and thats basically all I heard. Just leave it to up to Neal Morse to bring out the best musicianship in people. Way to go the both of you!

cynthiasmallet wrote: Another great drumming performance is Neil Peart on 2112, most notably the fills during "The Temples of Syrinx"

Alan  White on Soundchaser. Michael Giles on 21st Schizoid Man.  Paul Cook on The Darkest Hour. Phil Collins on Down and Out. Bill Bruford on In The Dead of Night. Neil Peart on The Camera Eye. Barrie Barlow on Songs from The Wood. Terry Bozzio on The Only Thing She Needs. John Bonham on For Your Life. Tony Williams on What You Do To Me.

Edited by deafmoon - October 28 2007 at 08:19

You know, I don't usually notice drummers, so when I do, I figure they must be doing something special.   He may not be the best of the drummers that I've ever heard, but the last drummer that I really noticed was Mike Hough for his performance on the first Flash album.

sircosick wrote: Coming for a non-prog band (Cream), anyway Ginger Baker's "Toad" should always be mentioned in drum-oriented threads

^ Check out the guy's recommendation! 

But this one could be even better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quYd3YEX1ho

Besides the obvious Bonham and Moon, no love here for Carl Palmer?

Keith Moon seemed to be having a perpetual and very violent argument with his drum kit.  His time keeping worked absolutely perfectly as an average between beats.

ten years after wrote: I'm torn between him and Ginger Baker as the Jimi Hendrix of the drums but Baker gets the vote in the end because he could do it the proper way too when he wanted.

The Jimi Hendrix of drumming is Buddy Rich.

I'm not saying he's the best, I'm just saying he revolutionized the instrument.