Phil Rudd named in top 100 of world's best drummers

DRUM SOLO: AC/DC rocker Phil Rudd has been named one of the world's greatest drummers of all time, and still enjoys playing a few solos in his Matua home.PHOTO/JOHN BORREN

AC/DC's Phil Rudd has been named one of the top 100 drummers of all time.

The Tauranga resident was ranked 86 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of drumming greats.

He ranked ahead of Blink-182's Travis Barker (99), Guns n' Roses' Steven Adler (98) and U2's Larry Mullen Jr (96).

Mr Rudd said the news was good but he was not likely to take the rankings too seriously.

"What can I say? There are a lot of other drummers around," Mr Rudd told the Bay of Plenty Times.

It's keeping the railroad tracks under the train. Well, you just try to not go off the rails.

Phil Rudd

Rolling Stone stated Mr Rudd was "one of the most consistent minimalists in hard-rock drumming", and influenced a wave of international players from Rammstein's Christoph Schnieider to Kiss' Eric Singer.

"He lays it down in the most economical, yet effective way," Singer said. "His feel is really the heart and soul of the band."

"It's sweet words," Mr Rudd said.

"It's just how you develop, you know, to make the most of what you've got. I take a lot of pride in my straights [beats]. That seems to be what my trademark is. That's my forte."

Mr Rudd said his drumming was "not a technical thing" but something more focused on feel.

"It's how you swing with the rhythm section," he said.

"It's keeping the railroad tracks under the train. Well, you just try to not go off the rails," Mr Rudd joked.

Mr Rudd's court appearances have been widely reported and he is serving a home detention sentence following conviction of threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis in July last year.

Read more: Inside the world of AC/DC's Phil Rudd

Rolling Stone listed John Bonham as the greatest drummer of all time, stating "On the very first cut of the very first Led Zeppelin LP, John Bonham changed rock drumming forever".

Mr Rudd agreed.

"That's a fair call ... He was innovative and dangerous."

Mr Rudd was less inclined to agree with the ranking of Keith Moon in No 2 position "but I know and respect people who do think a lot of him, and that's fine".

"I'm more of a Ringo fan."

Ringo Starr was ranked No 14 on the list, which Mr Rudd said was fair.