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Home / Entertainment

Top 10 drummers of all time

Herald online
10 Oct, 2014 07:43 PM3 mins to read

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John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. Photo / Getty

John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. Photo / Getty

We have been inundated with emails informing us of other contenders for the top 10 drummers list. The list is now open to your comments and suggestions.

Friday was "Hug a Drummer Day," a day where we pay tribute to drummers.

According to daysoftheyear.com, we show appreciation for drummers because they often sit at the very back of the stage during performances and don't receive the recognition they deserve.

In honour of this very special day, I consulted crowd-ranking site ranker.com for a list of the top 10 drummers of all time.

Here they are:

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10. Gene Krupa

During the 1930s and '40s, Gene Krupa was a legend in the big band and swing jazz movements. One of his most famous works was Sing, Sing, Sing - where Krupa performed the first commercially recorded extended drum solo.

Krupa is also know for stages a series of drum battles with Buddy Rich.

App users: Tap here to view the video

9. Mike Portnoy

Mike Portnoy is best known as the co-founder of progressive metal / rock band Dream Theater. His technical skills have resulted in 29 awards from the Modern Drummer magazine. Portnoy is the second youngest person (after Neil Peart) to be inducted into the Modern Drummer's Hall of Fame.

8. Phil Collins

Drummer and lead vocalist of Genesis, and having forged a successful solo career, Phil Collins has been called one of the most successful songwriters and performers of all time.

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Collins has won numerous music awards, including seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards, three American Music Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a Disney Legend.

7. Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl is one of the top drummers of all time, but he is also competent at performing many different instruments. He is a singer, songwriter, producer and film director. Among other things, Grohl is known for his work with Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures and Nirvana.

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6. Stewart Copeland

Stewart Copeland sings, plays the guitar, drums and keyboard. He was one of the Police's major songwriters and after the band's breakup, Copeland began composing soundtracks for movies, television, opera and ballet.

5. Ginger Baker

One of the greatest cross-genre drummers of all time, Ginger Baker was originally a British jazz drummer. Baker travelled to Africa and studied African rhythms which he incorporated in his work on Cream and Blind Faith.

Here is a 10-minute drum solo on Cream's "Toad."

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4. Buddy Rich

A jazz drummer who played with, among others, Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey and Oscar Peterson. Buddy Rich was known for his temper and occasional rages, but this was often overlooked because of his talent.

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3. Keith Moon

This is the drummer my husband picked for number one. A member of The Who, Moon's wild, energetic energy added to the band's enigmatic stage presence.

In 2011, Moon was voted the second-greatest drummer in history by a Rolling Stone readers' poll.

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2. Neil Peart

Drummer and lyricist for Rush, Peart has received numerous awards for his musical performances. He is known for his stamina and technical ability. Bandmate Geddy Lee called him "the professor on the drum kit."

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1. John Bonham

Drum roll please...

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Led Zeppelin's John Bonham has been called the godfather of drumming. Decades after his death, Bonham is considered by many to be the greatest drummer in rock history due to his speed, power, fast right foot, passion and distinctive sound.

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