elliot55
2817
Definitely and Totally Unscientific but...
Sep 09, 2014,13:31 PM
.... those were just the ten guys off the top of my head. Sure, Neil Peart has his place in rock and roll, but only if you are a big Rush fan. Please don't get me wrong, Peart's a great drummer, but for me a bit too busy and particularly all over the map. And Charlie Watts? Well, if those eyeball rollers ever saw Chaz do his jazz gig, their eyeballs would roll out of their heads. Watts is an amazing jazz drummer and a very cool customer. But again, you'd have to be a Rolling Stones fan to think Watts is one of the greats. Kinda' like Ringo - who wasn't the greatest drummer but I'm sure every drummer I know (and don't know) has stolen at least two of his 'licks'.
My biggest inspiration has always been and always will be the late, great Jeff Porcaro. For the others, here's their pedigree(s)...
Vinnie Colaiuta - Sting, Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancok, Chick Corea
Dave Weckl - Dave Weckl Band, Chick Corea, Frank Zappa
Terry Bozio - MIssing Persons, Frank Zappa (Best God Damned reader in the business)
Prairie Prince - The Tubes, Todd Rundgren, Journey, Jefferson Starship
Keith Carlock - Steely Dan (this guy is a friggin' monster)
Dennis Chambers - The grooviest drummer on the planet... has played with EVERYONE
Manu Katche - Peter Gabriel, Sting
Mike Bram - Jason Mraz - and everyone else who can actually get him to show up.
And I forgot a major prince of a guy: Abe Leboriel, Jr. - Sting, Paul McCartney, Edgar Winter, Steve Lukather...
Abe is Abe Leborial Sr.'s son. Abe senior has been Steve Gadd's bassist for 50 years. Which means Abe junior grew up getting lessons from a legend. And so, he'd better be good, right? And Ginger? Hard to give the guy any sort of credit for a band that lasted about 5 minutes because of his drug fueled shinanagins. Sure, Cream made their mark, but only Clapton's talent seems to have transcended the band. Personally, Jack Bruce wasn't a great bass player, but he could sing his ass off. That said, I might suggest one of the best rock and roll documentaries I have ever seen, "Beware of Mr. Baker". Highly recommended.
- Scott