Is Buddy Rich the Greatest Drummer Ever?

[Ducbutter]

Originally Posted by lizardking

Absolute nonsense!

Didn't mean to offend Liz, but I said what I said as someone who listens to way more blues/rock than any kind of jazz or fusion or what have you. And I'd still say jazz drummers are, on the whole, more skilled than most rock drummers. There's exceptions aplenty I know. Just an opinion.

[Yssup Rider]

Louie Bellson

[TexTushHog]

Originally Posted by lizardking

Absolute nonsense!

OK, name a rock drummer who has the chops and versatility of say Max Roach, Billy Cobham, or Steve Gadd?

I can't think of a single one that comes close.

[MrGiz]

Johnny Vidacovich. . . . just sayin.....

[lizardking]

Bill Bruford and Danny Carey, to name two. One thing that may inform the perception of rock drummers as "less skilled" is that they are most frequently holding down a 4/4 beat (because that's the nature of the music played by their bands). Bruford and Carey frequently step out of that limitation (because that's the nature of the music played by their bands). No doubt, guys like Max Roach and Billy Cobham are great jazz drummers. Cobham is actually a very good rock drummer, as evidenced by his work with Mahavishnu. Nonetheless, I doubt he could do what Keith Moon did in The Who.