Drummers are the backbone of any band. In order to have a successful song, you need to have a drummer who can keep the beat. Drummers have been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that they were given more attention and became a major part of a band’s sound. Here are just a few drummers throughout history that changed the game.
Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich is one of the most famous drummers in history. He was known for his showmanship, playing style, and talent. He was so talented at what he did that some people even considered him the greatest drummer of all time.
Rich’s talent started to shine when he was just 18 years old. He began playing with big bands in New York clubs while still in high school. Before Buddy Rich died in 1987, he had played with dozens of famous jazz musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Stan Getz, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Count Basie, Woody Herman and Benny Goodman.
Rich had a long career that spanned more than 50 years of playing music. His last tour was with Count Basie’s band when Rich was 73-years-old.
Keith Moon
Keith Moon was the drummer for The Who. He was known for his wild antics and on-stage antics.
John Bonham
John Bonham may be the most famous drummer in history. The Led Zeppelin drummer is widely praised for his hard hitting drumming style and consistent rhythm. Bonham played with the band from 1968 to 1980, making him one of the longest-running drummers in history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Led Zeppelin in 1994.
While he didn’t have an extensive solo career, he still left a mark on music history as a session drummer for many bands after Led Zeppelin ended. Some of these bands include Bad Company, The Who, Little Feat, Jeff Beck Group, and Emerson Lake & Palmer.
Phil Collins
Phil Collins is one of the most popular drummers in history, and he’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Collins has won six Grammy Awards for his work with Genesis and three more for his solo career.
He has also released seven albums as a solo artist. As well as being an award-winning drummer, Phil Collins is also the author of two children’s books.
Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker is a drummer and co-founder of the Cream. He’s known as one of the most inventive and influential drummers in rock history. Baker was also ranked number 14 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time”
Peter Criss
One of the most well-known drummers in rock ‘n’ roll, Peter Criss is best known as the drummer for Kiss.
Criss was considered one of the most influential rock drummers and helped pave the way for future generations of drummers. He also influenced famous drummers like Stewart Copeland and Phil Collins.
Nick Mason
Nick Mason was the drummer for Pink Floyd. He played on every single one of their albums.
Ringo Starr
The drummer for the Beatles, Ringo Starr, is one of the most well-known drummers in history. Ringo Starr was a member of one of the most popular bands in history and he played a huge role in their success. He was also part of The All-Starr Band from 1989 to 1990.
In addition to his work with The Beatles, Ringo Starr has been involved with several other popular bands including Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, The Other Ones, and his current band called The All-Starr Band.
He was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist and as a member of The Beatles. His drumming styles were very influential on his contemporaries like John Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame.
Animal From The Muppet Show
One of the most iconic drummers in history is Animal from The Muppet Show. Animal was a drummer for Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Animal was always seen wearing sunglasses and had a big personality.
Animal was one of the coolest drummers to ever be on TV!