Worst drummer of all time

Shoof! Glad I'm not alone here.

Mick is so tasteful that I can't help but dig him mucho...

 

I like Carl Palmer's drumming

 

Look out Gary!!!

 

Charlie Watts? Aw man, you don't like him?

A few tours ago (I think late 1997 or early 98), when the Stones were at United Center in Chicago, Watts did something pretty embarassing, and I think it was on "Satisfaction." It was one of their Hot Rocks era classics, but anyway, when the song kicked off, somehow, he got WAAAAY behind the beat. I don't how a drummer can do that at the start of a song, but anyway, that's what happened, but it was great, because he then did some sort of spontaneous drum fill and immediately got back into the groove. Real sloppy, for sure, but it kicked a good bit of life into something they've done to death in concert.

 

Alrright... BS Detector cap on...

First: Yesman, Phil Ehart. One song: Carry On Wayward Son. Unreal drumming.

Second: Mick Fleetwood. One word: Rumours. 'nuff said. One of the best drummers ever.

Third: Charlie Watts: Whatever! A true master. If you're not a drummer, and can't understand the space behind or ahead of the beat, learn about it. Lars Ulrich said after 8 years of touring he finally understood the genius of Charlie Watts and Phil Rudd. Name one Stones or AC/DC song that doesn't groove. And Charlie taught me about chilling on the hat during the snare notes: makes the snare pop! (watch him in any of the videos/films.) Plus, listen to his jazz albums. Biatch Please!

You guys know squat about drumming!

That said, now for some Monsters!

Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblefield , James Brown
Stewart Copeland, The Police
Billy Cobham
Tony Williams
Steve Gadd
Jeff Porcaro
Bernard Purdie (hell, anyone who played for the immortal Fagen/Becker blues band)
Chad Smith, RHCP

 

In the UK the worst insult you could hurl at a drummer would be to call him Dave Clark( not sure if there's an e on the end of that )
Amazing when you think its 40 years since they had a hit

 

Not Rhino. It was included as a bonus disc with initial pressings of the Polydor/Chronicles 2-CD set entitled Archeology (1967-1977), released in 1992 (and the inclusion of the "Legendary Troggs Tape" was touted prominently on a sticker on the outer packaging). I have a copy -- amazing that this got an official release!

 

Did anybody mention Dennis Wilson yet? His plodding style (almost) ruins some songs for me. So bad they had to use Hal Blaine (a real pro). I know, Hal drums on about 1/2 the stuff of many pop groups.

 

Ain‘t it strange fellas? it is much easier to tell who is the best??
No matter what instrument. To figure out the worst, is almost impossible.

And how can one judge then? You must consider the style of music as well.

 

I have that Troggs session on Rhino's Worst Records. It's a hoot, and real hard to tell who's more incompetent, the drummer, or those trying to tell him what to do.

 

Scott Halpin

Ere

 

Spot on!

As soon as I read the title of this thread I thought "Bev Bevan" and then I read the first post - priceless!!!

I've had many detailed discussions about Bev's "special" ability to kill the feel of a tune! If you listen to a great drummer, Ringo is a prime example, you will understand the importance of playing behind the beat in order to give a track some serious feel. Bev's problem is that he plays dead on the beat - may as well have the Terminator behind the kit .

I suppose Bev doesn't speed up or slow down - you need a real putz like Pete Best on drums for that (check out "Love Me Do" on Anthology Vol 1 to see how bad he really was!).

The only post Pete Best Beatles track that I can think of that has an unintentional tempo shift is "And I Love Her" - by the end of the track things have slowed down quite noticeably. The thing is, this is one track that Ringo isn't leading in terms of tempo - for me, that honour goes to the rhythm guitar part (played by John, I think). Check out Ringo's great drumming on the alternate version of "And I love Her" on Anthology Vol 1 for confirmation of his genius......


I can't end this post without mentioning Lennon's reply when asked if he thought Ringo was the best drummer in the world. He said "He isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles!"

Of course, he was joking - Ringo's contribution to the Beatles records is immeasurable.

 

I saw Carl Palmer live at the Pardise club here in Boston and he was no Bill Bruford, but no way is he the worst. For some reason Palmer has a bad rep with the studio crowd. The guys at the Power Station in NYC were commenting about his timing.

How about Allen White for worst drummer.

 

Helen Wiggin of the Shaggs gets my vote....

 

Charlie Watts was pretty crappy when he was young and now he is even worse.

 

You know to be fair, I remember reading somewhere that all ELO drums were double tracked, that is played twice to get a big effect. Jeff Lynne loved the sound, but I seem to remember Bev Bevan complaining that he had to keep it simple in order to do it twice in a row.

John

 

Or Todd Rundgren.

 

He might suck but Alan White is pretty good.

 

My favorite worst drummer is that guy with the big hair. You know, the one who's in Slayer, Bon Jovi, Poison, et al? I'm convinced he's the same guy in all those bands, and he sucks.

 

Alan White gets top marks just for Instant Karma!!!!! Great groove!

 

AMEN!!! SAY IT, BROTHER!

Jim W.

 

Yeah, I'll third that one. Michael Clarke, man of one beat and accidental tempo. Maybe he grew his hair out to join up with all those 80's bands.

The best drumming ever on a Byrds song was in Mr. Tambourine Man, and that as I recall was Hal Blaine...