The council of nine in Drummerland consist of some of the most insanely talented percussionists alive today. Yes, a lot of them come from the prog world. But there’s a reason for that. It’s because those are the best drummers. The best musicians in any instrumental situation have two things: 1) Technical ability and 2) feeling and emotion. These drummers all have just that. Uncanny time keeping ability that’s almost robotic in accuracy, yet fluid and human at the same time. Not all of the drummers on this list are prog drummers. In fact one of them doesn’t even play in a metal band. Here’s a list of wisest and most powerful drummers in all of the kingdom.
Will Calhoun
First up on the list, from Living Colour, is the incomparable Will Calhoun. One of the least talked about drummers unfortunately. Combining Jazz influences with funk and heavy metal, Will Calhoun defined a drumming sound for generations to come. Equally power, technical ability and touch. He found a style that is uniquely his. All one needs to do is a take a listen to ‘Desperate People’ or the bone crushing ‘Time’s Up’ to understand why this drummer deserves a seat at the round table.
Matt Cameron
Time changing guru Matt Cameron joined Soundgarden right before the bands first extended play release ‘Screaming Life’. Initially Chris Cornell was the drummer and singer. But Cameron was just so damn good they had to add him. A complete master of practice, this guy never puts the sticks down. And it shows in the work. His off beat fills are incredibly tricky to master along with most of his inventive drumming. All while having a major sense of groove. He joined Pearl Jam in 1997 and now does full time percussive duties for both bands. Earning him the nickname ‘the hardest working man in Seattle’. That’s certainly enough to garner a seat here at the round table.
Charlie Benente
Mr. Benente started drumming at an early age and it shows. What was once a young padawan is now a full fledged Jedi Knight of drumming. Most people say that Dave Lombardo is the greatest drummer in the big four (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer). But the reality is that Benente can play circles around all of them. He brings a trained and disciplined style to the metal. A style that is more comparable to players like Mike Mangini and Neil Peart than traditional thrash drumming. The guy is a living metronome of speed and precision. Plus he’s an excellent song writer. His place at the round table is secure.
Rick Allen
The guy lost his arm in a car accident in 1984. He didn’t let it keep him down. He re-learned the drums and now plays with one arm. End of discussion. He’s at the round table. He has one arm. I mean c’mon!!
Neal Peart
Neil Peart essentially created the concept of the lead drummer. He’s a natural part of the rock drumming evolutionary stages. First it was all time keeping. Then John Bonham made drumming something to not just sit back and do in rock. Then Peart took that and created drumming that can literally be sung. So many people sing along with drum break on ‘Tom Sawyer’. It’s something to truly behold live. Peart created this all while flawlessly transitioning from time changes to simply ripping it. He really makes his drumming sound easy too. I think that’s why some people kind of write him off. Some say that you can easily predict what he’s going to play next. I say if you can do what this man does on the drums than maybe you deserve a spot at the round table.
Carter Beauford
Growing up I was never a huge Dave Matthews Band fan. Then I saw them live. It’s still one of the most unbelievable concerts I’ve ever attended. In fact, it’s one of their live albums ‘Live At Mile High’. The person who really captured me was the drummer Carter Beauford. He’s like a praying mantis on the set. All over the place, never dropping a beat. He’s one of the main reasons they rock so much. His playing at times crosses over in to the metal area. Just listen to the double bass on ‘Anyone Seen the Bridge’. Or his drum solo from ‘Two Step’ on the ‘Mile High’ live album. It’s pure drumming adrenaline. His ability to be unwavering in rhythm and keep the tempo loose while keeping the playing tight earns him a spot on the round table.
Mike Portnoy
One of the most insanely capable players in the world. The founding Dream Theater drummer is also one of the most recognized in the world. He’s a culmination of all the great drummers before his time. There isn’t much he can’t do on the kit. And he does it with an unwavering dedication to the lifestyle. Most of the drummers on this list are really working musicians. While Mike Portnoy is certainly that, he’s also a mutha fucking rock star. His tattoo sleeves make him look like he belongs in Motley Crue. And for a while he was quite the drinker. Even calling beer ‘rock juice’. It’s truly amazing how he could drink and then perform all the songs with extended jams and little improvised bits. His natural ability along with technical reliability get him a seat at the round table.
Mark Zonder
Mark Zonder is probably them most underrated drummer of all time. Hardly anyone knows who he is. And it’s a shame. The guy is one of the most creative drummers alive. He is the drums. He joined Fates Warning in 1988, thus completing their classic era line up. He takes drumming to other worldly places. His combination of off beat fills, double bass pedal rhythms, and sheer accuracy and speed are so precise that it’s almost inhuman. Not only that but his touch is equivalent to his technical ability. Just one listen and you’ll understand why this man deserves a spot on the round table.
Mike Mangini
Mike Mangini may be the most technically capable player on the planet. He holds the record for the fastest hands in drumming. And he’s also aware that technicality is not the only element that makes a musician good. He has true feeling. He plays with such exuberance and joy that it’s infectious. You watch him play and go ‘wow, that man loves drumming’. He joined Dream Theater in 2011 and reinvigorated them. His energy went to all the members of the band and all of a sudden they weren’t just standing there. Which they were prone to in their later Portnoy years. His contributions to the self titled Dream Theater album make it one of the best. Not to mention his tones. His snare is phatter than a hobbits foot. And his toms ring like church bells. Not only that but he is also one of the most respected teachers in drumming. He reinvented how rudiments are taught. This is all certainly enough to earn this incredible drummer a throne at the round table.
