Hi search engine visitor! It looks like you arrived here from a search engine.

Unfortunately you've been sent to the special text-only version. To see this page as intended, please go to this page

-- http://www.matt-thornton.net/topics.php?topic=11 -- .

Thanks.

(If not, or you're happy with this page, simply scroll down for the info you need!).

Great Drummers

As a drummer myself, I felt it only right and proper to give due to the great drummers who have shaped the music industry. Actually, no, that's too wanky. Basically, some bio's of drummers from my favourite bands. It's a constant work in progress - I'll keep adding as and when I get time. They're also in no particular order. It is also not intended in any way to be a complete life history - have a look at the links (top right) for that... I've now had emails from two drummers listed here... Darren Jessee and Raice McLeod. You never know, maybe Jon Bonham will email me any day! ;-)

Drummer with: Green Day

This man is simply a god. Nothing more, nothing less. If you have no experience of Green Day, then do yourself a favour and go out and buy Dookie. The speed at which he plays is incredible, and the amount of noise he makes, you would think he has a kit the size of Norfolk. But it is actually one of the most minimalist kits I have ever seen! It's a custom made Slingerland, called the "Spitfire". It consists of a 18x22 Slingerland Bass drum, a 5 1/2x14 Slingerland Radio King Snare, a 6 1/2x14 Chrome snare, an 11x14 Slingerland mounted tom, and a 16x16 Slingerland floor tom. Though the Spitfire comes with Slingerland cymbals, Tré still uses a 19" Zildjian K Dark Thin Crash on the left, a 20" Zildjian A Medium Ride on the right, a 22" Zildjian K Heavy Ride on the bottom right, a 14" Zildjian K Medium Top, 14" K Medium Heavy Bottom Hi-Hats, and Zildjian Super 5B drumsticks. He also uses Remo Power Stroke 3 on his snare and bass drums, Remo Coated emperors on the tops of his toms, clear ambassadors on the bottoms, and Remo Falam Slam Pad on the bass drum (from greenday.net).

Tre's real name, is Frank Edwin Wright III (no wonder he changed it...) and was born in 1972. Before Green Day he played with The Lookouts and Samiam.

Frank became known as Tre Cool when he was playing with The Lookouts aged 12.

Tre is actually a bit of a psycho. He climbed that massive globe thing at the MTV music awards and has a tendency to set drum kits on fire.

Drummer with: Dave Matthews Band

The Dave Matthews Band are currently one of my favourite bands (in fact have been for quite some time). I just bought one of their live albums, Live at Folsom Field (great tip for an album). It's not until you listen really carefully do you hear the intricacies of Carter's drumming. Except of course when you hear, say, the cover of All Along the Watchtower, which is, er, manic.

Carter, like Tre Cool, started playing at an early age (read: 3!). He also started out as a jazz drummer playing fusion in and around Richmond (America, not Middlesbrough!).

Carter met Dave Matthews whilst he was with the Secrets when Dave needed help on some projects - Carter then officially joined the DMB.

His Kit.

Drummer with: Led Zeppelin (aka The New Yardbirds).

Whoooooooooooooooooo? What do you mean? John Bonham is widely lauded as being the _ greatest _ drummer _ ever.

Born 1948 in Worcestershire to a musical family (bit of a theme isn't it!) he was discovered by Jimmy Page when he joined Led Zeppelin.

It's not possible to describe John's drumming - you are much better off just listening.

He died in 1980 (the year I was born) - his death was attributed to alcohol. And why not :p

Drummer with: Counting Crows

Another of my favourite bands, Ben Mize is a largely understated drummer. I suppose playing the style of music CC do, that's understandable.

His drumming has largely influenced mine, particularly his syncopated fills and rolls.

He uses Ludwig and Rogers kit and Zildjian cymbals.

He has been largely influential in crafting the drum tracks (as should be the case IMNSHO) and is something I try to apply to my band.

He played with many different bands before CC. As far as I am aware he has now left CC to concentrate on his family.

Drummer with: Red Hot Chilli Peppers

The Chilli's are probably best known for their blend of rock and funk - creating this weird smeldge (and I just made that word up) of kind of all over the shop but very precise madness.

Must of this is achieved by the bass line but never forget the drums provided by Chad Smith. Born 25th October, 1962, He started out as a jazz drummer buit quickly learnt to blend his style when he joined the Chilli's in 1989 replacing Jack Irons.

For heaps of information on the kits that Chad plays, go here.

To read an interview with Chad from Drummer on Top magazine, download this PDF.

Drummer with: Beck, R.E.M., Badly Drawn Boy

I have to admit, I don't know much about this guy - put simply, I heard him drumming whilst watching the film "About a Boy" - where he drums with songwriter Badly Drawn Boy (aka Damon Gough) and had to find out more.

So it turns out that he's actually been drumming all over the place. And not just drumming.. composing and producing as well (if not more).

Sounds like one of those multi-talented good at everything types. Bastard. :)

Good links...
The Av Club
Bitheadz

Drummer with: Ben Folds Five
(as was, now with new band Hotel Lights).

If you're a fan of BFF then you'll know what I mean. If you're not then it's tough to describe Darren's drumming. I think messy might be quite a good word. I don't really know anything about him, but listening to his drumming he very much sounds like one day he just sat down behond a kit and started playing, fairly making it up as he goes along (which is true). Which is what I did. Which is why I like him. The reason I say this is because his drumming doesn't sound regimented and perfectly tight like most other drummers. Even Tre Cool sounds tight even though he's all over the place. DJ is literally striking what he wants when he wants and bollocks to anyone who says differently. Fuckin' a!

Here is one interview and this one is pretty good too.

Email from Darren!
hey matt ,
it's darren jessee here . thanks for the props on your site . my new band is called HOTEL LIGHTS not revolver . thought you might like to know .
cheers!
dj

Drummer with: Eva Cassidy (well he's played with a shed load of bands...)

I first heard him playing drums on the Live at Blues Alley album by Eva Cassidy. It's a very jazz/blues/soul album with a suitable blend and mix to boot. Real quick 12/8's with simple 4/4's and I swear this guy knows how to play. It's fast and accurate and his fills are absolutely blazing. I'm guessing he wrote the definition for syncopation. I say this in a good way - his drumming is quite predictable - it is enjoyable because he makes happen what you want to happen - when you're tapping along he goes where you're going and it's great.

Email from Raice!
"Thanks for your kind remarks!"

Drummer with: How long have you got? Amongst others, John Lennon, Queen, Metallica, Journey... the list is endless!

You know the phrase "been there, done that, got the t-shirt". This is the guy who makes the t-shirts and gives them out to people. He is like the "granddaddy of drumming".

I'm not even going to try and explain or describe his drumming because that would be an insult.

All I say is first, read this page and then pick up an album or 112 of his.

You'll not be disappointed.

Drummer with: Lots, notably Miles Davis, more recently Keith Jarrett

Good jazz drumming is quite clearly a refined skill, but amazing jazz drumming is defined by your ability to improvise, something that Jack DeJohnette has been doing all his life. Not only a great drummer, playing with the likes of Miles Davis, but also a talented keyboardist and composer. He's that good, that most of his equipment is designed by him, including his his sticks.

If you can, pick up a CD of his work with Keith Jarret as a trio (with Gary Peacock on bass).

Full bio on his official website. Drummer's World writeup.

Drummer with: Dire Straits, Madonna, Sting, Miles Davis

Bababah. Badabdababah. Badabdabdhababdhabahdhad... warank waw da da dah dad dada dah, warand daah dah dah dah dah dah dahhh.... you know the legendary drumsat the start of Money For Nothing... old Omar here was responsible.

More of a inventive studio player than anything else (I might get shot for saying that), Omar has that ability to make drums work, in virtually any setup.

(cheers to Bob for putting me straight on the details).

Drummer with: Dire Straits

I'm not sure I even need to say more. As the drummer on some of the great Dire Straits albums... Money for Nothing, Brothers in Arms... Alchemy (Live).... he's a legend.

(check out Omar Hakim for another Dire Straits drummer.)

Ignore what I said about anyone else being the greatest in the world. In researching someof this, I've come to realise I was talking out of my hole.

Buddy Rich Is The Greatest Drummer In The World.

Don't believe me? See this page. Please... just use up your bandwidth (or abuse it at work like I am now...) and watch the videos... especially the drumoff with Ed Shaugnessy.

Woah.

Drummer with: Linkin Park

I think everyone at some point needs to shout at the top of their voice, to get pissed off with the world and say that everything's bollocks. I mean, it's not actually bollocks, but every once in a while it's fun to pretend it is. Which is where Linkin Park step in. Them and Limp Will, er, Limp Bizkit are perfect. Stick 'em on loud, bounce around your house jumping off the couches, crashing into stuff and making funny hand gestures.

What on earth am I on about? Good question. I'll tell you. Rob Bourdon - the drummer with Linkin Park. Listen to him on "Forgotten" and then on "In the end". It's really nice work, in particularl for the bass pedal work. Listen to it. Class.

Drummer with: Cream (most famously, I suppose)

Some people say John Bonham is the greatest drummer ever, everyone else says Ginger Baker is. I'm happy either way since they're both ace... but Ginger is largely regarded as the most influential jazz/rock drummer in the last 50 years... basically single handedly creating the jazz-rock fusion sound. I mean, he made his own kit at the age of 16/17 (which lasted a full 5 years until it got demolished during a bit of a rumble on stage...!)

Castigated for his loud and unconventional technique, Ginger said bollocks to anyone who disapproved and did what he wanted to do.

And Cream... him, Jack Bruce and of course, Eric Clapton... wooowwww....

Good link at DrummerWorld.

Drummer with: No Doubt

I just remembered how great No Doubt are. Not only is Gwen Stefani insanely beautiful, but they have some good choons too (which is occasionally important for a band). Anyway, it only really occurred to me whilst sat in a traffic jam today that the reason some of their songs are so good is due to the drumming... Adrian Young... influenced by all sorts of weird punk/rock/goth stuff... he plays a quick and tight rhythm, with loads of really splashy cymbals and plenty of open hi-hat. Hear him at his greatest on Just A Girl...

Linkage 1
His kit...

Drummer with: Rush

OK OK OK OK OK. If one more person emails me to stick Neal Peart up here I'm gonna go mad.

I'll be totally honest, I'd never heard of the guy. Not sure I'd even heard of Rush before. And call me a twat for that if you want (but please don't). So after the gagillionth email from you people telling me I was mad for missing him out, and then hearing something about him on the news the other day, I thought it about time I check him out.

One word: DAMN.

First thing. Look at his kit. OMG...
Second thing. Hear him play. Unbelievable. This guy is unbelievable. So tight, so inventive... so... wow.

Blimey. Can't believe I missed him out..

Drummer with: Def Leppard

Ever heard a Def Leppard record? Sounds like any other band, huh? Guitars, bassist, drums, vocals... usual stuff.

Except for the drummer, Rick Allen, only has one arm. He lost most of his left arm in a car accident in 1984, but rather than give up drumming, he taught himself to drum with one arm. He uses a semi-electronic kit, with extra foot pedals to do a lot of the stuff a regular drummer would do with his left arm.

Incredible.

Drummer with: Metallica

I'm a new convertee to Metallica's music. I heard an Avril Lavigne cover of Fuel, which prompted me to get the original Metallica version, and I was there.

Lars's drumming is unique to a heavy metal band. As a forming member of the group, he had an integral part in shaping the band into what it is today. He loves his fills, and seems to play fills as his rhythms, and uses rhythms as fills. If that makes sense.

Drummer with: The Roots, Jurassic 5

I'm a big fan of Jurassic 5, even being not a huge hip-hop fan. The guy plays some really funky old school sync beats. I don't know exactly how much he drums/ed with J5, but tracks like Concrete Set illustrate the type of beat I'm on about. Big variation, simple fills, and great hip-hop/jazz beats make this man great.

Drummer with: System of a Down

Ever since I started working a metal nightclub, I've been listening to SoaD a LOT. Toxicity is a classic album which never gets boring. JD's drumming on tracks like Forest/Shimmy/Prison Song illustrate a multi-talented individual, with an ability to make a big sound which perfectly matches the music they're playing. And even on tracks like Sugar where there's a jazz beat half way through the track, which gradually speeds up back to the metal beat. Top stuff, and worth a listen.

Not a Google ad!

Enjoyed my guide? Then get the Unofficial matt-thornton.net da Vinci Code eBook!

Written by me, Matt Thornton (owner of this site), it answers all your questions in full depth, including Digital Fortress and Deception point codes. More info. (http://www.matt-thornton.net/ebook/)