Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) by
AAL2014 
Here's a fun chart idea I came up with.. Modern Drummer Magazine, the same mag I've been subscribed to and thumbing through for almost 5 years, published a list of the 50 Greatest Drummers of all time voted by the readers back in 2014. I love lists and this was a very poignant list at the time for me. Of course with any list, there will be omissions. Everyone on this list is a very special and influential player so it's tough to say who should be on instead.
This chart is ordered the exact way the drummers were voted. The albums chosen are ones I think of as being the best (or one of the best) works by the artist, and the comments on each are my own. Drums have been an enormous part of my life for almost 10 years. I wouldn't be apart of this website without the drums choosing me to be apart of a spectacular rhythmic journey.
Here is my tribute to the drums, the greatest drummers, and the greatest drum magazine on the planet.
- Chart updated: 06/28/2017 21:15
- (Created: 08/23/2016 21:27).
- Chart size: 50 albums.
There are 3 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 2 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from The Beatles. (Remove this filter)
The Legend: Some might see Ringo voted in at number 9 on this poll and think "What the hell? Ringo is barely even a drummer!", which is quite a shame. Ringo revolutionized the world of drums by not only being in the Beatles and being a personality of his own, but by being a great thinker behind the drums with a God given perfect sense of time. Songs like Come Together, Oh Darling!, The End, A Day In The Life, Let It Be, etc all have characteristics and personality to them in large part because of the feel and rhythms Ringo chose. He wasn't a great drummer in the traditional sense, but drumming would not be the same without him. He still tours today with his All Star Band featuring the great Gregg Bissonette on drums, and provides arenas and theaters packed with fans a feeling of love only a Beatle could exude.
The Album: If you were to say "Hey, AAL2014, Abbey Road is the greatest album of all time" I would say... "Perhaps." I love Abbey Road like a family member. It's a warm, inviting, musically viable and excellent collection of songs that combined of the moods of all 4 members of the band. One of the reasons Abbey Road is my favorite Beatles album is because of the feel and dynamic playing Ringo displays. From the laid back, legendary fill of Come Together, to the bluesy brilliance of Oh Darling!, to the simplistic yet well executed "solo" in The End, Ringo's playing on this album exemplifies why he's such an influence.
It's the feel. It's the feel. It's the feel. [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
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Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) composition
Decade | Albums | % | |
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1930s | 0 | 0% | |
1940s | 0 | 0% | |
1950s | 4 | 8% | |
1960s | 8 | 16% | |
1970s | 14 | 28% | |
1980s | 12 | 24% | |
1990s | 3 | 6% | |
2000s | 8 | 16% | |
2010s | 1 | 2% | |
2020s | 0 | 0% |
Artist | Albums | % | |
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|
Frank Zappa | 2 | 4% | |
Dream Theater | 2 | 4% | |
The Police | 1 | 2% | |
Louie Bellson & His Jazz Orchestra | 1 | 2% | |
Cream | 1 | 2% | |
Led Zeppelin | 1 | 2% | |
Jojo Mayer & Nerve | 1 | 2% | |
Show all |
Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) chart changes
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Thank you Bobby. I appreciate that, I still have some work to go on this chart with comments and I still have a couple of these drummers to listen to so I can provide an honest comment on why they were voted onto this list. So hopefully you'll revisit later haha.
Karen Carpenter was indeed a great drummer. Unique player who had a lot of personality and made it come through in her playing. I haven't listened to a ton of the Carpenters' music however I've seen a number of awesome solo videos from her on YouTube. Pretty great snare chops.

That was very informative to someone like me who really doent shit about music. Heh heh. I like it. Ive heard people i know who play drums say that Karen Carpenter was actually a good drummer. Is that true? I thought they were joking but they weren't. Lol
Excellent chart, enjoyed your comments particularly.
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