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 live albums. (Remove this filter)
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KEITH MOON
The Legend: I could begin and end this section with they created Animal the Muppet based off of Keith's antics and likeness. The guy was a total mammoth and had a totally unique style. Being a great rock drummer came naturally to Keith. He practiced rarely if ever, but what came out of him in songs and solos was pure, unadulterated mayhem that took the Who to heights few rock bands have ever seen. On any given night, Keith was a tornado on the drums.
The Album: Perhaps the most legendary live album in the rock canon, Live at Leeds shows exactly what I'm talking about in reference to Keith's tornado-esq drum stylings. The only known footage from that show shows Keith tearing through the set like a wild animal. Keith made Live At Leeds what it was through his fierce and explosive drumming. [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
The Legend: I could begin and end this section with they created Animal the Muppet based off of Keith's antics and likeness. The guy was a total mammoth and had a totally unique style. Being a great rock drummer came naturally to Keith. He practiced rarely if ever, but what came out of him in songs and solos was pure, unadulterated mayhem that took the Who to heights few rock bands have ever seen. On any given night, Keith was a tornado on the drums.
The Album: Perhaps the most legendary live album in the rock canon, Live at Leeds shows exactly what I'm talking about in reference to Keith's tornado-esq drum stylings. The only known footage from that show shows Keith tearing through the set like a wild animal. Keith made Live At Leeds what it was through his fierce and explosive drumming. [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,388
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
42
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MAX ROACH
The Legend: The Drum Also Waltzes, Max Does Too. To hear Max Roach play is to experience the drums as a moving, breathing, entity. Not to mention he was one of the first to reach that level on the modern drum kit. Max did so much for the drums as a historical figure, from providing a certain feel that still cannot be duplicated, a vibe of cool comparable to that of Miles Davis, and chops and dexterity that inspired everyone from Buddy Rich and Tony Williams, to Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland. If you play the drums, you owe more than you know to Max. He revolutionized the rhythmic world.
The Album: According to my account here, Jazz at Massey Hall is the oldest album I've listened to and the oldest album I own. It still plays like it was recorded months ago. That ensemble of musicians were on fire the night of this recording, Max being no exception. There is a life to this album and these songs, in large part providing by Max's swing that helped open me up to Jazz as a whole. Salt Peanuts is fun, A Night In Tunisia is a classic, this record is as good as it is important. [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
The Legend: The Drum Also Waltzes, Max Does Too. To hear Max Roach play is to experience the drums as a moving, breathing, entity. Not to mention he was one of the first to reach that level on the modern drum kit. Max did so much for the drums as a historical figure, from providing a certain feel that still cannot be duplicated, a vibe of cool comparable to that of Miles Davis, and chops and dexterity that inspired everyone from Buddy Rich and Tony Williams, to Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland. If you play the drums, you owe more than you know to Max. He revolutionized the rhythmic world.
The Album: According to my account here, Jazz at Massey Hall is the oldest album I've listened to and the oldest album I own. It still plays like it was recorded months ago. That ensemble of musicians were on fire the night of this recording, Max being no exception. There is a life to this album and these songs, in large part providing by Max's swing that helped open me up to Jazz as a whole. Salt Peanuts is fun, A Night In Tunisia is a classic, this record is as good as it is important. [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
Year of Release:
1956
Appears in:
Rank Score:
584
Rank in 1956:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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TERRY BOZZIO
The Legend: The flat out king of melodic independence. Just this past weekend I had the treat of seeing him in a very intimate setting performing on a smaller (lol) drum kit at Sweetwater's Gear Fest. It was an all encompassing, jaw dropping performance from a man whose playing I've admired for sometime. He spoke about Zappa, DW drums, and how much he loved playing for us, what a legend. You might say that anyone could sound good on a kit Terry's size. Well, that's total bullshit. Terry plays the drums unlike anyone I've ever seen. He's one fully functioning melodic being behind the kit pounding away at an ostinato with his feet while creating sounds akin to a full percussion ensemble with his hands. Maybe the single most unique player on this list.
The Album:
Best Performances: Punky's Whips, [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
The Legend: The flat out king of melodic independence. Just this past weekend I had the treat of seeing him in a very intimate setting performing on a smaller (lol) drum kit at Sweetwater's Gear Fest. It was an all encompassing, jaw dropping performance from a man whose playing I've admired for sometime. He spoke about Zappa, DW drums, and how much he loved playing for us, what a legend. You might say that anyone could sound good on a kit Terry's size. Well, that's total bullshit. Terry plays the drums unlike anyone I've ever seen. He's one fully functioning melodic being behind the kit pounding away at an ostinato with his feet while creating sounds akin to a full percussion ensemble with his hands. Maybe the single most unique player on this list.
The Album:
Best Performances: Punky's Whips, [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
Total albums: 3. Page 1 of 1
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Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 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 | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Dream Theater | 2 | 4% | |
| Frank Zappa | 2 | 4% | |
| Gene Krupa | 1 | 2% | |
| Tool | 1 | 2% | |
| Genesis | 1 | 2% | |
| Porcupine Tree | 1 | 2% | |
| Van Halen | 1 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) similar charts
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Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) ratings
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| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 90/100  | 06/15/2017 01:45 |  bobbyb5 | | 90/100 |
| 100/100 | 10/01/2016 12:41 | mostlymor | | 89/100 |
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From AAL2014 06/15/2017 06:54
AAL2014 06/15/2017 06:54
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.
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From bobbyb5 06/15/2017 01:49
bobbyb5 06/15/2017 01:49
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
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100/100
From mostlymor 10/01/2016 12:42
Excellent chart, enjoyed your comments particularly.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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