re: Best drummer of all time?

Keith Moon
John Bonham
Carter Beauford
Stewart Copeland

Jones was just jealous that the white boy had a bigger right foot than he did.

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Wow

Just... wow

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Took a while. Body of work was too short I feel. Never got to see him age and get sober or sober-ish to see how technical he could be? He was just known for beating the shite out of his kit, then blowing it up, then being hammered.

But hell, that nearly describes Bonham as well so...?

While it is impossible to name just one, I offer this list of those I have seen live:

Phil Collins
Carl Palmer
John Bonham
Terry Bozzio
Neil Peart
Cozy Powell
Jeff Porcaro
Bill Bruford

For those who don't know:

Buddy Rich

ETA: the climax is unbelievable

It's Vinnie Colaiuta...he can play anything. Best sight reader...check! Best at playing any style...check! Best studio musician...check! Dude has played on everyone's stuff, from Chick Corea to Megadeth. From Steely Dan and Sting, to Jeff Beck and Joe Satriani. From Bill Evans to Frank Zappa. All while making it look easy.

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Neil Peart of Rush Not even close.

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this

“I’ll tell you a really great Vinnie story. He’s one of the most amazing sight-readers that ever existed on the instrument. One day we were in a Frank rehearsal, this was early ’80s, and Frank brought in this piece of music called “Mo ‘N Herb’s Vacation.” Just unbelievably complex. All the drums were written out, just like “The Black Page” except even more complex. There were these runs of like 17 over 3 and every drumhead is notated differently. And there were a whole bunch of people there, I think Bozzio was there.

Vinnie had this piece of music on the stand to his right. To his left he had another music stand with a plate of sushi on it, okay? Now the tempo of the piece was very slow, like “The Black Page.” And then the first riff came in with all these choking of cymbals, and hi-hat, ruffs, spinning of rototoms and all this crazy stuff. And I saw Vinnie reading this thing. Now, Vinnie has this habit of pushing his glasses up with the middle finger of his right hand. Well I saw him look at this one bar of music, it was the last bar of music on the page. He started to play it as he was turning the page with one hand, and then once the page was turned he continued playing the riff with his right hand, as he reached over with his left hand, grabbed a piece of sushi and put it in his mouth, continued the riff with his left hand and feet, pushed his glasses up, and then played the remaining part of the bar. It was the sickest thing I have ever seen. Frank threw his music up in the air. Bozzio turned around and walked away. I just started laughing.”
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Steve Vai on Vinnie Colaiuta

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Another poster said it, too many drummers to come up with a "best one of all time".

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All music is subjective, too. This is sort of like the debates over guitarists and singers - at a certain point you have to balance raw technical ability on the instrument/discipline, with a sense of musicality and the ability to express the content of the music.

Confining it to "rock" drummers (many of them with jazz background, influences or sensibilities) - you have a range of guys with a relatively high degree of technical ability (Peart, Bonham, Carey) who also do a great job (IMHO) in advancing their bands' music.

On the other hand, you have guys that aren't necessarily great technicians - Ringo is the guy who comes to mind here (although he is better than a lot of people give him credit for), but also guys like Lars, U2's Larry Mullen (who is underrated as an all around musician), Charlie Watts (I'll get some pushback on this), Don Henley, etc., who are just right for their bands and either contribute to the music on a more global level and/or contribute in other ways.

There are tons of drummers in between.

I think playing late gives it some personality. That's why New Orleans 2nd line rhythms have so much personality. It's not exactly straight on top of the beat and is late on purpose. Almost excessively late with an excessive drunk swing thrown on top.

Because this thread kind of ignores everyone post-1980, I'll add:

Morgan Agren

Gavin Harrison

Tomas Haake (Totally different style without the heavy jazz fills, but a monster on the stool)

Gene Hoglan Get your blast beats here