Best drummer of all time?

I love Neil, but I have to go with Buddy Rich here.

I never can choose just one for this kind of list.

I will say, though, that the guy I’ve really enjoyed over the years is Russell Kunkel. He’s played with everybody, it seems, and he’s displays good taste with his drumming, and he’s steady as a rock. Last time I saw him live, he was in Lyle Lovett’s band. But he’s also played with everyone from Jackson Brown to Rod Stewart to Stevie Nicks.

How long before John Bonham, Ginger Baker, or Gene Krupa mentioned ....oops

Peart was awfully good. Richie Hayward in Little Feat is criminally underrated though.

Jim Gordon
Jim Keltner

Matt Abts

It's difficult for me to choose just one. All of these guys have been influences on my drumming over the last 30 years, so...

Buddy Rich: A force of nature on and off the kit (e.g. "The Bus Tapes").

Vinnie Colaiuta: Ridiculous amount of session work in nearly every imaginable genre from jazz to metal.

Thomas Lang: Jaw-dropping technical ability and innovative approach.

Papa Jo Jones: Made it look so damn easy.

Hal Blaine: Drummer for the infamous "Wrecking Crew" (the studio band that actually played the instruments on the Beach Boys albums and a staggering number of other pop and Motown mega-hits from the '60s and '70s).

Bernard Purdie: The Purdie Shuffle might be the most imitated groove of all time, and Purdie just might have the deepest pocket of any drummer who has ever played.