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100 greatest drum beats of all time
Countdown: from Bonham to drum machines
Rhythm Magazine, Tue 21 Apr 2009, 12:19 pm UTC
With a little help from drumming legends Chad Smith, Peter Erskine, Joey Jordison and Thomas Lang, our friends at Rhythm magazine have nodded approvingly along to every drum beat in existence to bring us the top 100.
From 1930's Gene Krupa to Pharrell Williams via John Bonham's old-school skin bashing to an Oberheim DMX drum machine - no stone, however heavy, has been left unturned…
100. Da Doo Ron Ron – The Crystals
Who played it? Hal Blaine
Where to find it: The Crystals: The Ultimate Collection, 1997
Why it's great: Hal Blaine has a whale of a time with this joyous, stomping pop boogie. The huge four-bar triplet fills that he plays between the verses and the choruses are crucial hooks in the arrangement.
99. Fireball – Deep Purple
Who played it? Ian Paice
Where to find it: Fireball, 1971
Why it's great: Ian stomps out double bass drum beats and batters complex patterns with unmatched exuberance, giving his fellow Deep Purple warriors a terrific boost. Without a doubt, it's a defining moment in rock drum folklore.
98. Memphis Soul Stew – King Curtis
Who played it? Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie
Where to find it: King Curtis Live At Filmore West, 1971
Why it's great: Purdie makes his entrance on this famous live track by rifling in with the funkiest paradiddles and stinging-est hi-hats ever heard. He's like an unstoppable whirlwind.
97. Wonderwall – Oasis
Who played it? Alan White
Where to find it: (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, 1995
Why it's great: Ousting bubble-permed original drummer Tony McCarroll had never seemed like a better idea than when new boy Alan White entered 'Wonderwall' at 0:46 with this supple-wristed display of virtuosity.
96. God Save The Queen – The Sex Pistols
Who played it? Paul Cook
Where to find it: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols, 1977
Why it's great: This scathing Silver Jubilee tribute to the monarch is driven with compelling power and dead-eyed precision by drummer Paul Cook, the backbone of the Pistols.
95. Beat It – Michael Jackson
Who played it? Jeff Porcaro
Where to find it: Thriller, 1982
Why it's great: Toto sticksman Porcaro is better known for his big rock beats, but keeps it super tight and super clean on 'Beat It' – a masterpiece of economy.
94. Addicted To Love – Robert Palmer
Who played it? Tony Thompson
Where to find it: Riptide, 1985
Why it's great: Thompson lays down his pure pop-powered kick drum on beat one, followed by an emphatic open hi-hat on beat three, majestically underpinning the keyboard riff.
93. Dr Feelgood – Motley Crue
Who played it? Tommy Lee
Where to find it: Dr Feelgood, 1989
Why it's great: Tommy Lee's earth shattering bass drum beat immediately locks horns with the riffing guitars, while his lush open hi-hat stabs provide rhythmic rock spice.
92. Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes
Who played it? Meg White
Where to find it: White Blood Cells, 2001
Why it's great: From 'Fell In Love With A Girl's flammed start to its crashed finish, Meg White stamps her trademark swagger all over this, as always not just playing for the song, but becoming an integral part of it.
91. You Really Got Me – The Kinks
Who played it? Bobby Graham/Clem Cattini
Where to find it: The Kinks, 1965
Why it's great: The original heavy rock riff and tune inspired a stellar performance. The brutal snare flam entrance is worth a thousand beats.
Next page: 90-81
User comments (6)
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Paolo,
For a person growing up in Northern Ireland and family involved in the troubles, I am disgusted by your comment. 'Im not a U2 fan; Theres your first mistake, dont comment about a song or a band, if you dont know anything about it or the situation.
Please think before commenting. -
2 things are true,
Faith No More are awesome and
Paolo, you're an idiot. -
Paolo,
maybe you should tell Bono what his song is about them. because it is about a Protest in Northern Ireland that turned Deadly when British Paratroopers opened fire on the crowd and killed 27. SUNDAY 30 JAN 1972
ever since pretty much been called Bloody Sunday since
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Bloody_Sunday_(song)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1972) -
Only one issue really and it's not even about the list. The comment regarding Sunday Bloody Sunday is ridiculous and completely inaccurate. I'm not a U2 fan but I know that the song had nothing to do the IRA or the British Army or the Red Army or even Oliver's Army. If you specifically wanted to add in an Irish drummer doing a military drumbeat then Brian Downey's work on Soldier of Fortune would be the only choice. Then again, anything by BD is way ahead of anything Larry could do.
-
Dear friends at MusicRadar. I really enjoy this site, but may I say I'm very disappointed about your beatlist...:-) I'm searching everywhere for the 'Amen break' by the Winstons. The legendary beat thats been used by almost every sampler all over the world, that is so famous it's got its own wikisite is missing!!!? There must be some mistake. To much sting and AC/DC for my taste but otherwise a fun list to browse through.
Søren -
You guys should do a similar thing for Greatest Bass lines.
Glad to see Queens Of the Stone Ages "No one knows" Dave Grohl has some chops.
Faith No More too, Puffy is god.
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