100 greatest drum beats of all time
Da Doo Ron Ron - The Crystals
In 2007 Rhythm Magazine took on the gruelling task of finding the perfect drum beat. And thanks to an expert judging panel made up of contributors, readers and all-star drummers (Chad Smith, Joey Jordison and Mike Portnoy, to name but three), they came up with a top 100.
A list of - not just great recordings - but one that we feel goes some way to demonstrating the importance of the humble drum beat in popular music.
But three years on, has anything (man, woman or machine) done enough to warrant a place since? Scroll through, rock out, reminisce and let us know in comments below. First up: Hal Blaine on The Crystals’ Da Doo Ron Ron…
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....
Where to find it: Phil Spector Definitive Collection
Listen:
Fireball - Deep Purple
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.
Where to find it: Fireball, 1971
Listen:
Memphis Soul Stew - King Curtis
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.
Where to find it: King Curtis Live At Filmore West, 1971
Listen:
Wonderwall - Oasis
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.
Where to find it: (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, 1995
Listen:
God Save The Queen - The Sex Pistols
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.
Where to find it: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols, 1977
Listen:
Beat It - Michael Jackson
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.
Where to find it: Thriller, 1982
Listen:
Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
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.
Where to find it: Riptide, 1985
Listen:
Dr Feelgood - Motley Crue
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.
Where to find it: Dr Feelgood, 1989
Listen:
Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes
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.
Where to find it: White Blood Cells, 2001
Listen:
You Really Got Me - The Kinks
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.
Where to find it: Kinks, 1965
Listen:
Candy's Room - Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band
Why it's great:
The song is instantly recognisable from its 16ths hi-hat intro, bursts into life when the 16ths transfer to the snare drum, and explodes into the chorus with an amazing driving rhythm.
Where to find it: Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978
Listen:
Englishman in New York - Sting
Why it's great:
Cool, light and stylish, the drums here are beautifully orchestrated (like most of His Stingness's stuff)… and then comes the neo-Zeppelin/hip-hop-esque break in the middle.
Where to find it: Nothing Like The Sun, 1987
Listen:
Word Up! - Cameo
Why it's great:
Blackmon commands this '80s funk anthem with a watertight, computer-driven backbeat, sugar-coated by two 8th-note hi-hats at the centre of the groove.
Where to find it: Word Up!, 1986
Listen:
Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
Where to find it:
Rising from the chattering wall of guitars at 0:25, Tong kicks into a petulant beat whose attention deficit disorder meant it never played the same fill twice. Like hearing class...
Where to find it: Silent Alarm, 2005
Listen:
Bland Street Bloom - Sikth
Why it's great:
The crazy arrogance that oozes from Foord's super-erratic drum pattern, taking in a twisty time signature, is what makes this song so amazing.
Where to find it: Death Of A Dead Day, 2006
Listen:
Chuck E's In Love - Rickie Lee Jones
Why it's great:
Steve Gadd lends his patented syncopation to 'Chuck E's In Love', married to a jazz sensibility evident in his use of press rolls for embellishment.
Where to find it: Rickie Lee Jones, 1979
Listen:
Shh… Peaceful - Miles Davis
Why it's great:
Jazz genius Williams swapped his trademark molten improvisations for nothing more than hi-hat 16th notes for the duration of this 18-minute masterpiece. Incredible restraint, sublime results.
Where to find it: In A Silent Way, 1969
Listen:
Highway To Hell - AC/DC
Why it's great:
Rudd's economical, no-nonsense approach to drumming achieved spectacular results on the tune that turned out to be then-AC/DC frontman Bon Scott's swansong. Now that's what we call playing for the song…
Where to find it: Highway To Hell, 1979
Listen:
Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police
Why it's great:
The Police's already wafer-thin punk credentials evaporated entirely the moment we heard Copeland's slippery hi-hat masterclass on this paedophilia-themed smash hit from 1980. Follow that, Rat Scabies…
Where to find it: Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980
Listen:
Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine
Why it's great:
Brad Wilk's constant shifts in meter and dynamics are capped by the venomous freak-out that he plays in the 'Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me' section that kicks in at 4:12. This drum beat could be the official soundtrack to anarchy.
Where to find it: Rage Against The Machine, 1992
Listen:
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane Quartet
Why it's great:
One of the most remarkable pieces of music ever committed to tape. Elvin Jones's breathtaking display of musicality and dynamic mastery raised the bar for just about every drummer.
Where to find it: A Love Supreme, 1965
Listen:
Ain't Nobody - Rufus And Chaka Khan
Why it's great:
The funkiest thing ever written? Got to be in with a chance. Exquisitely edgy and subtle but unsettling, JR's groove here is utterly compelling.
Where to find it: Live… Stompin' At The Savoy, 1983
Listen:
Sour Times - Portishead
Why it's great:
The gorgeous, ever-so-slightly woozy, comedown breakbeat fi ts the dark cinematic vibe of the track like a glove. Playing it 'for real' takes the utmost restraint.
Where to find it: Dummy, 1994
Listen:
Highway Star - Deep Purple
Why it's great:
The way the drums are so tight with not just the bass but the organ, guitar and vocal make this a real example of Paicey powering the band...
Where to find it: Machine Head, 1972
Listen:
Fucking Hostile - Pantera
Why it's great:
Big, brutal, balls-to-the-wall-and-out-the-other-side. Everyone knows Vinnie kicks serious Southern ass, but it's 'Fucking Hostile's devastating accuracy that makes jaws drop. Punk-metal perfected.
Where to find it: Vulgar Display Of Power, 1992
Listen:
What'd I Say - Ray Charles
Why it's great:
'What'd I Say', Ray Charles's first, apparently improvised, soul-gospel hit inspired drummer Milt Turner's overtly Latin snare, tom and ride bell groove - and it's been a mainstay of drummers ever since.
Where to find it: What'd I Say, 195
Listen:
Seven Days - Sting
Why it's great:
This track is intelligent pop drumming defi ned. Vinnie Colaiuta makes odd time signatures groove more than we would have ever thought was possible with this fantastic virtuoso yet understated performance.
Where to find it: Ten Summoner's Tales, 1993
Listen:
Sad But True - Metallica
Why it's great:
Lars Ulrich plays with his usual formidable aggression on this prowling song from Metallica's renowned Black album, which sees him hammering out the backbeat while cleverly adding spice through his use of hi-hat phrasing and accented fills.
Where to find it: Metallica, 1991
Listen:
Like I Love You - Justin Timberlake
Who played it?
Pharrell Williams's funk-era tribute snare snaps and pops it way through this track, his hi-hat accents drive it on, while his infectious looped bass drum pattern creates a propulsive syncopated undercurrent, resulting in a near-perfect pop tune.
Where to find it: Justified, 2002
Listen:
Been Caught Stealng - Jane's Addiction
Why it's great:
A staple of indie rock gatherings to this day, 'Been Caught Stealing's spiky, stuttering dark funk is hard to beat. Perkins' off-kilter groove shapes the whole thing.
Where to find it: Ritual De Lo Habitual, 1990
Listen:
Love Rears Its Ugly Head - Living Colour
Why it's great:
Grounded by an eighth-driven hi-hat, Calhoun's rock-solid backbeat and soulful hip-hop flavoured bass drum are melodic siblings to the bass and guitar riff.
Where to find it: Time's Up, 1990
Listen:
Overkill - Motorhead
Why it's great:
It was Year Zero for thrash metal as Phil Taylor's blistering double bass drum performance, captured here, became the launch pad for the countless metal drummers who were to follow in his footsteps.
Where to find out: Overkill, 1979
Listen:
Hot Fun In The Summertime - Sly And The Family Stone
Why it's great:
This is a sublime example of keeping the groove in the pocket, Gregg Errico's 6/8 pattern is the bedrock on which the Family Stone build their funky soul.
Where to find it: Greatest Hits, 1969
Listen:
Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Why it's great:
Chad Smith, so often labelled as 'just' a rock drummer, brings the funk to some super tight riff-stabs, decreasing from three to one after each chorus.
Where to find it: Blood Sugar Sex Magik, 1991
Listen:
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
Why it's great:
Gussak's feathered bass drum and distinctive two-bar shuffle on the hoop is highlighted by a sharp snare drum accent on beat four of the second bar.
Where to find it: '20th Century Masters: The Best Of Bill Haley & His Comets (Millennium Collection)', 1999
Listen:
In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
Why it's great:
A Roland drum machine does its work, building tension before Collins launches a thousand imitative air drummers with a cleverly conceived dynamic snare drum entrance.
Where to find it: Face Value, 1981
Listen:
Jambi - Tool
Why it's great:
Sinister, unpredictable and rock solid – all the things we like about Tool can be applied to Carey's slippery drum beat on this experimental song.
Where to find it: 10,000 Days, 2006
Listen:
Baba O'Riley - The Who
Why it's great:
From the lurching tom fill with which he enters to the exuberant snare-led playout, Moon's flamboyance lifts this album opener to another level.
Where to find it: Who's Next, 1971
Listen:
Lapdance - NERD
Why it's great:
Shuffling hi-hats, super economical parts and machine-gun snare fills into wig-out chorus sections add up to a spot-on hip-hop/rock crossover. Pharrell has never sounded cooler than this....
Where to find it: In Search Of…, 2002
Listen:
Tom Sawyer - Rush
Why it's great:
Proof that music can be both demanding and commercially successful - rock's finest technician navigates changing time signatures with intricate patterns flowing one after the other.
Where to find it: Moving Pictures, 1981
Listen:
The Rotten Kid - Buddy Rich Big Band
Why it's great:
The genius of swing serves up one of the most infectious shuffles ever. It builds from a quiet but tasty opening to blaring fever pitch.
Where to find it: The New One, The Buddy Rich Big Band, 1967
Listen:
Stratus - Billy Cobham
Why it's great:
The coolest bass line ever, written by Billy, with super slinky drums punctuated by 1,000,000mph toms around a huge acrylic kit.
Where to find it: Spectrum, 1973
Listen:
Pick Up The Pieces - The Average White Band
Why it's great:
Played with a nimble jazz-funk swing this is a virtuoso performance from the tragically short-lived Scot.
Where to find it: AWB, 1974
Listen:
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
Why it's great:
Rudd always does a thumpingly solid job, but he's god-like on possibly the greatest AC/DC song ever.
Where to find it: Back In Black, 1980
Listen:
All Right Now - Free
Why it's great:
Simon lays down the ultimate four-on-the-floor heavy rock beat, emphasising the power of simplicity.
Where to find it: Fire And Water, 1970
Listen:
Rock And Roll - Led Zeppelin
Why it's great:
The single most exciting drum intro ever still trips you up if you try to predict where the guitar riff comes in - simultaneously clever and monstrous.
Where to find it: Led Zeppelin IV, 1971
Listen:
Watching The Detectives - Elvis Costello
Why it's great:
It is Pete Thomas's unique approach to a reggae groove that gives the track an edge that perfectly complements Elvis's jagged vocals – oh, and it has one of the greatest across-the-rhythm fills ever!
Where to find it: My Aim Is True, 1977
Listen:
Manic Depression - Jimi Hendrix Experience
Why it's great:
Mitch brings his jazzy roots to the fore on this early Jimi Hendrix Experience 3/4 classic, sweeping the track along with an insistent ride pattern combined with snare/tom syncopations.
Where to find it: Are You Experienced, 1967
Listen:
No One knows - Queens Of The Stone Age
Why it's great:
Big Dave, back on the drums for the first time in years, attacks the Queens' song with enormous power - and the fills he drops in are astoundingly fast.
Where to find it: