Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Musician Pat Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo leaving 24th Annual Grammy Awards on February 24, 1982
Singles And Albums "The record company went berserk”: How Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo had to fight to release Love Is A Battlefield
Dio, 1983: Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain, Viv Campbell
Drummers "We were just having a great time”: Vinny Appice remembers his time with Ronnie James Dio
Harry Casey
Artists “John Lennon said that it’s the one song he wished he would have written”: The disco classic that influenced songs by Lennon and ABBA
Man wearing black hat playing the Roland TD716 electronic drum set
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets in 2026: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
Drum Machines Best drum machines 2026: Top beat boxes for all budgets and skill levels
roger sanchez
Artists "Steve Lukather said: ‘I can’t stand it.’ He got 90% of the publishing rights, so he can’t have been that mad!": How Roger Sanchez turned an '80s Toto ballad into a 2001 dance anthem
The Clash
Artists “On the spur of the moment I said, ‘I’m going to do the backing vocals in Spanish’”: How The Clash created their biggest hit
Bad Company
Artists “Simon said to Rodgers, ‘If you want to hit anyone, hit me’ – so he did”: The supergroup who split after a punch-up
Chic in 1992
Artists The influential Chic classic that spawned one of the most recognisable basslines of all time.
American historic producer of British singer David Bowie, Tony Visconti, poses during a photo session in Paris on November 19, 2019
Singers & Songwriters “Afterwards he sent David an invoice for $10,000”: Tony Visconti on Dave Grohl’s “ludicrious” Bowie session fee
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Artists “I would never have played bass without him”: Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea remembers guitarist Hillel Slovak
HAMILTON, ONTARIO - MARCH 29: Geddy Lee of Rush performs onstage during the 2026 JUNO Awards at TD Coliseum on March 29, 2026 in Hamilton, Ontario. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Artists “We just asked management, and they said first song, first album”: Rush just made their live comeback
Survivor in 1985
Artists “We wrote it on an old Wurlitzer piano”: When Sylvester Stallone wanted another Eye Of The Tiger, he knew who to call
The Rolling Stones
Artists “Brian Jones was the first steel slide player I heard”: Keith Richards pays tribute to Stones guitarists past and present
Dave Grohl and Josh Freese in 2023
Drummers “It didn’t seem like it was going to benefit anybody”: Why the reasons for Josh Freese’s sacking from Foo Fighters were kept vague
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Artists
  2. Drummers

Drummer's World Cup: the best Reggae, Ska and Funk drummers of all time

News
By Chris Burke published 3 December 2012

The results are in for the fifth group of the first round

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Clyde Stubblefield

Clyde Stubblefield

Perhaps James Brown's most famous drummer, and the man responsible for the 'Funky Drummer' beat, Clyde made a valiant claim for top funk drummer in this broad-based group that also included reggae and ska drummers.

But can he progress to the last 16 on the 'next most votes' rule? We'll know when all the results are in!

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Sly Dunbar

Sly Dunbar

One half of one of the most famous rhythm sections of all time, Sly & Robbie, Sly Dunbar beat other reggae greats such as Carlton Barret and Winston Grennan to tie at third with funk master Clyde Stubblefield.

Just missing out on an automatic progression to the last 16, it's down to how many votes are required for a wildcard pass to the next round.

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Chad Smith

Chad Smith

The Red Hot Chili Pepper's man's mastery of funk and rock beats – and combining the two with the Californian alt-rock punk-funkers – made sure Chad was a comfortable second in the group.

He progresses to the next round with ease.

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Stewart Copeland

Stewart Copeland

There was no real contest at the top of the group, with Stewart Copeland an easy winner in the end thanks to his mastery of the one-drop beat combined with awesome rock and pop chops.

Always a popular drummer, Stewart should be one of the favourites to do well in the next stage of the tournament.

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
CATEGORIES
Drums
Chris Burke
Read more
Sly Dunbar at the kit, circa 1984
Drummers “True icon … one of the greatest drummers of all time”: The world mourns the passing of Sly Dunbar
 
 
A close-up of James Gadson playing drums
Drummers “The beat goes on, but the pocket will never be the same": Stars pay tribute to James Gadson
 
 
Chad Smith stood behind a surprised drum student
Drummers “Ignore the Hall Of Fame drummer sitting next to you”: Chad Smith is replacement drum teacher for the day
 
 
Carl Palmer rehearsing at the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada, February 1977
Drummers “We took it very personally, and we shouldn’t have done”: Carl Palmer on how punk affected ELP
 
 
Chic in 1992
Artists The influential Chic classic that spawned one of the most recognisable basslines of all time.
 
 
A classic black-and-white portrait of Queen: [left to right] Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon
Artists “I love Ogre Battle – danga-danga, ‘Waaaaah!’”: Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith names his favourite Queen album
 
 
Latest in Drummers
A close-up of James Gadson playing drums
Drummers “The beat goes on, but the pocket will never be the same": Stars pay tribute to James Gadson
 
 
Dio, 1983: Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain, Viv Campbell
Drummers "We were just having a great time”: Vinny Appice remembers his time with Ronnie James Dio
 
 
Anderson .Paak
Drummers “That thing’s got great breaks”: Anderson .Paak rides through LA… playing a drum kit on wheels
 
 
Dave Grohl and Josh Freese in 2023
Drummers “It didn’t seem like it was going to benefit anybody”: Why the reasons for Josh Freese’s sacking from Foo Fighters were kept vague
 
 
Text banner saying He's the fastest drummer in the world
Drummers “I can play up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes – the AI-assisted one armed drummer
 
 
American historic producer of British singer David Bowie, Tony Visconti, poses during a photo session in Paris on November 19, 2019
Singers & Songwriters “Afterwards he sent David an invoice for $10,000”: Tony Visconti on Dave Grohl’s “ludicrious” Bowie session fee
 
 
Latest in News
A close-up of James Gadson playing drums
Drummers “The beat goes on, but the pocket will never be the same": Stars pay tribute to James Gadson
 
 
christopher cross
Samples SampleRadar: 142 free yacht rock samples
 
 
John Oates and Michael Jackson
Artists John Oates agrees with Daryl Hall that I Can’t Go For That was the inspiration for Billie Jean
 
 
Dio, 1983: Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain, Viv Campbell
Drummers "We were just having a great time”: Vinny Appice remembers his time with Ronnie James Dio
 
 
Thundercat performs at Aviva Studios on March 27, 2026 in Manchester, England
Singles And Albums “Mac’s death was a traumatic experience for me”: Thundercat on how losing Mac Miller made him change his life
 
 
session cards
Music Theory And Songwriting Can this $149 deck of cards help you write better songs?
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...