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
Elton John in 1972
Artists “I began writing a song in my head about the drudgery of being an astronaut”: The classic song that transformed Elton John into a superstar
David Lee Roth performs at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Weekend 1 - Day 1 on April 10, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Artists David Lee Roth has clarified his creative role in Van Halen (again)
jimmy douglass
Producers & Engineers "This guy pops out of a trash can – it was Ginger Baker!": Jimmy Douglass on his early days working for Atlantic Records
Bowie and Queen
Artists The tense night David Bowie and Queen spontaneously came up with a classic
Eric Johnson wears headpnones as he takes a solo on his Strat during the 2023 G3 Tour.
Artists Eric Johnson on why pick choice and picking style are fundamental to your playing – and how his favourite jazz player got his sound by using his thumb
Don Henley and Glenn Frey
Artists “He wrote some of the best parts of Hotel California and Desperado”: Don Henley’s praise for his Eagles bandmate Glenn Frey
Bruce Hornsby and Justin Vernon
Artists "I started getting all these Google alerts": Bruce Hornsby on how he first heard about Bon Iver
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
A press shot of Paul Gilbert [left] wearing a tricorn hat and playing a pink Ibanez; Todd Rundgren wears dark shades and performs live in 2021.
Artists “To me, it was like being asked to tour with the Beatles”: Paul Gilbert on why he turned down the gig of a lifetime
holy holy
Artists “David didn’t seem happy about it”: Tony Visconti reveals Bowie's reaction to Holy Holy
Paul Gilbert wears a tricorn and period dress as he poses in shred mode with his signature Ibanez guitar
Artists “I’ve got to compete with Bach and Beethoven and Mozart and The Beatles!”: Inside the mind of guitar hero Paul Gilbert
Andrew Ranken of The Pogues plays drums during a gig in Reading, UK, 1985.
Drummers "Forever a true friend and brother”: Pogues drummer Andrew Ranken has died, aged 72
Gary Numan and Dave Dupuis
Artists "I honestly don’t think I would keep going if he quit": Gary Numan on the man who makes his live shows tick
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
Iron Maiden in 1986
Artists “I haven’t written anything on the new album. Bang go my royalties!”: When Bruce Dickinson was Iron Maiden’s odd man out
More
  • Jimmy Douglass speaks
  • Ultravox's Vienna
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Elektron Tonverk Review
  1. Artists
  2. Drummers

Andy Burrows' top 5 singing drummers

News
By Rich Chamberlain published 17 October 2011

Singing drummers picks his favourite, er...singing drummers

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

Andy Burrows' favourite singing drummers

Andy Burrows' favourite singing drummers

This Is Scientist drummer, former Razorlight sticksman and I Am Arrows mainman Andy Burrows knows a thing or two about singing drummers. Burrows is back stretching his vocal chords with new single ‘If I Had A Heart’, so what better time to catch up with him to talk about his favourite singing sticksmen? Andy plumped for...

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Nigel Olsson

Nigel Olsson

My favourite singing drummer has to be Nigel Olsson. He is a fantastic singer in his own right.

He recorded those great Elton John albums in the ‘70s and the backing vocals are just incredible. I watched a Classic Albums programme on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and the engineer turned took out the backing vocals on Candle In The Wind and it just blew my mind, these backing vocalists that would be every singer’s dream to have. Nigel always looked so cool as well, and what an amazing voice. There was always something exciting about the way he looked and the way his drums loved.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Levon Helm

Levon Helm

He’s just damn cool. He’s a frontman sat on the drums. There’s something very laid back about his drumming and vocal style. It’s all very organic, natural and cool. It was just such a great vibe. Everybody loves The Weight and from a singing drummer point of view it’s pretty special.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Phil Collins

Phil Collins

He has to be in there because he’s the man. I get really angry like I feel that in England we’re a bit funny about Phil Collins and he’s a guilty pleasure. I don’t understand.

If you go to America and you’re in a bar sat with a bunch of cool kids nobody finds it embarrassing that you’re into Phil Collins. It’s completely respected. It’s a shame because he’s damn awesome. There’s not many drummer that can boast a signature fill like the one he has in ‘In The Air Tonight’. It’s every drummer’s dream to have a fill like that.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Roger Taylor

Roger Taylor

When I was growing up Queen were forever on my tape machine. He’s got a great voice. I always loved the fact that in a lot of the huge stadium shows he had a picture of himself on his bass drum skin.

I keep saying to Dom (Howard, Muse) that they’re the only band that can pull something Queen off so he should do that on the front of his kick drum.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl

He’s the inspirational dude, isn’t he? I’m not sure how much singing and drumming he does, maybe he does a little with Them Crooked Vultures and he did during the MTV Unplugged Nirvana thing. I can live with those as a five.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
CATEGORIES
Drums
Rich Chamberlain
Rich Chamberlain

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).

Read more
Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 poses backstage at the Sahara Tent during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 14, 2023 in Indio, California
Bass Guitars “Bass players are the glue”: Mark Hoppus names his three (or four) favourite bassists
 
 
Phil Collins
Artists “That was a big mistake. I underestimated just how difficult it would be”: When Phil Collins played drums with a Genesis tribute act
 
 
Texan guitar phenom Eric Johnson plays a Fender Stratocaster in a Tropical Turquoise finish during a 2016 performance with the Experience Hendrix Tour.
Artists “It would be way better if drummers weren’t reduced to nothing”: Eric Johnson on the one thing he doesn’t like about modern pop music
 
 
Pink Floyd
Artists “In terms of the guitar solo, he just keeps going!”: The genius of David Gilmour – by Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett and more
 
 
graham
Artists “It was fantastic to have Paul come in every day, and we hung out with him quite a lot as well. The studio was absolutely crammed with our gear and his”: 10cc's Graham Gouldman on working with Paul McCartney at Strawberry Studios
 
 
Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee perform in 2015; on the right, Anika Nilles, the drummer who will be playing drums for the band's reunion tour.
Artists Geddy Lee on how he and Alex Lifeson chose Anika Nilles to fill the late, great Neil Peart’s role in Rush reunion tour
 
 
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
Prince embraces Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the film 'Purple Rain', 1984. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)
Artists Prince’s Purple Rain co-star recalls the moment he had the idea for one of his greatest songs
 
 
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Olivia Rodrigo performs with Robert Smith of The Cure on the Pyramid stage during day five of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 29, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Established by Michael Eavis in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's largest music festival, drawing over 200,000 fans to enjoy performances across more than 100 stages. In 2026, the festival will take a fallow year, a planned pause to allow the Worthy Farm site time to rest and recover. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Artists Olivia Rodrigo still has The Cure’s Robert Smith on her mind on new single, Drop Dead
 
 
boc
Artists Boards of Canada are back with their first new music in 13 years
 
 
plugin
Tech You might want to open a window before using The Crow Hill Company's filthy new synth
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found $200 off an accessible Yamaha turntable, $100 off an iconic Korg synth and healthy discounts on guitars and much more
 
 
David Lee Roth performs at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Weekend 1 - Day 1 on April 10, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Artists David Lee Roth has clarified his creative role in Van Halen (again)
 
 

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...