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
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • World in Motion
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The genius of Clive Davis
  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
Genesis in 1975
Artists “Some of the public found Genesis with Peter Gabriel a bit too strange”: How Phil Collins became the singing drummer and led Genesis to superstardom
 
 
Dave Grohl visits SiriusXM Studios on April 29, 2026
Drummers “I was like ‘That’s not my one’”: Dave Grohl recalls the time Nine Inch Nails laughed at him
 
 
Drummer wearing headphones shot from behind an electronic drum set
Drummers Best headphones for drummers 2026: sound isolation for the studio, rehearsal room and stage
 
 
Anika Nilles of band Rush plays the drums at the KIA Forum on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Inglewood, CA
Drummers “The perfect choice for this!”: Mike Portnoy praises Anika Nilles’ performance at Rush comeback gig
 
 
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Roger Daltrey of The Who Performs At Acrisure Arena at Acrisure Arena on October 01, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Artists "I mean, it’s extraordinary": Roger Daltrey says that his voice is as strong as ever
 
 
Vanilla Fudge
Artists “We could have been as big as Led Zeppelin”: The heavy rock innovators whose drummer was a star before John Bonham
 
 
Latest in Drummers
British rock band Blur's drummer Dave Rowntree poses during a photo session in Paris on June 19, 2025
Music Industry Blur drummer loses legal action against PRS over distribution of royalties
 
 
Sting and Stewart Copeland of The Police backstage at The Police: Concert to Benefit Thirteen/WNET & WLIW21 at Madison Square Garden on August 7, 2008 in New York City.
Drummers “I’m happy that we get along just fine”: Stewart Copeland says he and Sting are still talking
 
 
Anika Nilles of Rush performs during the opening night of their first American tour in 11 years at The Kia Forum on June 07, 2026 in Inglewood, California
Drummers “I thought, 'I have no idea how I'm learning that'”: How Anika Nilles prepared for the Rush tour
 
 
Anika Nilles of band Rush plays the drums at the KIA Forum on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Inglewood, CA
Drummers “The perfect choice for this!”: Mike Portnoy praises Anika Nilles’ performance at Rush comeback gig
 
 
Dave Grohl performing with a blue guitar
Artists "Kurt kissed me and said, 'now I don't have to be the only songwriter!'”: Dave Grohl's evolution as a songwriter
 
 
Dave Grohl visits SiriusXM Studios on April 29, 2026
Drummers “I was like ‘That’s not my one’”: Dave Grohl recalls the time Nine Inch Nails laughed at him
 
 
Latest in News
logic pro
Tech Logic Pro 12.3 is here – and my favourite stock plugin just got even better
 
 
Paul McCartney (L) and Mick Jagger attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art\'s 2011 Costume Institute Gala featuring the opening of the exhibit Alexander McQueen : Savage Beauty.
Artists Mick Jagger had to check that Paul McCartney's bass playing was "punk" enough for new Rolling Stones song
 
 
Brandon Ellis demos his signature Jackson Kelly in Gold Crackle
Artists Jackson and Brandon Ellis unveil a top-tier 27-fret Kelly that's designed especially for metal solos
 
 
The Guild Newark St. Collection S-300 Deluxe is offered in Neptune blue and Sterling silver Metallic finishes
Guitars Guild’s S-300 returns: can the cult-classic offset find its niche with today’s player?
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 01:  Photo of Chris MARTIN and COLDPLAY and Jonny BUCKLAND and Will CHAMPION and Guy BERRYMAN; Posed group portrait in hedge L-R Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland
Singles And Albums A Skyfall of Stars: Rare Coldplay recordings are being auctioned, including a would-be Bond theme
 
 
Alicia Keys and Clive Davis during 2004 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party - Inside Arrivals at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
Artists “Completely loyal, incredibly valuable and everlasting": Stars pay tribute to Clive Davis at his funeral
 
 

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...