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
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
The Rolling Stones
Artists “Brian Jones was the first steel slide player I heard”: Keith Richards pays tribute to Stones guitarists past and present
Damon Albarn of Blur is joined by special guest Phil Daniels at Wembley Stadium on July 08, 2023 in London, England
Singles And Albums “He’ll tell people to f*** off if he has to”: Phil Daniels on Blur, Quadrophenia and his solo album
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
Bowie and Queen
Artists The tense night David Bowie and Queen spontaneously came up with a classic
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
Anderson .Paak
Drummers “That thing’s got great breaks”: Anderson .Paak rides through LA… playing a drum kit on wheels
Cory Wong in 2026
Artists “Prince told me, ‘You sound so great, man. Keep doing your thing’”: Cory Wong's encounters with The Purple One
Rusty and Macca
Artists “I created the guitar parts. I was super jet-lagged and loopy, but I was able to focus, and we created the song. Natalie’s version is extremely similar”: How Paul McCartney’s guitarist Rusty Anderson helped to shape the sound of a classic ’90s hit
Vanilla Fudge
Artists “We could have been as big as Led Zeppelin”: The heavy rock innovators whose drummer was a star before John Bonham
Prince at a press conference where he officially changed his name from the Artist back to Prince.  5/16/00  Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect
Artists Back in 1999, Prince offered his opinion on the new generation of DAW-based musicians and producers
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
Dave Grohl and Josh Freese in 2023
Bands “We are going to move on and find another drummer”: Dave Grohl says that Josh Freese’s exit from the Foo Fighters wasn't complex
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
Miles Davis
Artists “Miles said, ‘Play it like you don’t know how to play the guitar!’”: John McLaughlin's baptism of fire with Miles Davis
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  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
The Who
Artists “I have to be careful what I say": Pete Townshend on Zak Starkey’s protracted dismissal from The Who
 
 
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
 
 
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
 
 
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
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in Drummers
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
 
 
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
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in News
Teddi Mellencamp presents the iHeartRadio Icon Award to honoree John Mellencamp onstage during the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Award
Singers & Songwriters “He saved my life”: Teddi Mellencamp pays tribute to her dad at iHeart Radio Awards
 
 
suno
Tech Suno takes another step into music production with AI step sequencer MILO-1080
 
 
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 26: Olivia Dean performs onstage during the 2026 MOBO Awards at Co-op Live on March 26, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/Getty Images for MOBO)
Artists Olivia Dean cleans up at the Mobo Awards, as Pharrell Williams accepts a special prize for songwriting
 
 
Sam Fender performs onstage during day two of the Syd For Solen Festival at Valbyparken on August 08, 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmar
Singers & Songwriters “Projects like these are so important”: Sam Fender has raised £50,000 for youth music charity
 
 
Anderson .Paak
Drummers “That thing’s got great breaks”: Anderson .Paak rides through LA… playing a drum kit on wheels
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found over £1,000 off a PRS, $200 off the Akai Pro MPC Key 37, and so much more
 
 

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...