Top 10 Best Drum Performances of All Time – Listverse
In the music world, drummers rarely get the recognition they deserve. Singers and lead guitarists usually steal the spotlight from their percussion partners: the poor, forgotten bassists and drummers. Yet these last two are crucial elements in musical composition, and their importance cannot be overlooked.
There have been some truly fantastic drummers over the years, and this list aims to highlight the best of them. Some performances stand out for their technical skill and speed, others for stealing the show with an all-too-rare drum solo. Regardless, they’ve all rightfully earned their place on this list of the top 10 best drum performances of all time.
Related: Top 10 Iconic Guitar Solos
10 “In the Air Tonight” – Phil Collins (1981)
Let’s dive in and start with one of the most iconic musicians of his generation. Phil Collins. Unique on this list because it is a completely solo performance, Collins provides vocals and percussion in this well-known song. While the album version of “In the Air Tonight” may have used a drum machine for the explosive climax, Collins has since shown off his incredible skills by stepping behind the drum kit during his live performances.
While everyone knows and loves the way the drums come to life in the last part of the song, the percussive genius is everywhere here. The song starts with just the drums before the guitar and keyboard come in, followed of course by the haunting vocals. As the song progresses, the drums maintain a steady rhythm and serve as a steady platform from which the epic finale eventually begins, making this drum performance truly memorable. [1
9 “War Pigs”–Black Sabbath (Bill Ward, 1970)
Released back in 1970 on Sabbath’s second studio album, Paranoid, “War Pigs” laid the foundation for heavy metal tracks that would follow with its unique, complex structure and controversial subject matter. The drums, manned by the legendary Bill Ward, play a vital role in making this war protest song a truly epic piece of music.
It’s impossible to listen to this song and not want to get behind the drums and start banging away. After Ozzy nails the opening with his distinctive vocals, the drums come crashing in, ramping up the tempo and showing the world what metal truly is. The rhythm may not be overly complex or technically challenging, but Ward proves there’s elegance in simplicity. This is not only one of the most recognizable pieces of drum work around; it’s also a great place to start for drummers learning their craft.[2]
8 “Keep Yourself Alive” – Queen (Roger Taylor, 1973)
Roger Taylor is one of the most famous musicians in the industry, and his contributions were instrumental in making Queen the musical powerhouse they were in the ’70s and ’80s. He helped write some of the band’s most memorable songs, contributed vocal harmonies and was also the man behind the drums.
Taylor’s unique percussion work can be found throughout all of Queen’s hits, with his use of cymbals and incredible timing consistently standing out, but it is in his drum solo on ‘Keep Yourself Alive’ that his genius shines through. The sudden, unexpected and powerful percussive explosion is a true demonstration of Taylor’s skill, speed and precision. In addition to his amazing work with Queen, the legendary musician also later built a successful solo career, making him one of the most influential musicians we’ve ever seen.[3]
7 “Fire” – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Mitch Mitchell, 1967)
One of the shortest-lived rock acts to ever grace the stage, Jimi Hendrix recorded only three full-length studio albums with his original band. Yet their influence on music in general continues to this day. While Jimi’s vocals and stunning guitar playing usually take center stage, Mitch Mitchell on drums was an essential part of the band’s iconic sound.
Mitchell’s drumming skills come to the fore on “Fire,” where his jazz-inspired style is most evident. He maintains a frenetic pace throughout, keeping the rhythm while inserting some dazzling moves. For a song that’s under three minutes long, there’s so much to admire, with the crazy percussion front and center.[4]
6 “Disaster Piece” – Slipknot (Joey Jordison, 2001)
Now for something different from the previous entries on this list. Slipknot, with their terrifying masks and mix of screaming, rap and nu-metal elements, may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Yet the genius of Joey Jordison on the drums is undeniable. As a founding member and key contributor to the band’s meteoric rise, Jordison continually rewrote the rules when it came to percussion speed and skill, and his best work can be heard on ‘Disasterpiece’.
Watching Jordison tear up the drum kit with his lightning speed and mesmerizing use of both cymbals and double bass, while banging his head along with the rest of the band, is something to behold. Sadly, the iconic drummer recently passed away at the age of 46, but his spirit lives on in his vital contributions to metal music, most notably ‘Disasterpiece’. [5]
5 “Nobody Knows” – Queens of the Stone Age (Dave Grohl, 2002)
Dave Grohl may be best known as the lead singer and guitarist of The Foo Fighters, but before starting his band he was of course the drummer for Nirvana and a key part of their signature grunge sound. More than ten years after Nirvana split up, he got back behind the drums with Queens of the Stone Age. On their epic song ‘No One Knows’, Grohl gives a truly masterful demonstration of his skills.
For the studio version of the song, the drums and cymbals were recorded separately to achieve an aggressive yet muted sound, and it works to great effect. You can hear Grohl’s energetic banging throughout the song, giving it the energy kick it needs. As good as the recorded song is, on the live version you can witness firsthand Mr. Grohl’s exceptional talent on the drums. Simply breathtaking.[6]
4 “YYZ” – Rush (Neil Peart, 1981)
Neil Peart, the drummer of Rush known as ‘The Professor’, is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers to ever grace the music world. Not only was he a technical genius, he was also a true innovator, which is incredible considering you don’t usually associate drumming with innovation. Peart redefined what it meant to be a drummer, and for proof, look no further than his work on “YYZ.”
Because it is a purely instrumental song, Peart’s drums immediately stand out. The musician is known for his blistering drum solos during live performances, which are as impressive as you could hope for. But on “YYZ” you can hear how he contributes to and enhances the band’s overall sound and impressive stage presence. If you listen closely, you can hear Peart’s signature ride cymbal groove, a technique he uses often and which, in the style of most geniuses, he accidentally stumbled upon while experimenting.[7]
3 “Moby Dick” – Led Zeppelin (John Bonham, 1969)
As one of the most successful bands of all time, it’s no surprise that Led Zeppelin had a virtuoso behind the drums in John Bonham. The band’s discography is littered with examples of his genius, with songs like ‘Whole Lotta Love’ clearly demonstrating how Bonham cemented Led Zeppelin’s enduring sound. However, it is only when his bandmates step aside and give Bonham the stage in the instrumental song ‘Moby Dick’ that you really see what the drummer is capable of.
The epic song doesn’t just feature a drum solo; it is a drum solo in its entirety, save for the guitar and bass in the intro and closing portion of the song. The rest is Bonham and Bonham alone, and boy does he deliver. Effortlessly varying tempo and volume as he builds to a crushing crescendo, the talented drummer puts on a blinding show in this amazing song that quickly became a fan favorite in live performances and helped cement Bonham’s place as one of the best in the world to strengthen. company.[8]
2 “Dance of Eternity” – Dream Theater (Mike Portnoy, 1999)
Progressive metal band Dream Theater is known for their powerful compositions, where each instrument plays a crucial role. The desired effect wouldn’t be achieved without a great drummer, and in Mike Portnoy they have one of the best percussionists in the world. With walls littered with awards and consistently topping lists of the greatest drummers ever, to call Portnoy great is an understatement. The man is just incredible.
Portnoy’s skills are best seen in “Dance of Eternity,” where he anchors the performance and showcases his brilliance with a blinding display of power and finesse. Surrounded by a formidable array of drums and cymbals, he deftly navigates the intricate melody in a performance for the ages, proving beyond doubt that he is one of the world’s greatest percussionists.[9]
1 “Pneuma” – tools (Danny Carey, 2019)
The world can be divided into two types of people: those who know and love Tool, and those who have never heard their music. It’s that simple. Experiencing Tool means meeting a musical genius. The band is known for waiting ages between album releases and leaving their diehard fanbase in suspense. The band’s discography is relatively small, but the effort they put into their music makes every song a masterpiece, thanks in no small part to Danny Carey’s brilliance on the drums.
Carey takes a unique approach to his work, using unusual time signatures, sudden tempo changes and polyrhythms to merge his mathematical talents with his musical work. The result is drumming like you’ve never heard before. While Carey’s skill is evident on every Tool track, it is most evident on ‘Pneuma’.
With his unusual snare placement, the drummer initially exhibits tight control before breaking through the polyrhythms and then exploding into awe-inspiring flourishes and breakouts as the song progresses in a marathon performance that seems like it will never end. Nothing more needs to be said; Just take a look at Carey’s live drum cam video, and you’ll definitely agree that this is undoubtedly the best drumming performance ever.[10]