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A music question for my readers: Famous drummers

Who is the most famous drummer from the most famous band in the world?

the reason I ask is that some news anchor asked this question and I was blown away (not impressed) by his answer. ;-) I'll post the anchors answer in a couple days.

Clarification: Living or dead ;-)

Update (8.29.2007 @ 9:50 EDT): Ok, so the news anchor said it was Ringo Starr, so most people that commented were thinking along the same lines.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 10:00 AM

Your Comments.

# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Hmmm... kind of a contrived and remarkably UNTESTABLE question isn't it? Angyway, I'd place my money on Ringo Starr and physically fight anyone that says differently.

Left by Dustin Campbell at 8/28/2007 11:43 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
yea, it is contrived and untestable and borders on religious (kinda like like asking "what's better C# or VB.NET"), but I had to ask anyway. ;-)

I was really surprised by the news anchors answer because for me (and a couple of my friends), it is incredibly clear who it should have been. ;-)

BTW, C# > VB.NET.

Left by Michael Eaton at 8/28/2007 11:52 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Hmm. Famous drummers? Keith Moon, Ringo Starr. More current? I guess Stewart Copeland is pretty famous as drummers go. So is Phil Collins, though he's hardly famous as a drummer.

But you added "most famous band in the world," which pretty much narrows it down to Ringo.

Left by Dan Ciruli at 8/28/2007 12:15 PM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
I wonder if answers would have changed if I had left off that last part.

I like the Beatles, but when I heard the question, they didn't even come to mind (thus Ringo was NOT my choice).

When I asked a friend this morning via IM, his top 4 answers didn't include Ringo either. I googled to see if there was anything other than anecdotal evidence that The Beatles are the most famous band ever, but didn't come up with much. ;-) That would be an interesting study to conduct.

To be honest, I didn't think about Phil Collins, Keith Moon or Steward Copeland even though I'm a fan of all their music.

I am still waiting to see if any of my readers had the same thought as me (we'll see if Gunny Wade chimes in).

Left by Michael Eaton at 8/28/2007 1:13 PM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Well, growing uo as a percussionist and an avid music fan, I would tend to think rock. First ones to come to mind would be Neil Pert of Rush, John Bonham from Zepplin and Alex Van Halen. I also have other personal favorites such as Tommy Ramone, Mick Fleetwood and even though I hate to admit it Lars Unlrich (incredibly talented but an asshole).
But let's not get hung up on just rock. Gene Krupa was famous before any of these guys (some list him as an influance) and played for the biggest band of his day (Benny Goodman's Band). Let's not forget latin percussionist Tito Puente (sr) who brought mambo and salso to the U.S.
That's my two cents.

Left by Gunny Wade at 8/28/2007 3:16 PM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Oh, yeah, my apology to Dustin Campbell but it is arguable weather or not The Beatles are the most famous band ever. Also, no offense, but Ringo was never much of a drummer and many drummers will say the same. I guess this means that we will have to fight.

Left by Gunny Wade at 8/28/2007 3:22 PM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
lol. :-) Now now boys...no fighting.

Are you ripping on Lars? You bastard!

Being famous doesn't necessarily equate to being good either, so even though Ringo *may* be the most famous drummer in the most famous band (i agree...it's debateable), it doesn't necessarily mean he was that good. :-) of course, that's just my 2 cents.

Left by Michael Eaton at 8/28/2007 3:26 PM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
While a music enthusiast (from most all genres), I have to admit that I probably couldn't name 10 drummers. Stewart Copeland, Phil Collins, Jon Bonham, and Mick Fleetwood are all great answers that I may have come up with if I thought about it. However, with the question being "the most famous drummer from the most famous band", my first thought was Ringo Starr.

Left by Dan Hounshell at 8/29/2007 9:21 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
I am really surprised so many people thought of The Beatles and Ringo.

My first thought was John Bonham / Led Zeppelin, but maybe subconsciously I was thinking "best drummer / best band" instead of "most famous". ;-)

Left by Michael Eaton at 8/29/2007 9:48 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
I have to agree with most of yous guys.
Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Tito Puente (sp?) WAY talented percussionist. Some of the more modern: Josh Freese (Vandals, A Perfect Circle, & a whole bunch of other bands), Terry Bozzio, Bill Stevenson (Descendents, All, etc...) AND I hate to say it: Travis Barker. DrummerGrrls: Mercedes Lander, Sheila E., etc.
oh yeah - Dave Grohl, the guy from Tool,.......
check out Drummerworld.com & see how many drummers they feature.

Left by Red at 8/29/2007 3:02 PM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Sheila E.! Yea, she did lead a pretty Glamorous Life at one time, didn't she? ;-)

But do you agree that The Beatles are the most famous band in the world and that Ringo could be called the most famous drummer?

Left by Michael Eaton at 8/30/2007 8:09 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Yeah, we're talking about fame here--not skill. So, while Neal Peart, Stewart Copeland, Bill Bruford, Buddy Rich, Keith Moon, Peter Erskine, Ginger Baker, Rod Morgenstein, Jack Dejohnette, Philly Joe Jones, Lars Ulrich, Alan White, etc., etc. are all WAY more talented than Ringo, this is about fame.

As to whether the Beatles are the "most famous" or not, that might be debatable. However, nobody has offered any debate yet! Everyone's just said it's debatable. I mean c'mon. There's real data out there. Let's go by number of hits. Albums sold. Whatever. My grandmother has never listened to Rush or Zepplin, but she knows the Beatles.

Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones might be another contender but I'd have to say that he hasn't had hits on his own like Ringo has.

One other possible contender that hasn't been mentioned yet is Don Henley. Big hits on his own. Big hits with his band.

And finally, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Rick Allen of Def Leppard yet.

Left by Dustin Campbell at 8/30/2007 9:34 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
So, it’s The Beatles and Ringo huh? Being in ‘the most famous band’ and thereby making him ‘the most famous drummer’. Fuck that! Bullshit semantics I say. It’s like saying that the Big Mac is the most famous hamburger from the most famous restaurant in the world. Just because everybody knows it doesn’t make the burger or the restaurant any good. Just goes to show that you can be world renowned and still suck.

Left by Gunny Wade at 8/30/2007 2:56 PM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Yea, unfortunately, my original question asked about "famous", not "good". ;-)

I would put one band up against The Beatles for being most famous -- The Rolling Stones. I know The Beatles are the "sellingest" (yea....nice word huh?) band ever, but if we're talking pure recognition (which, IMO, defines being famous), The Stones have to rank AT least as high as The Beatles.

Left by Michael Eaton at 8/31/2007 10:01 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
Yeah, but I just don't think that Charlie Watts' accomplishments on his own stand up against Ringo Starr's.

Left by Dustin Campbell at 9/12/2007 11:41 AM
# re: A music question for my readers: Famous drummers
the best drummer on earth has got to be neil peart but the most famous could be of cource ringo , john bonnom or keith moon

Left by dalton ruel at 8/25/2008 4:05 PM