Spin have compiled what they consider to be the definitive list of the 100 greatest alternative drummers of all-time, placing King Dave Grohl atop of the pile.
As Spin explains, they have used the qualifier of ‘alternative’ to help shakes things up a little and make the list less predictable.
As such drummers, like John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and Keith Moon (The Who), who normally dominate such lists, have been disqualified due to their respective bands being “too anchored to commercial bedrock”.
This parameter of “commercialism” is sure to only add fuel to the debate, considering Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) comes in at #10 and Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine) is nowhere to be found. At any rate, that familiar grinning beardy mug comes in at #1, and who can really argue with that?
From there on down Spin’s alternative drummer lists offers a number of surprises, such as Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) out of the top 50 at #66 and Prince, often recognised as one of the greatest guitarist of all-time, coming in at #89.
Read. Discuss. Debate. Enjoy.
Spin – The 100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music
1. Dave Grohl (Nirvana)
2. Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks (James Brown)
3. Stewart Copeland (The Police)
4. Tony Allen
5. Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons)
6. Jaki Liebezeit (Can)
7. Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters)
8. Steve Reid
9. ?uestlove (The Roots)
10. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
11. Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
12. Dale Crover (Melvins)
13. Tim “Herb” Alexander (Primus)
14. Will Calhoun (Living Colour)
15. Drumbo (Captain Beefheart)
16. Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction, Porno for Pyros)
17. Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden)
18. Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins)
19. Martin Chambers (The Pretenders)
20. Tommy Ramone (Ramones)
21. “Bigfoot” Brailey (Parliament/Funkadelic)
22. George Hurley (Minutemen, fIREHOSE)
23. Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta)
24. Zach Hill (Death Grips)
25. Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag)
26. Ramon “Tiki” Fulwood (Parliament/Funkadelic)
27. Mike Bordin (Faith No More)
28. Budgie (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
29. Danny Carey (Tool)
30. Glenn Kotche (Wilco)
31. Damon Che (Don Caballero)
32. Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)
33. Philip “Fish” Fisher (Fishbone)
34. Brian Chippendale (Lightning Bolt)
35. Clem Burke (Blondie)
36. Moe Tucker (The Velvet Underground)
37. Mick Harris (Napalm Death)
38. Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Imposters)
39. Gilson Lavis (Squeeze)
40. Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
41. Prairie Prince (The Tubes, XTC)
42. Chris Pennie (Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed and Cambria)
43. Jim White (Dirty Three)
44. Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz)
45. Robo (Black Flag)
46. Josh Freese
47. Earl Hudson (Bad Brains)
48. John Stanier (Helmet, Battles)
49. Hugo Burnham (Gang of Four)
50. Orestes Morfin (Bitch Magnet, Walt Mink)
51. Chuck Biscuits (D.O.A., Black Flag, Circle Jerks)
52. John Maher (The Buzzcocks)
53. Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Wild Flag)
54. Rey Washam (Scratch Acid)
55. Jerry Fuchs (Turing Machine, !!!, Maserati, the Juan MacLean)
56. John McEntire and John Herndon (Tortoise)
57. Todd Trainer (Shellac)
58. Russell Simins (The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)
59. Sheila E. (Prince)
60. Roland (Big Black)
61. Susie Ibarra
62. Charles Hayward (This Heat, Massacre)
63. Boredoms
64. Kid Millions (Oneida)
65. Tony Thompson (Chic)
66. Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
67. Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem)
68. Gabe Serbian (The Locust)
69. Klaus Dinger (Neu!)
70. Joey Baron (Naked City)
71. Brian Chase (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
72. Blake Fleming (Dazzling Killmen, Laddio Bolocko, the Mars Volta)
73. Igor Cavalera (Sepultura)
74. Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Bob Mould, Mountain Goats, Robert Pollard)
75. Dave Witte (Discordance Axis, Municipal Waste)
76. Britt Walford (Slint)
77. Palmolive (Slits, Raincoats)
78. Han Bennink
79. Einstürzende Neubauten
80. James “Diamond” Williams (Ohio Players)
81. Topper Headon (The Clash)
82. Patty Schemel (Hole)
83. Alan Myers (Devo)
84. Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
85. Joey Waronker (Beck)
86. Chris Sharrock (World Party)
87. Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s)
88. Brendan Canty (Fugazi)
89. Prince
90. Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam)
91. Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear)
92. Sean Kinney (Alice in Chains)
93. Lynn Truell (The Dicks, Sister Double Happiness, Imperial Teen)
94. Greg Saunier (Deerhoof)
95. Chris Corsano (Rangda)
96. David Lovering (Pixies)
97. Dave Barbarossa (Bow Wow Wow)
98. Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth)
99. Abe Cunningham (Deftones)
100. Stanley Demeski (The Feelies)
(via Spin)
