These 'best of' lists are tough and very subjective, which is why they attract so much attention on forums such as A'gon. So many of you have terrific suggestions.
Best rock drummer doesn't mean much as rock music doesn't require a lot of drumming talent since there's not much need to play odd time signatures or complete 4-limb independence. I appreciate drummers that have melodic fills that you remember like a great guitar riff. IMO, Mitch Mitchell had the most melodic and memorable fills I've heard and very difficult to replicate. Just listen to the catchy fills in the song, 'Wait til tomorrow', or the explosive back & forth exchanges with Jimi Hendrix on songs like 'Fire' and 'Manic Depression'. Then there's the unbelievable solo style work near the end of 'If 6 was 9'.
Clearly Mitch's roots were jazz and not rock, which is likely the reason his pairing with Hendrix worked so well as Mitchell introduced an upbeat swing style approach that kept the music flowing. IMO, drummers like Bonham or Baker would have failed miserably trying to keep up with Hendrix. Just listen to the quality of songs when Buddy Miles was paired with Hendrix. Like Baker & Bonham, Miles was a great groove master, but lacked melodic feeling. What I'll never understand is that Mitchell was a terrible soloist. He never had a theme to his solos, they just kind of meandered, which is completely opposite to his drumming style with Hendrix.
Another honorable mention is Ringo. He has to be considered as one of the all time best contributors to the band he was in. Admittedly he lacks technical chops, but think of all the simple yet innovative & memorable drum rhythms he laid down on many Beatles songs. Brilliant.
Best rock drummer doesn't mean much as rock music doesn't require a lot of drumming talent since there's not much need to play odd time signatures or complete 4-limb independence. I appreciate drummers that have melodic fills that you remember like a great guitar riff. IMO, Mitch Mitchell had the most melodic and memorable fills I've heard and very difficult to replicate. Just listen to the catchy fills in the song, 'Wait til tomorrow', or the explosive back & forth exchanges with Jimi Hendrix on songs like 'Fire' and 'Manic Depression'. Then there's the unbelievable solo style work near the end of 'If 6 was 9'.
Clearly Mitch's roots were jazz and not rock, which is likely the reason his pairing with Hendrix worked so well as Mitchell introduced an upbeat swing style approach that kept the music flowing. IMO, drummers like Bonham or Baker would have failed miserably trying to keep up with Hendrix. Just listen to the quality of songs when Buddy Miles was paired with Hendrix. Like Baker & Bonham, Miles was a great groove master, but lacked melodic feeling. What I'll never understand is that Mitchell was a terrible soloist. He never had a theme to his solos, they just kind of meandered, which is completely opposite to his drumming style with Hendrix.
Another honorable mention is Ringo. He has to be considered as one of the all time best contributors to the band he was in. Admittedly he lacks technical chops, but think of all the simple yet innovative & memorable drum rhythms he laid down on many Beatles songs. Brilliant.