The B List: 10 Singin’ Drummers
Drumming is one of the hardest jobs in rock and roll. Each one of your four limbs are in charge of performing completely different acts, yet they all need to be coordinated with each other and everyone else in the band. I have a hard enough time just trying to get both of my arms to sync up when I play the bass — I can’t even imagine bringing my legs into the equation.
For a few brave and talented souls, drumming by itself isn’t enough. So for this week’s B List, we celebrate the 10 best drummers who can also carry a tune:
1. Levon Helm
Levon Helm is one of our favorite musicians of all-time, so it’s no surprise that he kicks off our list. The Marvell, Arkansas native provides the incredibly soulful voice behind The Band’s classics like The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down, Ophelia and Up On Cripple Creek. Levon sang while laying down the shuffling, syncopated drum beats that propelled some of the greatest songs in the history of rock and/or roll. Helm’s voice is sounding great these days after he was unable to sing for a number of years due to throat cancer treatment. The Levon Helm Band killed it at the Beacon in March, and tonight, they play at Central Park’s Summerstage.
Read on for nine more drummers that can sing as well as they drum…
2. Phil Collins
Phil Collins is probably best known for his saccharin love songs, but he is also a kickass drummer. After running through three drummers over the course of two albums, the members of Genesis found Collins when he answered an ad they had placed in a UK newspaper. Then when Peter Gabriel quit the band in 1975, Phil stepped in as the lead vocalist. Collins has been running the show ever since, with Chester Thompson playing drums throughout most Genesis concerts. But don’t think Phil has lost his invisible touch on the skins: During each of Genesis’s reunion concerts, Collins performs a complicated drum duet with Thompson that shows off his ridiculous skills.
3. Don Henley
Don Henley is another guy who is better known for his saccharin love songs than his prowess behind the kit. During Henley’s tenure in The Eagles, he played drums on the studio tracks and during most of the live shows. It’s always a high point of an Eagles show when Henley jumps on the kit to lay down the smooth beat of Hotel California. He also had a sweet head of hair, and that counts for something.
4. Ringo Starr
One of the reasons The Beatles achieved such a high level of success was that each of the members of the band oozed with personality. Drummer Ringo Starr was the main target of screaming girls during the Beatlemania days. People wanted to see Ringo play so badly that they put his kit on a riser during live shows, a move that is commonplace today. Ringo sang lead on a number of epic tunes including Yellow Submarine, Octopus’ Garden and Don’t Pass Me By. After the Beatles broke up, Starr’s singing experience helped him achieve great success as a solo act.
5. Roger Taylor
We’ve gotta give some love to the man behind the high notes in Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Roger Taylor is a revolutionary drummer who created the arena rock sound, while also adding brilliant vocals to Queen’s greatest hits. Taylor wasn’t content to just drum and sing — he also played bass, guitar and keyboards throughout his career. Let’s not forget his role in writing major hits such as Radio Ga Ga and A Kind of Magic. Is there anything Roger Taylor can’t do?
It’s too bad that Karen Carpenter’s name is always going to be associated with the battle with anorexia that killed her rather than for her skills as a singer and drummer. Hell, most people don’t even know that Carpenter got her start behind the kit.
Karen formed The Carpenters with her brother Richard in the mid ’60s. The pair went on to record some of the biggest sugary-sweet pop tunes of the century, including We’ve Only Just Begun, Close to You and Top of the World. Karen started out as the drummer and singer for the tandem, but as they became more successful, the record company wanted her out front instead of hidden by a drum set. Carpenter’s skills on the kit were lauded by everyone from Buddy Rich to the readers of Playboy Magazine, which named her the Best Rock Drummer of 1975. We were robbed of Karen’s drumming and voice when she died in 1983 after a long struggle with anorexia.
7. Dave Grohl
When I first heard Nirvana’s All Apologies, what stood out most was drummer Dave Grohl’s beautiful high harmonies during the end of the song. Grohl did the majority of the backup singing in Nirvana before becoming well known for his voice as the leader of the Foo Fighters. These days Grohl does more drumming for other bands than he does for the Foos. Grohl recently spent time behind the kit for Queens of the Stone Age and Tenacious D.
While I don’t think the Monkees belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you gotta give it up to Mickey Dolenz for his talents singing while drumming. Dolenz’s lead vocals can be heard on such classics as Last Train To Clarksville, I’m A Believer, and my personal favorite Monkees tune, Pleasant Valley Sunday. Throughout the Monkees reunion tours, Dolenz would often play drums, and he showed that contrary to popular belief he was actually talented behind the kit. This summer Dolenz will appear in Rob Zombie’s Halloween prequel.
9. Kris Myers
When Mike Mirro told the members of Umphrey’s McGee that he would be leaving the band to pursue a medical career, not only were they losing a drummer they were losing a vocalist. Luckily for them Kris Myers’ application was at the top of the stack when they recruited a replacement. Not only is Myers an animal behind the kit, he also has a distinctive voice with which he sings both lead and harmony vocals. Check out Words and JaJunk for a taste of his skills holding down a beat while singing sweet harmonies. Covers including Runnin’ With The Devil, Instant Karma and And Justice For All show off Myers singing lead.
10. Peter Criss
Peter Criss was the drummer for Kiss during their heyday in the ’70s. The man behind the cat makeup also sang lead on a number of Kiss classics including Beth, Black Diamond and Hard Luck Woman. Beth is one of the most famous rock ballads ever written, and the song’s success continues to keep Criss’s pockets full. Criss left Kiss in 1980 and has since joined and left the band a number of times.
Honorable Mention: Meg White, Jon Fishman, and Tommy Lee
- Previously on HT: Unnecessary Listing: Singers Who Play Bass
karen carpenter beating out dave grohl?? thats even more unheard of than if someone made a list of singing drummers where ringo starr beat out peter criss…
What about the guy from Night Ranger- “You’re motoring”
Wow, big Dave Grohl fans here…
Aaron Katz of Percy Hill and now solo artist is #4 best singing drummer after Helm, Henley and Collins
What about Fishman?
These aren’t ranked in any official order other than Levon being #1.
Fishman would have made the ten best if he sang more lead from behind the kit. Check out the Fog That Surrounds from 9/28/95 for my favorite Fish sings lead from behind the kit moment.
Trey: “You can do it Fish! Don’t give up.”
Eric Slick. Caught him singing with both Crescent Moon (Dave Dreiwitz of Ween) and Project Object. This kid is not only going to be in your top ten drummers some day, he’s got perfect pitch.
Big fan of Slick’s…good spot.
Dude what about Mickey Hart and that sick ass Fire On The Mountain rap he does.
Mystery Box fo life bro
[...] Where’s Mickey? And the 10 best singing drummers are… [...]
What the hell? Where’s Buddy Miles on this list? He easily beats out just about everybody on that top 10 list. Somebody didn’t do their homework. As for Fishman, come on,…the guy’s voice was marginal at best.
Fish is the shit. See Bye Bye Foot or the Moma Dance or Crosseyed and Painless for Fish’s uncanny ability to play like a madman and yet carry a tune. He’s a way better singer than Grohl that’s for damn sure.
How about Jim Capaldi from Traffic & Terry Vanderwalker from the Big Wu. Both have good voices & sing their fair share of lead. Defintly more & better than Kris Myers & Roger Taylor.
Don Brewer from Grand Funk Railroad - solid leads or harmonies on almost everything, and definitely not sacchirin. The dude from Rare Earth wasn’t bad either. So I’m old…
Karen Carpenter should be #1 just because her voice alone was truly one of the greats. Perhaps not the top drummer in this group but BY FAR the most recognized and best singer.
DanTheMan, you’re kidding right? Karen Carpenter, c’mon now.
Look, you may not like her genre of music, but I’m speaking purely on musical talent. I mean I don’t like Frank Sinatra’s music that much but I do have to admit that he was one of the great singers of our time. Look, in any discussion of the top 5-10 female singers of ALL TIME, Karen Carpenter’s name is ALWAYS mentioned. Some consider her the best. Madonna and Shania Twain (two VERY successful artists commented that KC’s voice was the “purest and cleanest” EVER. You can’t dismiss this lightly. None of the other singers here would be mentioned in a list of the top male singers of all time. Sorry, I like Phil Collins, Don Henley and Dave Grohl, but they are no way near a Nat King Cole or Luther Vandross when it comes to singing. So my point is that Karen’s superiority in singing alone should propel her to the #1 spot. She had a one of a kind voice and she was no slouch on the drums either.
DanTheMan, you’re argument makes sense. I’ve googled Karen Carpenter a bit and she does show up on almost all discussions of the greatest female singer. I guess because I didn’t grow up when she was around I don’t know much about her. She’s definitely old school. I’ll have to check out her music a bit more.
rocker,
I’m impressed that you at least looked into it before posting your opinion. Most people make their arguments based solely on what they like or what they know. There are artists from different eras that were simply incredible and even if you didn’t grow up with them, it doesn’t dismiss the fact that they were great and possibly better talents. I didn’t grow up with Nat King Cole and my folks introduced me to his music, but WOW could he sing a song. Timeless and one of a kind.
Karen Carpenter’s voice and singing ability was in the same class.
Some excellent points here. As far as singers go Karen Carpenter is truly one of the best of the best. she outdoes Christian Aguilar and mariah Carey easily when it comes to natural vocal ability. As for drumming skills she is again excellent. She may not have been a thrash and bang drummer but her style was more akin to the cultured jazz stylists of the 40’s. Karen Carpenter knew what she was doing on the drums and she was quite proficient.
Karen Carpenter ranked higher than Dave Grohl… yes by all means … her talent in both areas is outstanding. Where Grohls talent is outstanding one and mediocre in the other.
Interesting discussion about Karen Carpenter. Rick, good point about the drumming style. However, I saw a video of her banging away on several different drum sets to a fast tempo beat and wow, she definitely could play. I’d bet that she was so musically talented that she could easily pick up drumming for any rock band. The Carpenters’ music didn’t require this style though so there was no need to “thrash and bang”.
Now, about singing…there’s no contest. Karen Carpenter is so far superior to the others in this group that there shouldn’t even be a discussion. The quality of her tone and diction are matched only by a few singers, past and present. I’d rank her as one of the top 10 singers of all time, male or female. And of this list, she would be the one of the top 3 ballad singers (the other 2 being Nat King Cole and Barbara Streisand) simply because no one “emotes” a song the way she can. Many greats in the music industry would definitely agree with this (Herb Alpert, Burt Bacharach).
So in conclusion, I’d have to agree and rank K. Carpenter #1.
A lot of this depends on what criteria you use to define what is “best”. Commercial success…no contest, Ringo Starr. But that was more about the other Beatles than Starr himself. Second place, the Carpenters which WAS about Karen Carpenter. Hipness-factor, okay maybe Peter Criss, I mean Kiss was neat to watch. But, there is something quite unique about a female drummer who can sing like an angel. Maybe not the hippest, but definitely the most unique and nowadays I’d bet it would be really cool. Pure drumming ability…well take your pick, but the thing is a good drummer is a lot easier to replace than a lead singer in a band. Singing is more important than drumming since people would pay to hear a great singer sing even with no accompanying instruments. Who would pay just to see someone drum? Pure singing ability…Karen Carpenter without a doubt. Most valuable…I would pose the question, if you were a music producer could pick one of these artists to start a band, who would it be? My pick would be Karen Carpenter. She could sing covers of all the classics, Broadway tunes, children songs and Christmas carols and sell hundreds of millions of records GUARANTEED, all while playing the drums. You can’t say the same about any of the others.
Interesting perspective. I guess if I were a music producer and had to pick one, I’d also go with Karen Carperter. With her voice, she’d be the surest bet to sell records. You’re right about the drumming part, no one would be pay just to hear great drumming alone, let alone buy a “drumming” record. In fact, I wonder how one can even really judge who drums better than another. All the drummers listed here are great drummers…but I wouldn’t know how to determine who drums better than another. In fact, I wouldn’t even be able to tell who is drumming if say they all played the same song. Now singing is another matter. Don Henley has a nice unique voice. Phil is okay. But Karen’s voice is out of this world on a completely different level.
Good point Pete. True, I too probably couldn’t even tell either who is a better drummer or who’s even drumming. So this list basically says that if you’re a good drummer and happen to sing for a famous group, you’ll make this list. And since one can’t really discern who is a better drummer based on pure drumming skills, it really boils down to singing. And we all know who easily wins that contest.
I would call Karen Carpenter more of a “percussionist” since I’ve seen her play not just the drums but all sorts of other percussion instruments. Indeed, she was very skilled. I’ve seen her in concert way back in the Carpenters’ heyday and I have to say that I’ve never heard anyone mesmerize the audience like she did. There were times when the audience went completely silent and the only sound in the whole concert hall was her voice. It was magical. I sincerely doubt that any of the other drummers listed here could affect an audience like that.
You guys are so right…having grown up when Karen Carpenter was around, she provided an excellent foil to the other singers…variety is the spice of life…her voice was definitely one of a kind.
It is a pity that some people still do not appreciate the quality of her singing simply because she made it seem so effortless.
I think that a lot of posts from “younger” folks tend to focus on more recent artists because, well that’s all they know. However “true” music fans would know a bit more history and “know” how to appreciate artistry, from Mozart to Sarah Maclaughlin. I mean I read a post once that was raving about how Mariah Carey was the greatest singer EVER because she sings better than Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Christine Aguilera. Well, you can pretty tell the age of the post-er because the only singers he/she knows about are all recent. Sorry, but Karen Carpenter had a superior vocal quality over all of these singers.
KAREN CARPENTER 3RD . WHAT A FREAKING INSULT. SHE SHOULD B # 1 BY A HUGE MARGIN. JUST HER VOICE THE MOST INCREDIBLE PURE NATURAL VOICE ON THE PLANET SHOULD MAKE HER UNO # 1 AND SHE WAS A GREAT DRUMMER ALSO. LIKE DAN THE MAN SAID ( SOME 1 WHO ACTUALLY APPERICATES HER) SHE WAS INCREDIBLE. ITS A SHAME SHE DIED SO YOUNG B CAUSE SHE COULD STILL B MAKING ALBUMS AND PEOPLE OF TODAY WILL KNOW THAT AMAZING VOICE. GOD FORBID SHES HEARD ON THE RADIO B CAUSE ITS CONSIDER UN COOL TO LIKE THE CARPENTERS. WHAT A LOST TO THE MUSIC WORLD AND SHE AND HER BROTHER GET NO RESPECT WHAT SO EVER FROM ANY ONE OUTSIDE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND EVEN THERE ITS LIKE A GREAT DAMN SECERT IF U LISTEN TO HER MUSIC. I MEAN I GET SO PISSED ABOUT THE LACK OF LOVE SHE GETS.
PS MY HAT OFF TO Tom Cater WHO ACTUALLY SAW HER LIVE. I MISSED ALL OF HER CONCERTS AND LIVE PERFORMANCE B CAUSE I WAS 2 YOUNG TO GO. MAN OH MAN I WISH I COULD HAD SEEN HER JUST ONCE.
The Carpenters just didn’t have the “hipness” factor. They were all about the music and that’s why they are HUGELY respected by the music community but less so by the casual fan. Legends such as Lennon, Streisand, Bacharach, Dionne Warrick, Petula Clark, Paul Williams and Herb Alpert were all great admirers of Karen’s “instrument”. (If you don’t know who these people are, then I’d say you don’t know enough about music history to qualify making a worthwhile opinion about this topic.) The videos the Carpenters made were unglamourous and simple, but I enjoy watching them so much more than most of today’s videos because it was just focused on the music (and Karen’s voice in particular).
I’d say that all the artists listed here are clearly talented. All can drum at the highest level. Perhaps a few can drum a few things others can’t, perhaps not. But the degree of difference is slim. Vocally, I like Henley, who has a nice smoky tone to his voice, and fits certain types of songs quite nicely. His best lead…Desparado. Never liked Collin’s voice (tone is too thin for my taste). The other male singers are okay at best. Now about Karen. Well her voice was as others have stated one of the best of the best. She excelled in the lower registers and was effortless in the way she interpreted songs, particularly ballads. If you watch some YouTube videos of her in concert singing while behind the kit, you’d be amazed. I agree that no other on this list can match her in overall performance, singing while drumming. Her voice was just too good.
The degree of difference is slim!?!?! you sir clearly arnt a drummer. To put Kris Myers or had they included Fishman on the list is disrespect to them. They are so ridiculously head and shoulders above the rest of the drummers on this list…not even close. Is this who has the best voice out of drummers…or who can combine the difficulty of the 2. Myers and Fishman are more talented than anybody on this list if you put ducttape over their mouths
Legends such as Lennon, Streisand, Bacharach, Dionne Warrick, Petula Clark, Paul Williams and Herb Alpert were all great admirers of Karen’s “instrument”. A VERY TRUE STATEMENT. HELL U EVEN FORGOT ONE OF HER CLOSEST FRIEND OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN. i know karen and rich werent worry about the hip factor. she even said that “herb heard our music and just dug it…) and true the videos today arent focus on the music as well as the sex bcause today society sex sells. our dear karen will b crushed by 2 days music industry despite her end of the universe talent ( and rich) b cause she just wanted to stay bhind the scene( the damn drums).
ALSO im really am upset that they dont get respect outsidethe industry how do u feel about that DAN THE MAN. she deserve more damn it . she was so damn shy scared not sure of herself worrying about a screwed up society picture of what a woman supposed to b . i just dont get it at all.
as far as her drumming people need to find the special music music music where she just played the drums like crazy . showing despite not having a man strength she could rock and roll if it was needed . u cant see that in a way if u just watch the vids for there songs b cause they werent hard roc
Matt, I believe this list is about who the best singing drummer is, not just a drummer. There are clearly a lot of great drummers historically from professional studio musicians (Buddy Rich) to other bands, but they can’t sing so they don’t make this list. I think what the point that DanTheMan started was that as a competition of the best singing drummer, Karen Carpenter should lead the list because here voice is so much better than all the rest that even if she’s not the best drummer per se, it doesn’t matter.
Interestingly, Karen C. is the only one here that could also compete on a “greatest singer” list as well.
And oh, even with the duct tape, Karen C. could outsing Myers and Fishman without duct tape.
And I forgot to add that Buddy Rich who during his time was regarded as the “world’s greatest drummer” was a big fan of Karen C drumming ability. That’s says a lot about how well she was able to play.
wihtout a doubt karen carpenter could run circles around kris and fish vocally, thats hardly the point i was trying to make. Maybe im misunderstanding the issue in general. Shouldnt we call it best singer who could drum then? perhaps im splitting hairs. However, nobody can possibly deny the fact that its extremely impressive myers and fish even have time to throw in vocals while they dominate the kit like they do. It’s equally if not more impressive then most drummers on this list playing steady 4/4 time and singing. Buddy Rich was a kind fellow if he was giving karen props on the set by the way.
Well Matt, I understand what you’re trying to say, but I didn’t start this list so I can only give an opinion (like everyone else) at what the best “singing drummer” means. Everyone will have his/her take on this. But I think that what those that have posted here in favor of Karen C being the “best” is that she was “good enough” on the drums relative to the others but so far superior vocally that if you combined the relative talents of “singing” and “drumming”, she’d come out on top. I personally would also weigh singing over drumming because people pay to hear a great singer (who pays to hear a drumming recital?).
As far as Buddy Rich, he was a Karen C fan. Whether he was being overly kind or not, we’ll never know. But there is no denying that she was very musically talented.
As I understand this forum, it lists the best people that can both sing and play the drums. So both skills have to be evaluated. I agree that Karen C was far from being the best drummer, but her skills were quite competent. But her singing ability takes her to the top of this list. Now, if we did a list of best singing drummers with duct-tape over their mouths, then she would definitely NOT be at the top. Thank God the duct-tape wasn’t mentioned in the top paragraph!!
Matt, i’d disagree with you on your statements “However, nobody can possibly deny the fact that its extremely impressive myers and fish even have time to throw in vocals while they dominate the kit like they do. It’s equally if not more impressive then most drummers on this list playing steady 4/4 time and singing.”
Doing both well is REALLY hard, much harder than just focusing on drumming and just throwing out words. Especially if you sing lead. As good as Myers and Fish are at the kit (and they are great don’t get me wrong), I find it less impressive than someone who can drum well and sing really well. But that’s just my opinion.
Is anybody here a drummer? im hardly graced with much of a voice but i can play simple 4/4 time on kit and sing any song you like. With mixed time signatures and complexity of their drumming, to have the presence of mind to keep a far more sophisticated rhythym and sing is whats being overlooked here ide say. And as far as this quote..no disrespect…
“I personally would also weigh singing over drumming because people pay to hear a great singer (who pays to hear a drumming recital?).”
your right there no way im paying to hear a drummer like karen carpenter or don henley. But if youve ever been to an umphrey’s or phish show you know myers and fish will be just as mindblowing as any vocals their frontmen can throw at you. I understand the thread fine, just feel like my guys are getting overlooked a bit
No, I’m not a drummer, I’m a guitarist (who can’t sing). I do understand what you’re saying and do have respect for these drummers (and all good musicians for that matter). But let’s face it, only hard-core drummers “could” appreciate a phish show the way you would and actually pay just to see the drumming. But how many of us are hard-core drummers? For the majority, it’s more about the singing since it is more universal. But let’s not forget how “mindblowing” a unique one-of-a-kind voice is. There has never been a voice like Karen C’s. So it is truly a singular phenomenon to behold. That, in my opinion, outdoes any drumming act.
The posts favoring Karen C are not trying to downgrade the accomplishments or skills of any drummer. I )and the others) just believe that in a list of the best “singing drummers” Karen C belongs on top, that’s all. We’re not trying to disrespect fish or myers (and don’t ask me why fish isn’t on this list in the first place). We can debate who should be second or third based on complicated drumming skills and complex timing signatures, etc. But I think the point here is that myself and the others feel that Karen deserves the top spot because of her vocal superiority and sufficient drumming skills. That’s all. Myers can be number 2.
I don’t think a great drumming act is as “mindblowing” as listening to a great singer. This is just my opinion, but I think most people would share this opinion. No, I haven’t seen a fish drumming act (and don’t really care to unless someone like Karen is singing). But a voice like Karen’s can touch your soul. No amount of complex timing schemes or intricate rythym beats on the drum can compare.
Interesting discussion guys (or gals). As a former singer myself (sang lead in a band) I guess I would be partial to singing over drumming as far as how to qualify the top “singin’ drummer”. Anyone can sing, not many can sing well, fewer yet can sing professionally and then there is a very special select group that sing in a way that “touches your soul” as DanTheMan stated. I would agree that Karen Carpenter as a singer falls into this very special category. I’ve seen (and played) with good to great drummers before too and one has to respect their musical talents and skills. But let’s face it, there are only so many songs that get to “showcase” a drummers extreme skills (a long drawn out solo). I mean if you’re sitting at a concert and EVERY song has a 2-3 minute drum solo, after about the 3rd song, you will start to wonder what the heck is going on. So you’re right that it is “mindblowing” cause after about 5 minutes of a drum solo, your mind will start to blow cause it can’t take anymore!! But to listen to a great singer…you never want it to stop. So I agree with you guys and would rank Karen C #1.
Now for #2, it gets a bit tougher because the vocals of the rest of the pack are more closely rated. I’d vote for Don Henley because he is a good singer as well. But Myers is probably a better drummer, so it’s a tough call.
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I couldn’t agree with you more johnnyd on what you wrote: “But I think the point here is that myself and the others feel that Karen deserves the top spot because of her vocal superiority and sufficient drumming skills. That’s all. Myers can be number 2.” I never meant to denigrate any of the other artists. I just felt that Karen Carpenter should be ranked #1. Being #2 or #3 is nothing to be ashamed of. Unless Matt really believe that Myers or Fish should be #1, then there really isn’t anything to discuss. I’ve heard both of them sing and quite frankly, it’s nothing spectaculer so I’d be hard pressed to rank either of them higher than Karen. But the would be in the top 5 which again is nothing to sneeze at.
You guys have got to be freakin’ kidding me. Karen Crapenter shouldn’t even be on this list at all. Yeah okay she can sing a few corny ballads, but that hardly qualifies her as a legit drummer. I think you old fogies are trying to re-live your “glory days” in the 70’s. Henley should be #1. He has the best voice of all the “legit” drummers on this list. It’s smooth and soulful. The Eagles were the most commercially successful (after the Beatles and okay the Crapenters) but like I said, the Crapenters shouldn’t even be on this list. Let’s get real guys.
Jakey boy…you sound like your Britney Spear’s age. I suspect that you’re probably not old enough to have seen Karen Carpenter play the drums nor know enough about music in the late ’60s and ’70s. She started her career as a drummer and was really good at it. Read the other posts. We’re not saying she was the best drummer, but the best “singing drummer”. Since you don’t think that she was a phenomenal singer, you must know something that the likes Bacharach, Alpert, Lennon and hundreds of millions of fans don’t. Maybe you should stick to your Britney Spears albums.
i’ll take a bad ass drummer (Kris Myers) who can’t sing (which he can) over a mediocre drummer who can sing. ::cough:: Karen C. Now I’ve never heard KC play drums, but i can guarantee you her drumming skills get destroyed by Myers’. So whoever said “who pays to hear a drum solo?”, I’d pay to see a drum solo. I’d also pay to see a piano, guitar, bass, harp, cello, obo, trumpet, or a spoon solo. This thread is for the best drummers who sing. The last statement before the list starts: “we celebrate the 10 best drummers who can also carry a tune:”. I quoted that statement for everyone here that is pushing Karen Carpenter to the top. Sorry, but she probably goes to the bottom.
Myers goes to the top. End of discussion.
p.s. DantheMan, music without lyrics can touch your soul as well.
ranumph,
I never said music without lyrics can’t touch the soul. God knows, some of the most incredible music EVER written were piano concertos by Chopin and Rachmaninoff. No need for singing there. But a drumming solo…come on. That’s fine for about 2 minutes and then break out the Alka Seltzer!! That doesn’t touch your soul, just gives you a headache. Let’s face it, in the world of pop and rock music, the lead singer is the focal point. Without a good lead singer, the chances of success are marginal. Okay, you may pay money for a drumming “concert”, but how many others would?
As I mentioned earlier, if you had to pick one member here to produce (and invest your own money in), who would it be? I seriously doubt that you’d invest in a “kick-ass drummer” who sings okay at best. Yes he may succeed, but there’s nothing remarkable to ensure success (unless you find millions of people that will buy a drumming album). I’d take Karen C. any day because I know that her voice alone will sell albums. You gotta put your money where your mouth is.
Even if weigh drumming skills and vocal skills 50-50 on this rating, Karen C still comes out on top. Her vocal superiority is just too great to overcome.
ranumph. I think you have to define what your criteria are as far as judging who the “best” may be. I’m going with a 40-60 weighted ration of drumming and singing. I gave my reasons for weighing singing more heavily than drumming. You may not agree with my rating scale, but hey, at least I’m stating what it is. The only way that I see Karen C not being at the top is if someone weighed drumming and singing something like 80-20 where there is a 80% focus on drumming skills. That may be your rating system and that’s fine. But not everyone is going to go with that. Even at 50-50, Karen C comes out on top. Remember, she is one of the top female vocalists EVER. Myers can’t sing a lick compared to her.
And oh, as you wrote…”i’ll take a bad ass drummer (Kris Myers) who can’t sing (which he can) over a mediocre drummer who can sing. ::cough:: Karen C.”
I sincerely doubt that you would if you had to invest YOUR OWN MONEY producing one of them. As DanTheMan pointed out, when you put your money where your mouth is, no one in their right mind would pick Myers over Karen C. Myers is a niche artist, whereas Karen C is universally recognized, so let’s get real here.
I wouldn’t consider Karen Carpenter a top drummer. I’ve seen her play and yes she can, but it’s nothing extreme. It seems that the issue boils down to whether you emphasize “drumming” or “singing”. It is clear that this is highly personal and if you’re a drummer, you’d have a problem with Karen C being considered the “best”. One post did bring out a good point though and that was the Carpenter’s style of music didn’t have complex drumming parts. What was special about their “sound” was the vocal harmonies, so if you’re a Carpenters fan, you’d naturally be biased towards singing. Those that like the more “aggresive” and complex drumming act would naturally be biased towards drumming ability. However, this doesn’t rule out what Karen “could have played” since she never really got a chance to showcase that.
With all that being said, I would agree that if you gave an even weighting (50% drumming, 50% singing) I too would have to give Karen C the top spot. I totally agree that you cannot ignore the fact that her singing is considered amongst the purest and best ever.
Well i guess we’re all going to have to agree to disagree. Although I still don’t see how you guys don’t see my point. In my previous statement, I quoted the last statement before the list starts. …”we celebrate the 10 best drummers who can also carry a tune.” With an emphasis on BEST DRUMMERS. It doesn’t read the best drummers who can also carry the best tune. I’m not arguing the fact that Karen C. is/isn’t a better singer. I get that she is. However, for this list’s objective, Myers wins out hands down. He is a FAR superior drummer.
With the statement that I quoted, I don’t believe that you can weigh drumming skills 50/50 with vocal ability. For this list I believe you have to give, at the very least, a 70/30 ratio for drumming/singing. Even if I did weigh it at 50/50, i would still give it to Myers. And this is where we obviously will not see eye to eye.
I realize that few people can sing as well as KC. But even fewer people can play drums with the technical prowess that Myers displays. I just think (and I’m pretty sure I’m right) that it takes more of someone to be a great drummer than to be a great singer.
I could go on and on, but i think this rant has been long enough. I will end it here for now.
I’ll put Kris Myers at the top of my list, and you guys can have KC at the top of yours because we obviously listen to music for two different reasons.
ranumph,
I do see your point. With the statement, “best drummer who can carry a tune”, you’re interpreting it as the “BEST DRUMMER” who happen to sing, whereas I read it as the BEST “singin’ drummer” (as the title of this thread states). It’s a subtle distinction and I will agree that if I read it your way, I wouldn’t put Karen C on top. However if you were to read it my way, I think you’d have to agree that Karen C. comes on top. So we’ll compromise on this. But reading it your way, my pick would be Glenn Frey. He’s a lot more accomplished than Kris Myers.
Oh, as far as what you wrote “it takes more of someone to be a great drummer than to be a great singer”…that’s a loaded statement. I don’t think it’s a matter of what it takes of someone but about God given talent. Karen C for example wanted to be a pure drummer but it turned out that she a naturally remarkable voice so she became a lead singer as well. I believe that great musicians are born, be it drummers, singers, guitarists or whatever. So you just develop the natural talent that you were born with and if you’re naturally inclined to play the drums, it’ll be easy (whereas if you’re not, it’ll be hard). Same goes for singing or any instrument for that matter.
ranumph, I too understand what you’re trying to say. If we’re looking for the best drummer and the only rule is that they have to be “able” to sing, then I would agree with you about Karen C. (However, I wouldn’t put Myers first. I’d go with Phil Collins or Glen Frey since they are bigger stars). Like DanTheMan, I don’t read the thread this way though, so we can agree to disagree on this. However, I think your dead wrong on saying that “it takes more of someone to be a great drummer than to be a great singer”. A drummer can “hide” behind the kit at the back of the stage. A lead singer is out there, front and center, where all eyes are focused on him/her and every mistake is magnified. It is the hardest position in a band from the standpoint of requiring the most courage. But it also gets the most fame. Being the focal point is always harder than being in the background.
Put it this way. I’m a guitarist who sings “average” at best and can keep a beat on the drums. I’d have no fear jumping into some band to substitute as the drummer at the back of the stage. I however, would NOT jump into some some band and sing lead. That’s way too hard. So it takes more of someone to be out front and center.
You have got to be kidding me. This is one of the most pathetic lists of drummers ever. Aside from Roger Taylor and possibly Dave Grohl…are you saying Karen Carpenter is a better drummer than Neil Peart of Rush, Keith Moon of The Who, John Bonham of Led Zepplin, etc etc…Whoever made this list needs to expand their horizons…
Another bulimic drummer has to be Fat Larry .
Plus that guy from the Four Seasons oh what a night he had.
The Osmond brother who played drums could carry a tune as i recall.
Anyone know of a vocal/ harmony group who sported a drummer?
5705 but theres no reply
Oh yes Cityboy sported a singing drummer.
And Paper Lace.
[...] Now everybody can (fake) sing and drum to Hotel California like Don Henley (not fake) originally did.Credit: 10 Singin’ Drummers - Glide Magazine [...]
Les Mckeown from the Bay City Rollers played drums on SATURDAY NIGHT.
And sang lead vocals
One name that was missed out - Kevin Godley, the bearded member of 10cc and Godley & Creme - a proficient drummer, he also had a strong commanding vocal, esp in Godley & Creme’s material, and on 10cc tracks he had lead vocals on (all four original members sang), esp “Fresh air for my mama”.