Greatest Rock Drummers

For those interested in discovering the unique, unusual, and even odd (and I mean that as a compliment) bass playing of the aforementioned Rick Danko of The Band, give a listen to "Chest Fever" and "We Can Talk" on the Music From Big Pink album, and "Stage Fright" from the album of the same title. I’ve never heard any other bassist play even remotely like Rick. His parts sound so cool they actually make me laugh out loud!

Another very creative and unique (as well as musical) bassist is Joey Spampinato, formerly of the great NRBQ. He’s a favorite of Keith Richards, who employed him for the band he assembled when he made his Chuck Berry movie. Also in the band was drummer Steve Jordan, a huge fan of Levon Helm. Keith also asked Spampinato to join The Stones when Bill Wyman left, and Joey turned him down! One of my all-time favorite bassists, along with Danko.

John Paul Jones isn’t even close to playing at their level, and is not renown for his abilities on that instrument in the bass player community. He is what is known as a utilitarian player, and nothing more. In his defense, it’s hard to play great bass in a band that doesn’t have great songs, or other great players ;-).

Thanks gpgr4blu. Being a drummer, I would put it a little differently! A drummer SHOULD be, above all else, a musician---one who plays music. So there should not be a distinction between drummers and other musicians. Unfortunately, many drummers create that distinction by playing in an unmusical manner, to the chagrin of the other musicians. Playing drums is often more a display of athletic ability (purely physical) than musical sensibilities. Having chops (technical ability) is required to play drums well (with some musics requiring more technique than others), but when put above all other considerations can actually become counter-productive. Not only does the drum playing not enhance the song, the singer, or the band, it actually detracts from them, being worse than if there were no drums at all. Steve Gadd’s technique is FAR more advanced than was John Bonham’s, but he uses that technique in service to playing the best musical part---a means to an end, rather than an end unto itself.

I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating. It was told to me by Evan Johns, sometimes bandmate of the incredible guitarist Danny Gatton (legendary amongst guitarists, including Vince Gill, who nicknamed him "The Humbler"). Danny had a new drummer, playing his first gig with him at a club. On the break after the first set, Danny said to the drummer: "You know all that fancy sh*t you’re playing?". The drummer responded "Yeah". Danny then said "Don’t". Gatton had (R.I.P.) incredible guitar chops, and you can’t blame the drummer for thinking he should play as "hot" as possible.

The thing a lot of drummers don’t understand is, playing drums in a purely technical fashion does not necessarily or automatically create the feel, style, and sound a guitarist (even one playing in a highly technical style), singer, or pianist wants from his or her band. The fact that a drum part is hard to play is in no way related to it’s musical value---there is NO correlation! I have gotten gigs over more technically-advanced players because of my musically-orientated style, and have had my recorded version of a song used on an album instead of the take by a more, shall we say, "extroverted" player (think Keith Moon).

Would The Beatles music (for instance) be "better" with a drummer like Bonham? Or would it, conversely, be not as good as it is with Ringo?