Top Rock Drummers

Any musician or music lover in general, is surely aware of those great rock drummers who have defined the standards and turned music to what it is today. You may not know them by name, but you know for sure about “that drummer from Led Zeppelin”, “that guy from The Police’, or “Dude, have you heard Dream Theater’s drummer?!”

Even if in the end of the day, it is a matter of taste and personal preference, there is no denying that these drummers have earned their place in history’s hall of fame, and made a significant contribution to the world of rock drumming as we know it.

However, being a drummer myself, I am extra aware and attentive to the drum parts in each and every piece of music that reaches my ears. If a find the drum parts interesting in any way, I usually look up the drummer and learn about them. So with all the great respect and appreciation I have for the “classic” all-time rock drummers, I have developed my own personal “favorite” lists. Each of the drummers in it has done something, drumming-wise, that inspired me, influenced me, or helped me develop my drumming in a way.

In no particular order, here are my current top 5 drummers of the 2000’s decade:

#5.  Thomas Pridgen

Born in 1983, this guy won the Guitar Center Drum-Off at age 9. At 10, he was already the youngest recipient for a Zildjian endorsement in the nearly 400 year history of the company.

At age 15, he received a 4-year scholarship to Berklee, after which he had already done some studio work with several Bay Area artists. The rest is pretty much history for this guy, as since then he just kept on playing, and hasn’t stopped.

He’s toured/recorded with various artists, including The Mars Volta, The Memorials, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and recently Suicidal Tendencies, and played several clinics. Thomas is naturally left-handed, but plays the drum kit as if he is a right-hander. This actually sounds quite suitable to his creative and precise, sometimes-frantic, and very versatile drumming style… Seeing this guy is truly an amazing experience.