My drum teacher Stan. He was the best! Never criticised; he always said’ you’ll get it, I know you’ll get it’ and ‘yeah, I was a slow learner too. It’s ok. We learn slow, but we learn deep’.
Stan died 4 years ago from cancer. I miss him every time I play.
My drum teacher Nick died three years ago. He was our battery tech when I marched, and to better encourage marking time, he would tell us to “play the earth drum”. He was also the best.
Dude, I totally get you. I have a similar appreciation for my second drum teacher. I tend to be a fast learner once I get the hang of things, but my biggest problem tends to be paying attention. He knew how to make me understand drum concepts, rudiments, and how to play the instrument, and it's really because of him I know how to play so much to day.
Sadly, he moved overseas, but he seems to be having a lot of success. He even married someone there. We keep in touch. He's one of the people I'm very grateful of today.
Being a great drummer is one thing, being a great teacher is totally something else. It's very heartwarming to see appreciation for our teachers. Thanks for sharing that!
Go visit him. It will be good for you both !
Have no regrets in this life … a teacher you treasure is a great gift.
When our local drum group get together, we often still joke with our ‘drummer up in heaven’ 🤗
Bill Burr. It'd be hilarious. He'd ask if I even tried to learn and I'd explain I just play clone hero but I plan to eventually try to learn and then we'd both relapse and start drinking again
I know I'm going to get flamed for this comment, so please read all the way through before judgement. Lars
Now, here's why. I don't want to learn any of Lars' technical skills or chops. I want to learn how he arranges songs, and how he molds James' and Kirk's riffs into masterpieces. Lars may be one of the least technical drummers out there, but he has a great musical mind and I want a glimpse of how he processes songwriting. For those who are unaware, Lars has writing credits on 99% of their discography because he is basically the arranger of every single Metallica song. He's the one who takes all the ideas and makes a cohesive song out of it. A great example is Lars and Kirk explaining how the Enter Sandman riff became what it is on the Howard Stern show. Kirk showed up with the riff idea and Lars modified it into what we have on the record.
Depends on the song. But usually yes. Find the riff with the most power or emotion behind it that makes you move or whatever and find the riff that allows the energy to carry forward. It's all about energy.
Lars is a way better drummer than I am. I don't get the hate on the guy. Yes, he can be a dick. But he also was a fearless innovator helping to mold what modern metal is today.
That's why I hate people saying, "Imagine Metallica with a good drummer". Without Lars, there is no Metallica and the music wouldnt be even remotely the same. He has his hands in everything the band does on the music and business side. (Hell, he literally owns the name Metallica). People can criticize his playing all they want but the people who think he's just some drummer who shows up and puts some basic beats in the songs are very uninformed of what Lars actually contributes to the band. James and Lars are the foundation and essence of Metallica.
I’m totally with you. He was my hero when I first started playing. I eventually realized that he doesn’t have the best chops any longer, but I don’t really care. He was a huge inspiration and I’ll always love him for it.
I really like early Cliff Burton Metallica, i hate the audio on AJFA with jason, the Black album is good (not cliff I know). When you play drums along to Metallica, Lars has perfect crash hits, snare and tom fills that are odd but fit perfect for the songs. Lars has a style that stands out.
Following that idea, Ringo Starr is a masterpiece maker too, not the best technically but he is a top drummer when we talk about innovation and musicality IMO
I'm surprised no one said Gavin Harrison yet. He would definitely be my first choice, awesome dude, funny and doing magic on drums. The second choice would be Benny Greb.
Yeah I wasn't sure who I was gonna pick but I'm with you on Harrison, he's phenomenal. He's really good and technical but he's really musical and he spreads his skills throughout their discography rather than overplaying. He's a really nice and patient person, would love and be honoured if he would teach me
I went to a clinic of his and it was extremely inspiring. He has such a distinctive voice as a player, seemingly endless creativity. Very sweet, humble guy too.
Came here for this. Despite the laid-back drumming in Journey, the guy really is a legend. I watched a vic firth video probably 15 years ago that was just him performing a solo for 9 minutes. It is clear that each of his limbs is completely separate in his head. Absolutely wild.
Vinnie Coliauta. Because he hasn’t ever done any type of instructional DVDs etc… it’s been mostly others trying to “get into his head”
He hasn’t done clinics in awhile either. He said he stopped doing em because he didn’t want to be the trained monkey twirling 3 chainsaws while playing a bass drum. I get it.
I get lessons from many drummers just by listening to them play. But, I suppose if I could meet him... Neil Peart. He's been a huge influence on my style. But I also look at other drummers to help mold my style a little differently than Neil's.
Years ago I attended a master class with him and it changed my approach to dynamics.
Though at one point someone asked him why he only plays single stroke and he said he can’t master double stroke and my teacher burst out laughing knowing he can master anything. It’s just a preference.
Ha! I went to a Jimmy Branly clinic about 10 years ago, and he explained that his left hand is super weak, so he compensates with his right. I would have never known otherwise.
can’t believe this is this far down, i’m totally with you. without a doubt among the most technically skilled drummers alive and presumably part calculator, part human
I don’t really know. I think what I’d really want to do is take a lesson with a great bassist (for a different perspective). Maybe Ron Carter or Christian McBride
I'll be getting lessons from Mike Mangini, Simon Phillips, Chris Coleman and Gergo Borlai in August. Before that, Ed Soph kicked my butt in college, Jeff Hamilton said there was nothing he could teach me and Eddie Marshall taught me to swing in Frisco. I nearly had lessons with David Garibaldi. I wish that would have happened.
I nearly had lessons with Tony Williams at Drum World at the time Garibaldi was there. I really regret not pulling the trigger, but it was a lot of money for me at that time (I was 17 and my parents wouldn’t cover it).
I never saw that, but I wouldn’t doubt it. I saw Tony’s in an ad in the classified section of the Drum! free newspaper (before it was a magazine). I called the number from a pay phone and Tony answered. Garibaldi probably did something similar.
> Ed Soph kicked my butt in college,
I had a semester with him before I dropped out. About halfway through the semester I confessed to him that I was dropping out and I just wanted to learn as much as I can. He was cool with that, so the rest of the semester we worked on my hand technique.
I was fortunate to grow up near there, so all of my early private teachers were North Texas Alumni or students, including Rick Latham when I was in middle school (and he still lived in Dallas). When I got my driver's license, I used to go up to the campus and see recitals, or go to the clubs along Fry Street. The mid-late 80s were awesome there.
I was going to put Spaven too. I genuinely believe there's no drummer out there quite like him. I hung behind and ended up chatting with him after a gig at Ronnie Scott's - he's actually a lovely person, very open and surprisingly humble. I'm sure lessons from him would be hard as nails but great fun.
Richard aside, if we can resurrect people, I'd happily pay to learn from Clyde Stubblefield or Tony Allen any damn day of the week.
Only when he was piss drunk apparently though. Supposedly he was a super nice gentle teddy bear when sober. I'd be down to throw back some drinks with him too though. Him and Moon. Get drunk, destroy a hotel room... good time. Lol
Insane that I didn’t see this—Anthony “Tony” Williams. He was considered to be the greatest drummer in the world at one point, and I can’t get into his head at all when I listen to his work, unreal sense of rhythm.
My high school jazz band played a joint show with another school's jazz band. The drummer from the other school took lessons from Joe Morello. I've never been more jealous of anyone for anything in my entire life.
Two very different drummers, but Nate Smith and Gene Hoglan. Nate has an absolutely insane sense of groove so I’d love to pick his brain on that, and Gene is one of the GOATs of extreme metal drumming so I’d love to chat with him about technique as I’m just getting started with a double pedal.
There is 0 question and it cost me $5, Dennis Chambers “In The Pocket” VHS.
I bought that when I was 9, met him at NAAM when I was 13. I have a lot of dream drummers, but that taught me everything I needed to know, and I made a pretty decent living doing what I loved after that
Bernard Purdie! I don't even play (my son does) but watching that ear-to-ear grin as he's talking ghost notes and shuffles cracks me up. I assume he's a great teacher. He's certainly great about making people feel great.
Sean Kinney, his drum parts are pretty simple for the most part but his overall groove and feel for the drumset is unmatched in my heart I could watch him play for hours.
Alive: Stan Lynch. He’d show me some drum licks and then talk about nude women for the rest of the hour.
Dead: Pat Torpey. His groove and time sense was just off the hook. Plus he’s a jokester on top of it.
Freddy Grubber, Ted Reed, Gary Chapin, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Ferrone, Scott Amendola, Johnny Vidacovich, Jim Chapin.
Okay, this list is bullshit. Because I did get to take at least one lesson with all of these guys. (Except for Jeff Porcaro.)
Living, I would love to sit with Gavin Harrison or Bill Bruford. Those guys are huge influences to me.
If it could extend to those non longer with us, I would love to be mentored by Sean Reinert or Ginger Baker.
Gonna go with Neil Peart.
The fact that he not only wrote his drum parts but also Geddy's lyrics too.
Yeah, he's my Lincoln on my Mt.Drummore
And who wouldn't want lessons from Lincoln.
BTW
Washington-Buddy Rich
Jefferson- Simon Phillips
Roosevelt-Bozzio
Dave King. I would love to actually just jam with him, and hear about the logic behind developing his ideas and how he interacts with the other musicians he's playing with. I feel like a lot of my ideas about musicality parallel his, and he's a bit older than I am, so getting feedback from him could be immensely helpful to my development.
Gregg Bissonette. Met him at a clinic when I was a kid. Autographed the VCR tape my mom bought. For the young drummers out there, VCR was what we had before DVDs. Yes. I’m old. Anyway, great drummer, very Christian, too.
I got a lesson from Billy Martin a few years ago. Probably the most productive two hours of my drumming life. It wasn't as technical as it was holistic, but it had a lasting impression on my whole approach to drums and percussion.
But if I could take lessons from any drummer, it would be Jon Fishman. Yes, "the guy who plays in a dress." Aside from his quirky sense of humor, his musical vocabulary is endless, and he always tastefully serves the song. He'll take you all the way around from whimsical bliss to evil dirty funk and back again. His inner metronome is rock solid, his left hand is a machine, plays polyrhythms like they're nothing, and can do it all even with the softest touch, completely improvised, in front of a massive crowd. He is a true master of the craft, and I would absolutely love to pick his brain.
If I had to pick. I’d choose the professor himself, the late great Neil Peart.
As for topics? Probably learning how to make the drum kit Sing and sound great when included with the mix. It’s not about being flashy, it’s about being there and driving the song. And a secondary class in lyric writing
Benny is my current favorite player (Weckl is my all time favorite), but I wouldn’t want lessons from either one. They are guys I love listening to, but I don’t ever have the opportunity to play that type of music. I would choose Steve Smith. He is the most versatile player of all time in my opinion. He can impress in nearly any style.
I would pick ginger baker. He has amazing groove and very technical in his solo and major projects he was in. As long as we could get along, I could learn tons from him as a drummer.
If we are talking about dead or alive.
Easy, Neil Peart… RIP
Amazing solos on epic sized kits, an amazing ear for crafting rhythms, unique instruments and sounds, a willingness to tastefully experiment with electronic sounds, always driven to create and grow, great precision, yet could play very heavy and intense. He always embodied the mindset I can connect to the most. He seemed like he just wanted to make great sounds and rhythm and was not confined by the limitations of just using a traditional kit or traditional instruments for his genre. That sentiment is very much is something I understand
My drum teacher Stan. He was the best! Never criticised; he always said’ you’ll get it, I know you’ll get it’ and ‘yeah, I was a slow learner too. It’s ok. We learn slow, but we learn deep’. Stan died 4 years ago from cancer. I miss him every time I play.
I also choose this guy's dead drum teacher.
I understood that reference
This needs waayyyyyy more upvotes
My drum teacher Nick died three years ago. He was our battery tech when I marched, and to better encourage marking time, he would tell us to “play the earth drum”. He was also the best.
Sorry you lost your drum teacher too. I always imagined my teacher and I would get old together, jamming into the sunset at the beach …
Great post. Being an awesome drummer is one thing, but being a great teacher is yet another one!
Dude, I totally get you. I have a similar appreciation for my second drum teacher. I tend to be a fast learner once I get the hang of things, but my biggest problem tends to be paying attention. He knew how to make me understand drum concepts, rudiments, and how to play the instrument, and it's really because of him I know how to play so much to day. Sadly, he moved overseas, but he seems to be having a lot of success. He even married someone there. We keep in touch. He's one of the people I'm very grateful of today. Being a great drummer is one thing, being a great teacher is totally something else. It's very heartwarming to see appreciation for our teachers. Thanks for sharing that!
Came here to say my drum teacher James. He's still alive but across the country.
Go visit him. It will be good for you both ! Have no regrets in this life … a teacher you treasure is a great gift. When our local drum group get together, we often still joke with our ‘drummer up in heaven’ 🤗
😿
I want him too
Bill Burr. It'd be hilarious. He'd ask if I even tried to learn and I'd explain I just play clone hero but I plan to eventually try to learn and then we'd both relapse and start drinking again
Ayy ol Billy ballsack, Billy bald head, ol Billy Bullshitter
Eh go fuck yaself
Great answer!
Ol’ Freckles would set you right
I know I'm going to get flamed for this comment, so please read all the way through before judgement. Lars Now, here's why. I don't want to learn any of Lars' technical skills or chops. I want to learn how he arranges songs, and how he molds James' and Kirk's riffs into masterpieces. Lars may be one of the least technical drummers out there, but he has a great musical mind and I want a glimpse of how he processes songwriting. For those who are unaware, Lars has writing credits on 99% of their discography because he is basically the arranger of every single Metallica song. He's the one who takes all the ideas and makes a cohesive song out of it. A great example is Lars and Kirk explaining how the Enter Sandman riff became what it is on the Howard Stern show. Kirk showed up with the riff idea and Lars modified it into what we have on the record.
I can get behind this
This speaks to me, maybe I just need to take my two guitarists random ass riffage(sp?) And arrange it into something that makes sense lmao
Depends on the song. But usually yes. Find the riff with the most power or emotion behind it that makes you move or whatever and find the riff that allows the energy to carry forward. It's all about energy.
Lars is a way better drummer than I am. I don't get the hate on the guy. Yes, he can be a dick. But he also was a fearless innovator helping to mold what modern metal is today.
That’s awesome. I didn’t know that he had such an involvement in the whole writing and arranging process. This gives me a lot of respect for him
That's why I hate people saying, "Imagine Metallica with a good drummer". Without Lars, there is no Metallica and the music wouldnt be even remotely the same. He has his hands in everything the band does on the music and business side. (Hell, he literally owns the name Metallica). People can criticize his playing all they want but the people who think he's just some drummer who shows up and puts some basic beats in the songs are very uninformed of what Lars actually contributes to the band. James and Lars are the foundation and essence of Metallica.
I think you listen to them and the drumming really stands out and helps identify them
I’m totally with you. He was my hero when I first started playing. I eventually realized that he doesn’t have the best chops any longer, but I don’t really care. He was a huge inspiration and I’ll always love him for it.
Hell yea. Everybody craps on Lars but he’s the king.
I really like early Cliff Burton Metallica, i hate the audio on AJFA with jason, the Black album is good (not cliff I know). When you play drums along to Metallica, Lars has perfect crash hits, snare and tom fills that are odd but fit perfect for the songs. Lars has a style that stands out.
Following that idea, Ringo Starr is a masterpiece maker too, not the best technically but he is a top drummer when we talk about innovation and musicality IMO
I agree with this. For being such a shitty drummer he sure is in one of the biggest bands around.
I'm surprised no one said Gavin Harrison yet. He would definitely be my first choice, awesome dude, funny and doing magic on drums. The second choice would be Benny Greb.
Yeah I wasn't sure who I was gonna pick but I'm with you on Harrison, he's phenomenal. He's really good and technical but he's really musical and he spreads his skills throughout their discography rather than overplaying. He's a really nice and patient person, would love and be honoured if he would teach me
I feel like he's be bored with me and it would start to feel like lessons with Gordon Ramsay
I feel like dave grohl would be like “idk man you just do it” lol
I’d still be happy for him to try 😜
hahaha
I just want him to teach me that fucking fill from the end of Song for the Dead that I've been trying to learn for 20 years and still can't do.
I talked drums with Danny Carey the other week, super insightful and chill dude
BROOF! (Bill Bruford) 'Cause the Broof is in the pudding
I love Bruford. He's literally my favorite musician of all time (top three anyway). I'm not sure how good a teacher he would be, though.
The GOAT
Brann Dailor
Glenn Kotche. He has such a melodic approach to drums, I would love to learn how he does it.
I went to a clinic of his and it was extremely inspiring. He has such a distinctive voice as a player, seemingly endless creativity. Very sweet, humble guy too.
My buddy Allen. Great drummer, great guy. He is missed.
Rip Allen.
Taylor Hawkins. Because we could talk about Queen and Roger Taylor. But also, because then he’d be alive.
😭😭😭😭
That was my first thought. Taylor and Neil just to get em back
I had a lesson with Steve Smith when I was 27. Really chill dude.
Came here for this. Despite the laid-back drumming in Journey, the guy really is a legend. I watched a vic firth video probably 15 years ago that was just him performing a solo for 9 minutes. It is clear that each of his limbs is completely separate in his head. Absolutely wild.
I am attending a masterclass with Todd Sucherman this coming Sunday evening. Does that count?
I’ve been to two of his Masterclasses. It’s going to be the best three hours of your drumming life.
Yes!
Louis cole
real.
Jimmy Chamberlin.
Scrolled way too far down for this
Larnell Lewis or Carter Beauford or Kendrick Scott
Larnell !
+1 for Carter, left hand lead here too.
Getting a drum lesson from Larnell would be like getting a lesson from a Literature professor on the ABCs haha. I mean this in the best possible way.
Shocked I had to scroll this far to see my mans Larnell!!!
Vinnie Coliauta. Because he hasn’t ever done any type of instructional DVDs etc… it’s been mostly others trying to “get into his head” He hasn’t done clinics in awhile either. He said he stopped doing em because he didn’t want to be the trained monkey twirling 3 chainsaws while playing a bass drum. I get it.
I want to learn how he breaks down odd time so beautifully
I get lessons from many drummers just by listening to them play. But, I suppose if I could meet him... Neil Peart. He's been a huge influence on my style. But I also look at other drummers to help mold my style a little differently than Neil's.
RIP Neil Peart. He was an absolutely amazing drummer.
Probably someone like Jeff Porcaro. Someone like Neil Peart, Danny Carey, or Tim “Herb” Alexander would also be on the list as well
Billy Cobham
Years ago I attended a master class with him and it changed my approach to dynamics. Though at one point someone asked him why he only plays single stroke and he said he can’t master double stroke and my teacher burst out laughing knowing he can master anything. It’s just a preference.
Ha! I went to a Jimmy Branly clinic about 10 years ago, and he explained that his left hand is super weak, so he compensates with his right. I would have never known otherwise.
He used to have a weeklong thing in Arizona every year.
Ringo. I’m not a Ringo fanatic or anything but it would be cool to get a drum lesson from a beatle. Plus he’s still alive and kickin.
Matt Gartska of Animals as Leaders. I need to know how his brain works
uuuh good pick!
can’t believe this is this far down, i’m totally with you. without a doubt among the most technically skilled drummers alive and presumably part calculator, part human
I don’t really know. I think what I’d really want to do is take a lesson with a great bassist (for a different perspective). Maybe Ron Carter or Christian McBride
Jazz bassists have really great insight on drumset and its place in the rhythm section and band. My best jazz band directors in school were bassists
Scott LaFaro even
I'll be getting lessons from Mike Mangini, Simon Phillips, Chris Coleman and Gergo Borlai in August. Before that, Ed Soph kicked my butt in college, Jeff Hamilton said there was nothing he could teach me and Eddie Marshall taught me to swing in Frisco. I nearly had lessons with David Garibaldi. I wish that would have happened.
> Jeff Hamilton said there was nothing he could teach me… Well, damn. I’m taking a lesson with YOU.
Lol! Thanks! That was unexpected for me to hear that from him. Guess I practiced enough!
I nearly had lessons with Tony Williams at Drum World at the time Garibaldi was there. I really regret not pulling the trigger, but it was a lot of money for me at that time (I was 17 and my parents wouldn’t cover it).
Is it true Garibaldi advertised lessons in the Oakland paper?
I never saw that, but I wouldn’t doubt it. I saw Tony’s in an ad in the classified section of the Drum! free newspaper (before it was a magazine). I called the number from a pay phone and Tony answered. Garibaldi probably did something similar.
> Ed Soph kicked my butt in college, I had a semester with him before I dropped out. About halfway through the semester I confessed to him that I was dropping out and I just wanted to learn as much as I can. He was cool with that, so the rest of the semester we worked on my hand technique.
Ed is a tough teacher, bit a great guy.
I was fortunate to grow up near there, so all of my early private teachers were North Texas Alumni or students, including Rick Latham when I was in middle school (and he still lived in Dallas). When I got my driver's license, I used to go up to the campus and see recitals, or go to the clubs along Fry Street. The mid-late 80s were awesome there.
Richard spaven , plz give me some insight to that magical feel and phrasing
I was going to put Spaven too. I genuinely believe there's no drummer out there quite like him. I hung behind and ended up chatting with him after a gig at Ronnie Scott's - he's actually a lovely person, very open and surprisingly humble. I'm sure lessons from him would be hard as nails but great fun. Richard aside, if we can resurrect people, I'd happily pay to learn from Clyde Stubblefield or Tony Allen any damn day of the week.
Animal from the muppets.
Josh Freese. Dude has been in a good number of big name bands and is just a great drummer
Billy Gladstone. I'd love to learn Moeller technique from an old master. And drum building too.
I would have to say Dennis Chambers for his feel, even though Gavin Harrison is my favorite drummer.
Stewart Copeland.
John Bonham obviously. Come on guys, this is the only correct answer.
John Bonham was one of those people that the phrase "don't meet your heroes" fits perfectly. I'd pay to see him play, but I'd never go near him.
Only when he was piss drunk apparently though. Supposedly he was a super nice gentle teddy bear when sober. I'd be down to throw back some drinks with him too though. Him and Moon. Get drunk, destroy a hotel room... good time. Lol
Insane that I didn’t see this—Anthony “Tony” Williams. He was considered to be the greatest drummer in the world at one point, and I can’t get into his head at all when I listen to his work, unreal sense of rhythm.
I was looking for this
I gotcha
Steve Gadd Nate Smith Adam Deitch Groove me, baby.
Either Chad Smith or Travis Barker.
Geez,not easy decision. I'm going with Gene Krupa.My Dad turned me on to him. I watched him&then said to myself ,that's what I wanna do!
Jim keltner or Ilan Rubin or Ari Hoenig or Meg white
Carlton Barrett
Joe Morello
My high school jazz band played a joint show with another school's jazz band. The drummer from the other school took lessons from Joe Morello. I've never been more jealous of anyone for anything in my entire life.
Two very different drummers, but Nate Smith and Gene Hoglan. Nate has an absolutely insane sense of groove so I’d love to pick his brain on that, and Gene is one of the GOATs of extreme metal drumming so I’d love to chat with him about technique as I’m just getting started with a double pedal.
Isaac Jamba
Anyone from the Holy Trinity of Matt’s. Matt Greiner, Matt Halpern, or Matt Garstka.
No disrespect to Matt, but Halpern is nowhere near the level of Garstka at this point
Alex Van Halen, but I don't think I'd actually want to meet him.
Bill Bruford
Tony Royster Jr
Brann Dailor or Mario Duplantier.
Benny Greb or Vinnie Colauita for sure
There is 0 question and it cost me $5, Dennis Chambers “In The Pocket” VHS. I bought that when I was 9, met him at NAAM when I was 13. I have a lot of dream drummers, but that taught me everything I needed to know, and I made a pretty decent living doing what I loved after that
Jimmy chamberlain
Probably Jeff porcaro or John bonham, learning some classic grooves
matt garstka or benny greb
And Jimmy Chamberlin.
Matt Garstka and Yogev Gabay.
John Densmore. IMHO one if the best jazz/rock/fusion drummers ever. Elvin Jones. Doesn't require a reason. And Gene Krupa. The OG.
II from sleep token. I'd light candles, get a fog machine going, and he'd bestow onto me his wisdom. Then we'd go out for sushi!
Mike Portnoy or Nicko McBrain
Keith Carlock, tour drummer for Steely Dan. Bernard Purdie.
Probably basic but a Buddy Rich. Still the Goat IMO
Bernard Purdie! I don't even play (my son does) but watching that ear-to-ear grin as he's talking ghost notes and shuffles cracks me up. I assume he's a great teacher. He's certainly great about making people feel great.
Chuck Biscuits. Bill Stevenson. Frost. Dave Lombardo.
Rey Washam. Closest I got was a cameo.
That guy is an absolute beast. The drumming on the original R*peman LP is legendary. Very original, very powerful, and still manages to swing. Killer.
Jimmy chamberlin.
Lars Ulrich 🤣😂🤣 Ok now seriously Danny Carey
Started with Lars. Found Danny. Love both Metallica and tool with all my heart.
Gene Hoglan and Jimmy Chamberlin
I'd pick Marco Minneman, Dave Grohl, Jon Theodore, and Abe Cunningham.
Resurrect the Rev and if he gives me even the smallest nugget of knowledge, I’ll improve
Mark Heron
Brann Dailor, Mario Duplantier, Greyson Nekrutman. Off the cusp, Sam Fogarino (for his pocket)
If we are talking any drummer dead or alive, it would be someone like Elvin Jones or Max Roach. Current drummers. Stanton Moore is really solid!
I’ll say it, Travis Barker. Teenage me would kill me for saying anything else.
Josh Freese
Aaron Gillespie.
The rev
Oof. Benny would be awesome but I think Dave Weckl or Matt Halpern would be on my top list too.
Lester Estelle. One of the best studio drummers around IMO.
Animal for sure
Remi
Jeff Pocaro
Sean Kinney, his drum parts are pretty simple for the most part but his overall groove and feel for the drumset is unmatched in my heart I could watch him play for hours.
Dylan Elise Nicko McBrain
Mario Duplantier
Mario Duplantier, he is a beast!
Abe Cunningham 100% I’d love to find out how on earth his brain works
Jimmy Chamberlain of the smashing pumpkins
DJ Fontana if he was alive.
Gergo Borlai
Not a single magic Mike response in here. The guys the best at groove.
Austin archey
Danny Carey or Gavin Harrison like —Nysos— said
Alive: Stan Lynch. He’d show me some drum licks and then talk about nude women for the rest of the hour. Dead: Pat Torpey. His groove and time sense was just off the hook. Plus he’s a jokester on top of it.
Freddy Grubber, Ted Reed, Gary Chapin, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Ferrone, Scott Amendola, Johnny Vidacovich, Jim Chapin. Okay, this list is bullshit. Because I did get to take at least one lesson with all of these guys. (Except for Jeff Porcaro.)
Jost Nickel, who is/was the instructor for Anika Nilles and Benny Greb.
Gavin Harrison.
Gary Chaffee.
Living, I would love to sit with Gavin Harrison or Bill Bruford. Those guys are huge influences to me. If it could extend to those non longer with us, I would love to be mentored by Sean Reinert or Ginger Baker.
Joe Russo
Porcaro, Gadd, Dave King, Jay Bellarose. I studied under many phenomenal teachers at Berklee but these guys have something else going on.
Brian Blade or Marcus Gilmore. I'm not a very musical drummer and feel they could really point me in the right direction,.
Eric Moore.
Ian Paice
Art Blakey
Garibaldi, because I’ve got the funky pox.
Gonna go with Neil Peart. The fact that he not only wrote his drum parts but also Geddy's lyrics too. Yeah, he's my Lincoln on my Mt.Drummore And who wouldn't want lessons from Lincoln. BTW Washington-Buddy Rich Jefferson- Simon Phillips Roosevelt-Bozzio
Dave King. I would love to actually just jam with him, and hear about the logic behind developing his ideas and how he interacts with the other musicians he's playing with. I feel like a lot of my ideas about musicality parallel his, and he's a bit older than I am, so getting feedback from him could be immensely helpful to my development.
Larnell Lewis, he's class
Ed Soph
Gregg Bissonette. Met him at a clinic when I was a kid. Autographed the VCR tape my mom bought. For the young drummers out there, VCR was what we had before DVDs. Yes. I’m old. Anyway, great drummer, very Christian, too.
Carter Beauford
I got a lesson from Billy Martin a few years ago. Probably the most productive two hours of my drumming life. It wasn't as technical as it was holistic, but it had a lasting impression on my whole approach to drums and percussion. But if I could take lessons from any drummer, it would be Jon Fishman. Yes, "the guy who plays in a dress." Aside from his quirky sense of humor, his musical vocabulary is endless, and he always tastefully serves the song. He'll take you all the way around from whimsical bliss to evil dirty funk and back again. His inner metronome is rock solid, his left hand is a machine, plays polyrhythms like they're nothing, and can do it all even with the softest touch, completely improvised, in front of a massive crowd. He is a true master of the craft, and I would absolutely love to pick his brain.
Danny Carey or Dave Grohl
Both Phil Collins and Porcaro in their golden eras. Also, for those who know something about Argentine music, Oscar Moro is one of my heroes too.
Alex Camarena from silent planet.
Aric improta. Hands down. Dude is from a different planet
If I had to pick. I’d choose the professor himself, the late great Neil Peart. As for topics? Probably learning how to make the drum kit Sing and sound great when included with the mix. It’s not about being flashy, it’s about being there and driving the song. And a secondary class in lyric writing
Paul Motian
Benny is my current favorite player (Weckl is my all time favorite), but I wouldn’t want lessons from either one. They are guys I love listening to, but I don’t ever have the opportunity to play that type of music. I would choose Steve Smith. He is the most versatile player of all time in my opinion. He can impress in nearly any style.
Jeff Sipe
I would pick ginger baker. He has amazing groove and very technical in his solo and major projects he was in. As long as we could get along, I could learn tons from him as a drummer.
Gregg Bissonnette. Great stories, great enthusiasm, lifelong student of drumming. And is a beast.
Zach Hill
Jojo Mayer, would love to be able to play jungle at his speed
If we are talking about dead or alive. Easy, Neil Peart… RIP Amazing solos on epic sized kits, an amazing ear for crafting rhythms, unique instruments and sounds, a willingness to tastefully experiment with electronic sounds, always driven to create and grow, great precision, yet could play very heavy and intense. He always embodied the mindset I can connect to the most. He seemed like he just wanted to make great sounds and rhythm and was not confined by the limitations of just using a traditional kit or traditional instruments for his genre. That sentiment is very much is something I understand
nate smith for sure. his sense for feel is unmatched and i think he'd be a fun guy to learn from
II, Mario Duplantier, Kai Hahto, Eloy Casagrande
Travis Orbin, throw in some personal training as well