By far, Buddy Rich remains my all-time favorite and “the greatest drummer ever to draw breath” (Gene Krupa said that).
After Buddy, my top 100 list of influences and mentors is diverse (in no particular order:
Anton Fig
Dave Tough
Carl Palmer
Larrie Londin
Alex Van Halen
Chad Wackerman
Cozy Powell
Ed Soph
Dave Grohl
Max Weinberg
Chester Thompson
Hal Blaine
Art Blakey
Jim Chapin
Dino Danelli
Barrett Deems
Warren “Baby” Dodds
Aynsley Dunbar
Phil Ehart
Sonny Greer
John Guerin
Shelly Manne
Alphonse Mouzon
Roy Haynes
Tommy Igoe
Dave Weckl
Narada Michael Walden
Tony Royster Jr.
Danny Seraphine
Bernard Purdie
Nigel Olsson
Gregg Bissonette
Alan White
Joe Porcaro
Russ Kunkel
Mike Portnoy
Don Alias
Marco Minnemann
Clyde Stubblefield
Chick Webb
Roy Burns
Danny Carey
Ron Tutt
Lenny White
Earl Palmer
Sonny Payne
Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz
Bobby Colomby
Harvey Mason
Big Sid Catlett
Barry Altschul
Barriemore Barlow
Tommy Aldridge
Zutty Singleton
Steve Jordan
Joe La Barbera
Sandy Nelson
Deen Castronovo
Joe La Barbera
Grady Tate