Keith Moon
Peart is, without doubt, one of the most technical drummers of his generation, but even he says he worshiped Keith Moon—and yes, worshiped is the word he used.
There’s a documentary about Rush on Netflix (forget the name), and the other members of the band said they reason they added Peart was that not only was he technical, but he could “do the Keith Moon thing.”
Moon wasn’t real technical, but after a point it’s not about being technical.
BTW,
IMHO, the most underrated drummer from that period is Simon Kirke (Bad Company). I can’t count the number of people I’ve pointed the the 1st Bad Company album and said “learn to play everything here EXACTLY like Kirke did (especially the bass drum, as he has great interaction with the bass player).
He is, imho, the prototypical rock drummer. If you can learn to play like Simon Kirke, you will be better than 95% of the rock drummers out there.
On a side note, I remember an interview with one Skynard’s drummers (the one that was in the plane accident) where he said other people in the band had asked him if he could play more like Kirke.
Agree about Simon Kirke. I play drums in a Bad Co. tribute band and his feel is what it’s all about. Not technical flash, but groove. One of my favorite drummers.
I cant disagree with a single thing you said regarding those drummers,,however might i add this.If Ringo Starr walked on stage with any of those bands and asked to sit in for a session would any of them have the balls to say no?If Paul McCartney asked to play guitar or sing along,,who would have the balls to tell him no? The Beatles music is over 50 years old and still as fresh today as the day it was first performed.No band living today can match thier success.IMHO
As for Drummers, what are your thoughts on Ian Paice of Deep Purple?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSrTrKFpAYE
There is one drummer, who rarely gets mentioned, and that’s Liberty DeVito, of Billy Joel’s band. I think a lot of the reason I listen to Billy Joel is just to hear Liberty’s drumming.