Bands That Are Carried By Their Drummer

You know, I was thinking: I don’t think drummers get enough credit. Most of the time people’s focus is directed at the vocalist or guitarist of a band, rarely is it directed at the drummer, unless of course the drummer is missing a limb or uses ridiculously elaborate kits or acts wild and out of control. The inconspicuous but talented drummer with the standard kit is often invisible or glossed over.

I’m talking about drummers who don’t typically seek attention, but instead just play with modest explosive passion for the mere purpose of making music rock.

Below are a few drummers who practically carry their band, meaning that their drumming shines through even if the rest of the band is great. These drummers add an intricate layer of percussion that is not easily ignored, if given the chance to appreciate. One can say that if it were not for these drummers, then the band itself wouldn’t sound as distinct as they do.

Jimmy Chamberlin of The Smashing Pumpkins

I don’t know if it’s common musical knowledge to know who the original drummer of The Smashing Pumpkins is, but those who know – know. His name is Jimmy Chamberlin and he is one of the original members of the band. Together with Billy Corgan (lead guitar/vocals), James Iha (guitar) and D’arcy Wretzky (bass) they formed the famous grunge-goth band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1988.

Although there’s really nothing special about Chamberlin (on the outside) what makes him special is his raw talent in being able to make up rock rhythms out of thin air. His furious playing style is what gives The Smashing Pumpkins that antsy teenager in rage sound that they’re so famous for.

In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked Jimmy Chamberlin #53 on their list of “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time.”

Damon Che of Don Caballero

Don Caballero is one of my many favorite bands but that’s not why it’s on this list.

You could say that Don Cab is a math rock band. Math rock is a genre of music known for its complex irregular rhythmic structures and odd time signatures. The sound of math rock is often described as “mathematical,” hence the name.

The band was formed in 1991 in Pittsburg, PA by Damon Che (drums), Mike Banfield (guitar) and Pat Morris (bass). Although they intended to find a vocalist, after many failed auditions, they decided to stick to playing instrumental music.

Damon Che’s drumming in each song sounds like it’s one long solo. His playing encompasses many different styles, including rock, heavy metal and jazz. Che fuses these styles very fluidly, taking cues from both the guitarist and the bass player while they jam.

Honestly, if it were not for Che’s godly drumming, Don Caballero would sound like two guys diddling on guitar and bass. His drumming is the glue that connects the two other instruments together so that all three work as one very tight band.

Dave Grohl of Nirvana

Even though we’ve probably had enough of Dave Grolh being shoved down our throats in the last couple decades, there’s no doubt that we ought to respect him for arguably being the best musician in the band Nirvana and for playing drums for other bands such as Tenacious D.

Since taking over the drums after the departure of Nirvana’s first drummer, Chad Channing, in 1990, Grolh’s contribution to the band has been one of the reasons why they gained legendary status. Grolh’s punk rock roots were easily transferred onto his new band and helped create the new emerging genre called grunge.

Travis Barker of Blink-182

Travis Barker is one of the most famous drummers that laymen know. You ask someone to name you a good drummer and almost instinctively they’ll tell you that they’ve heard that the drummer of Blink-182 is really good. And it’s the truth. Barker is known for his chops: they’re fast, complex and on point, which probably comes from his background playing in the marching band for many years.

Punk music is infamously known for consisting of people who don’t really have musical talent, so when a band comes along and their drummer can put it down, there’s a sense of respect that comes from that. Not only does Travis Barker look the part of a badass punk rocker, he has the skills to back it up.

Final Thoughts

While this list is missing many other great drummers, these are the ones that I was able to think about who could not be easily replaced. If they were, then the band wouldn’t sound the same.

Apart from the raw technical ability that these drummers possess, what makes them unique within the band that they’re playing in, is their personal finesse. It doesn’t take a madly trained ear to be able to tell when Travis Barker is playing, or if Jimmy Chamberlin is playing vs. someone else when The Smashing Pumpkins are playing live.

Understanding that drummers play a very important role in the band, and that some even dictate the sound as a whole, I challenge you to pay attention to the music that you’re listening to and ask yourself just how much passion do you think the drummer is putting in? Are they simply providing a drum beat or are they adding something special to the band?