Hear the Drummer get wicked.

The definition of a drummer in most dictionaries is “A person who plays the drums” It doesn’t get more basic then that. A drummer is much more then that though. A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drums.

Most contemporary western bands that play rock, pop, jazz, or R&B music include a drummer for purposes including timekeeping and embellishing the musical timbre. The drummer’s equipment includes a drum kit (or “drum set” or “trap set”) which includes various drums, cymbals and an assortment of accessory hardware such as pedals, standing support mechanisms, and drum sticks.

After the death of legendary Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts, it is a good time to look at some other drummers. There are thousands upon thousands I could choose from, but I am only picking a few, Some well known, and some lesser known and perhaps one or 2 surprises.

Starting off with the aforementioned Charlie Watts. He had been a member of the Stones since January 1963, when he joined Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones in their fledgling group.

Watts helped them become, with The Beatles, one of the bands who took rock ‘n’ roll to the masses in the 60s with classics like (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Get Off My Cloud and Sympathy for the Devil. He died August 24,2021 aged 80.

Alex Van Halen

Alexander Arthur Van Halen (born May 8, 1953) is an American musician, best known for being the drummer and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen. The band was formed in 1972 by Alex Van Halen; his younger brother, Eddie Van Halen; David Lee Roth; and Mark Stone under the name Mammoth before adding Michael Anthony in 1974 and changing their name to Van Halen. Warner Bros. signed the band in 1977, and its debut album was released a year later.

Max Werner

Max Werner is a Dutch musician. He was the lead singer, drummer, and percussionist of rock band Kayak. In 1972, Werner co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager, and drummer Pim Koopman. He sang lead vocals (and played mellotron) on Kayak’s first five albums. He later switched to drums until the band split up in 1982. In 1999, he returned as singer for the Kayak album Close to the Fire. After a short tour in 2000, he had to leave again due to health problems.

Werner also recorded four solo albums. In May 1981, he scored a hit single with “Rain in May”, which peaked at No. 6 in the Netherlands. In June of the same year, it got as high as No. 74 on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts. In September 1981, the song peaked at No. 2 in Germany. Hard to believe that is 40 years ago.

Karen Carpenter

Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer who, along with her elder brother Richard, was part of the duo the Carpenters. She was praised for her three-octave contralto vocal range and drumming abilities. Her struggle with and eventual death from anorexia would later raise awareness of eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

Sly Dunbar

Nearly ubiquitous reggae drummer Lowell Fillmore Dunbar played with everyone and, due to how frequently his riddims have been sampled, is quite possibly the world’s most recorded musician. Nicknamed for his devotion to Sly Stone, Dunbar recorded his first track, “Night Doctor,” with the Upsetters at age 15. His 1972 introduction to bassist Robbie Shakespeare led to a life-long working relationship, notably in Peter Tosh’s and Black Uhuru’s bands as well as the Rolling Stones’ 1978 Some Girls tour. Sly and Robbie translated dub reggae to the stage better than anyone. “Me and Robbie didn’t realize what we were doing until Jamaican music went dubwise and the bass and drum would come right in your face,” he explained. The distance between Carlton Barrett’s relaxed swing and Dunbar’s fierce metronomic playing marks the place where roots reggae evolved into its dancehall successor.

Cesar Zuiderwijk

Cornelis Johannes “Cesar” Zuiderwijk, (born 18 July 1948) is a Dutch drummer. He is best known as the drummer of the Dutch rock band, Golden Earring, a position he has held since 1970. When Zuiderwijk was twelve he started playing the guitar, but switched to drums two years later. He has been a drummer in a number of bands; his school band René & His Alligators, plus Hu & the Hilltops and Livin’ Blues.

He was asked to replace Golden Earring drummer Sieb Warner in 1970. Since then, apart from brief line-ups of five (with Robert Jan Stips and later Eelco Gelling), Golden Earring has consisted of the same four friends (Zuiderwijk, George Kooymans, Barry Hay and Rinus Gerritsen). Zuiderwijk is known to add a drum solo to each performance, which he concludes by launching himself over his drum kit.