#GINORMOUS MONKEE

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MusicRadar.com

The 12 greatest singing drummers ever

By Joe Bosso, August 05, 2011

Driving the band/selling the song multi-taskers

It's one thing to be a good drummer. But to be a great drummer – one who keeps the beat, plays for the song, and who imbues his craft with a unique sense of personality – that's something else altogether.

Now, let's consider singers. Plenty of people can carry a tune. But how many of them can sell you a song with character and unfiltered emotion? Whether it's belting or crooning, capturing a feeling and putting it across to the listener is a mysterious talent that but a few truly possess.

All right, let’s combine the two and arrive at drummers who sing – not just ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs,’ mind you, we’re talking lead vocals. Suddenly, all of those drummer jokes aren’t so funny anymore.

With all of this right side/left side brain stuff in mind, MusicRadar is banging a gong and letting the melismas fly as we salute the 12 greatest singing drummers ever, players who dispel the notion that you have to step up to the mic to make magic. Sitting down is perfectly fine.

Unranked list.

Peter Criss (Kiss)

Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger)

Sheila E

Dave Clark (Dave Clark Five)

Karen Carpenter (Carpenters)

Mickey Dolenz (Monkees)

Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters)

Don Henley (Eagles)

Levon Helm (The Band)

Phil Collins (Genesis)

Ringo Starr (Beatles)

Roger Taylor

In Queen, Roger Taylor pulled off the near-impossible. Not only did the provide the kind of massive beats and thunderous fills sturdy enough to go up against Brian May's ginormous guitar sound, but he proved to be a versatile enough singer to complement the operatic, larger-than-life vocals of Freddie Mercury.

Whether swinging (Crazy Little Thing Called Love), funking out (Another One Bites The Dust) or rocking to the nth degree (take your pick), there hasn't been a drumming style or feel that Taylor hasn't been able to nail. (Until 2008, he played either Ludwig or Sleishman drums kits; now he favors DW.)

As a singer, Taylor handled harmonies and co-leads on numerous Queen gems (his falsetto screams in Bohemian Rhapsody are a particular highlight). But he grabbed center stage - or center drum stool - for solo turns on I'm In Love With My Car, Modern Times Rock 'N' Roll, Fun It, Father To Son and many others.

More than just a great drummer, and more than just a great drummer who could sing well - Roger Taylor was Queen's secret weapon.

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When I first watched the Monkees, I had a ginormous crush on Mike.