STEWART COPELAND

(Amazing the stuff one finds when searching for something completely different.)

Posted in 2007, some folks of unknown provenance determine which drummer has had the most influence on modern popular music:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allspaw/1205361487/

(Do note that they did forget to include Krupa, Baker, and Animal in the running.)

Amusing comment:

[quote]as for copeland hes a bit of an ass but i beleive him to have had more influence over the shaping of moden music than most.[/quote]

When first reading this post, I thought this overstated Stewart's case a bit. However, when looking how this conclusion was arrived at, I think, based on this essentially arbitrary format, the result is fairly valid. I think some would be interesting to see that Stewart knocked out Peart and then Bonzo in successive rounds.

I think Rich had a much easier bracket than Stewart.

Also, if the question is solely influence, I find it hard to pick Weinberg over Ringo. You may think Max is a better drummer, but more influential? Not by a long shot. I also question Gadd over Moon. Gadd is fantastic, but more influential? I find that hard to believe.

Yeah, the methodology is flawed as hell and some of the results are pretty questionable. Rich barely even competes really. More than the results, I'd be really curious to hear some of the conversation and argument that went into the decisions made.

I'm with you on Ringo v. Weinberg; with Gadd v. Moon, though, I dunno. There is no definition of "modern popular music" provided, so what exactly these drummers are said to have an influence on is hard to say and makes a difference in my mind. If the endgame is, say, Slipknot, then okay, my money's on Moon. But Gadd's resume is so ridiculously long and varied -- I mean, damn: http://www.drstevegadd.com/discography.htm -- that in the 70s especially, it seems you couldn't turn on your radio w/o running into him. In addition to being straight-up talented, he has had a hand in just so much -- especially so much popular, radio-played music whose sound was then imitated -- I can easily see an argument that he helped shape the sound of a genre. But again, as "modern popular music" goes, well, depends on what we mean by that.

Neil's a great rock drummer, but even after lessons with Peter Erskine and countless hours with Freddy Gruber, the guy still cannot swing!

Stewart can swing and rock at the same time.

Krupa, Rich, and Ringo gave drumming a face,
Moon, Bonham, and Peart gave drumming a war cry,
Gadd gave drumming dancing shoes,
and Copeland launched drumming into the future.

My two cents.

P.S. Polls/rankings are silly

Well said, zilboy. Very well said.