🎧 Stick Figures: The Unsung Drummers Who Drove Rock Forward
From studio assassins to jazz-fusion masters, these are the rhythm makers who never made the cover — but made the song.
If you asked me to name ten top rock drummers, I might rattle off a list like this: Ringo Starr, John Bonham, Charlie Watts, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Hal Blaine, Dave Grohl, Ginger Baker, Max Weinberg, and Mick Fleetwood. Ask me tomorrow, and it’d probably shift a little — but the core names would likely remain.
Most of these drummers are household names not just because of their talent but because they played in legendary, high-profile bands. Then there’s Hal Blaine, the outlier — a studio giant who played on over 35,000 sessions, including over 6,000 singles, despite not being in a famous touring band. Of those, 150 hit the Top Ten, and 40 went to number one. If you’ve listened to pop radio in the past fifty years, chances are you’ve heard Hal Blaine — even if you didn’t know his name.
But what about the other drummers — the unsung rhythm-makers, groove masters, and studio pros who never made the cover of Modern Drummer but helped shape the sound of rock and roll? There are hundreds — probably thousands — whose names you’ve never heard but whose work you have.
As someone who’s been behind a kit since age ten or eleven, I’ve always paid close attention to the drummers. In junior high, the big name was Ron Bushy of Iron Butterfly — the guy behind that iconic solo on “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” Every young drummer I knew tried to copy it. Some of us even managed to get close!
So let’s shine a light on some of the most underrated, underappreciated, or just plain overlooked drummers in rock and roll. Here’s a starting point…
1. Studio Assassins
These are the drummers whose names aren’t on the marquee — but whose playing is on thousands of hits. They’re the ghosts in the machine, the ones who show up, nail the take and vanish before the photo shoot.
Hal Blaine – The king of session drummers. His grooves are baked into the American musical subconscious.
Jim Keltner – The ultimate pocket player, revered by fellow musicians. Played with everyone from Dylan to Tom Petty.
Vinnie Colaiuta – Unstoppable technical genius. Can play anything. Zappa, Sting, Herbie Hancock — and makes it all sound effortless.
James Gadson – Known for his work with Bill Withers, but his drumming can be found all over ‘70s soul and funk-infused rock.
2. The Band’s Secret Weapon
These are the drummers who weren’t always in the spotlight — but their bands wouldn’t have worked without them. They weren’t just keeping time; they were shaping the sound.
Topper Headon (The Clash) – A groove machine who gave punk its funky swagger.
Martin Chambers (Pretenders) – He brought muscle and style to Chrissie Hynde’s raw melodic fire.
Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company) – His laid-back grooves were the bedrock of those big bluesy riffs.
Doug Clifford (CCR) – A swampy, gritty groove that defined the band’s sound.
Mike “Smitty” Smith (Paul Revere & the Raiders) – Unheralded but full of energy and attack.
3. Jazz Cats Who Rock
Drummers with deep jazz roots who brought swing, complexity, and finesse to rock — often redefining what rock drumming could sound like.
Karen Carpenter – Elegant, precise, and deeply musical. A rare combo of subtlety and control.
Barriemore Barlow (Jethro Tull) – Technical wizardry with dramatic flair.
Michael Shrieve (Santana) – That Woodstock performance at age 20 still resonates decades later.
Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) – Brought jazz phrasing and prog complexity to the rock arena.
4. Power and Precision
These drummers had serious chops — but knew when to dial it back. A perfect blend of force and finesse.
Danny Seraphine (Chicago) – Brought jazz fusion chops to a horn-rock powerhouse.
Bobby Caldwell (Captain Beyond) – Complex, fluid, and fierce. A drummer’s cult hero.
Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil) – Intense, physical, and politically charged — like the band itself.
Clive Bunker (early Jethro Tull) – Wild, rustic feel, with a raw jazz-influenced sensibility.
5. Raw & Raucous
Sometimes, it’s not about perfection — it’s about energy, character, and unpredictability. These drummers brought fire to the kit.
Kenny Harris (Screaming Blue Messiahs) – A manic, driving force behind a criminally overlooked band.
Brendan Canty (Fugazi) – Mixed math-rock instincts with punk fury.
Dino Danelli (The Rascals) – One of the early greats who brought flair and fire to the stage.
6. The Groove Masters
Drummers who don’t need to shred to stand out. Their groove is their calling card — and it makes the whole band better.
Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy) – Seamless swing and punch — the perfect fit for dual guitars.
Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & the Attractions) – Always inventive, always in service of the song.
Matt Abts (Gov’t Mule) – Deep pocket and blues-rock bombast rolled into one.
The Ones Who Made Me Stop and Stare
One drummer who has captured my notice in the past six or seven years is someone I’d never even heard of before: Vinnie Colaiuta. My wife and I went to see Herbie Hancock at the Monterey Jazz Festival several years ago, and while Herbie’s band was stunning, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the drummer. I had no idea who he was, so I had to look him up. Vinnie was incredible: when I closed my eyes, it felt like I was listening to two drummers. But when I opened my eyes to see the stage, Vinnie was the only guy behind a kit. How did he do it? We saw Herbie a few years later in Portland, and Vinnie was back, doing his same incredible percussion stunts again.
I’ve been lucky enough to see some other drummers in person: Pete Thomas, who’s played as Elvis Costello’s drummer for years. I’ve seen him three or four times since he first appeared in the 70s in Portland for a Catch A Rising Star show.
Brian Downey was behind the kit when Thin Lizzy opened for Queen in early 1977 in Portland. It was a kickass, memorable show in which both groups were at the top of their game.
I traveled from Bend to Portland around 1973 to see Chicago at the Memorial Coliseum. Danny Seraphin was a favorite drummer for years.
When I saw the Pretenders at Civic Auditorium, Martin Chambers was the engine that kept the band going. I remember that, at one time, close to the end of the show, he would bounce drumsticks off his cymbals and into the audience over and over again. Crazy, man.
I saw the Stray Cats at a club when their first album came out, and Slim Jim Phantom was a sight to behold, dancing around his minimal snare and cymbal kit like it was the last thing in the world he’d ever do.
What drummers do you like that I didn’t mention?
🥁 Unsung Rock Drummers Playlist: Track-by-Track
"Train in Vain" – The Clash
Topper Headon lays down an effortlessly smooth groove with a tight hi-hat and snare combo that helped this punk band cross into pop territory."Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" – Chicago
Danny Seraphine blends jazz finesse with rock precision — his subtle cymbal work and fills give the horns room to shine."Tattooed Love Boys" – Pretenders
Martin Chambers unleashes a blistering, syncopated assault — raw, chaotic, and perfectly matched to Chrissie Hynde’s swagger."Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen" – Santana
Michael Shrieve, then only 20, combines Latin rhythms with rock urgency — elegant and explosive in equal measure."Beds Are Burning" – Midnight Oil
Rob Hirst drives the song with tribal intensity and political urgency — a marching beat you feel in your bones."Up On Cripple Creek" – The Band
Levon Helm plays it greasy and loose, matching his vocals with a funky, behind-the-beat swamp feel only he could deliver."Low Budget" – The Kinks
Mick Avory brings gritty, straight-ahead drumming that channels punk energy without losing the band's British Invasion roots."(Don't Fear) The Reaper" – Blue Öyster Cult
Albert Bouchard holds down the haunting pulse with atmospheric restraint, keeping the focus on the hypnotic melody — and yes, cowbell."Only the Lonely" – The Motels
Brian Glascock gives this track its heartbeat — subdued but powerful, full of space and emotion."Stray Cat Strut" – Stray Cats
Slim Jim Phantom plays standing up with a minimalist kit — cool, stripped-down rockabilly that swings hard."Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" – Johnny Rivers
Jim Keltner is the understated MVP here, bringing swing and control to this rollicking New Orleans groove."Use Me" – Bill Withers
James Gadson crafts one of the deepest, funkiest grooves of all time — simple, sultry, and unforgettable."Tempted" – Squeeze
Gilson Lavis provides a tasteful, Motown-infused beat that carries Paul Carrack’s smooth vocal and the song’s soulful feel."In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" – Iron Butterfly
Ron Bushy’s legendary drum solo made this track a drummer’s rite of passage — primal, hypnotic, and iconic."Green Grass and High Tides" – The Outlaws
Monte Yoho delivers southern rock stamina — precise and powerful, even across nearly ten minutes of dual-guitar madness."China Grove" – The Doobie Brothers
John Hartman locks in with machine-like timing — aggressive and funky, one of the band’s tightest rhythm tracks."Goodbye to Love" – Carpenters
Karen Carpenter keeps it understated and elegant — a gentle reminder that her musical gifts extended well beyond her voice."Seven Days" – Sting
Vinnie Colaiuta turns a deceptively tricky time signature (5/4) into a fluid, melodic rhythm. Jaw-dropping musicianship from a master.