300 Greatest Drum Performances

Criteria: These songs demonstrate their drummers talent and ability in creating an outstanding drumming performance.
('Studio' list, then 'Live' list)
Greatest Drum Performances
1. Ticks And Leeches
Danny Carey (Tool)
2. La Villa Strangiato
Neil Peart (Rush)
3. Toad
Ginger Baker (Cream)
4. Karn Evil 9
Carl Palmer (ELP)
5. Moby Dick
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
6. 21st Century Schizoid Man
Michael Giles (King Crimson)
7. Stream Of Consciousness
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
8. By-Tor And The Snow Dog
Neil Peart (Rush)
9. Heart Of The Sunrise
Bill Bruford (Yes)
10. Won't Get Fooled Again
Keith Moon (The Who)
11. Tarkus
Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
12. Hot For Teacher
Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)
13. Amen, Brother
G.C. Coleman (The Winstons)
14. Jesus Christ Pose
Matt Cameron (Soundgarden)
15. Wipeout
Ron Wilson (Surfaris)
16. Good Times Bad Times
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
17. Geek U.S.A.
Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins)
18. Tragic
Terry Bozzio (Bozzio Levin Stevens)
19. Lady
Carmine Appice (Jeff Beck)
20. 2112
Neil Peart (Rush)
21. Dance Of Eternity
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
22. Indiscipline
Bill Bruford (King Crimson)
23. Fire
Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix)
24. Rat Salad
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
25. Tripping Billies
Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
26. Aja
Steve Gadd (Steely Dan)
27. Frizzle Fry
Tim Alexander (Primus)
28. War Ensemble
Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
29. Achilles Last Stand
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
30. Soul Sacrifice
Mike Shrieve (Santana)
31. One World (Not Three)
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
32. Space Truckin
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
33. The Grudge
Danny Carey (Tool)
34. 6:00
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
35. Rosanna
Jeff Porcaro (Toto)
36. A Quick One
Keith Moon (The Who)
37. Funky Drummer
Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown)
38. Tetragrammaton
Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta)
39. Soundchaser
Alan White (Yes)
40. Angel Of Death
Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
41. In The Presence Of Enemies
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
42. She Said She Said
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
43. Anesthetize
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
44. In A Gadda Da Vida
Ron Bushy (Iron Butterfly)
45. Frankenstein
Chuck Ruff (Edgar Winter Group)
46. My Generation
Keith Moon (The Who)
47. Deliverance
Martin Lopez (Opeth)
48. Shotgun
Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge)
49. Do What You Like
Ginger Baker (Blind Faith)
50. Winds
Jon Hiseman (Colosseum II)
51. Fireball
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
52. Face Pollution
Matt Cameron (Soundgarden)
53. I'll Cast A Shadow
Vinnie Paul (Pantera)
54. Reggatta De Blanc
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
55. Cobwebs And Strange
Keith Moon (The Who)
56. Dharma For One
Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull)
57. Where Eagles Dare
Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
58. One More Red Nightmare
Bill Bruford (King Crimson)
59. Halleluhwah
Jaki Liebezeit (CAN)
60. Stargazer
Cozy Powell (Rainbow)
61. Go For Yourself
Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters)
62. Painkiller
Scott Travis (Judas Priest)
63. To Defy The Laws Of Tradition
Tim Alexander (Primus)
64. Capillarian Crest
Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
65. Come Together
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
66. The Wizard
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
67. Bad Reputation
Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy)
68. Keep Yourself Alive
Roger Taylor (Queen)
69. Drive In Drive Out
Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
70. Fifty-Fity
Ralph Humphrey (Frank Zappa & The Mothers)
71. Elephant Ghost
Bryan Mantia (Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains)
72. Time
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)
73. Message In A Bottle
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
74. Ice Cakes
Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs)
75. The Mule
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
76. Four Sticks
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
77. The Break Song
Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge)
78. Holy Wars & The Punishment Due
Nick Menza (Megadeth)
79. No Excuses
Sean Kinney (Alice in Chains)
80. Toccata
Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
81. Cassandra Gemini
Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta)
82. Throes Of Rejection
Vinnie Paul (Pantera)
83. The Ox
Keith Moon (The Who)
84. Anthem
Neil Peart (Rush)
85. Dark Side Of The Moog
Jon Hisedman (Colosseum II)
86. B'Boom
Bill Bruford, Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson)
87. Great King Rat
Roger Taylor (Queen)
88. Manic Depression
Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
89. Moby Dick
Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge)
90. Siberian Divide
Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
91. Ghost Of Perdition
Martin Lopez (Opeth)
92. John The Fisherman
Tim Alexander (Primus)
93. 5150
Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)
94. Nothing At All
John Weathers (Gentle Giant)
95. When The Music's Over
John Densmore (The Doors)
96. Genghis Khan
Clive Burr (Iron Maiden)
97. Constant Motion
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
98. Pushit
Danny Carey (Tool)
99. Lark's Tongue In Aspic, Part 1
Bill Bruford & Jaime Muir (King Crimson)
100. Thorazine Shuffle
Matt Abts (Gov't Mule)
101. The Musical Box
Phil Collins (Genesis)
102. Nitro
John Fish (Dick Dale & His Del-Tones)
103. Caught Somewhere In Time
Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
104. South Side of the Sky
Bill Bruford (Yes)
105. Carry Stress In The Jaw
Danny Heifetz (Mr. Bungle)
106. Xanadu
Neil Peart (Rush)
107. Windows
Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons)
108. Give Blood
Simon Philips (Pete Townshend)
109. Dyer's Eve
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
110. Master Builder
Pierre Moerlen (Gong)
111. Wax Simulacra
Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta)
112. Pictures Of A City
Michael Giles (King Crimson)
113. Forty Six & Two
Danny Carey (Tool)
114. Come Sail Away
John Panozzo (Styx)
115. White Room
Ginger Baker (Cream)
116. No Time This Time
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
117. The Leper Affinity
Martin Lopez (Opeth)
118. Plunger
Kris Myers (Umphrey's McGee)
119. Don't Eat The Yellow Snow Suite
Ralph Humphrey (Frank Zappa)
120. Supernaut
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
121. Reach Down
Matt Cameron (Temple of the Dog)
122. Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt
Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta)
123. Over The Electric Grapevine
Tim Alexander (Primus)
124. Black Betty
Pete Charles (Ram Jam)
125. Bombora
Mike Biondo (Original Surfaris)
126. Bonzo's Montreux
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
127. Elephant Talk
Bill Bruford (King Crimson)
128. Covered In Punk's Blood
Joey Castillo (Desert Sessions)
129. The End
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
130. Free Hand
John Weathers (Gentle Giant)
131. Fool In The Rain
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
132. YYZ
Neil Peart (Rush)
133. Ampersand
Danny Carey (Adrian Belew)
134. Slaves & Bulldozers
Matt Cameron (Soundgarden)
135. The Creator Has A Mastertape
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
136. Burn
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
137. Paradigm Shift
Mike Portnoy (Liquid Tension Experiment)
138. Ignorance is Bliss
Bryan Mantia (Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains)
139. A Sprinkling Of Clouds
Pierre Moerlen (Gong)
140. Rapunzel
Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
141. Blackest Eyes
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
142. Flight Of The Rat
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
143. United States
Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins)
144. Jessica
Butch Trucks and Jaimoe (Allman Brothers Band)
145. Cosmic Highway
Jay Lane (Colonel Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade)
146. Sgt Baker
Tim Alexander (Primus)
147. Truth Be Told
Vinnie Colaiuta (Megadeth)
148. Rat City In Blue
Joe Franco (Good Rats)
149. Run To The Hills
Clive Burr (Iron Maiden)
150. Bladecatcher
Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
151. Pseudo Suicide
Stewart Copeland (Oysterhead)
152. I Never Glid Before
Pierre Moerlen (Gong)
153. The Grand Conjuration
Martin Lopez (Opeth)
154. All along The Watchtower
Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
155. In The Court Of The Crimson King
Michael Giles (King Crimson)
156. Conjugal Burns
Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta)
157. Strawberry Fields
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
158. I'll Just Pick
Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs)
159. Cinema Show
Phil Collins (Genesis)
160. Cygnus X-1
Neil Peart (Rush)
161. Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus
Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta)
162. Born To Run
Ernest Carter (Springsteen)
163. Gershatzer
Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster)
164. Baby Don't You Do It
Keith Moon (The Who)
165. Song For America
Phil Ehart (Kansas)
166. None Of Them Knew They Were Robots
Danny Heifetz (Mr. Bungle)
167. Unsettled
Gavin Harrison (Gavin Harrison & 05Ric)
168. The Fountain Of Lamneth
Neil Peart (Rush)
169. '
Jim Gordon (Frank Zappa)
170. Reflection
Danny Carey (Tool)
171. Dream Brother
Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley)
172. Tank
Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
173. Paschendale
Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
174. We're Going Wrong
Ginger Baker (Cream)
175. One
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
176. When the Levee Breaks
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
177. Scatterbrain
Richard Bailey (Jeff Beck)
178. Say Goodbye
Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
179. Whamola
Fish Fisher (Colonel Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade)
180. Surfin' Bird
Steve Wahrer (The Trashmen)
181. Car-Chase City
Dave Grohl (Tenacious D)
182. Late In The Evening
Steve Gadd (Paul Simon)
183. Take No Prisoners
Nick Menza (Megadeth)
184. 13 Steps To Nowhere
Vinnie Paul (Pantera)
185. Candy's Room
Max Weinberg (Springsteen)
186. Voodoo Chile
Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
187. Giant
John Weathers (Gentle Giant)
188. Tom Sawyer
Neil Peart (Rush)
189. Bargain
Keith Moon (The Who)
190. Miss Tinkle's Overture
Kris Myers (Umphrey's McGee)
191. Sick Sad Little World
Jose Pasillas (Incubus)
192. Seven Days
Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting)
193. Mandrake Root
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
194. Jacob's Ladder
Neil Peart (Rush)
195. 25 Hours A Day
Leonard Haze (Y&T)
196. Silent Scream
Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
197. Overkill
Phil Taylor (Motörhead)
198. Symptom of the Universe
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
199. Blackened
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
200. Rollin and Tumblin
Ginger Baker (Cream)
201. One Of These Days
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)
202. Little Faces
Stewart Copeland (Oysterhead)
203. Eat That Phonebook Coda
Pierre Moerlen (Gong)
204. A Song For The Dead
Dave Grohl (Queens Of The Stone Age)
205. Duende
Terry Bozzio (Bozzio Levin Stevens)
206. How Many More Times
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
207. Kick The Chair
Vinnie Colaiuta (Megadeth)
208. Kangaroo
Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley)
209. Dazed And Confused
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
210. A Little Less Conversation
Hal Blaine (Elvis Presley)
211. Listen, Learn, Read On
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
212. Recreating
Jay Lane (Sausage)
213. To Forgive Is To Suffer
Richard Christy (Death)
214. Money For Nothing
Terry Williams (Dire Straits)
215. Spegetti Western
Tim Alexander (Primus)
216. Rainbow
John Stanier (Battles)
217. David Makalaster
Jay Lane (Colonel Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade)
218. Lust For Life
Hunt Sales (Iggy Pop)
219. Acid Rain
Mike Portnoy (Liquid Tension Experiment)
220. The Noose
Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle)
221. Applied Science
Chad Sexton (311)
222. Use It Or Lose It
Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe)
223. Rosetta Stoned
Danny Carey (Tool)
224. Level Five
Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson)
225. Heaven And Hell
Keith Moon (The Who)
226. Whippin' Post
Butch Trucks and Jaimoe (Allman Brothers Band)
227. Lazy
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
228. Digital Man
Neil Peart (Rush)
229. U.S. Drag
Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons)
230. Iron Tusk
Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
231. And So To Bed
Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster)
232. Sco-Mule
Matt Abts (Gov't Mule)
233. Sweet Lady
Roger Taylor (Queen)
234. Remember Tomorrow
Martin Lopez (Opeth)
235. Nothing Ventured
Les Claypool (Les Claypool)
236. Next To You
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
237. Zero
Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins)
238. The Warmth
Jose Pasillas (Incubus)
239. Aero Zeppelin
Dale Crover (Nirvana)
240. Driven to Tears
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
241. Myxomatosis
Phil Selway (Radiohead)
242. PSA
Jimmy Chamberlin (Jimmy Chamberlin Complex)
243. Barbarian
Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake And Palmer)
244. War Pigs
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
245. You Could Be Mine
Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses)
246. Cavaletta's
Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta)
247. Gray Street
Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
248. Cohibas Esplenditos
Jay Lane (Les Claypool & The Holy Mackerel)
249. Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With
Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson)
250. Honey Butter
Adrian Tramontano (The Breakfast)
251. The Crunge
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
252. Cult Of Personality
Living Colour (Will Calhoun)
253. Aenima
Danny Carey (Tool)
254. One Little Victory
Neil Peart (Rush)
255. Battery
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
256. Heretic War Chant
Dave Lombardo (Grip Inc)
257. Shyboy
Greg Bissonette (David Lee Roth)
258. Prowler
Mike Mirro (Umphrey's McGee)
259. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
260. Pictures Of Home
Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
261. Filipino Ray
Les Claypool (Les Claypool)
262. Musicology
Prince (Prince)
263. Break The Same
Darren King (Mute Math)
264. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
Steve Gadd (Paul Simon)
265. In Your Honour
Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
266. Assassin (Grand Omega Boss Edit)
Dominic Howard (Muse)
267. My Hero
Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
268. Lover, You Should've Come Over
Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley)
269. Eleven
Tim Alexander (Primus)
270. Vapor Trail
Neil Peart (Rush)
271. Are You Experienced?
Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
272. Who DKing
Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick)
273. In My Time Of Dying
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
274. Spiral
Terry Bozzio (Bozzio Levin Stevens)
275. Nowhere Fast
Jose Pasillas (Incubus)
276. Legacy
Henry Spinetti (Lewis Furey)
277. Closure
Martin Lopez (Opeth)
278. Getting In Tune
Keith Moon (The Who)
279. Parabola
Danny Carey (Tool)
280. Rock 'n' Roll Suspension
Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons)
281. La Grange
Mike Beard (ZZ Top)
282. That's It For The Other One
Bill Kreutzmann (The Grateful Dead)
283. A Day In The Life
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
284. Centered
Gavin Harrison (Gavin Harrison & 05Ric)
285. Walking On The Moon
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
286. Dance On A Volcano
Genesis (Phil Collins)
287. Malignant Narcissism
Neil Peart (Rush)
288. Whole Lotta Love
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
289. Optimistic
Phil Selway (Radiohead)
290. Sweet Leaf
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
291. Trust
Nick Menza (Megadeth)
292. Barracuda
Mike Derosier (Heart)
293. The Metal
Dave Grohl (Tenacious D)
294. Avon
Alfredo Hernandez (Queens Of The Stone Age)
295. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)
296. Too Many DJ's
Steve Slingeneyer (Soulwax)
297. Paint It Black
Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)
298. Snakecharmer
Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine)
299. Let There Be Drums
Sandy Nelson (Sandy Nelson)
300. Hocus Pocus
Pierre van der Linden (Focus)
Neil Peart
John Bonham
Keith Moon
Carl Palmer
Ginger Baker Terry Bozzio


Greatest 'Live' Rock Drum Performances

1. O'Baterista
Neil Peart (Rush In Rio/Rush)
2. Black Page
Terry Bozzio (Zappa In New York/Frank Zappa)
3. Toad
Ginger Baker (Wheels Of Fire/Cream)
4. Moby Dick
John Bonham (How The West Was Won/Led Zeppelin)
5. Ytse Jam
Mike Portnoy (Once In A Livetime/Dream Theater)
6. The Mule
Ian Paice (Made In Japan/Deep Purple)
7. Merkaba
Danny Carey (Salival/Tool)
8. De Slagwerker
Neil Peart (Snakes And Arrows Live)
9. A Quick One
Keith Moon (The Kids Are Alright/The Who)
10. Jellikit
Tim Alexander (Suck On This/Primus)
11. Soul Sacrifice
Mike Shrieve (Woodstock/Santana)
12. Third Eye
Danny Carey (Salival/Tool)
13. War Ensemble
Dave Lombardo (Decade Of Aggression/Slayer)
14. YYZ
Neil Peart (Exit Stage Left/Rush)
15. Cruise Missle
Rod Morgenstein (Bring Em Back Alive/Dixie Dregs)
16. The Rhythm Method
Neil Peart (Different Stages/Rush)
17. Paint It Black
Ian Paice (Come Hell Or Highwater/Deep Purple)
18. Baker's Dozen
Stanton Moore (We Love Em Tonight/Galactic)
19. Heaven And Hell
Keith Moon (Live At Leeds/The Who)
20. Five Minutes Alone
Vinnie Paul (Official Live/Pantera)

Edited By:
Last Updated: 2015-09-23