home me myself and I my hero keeping time

having been told by my parents for years that I had no musical talent, I dropped the idea of becoming a famous drug-addled alcholic musician before I even got to grips with the school issue recorder. but when I was recently asked to store a drum kit I decided to set it up and have a go - after all, how hard can it be? well, quite hard as it turns out. but I am surprisingly good at it.

here are four drummers that I think are worthy of a mention. these are the ones that drummers will know but aren't necessarily household names. mention amazing drummers and people tend to think of ringo, bonham, dave grohl, keith moon, phil collins, buddy rich, ginger baker...this could be a long list.


mike miley

mike miley
without a doubt my favourite gigging drummer, mike miley of rival sons is a very engaging player to watch. he plays with incredible ease and always seems be in the right place effortlessly. he has huge respect for other musicians, even his own bandmates, and often applauds and whoops at a gig along with the fans. he is who i want to be when i grow up.


zigaboo modeliste
probably best known for his work in the meters, zigaboo remains one of the most respected and admired funk drummers. he has toured with the meters supporting groups like the stones, and is still working as a session and solo artist in his 70s. his work can be heard on tv and in films and has been used as samples with artists such as the beastie boys.

zigaboo modeliste


meg white

meg white
often only remembered as part of white stripes with jack white, whether meg white is a good player is often a contentious subject. some only regard the flash players who do 10 minute drum solos as worthy of respect, but the drummers role is actually to keep the time and hold the groove. and that is what meg excels at - she has a job to do and she does it well. not afraid of grooves, fills and ideas that stray from the norm, she deserves more recognition than most (male) drummers afford her.


bernard purdie
inducted into the modern drummer hall of fame in 2013 purdie is known by every drummer everywhere for the purdie shuffle (triplets against a half-time backbeat). he had a huge influnce on the funk scene in the 60s and 70s and is still playing today. jeff porcaro of toto based the famous rosanna groove on the purdie shuffle, adding a heavier edge to it.

bernard purdie