285 Inspiration Drums Quotes (Legendary Drummers)

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Explore the rhythmic world of drumming with our collection of inspirational drum quotes that will strike a chord with every percussion enthusiast.

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Legendary Drummers’ Insights: Inspirational Quotes

You only get better by playing. Buddy Rich
It takes a pretty good drummer to be better than no drummer at all. Chet Baker
I am not a technical drummer at all. I’m more from the Keith Moon/Lars Ulrich school of, ‘Hey, look at me!’ I just get up there and bash. Mike Portnoy
The point in me playing with Prince was to let a lot of people know that I can play trap. I don’t think people know that. Sheila E.
When everyone tells you, ‘No, no, no,’ your creative forces get a little twisted and turn into something more apocalyptic than ever. Joey Jordison Inspiration Drums Quotes
If it doesn’t come from your heart, music just doesn’t work. Levon Helm
I know that drummers tend to be the butt of a thousand jokes, usually from the uninformed and untalented, but I always felt I had an important role. Roger Taylor
I love being a drummer. Everyone thinks you’re dumb. What they don’t realise is that if it weren’t for you, their band would suck. Dave Grohl
I think my playing has been orchestral throughout the years, and this is another way of expressing that. But I primarily see it as the ultimate accomplishment of a musician. Composing makes me feel like I’ve finally gotten all the way up the ladder as a musician. Tony Williams Inspiration Drums Quotes
I play weird. I’m always just behind. We [drummers] only have so much room. We’re not guitarists. Ringo Starr
Dude, I love playing drums, and I love being on stage, and I love recording. It’s my life… it’s been my life, all my life, and I don’t think it could ever become boring for me. Dave Lombardo
When Mr. Ludwig invented the bass-drum pedal, that’s what made the drum set possible. Neil Peart
I wanna play hard rock. I wanna play loud drums. Bill Ward
But primarily, the drummer’s supposed to sit back there and swing the band. Buddy Rich
I’ve been married to music my entire life. I’ve been dedicated to it. I know what it takes to do it. And ever since my brother has been taken from me, I feel like I have to live for both of us. Vinnie Paul
When I was a kid, I felt like I could do anything and play anything. I just felt super-confident. And then, once I started to play music professionally, maybe it’s from being from a small town, but you grow up and then you’re suddenly a big fish in a small pond, and I realized that there were a billion other drummers out there that could play as good as you or better, and everybody wants that job. Patty Schemel
My playing is all about feel. I’m completely self taught: I never took any lessons or anything. Joey Kramer Inspiration Drums Quotes
To me, there was no better drummer than Jeff Porcaro. His musicianship and kindness to me will never be forgotten. Our loss is heaven’s gain. Richard Marx
The quad toms are a completely different animal than the standard drum set/trap kit. Playing wise and stylistically, they are two different beasts. Tommy Lee
It’s the honesty you apply to your playing that makes music enjoyable. The style of the music has little to do with it. It’s only honesty that makes it beautiful. Elvin Jones
Just the same way I’d say a prayer before going onstage, taking that even further and using the drum to inspire people. And using that as a vehicle for the intention. Rick Allen
A bass player has to think and play like a bass player. A drummer has to play and think like a drummer, and stay out of the way of the vocalist. The guitar player has to respect everybody else. Hunter Hayes
Stamina is the force that drives the drumming; it’s not really a sprint. Neil Peart
I’ve always liked to be the kind of drummer and musician who likes to go outside of what’s expected of me. Matt Cameron
It’s good to wander into the studio and walk out with something that’s better than you’d imagined it to be. If everything was as you imagined it to be, it just wouldn’t be as much fun. Dave Grohl
You can make yourself the greatest singer in the world or the best drummer in the world with the aid of technology. Dave Grohl
I don’t use a Beatmap; I don’t use any click track. Any time I count off, it’s just in my heart. Sometimes I’ll go off the feel of a crowd, like if the way they’re bouncing is a little quicker than the song, I might kick up the tempo a little bit. I see where the crowd is at. It’s nothing drastic, but all the tempos are from my internal clock. Joey Jordison
I felt I didn’t have anything else to prove as a musician… and boy was I wrong about that one. Rick Allen
Playing drums is how I communicate. It’s how I speak to people. That’s my God-given gift. Joey Jordison
I warm naturally to the drummer whose ideas and approach are strong, even if he doesn’t quite have the ability to carry them out. Bill Bruford
To have everything written for you – it’s not really creating. That’s why I think symphony drummers are so limited. They ‘re limited to exactly what was played a hundred years before them by a thousand other drummers. Buddy Rich
It’s hard to find five musicians who know what the other is going to do before they do it. And that’s what we had in G’N’R. Steven Adler
Historically, musicians know what it is like to be outside the norm – walking the high wire without a safety net. Our experience is not so different from those who march to the beat of different drummers. Billy Joel
But back then the thing that saved me was the music, and it’s certainly the music that saves me now. The music, my family and my friends and everybody around me. Jimmy Chamberlin
Legacy above finances; artistry above fame. Jimmy Chamberlin
Drummers are conductors – we set the pace for the music – so if you’re not relaxed and feeling right, the whole thing goes out the window. Steven Adler
I don’t like driving through the rain. Your tour is only going to go as good as your bus driver, kinda like your band is only going to be as good as your drummer. Piggy D.
Music is made to be heard, whether you hear it in concert, you hear it on the radio, or you hear it in your car. It’s not for two people to sit in a closet and go, ‘That’s my band, the only band I’ve ever heard, and I’m the only person that’s going to hear it.’ Vinnie Paul
Some [drummers] drop time because they want to hear what you’re doin’. Miles Davis
All I really had was a suitcase and my drums. So I took them up to Seattle and hoped it would work. Dave Grohl Inspiration Drums Quotes
If you looked at the sound pattern of an old-fashioned record, it would be very spiky. But nowadays, there’s no spikes – everything looks like a brick, so the quiet bits become louder. It’s actually damaging because it’s like listening to a drill. Stephen Morris
I think female drummers are great. I think there should be more of them. Sean Kinney
I like to be one of those drummers who actually add to the music, not one of those guys who sit in a room / trying to outwit or outplay another drummer. Dave Lombardo
But figuring out Saddam Hussein was one our greatest mysteries. He marched to his own drummer and frequently as this unfolded he made decisions which were sometimes inexplicable to us and sometimes didn’t look very smart. Brent Scowcroft

Inspirational Rhythms from Drumming Icons

I can’t think of a more natural experience in my entire life than playing with Mike Dean, Woody Weatherman again. I really learned how to play with them in terms of drumming. Reed Mullin
I could have played more complex stuff. I could have been a busier player. But that’s not what I wanted to do. I played what I wanted to play. Don Henley
I’ve always liked a very dry snare and, like everyone else, a very dry bass drum. Nick Mason Inspiration Drums Quotes
Drumming is like film directing. You build a framework for everyone to create something together. James Genn
Michael Giles the first drummer of King Crimson, never agreed to the name King Crimson. But then, if you’d knew Michael, you would know he didn’t agree to the album cover either. So maybe Michael didn’t agree to the point of definition with many things. Robert Fripp
I try to keep my ear to the streets without sacrificing who I am as an artist. If a song needs a drum machine I’ll use a drum machine. If it needs a drummer, I’ll use a real drummer. Teena Marie
There are numerous different kinds of drum sounds – some are more ambient and roomy and this, that, and the other, the John Bonham kind of thing. Then there’s kinda what I did with Pantera, which was much more attacky, and then with what I did for ‘Blood For Blood’ on the Hellyeah record is kind of a combination of all of that. Vinnie Paul
That’s the thing that we said about the horn before: it’s a focus issue. It’s like a singer versus a drummer. If a drummer’s playing a drum beat, and a singer starts singing, what do you think the audience is going to do? Charlie Hunter
My drum parts are a song within the song; that’s the way I look at writing my drum parts. They follow patterns, and they’re written to interact with the rest of the band. There’s quite a bit of thought that goes into it. Vinnie Paul
A lot of people from my generation of music are so focused on playing things correctly or to perfection that they’re stuck in that safe place. Dave Grohl
That’s where I think a lot of these guys today are just, ‘I’m the drummer, man. Check it out. Here’s my lick. I just learned this new drum lick. I’m just gonna blast all over the place.’ It’s like, ‘Man, you’ve got to let the song breathe.’ Vinnie Paul
Drummers haven’t managed to develop their individuality quite as well as guitarists have. We can be so focused on the nuts and bolts that we overlook the importance of individuality – the broader picture, if you will. Bill Bruford
The drummer is stereotypically the dumb guy. Maybe that’s why I always respect drummers who do more than drum. Taylor Hawkins Inspiration Drums Quotes
More than any other drummer, Ringo Starr changed my life. The impact and memory of that band on Ed Sullivan Show in will never leave me. I can still see Ringo in the back moving that beat with his whole body, his right hand swinging off his sock cymbal while his left hand pounds the snare. He was fantastic, but I think what got to me the most was his smile. I knew he was having the time of his life. Max Weinberg Inspiration Drums Quotes
The Creator wants us to drum. He wants us to corrupt the world with drum, dance and chants. After all, we have already corrupted the world with power and greed… which hasn’t gotten us anywhere – now’s the time to corrupt the world with drum, dance and chants. Babatunde Olatunji
I’ve gotten hernias from drummers when they drop tempo. Miles Davis
If you were to ask me, ‘What the hell does a musician have in common with a restaurant?’ I would say a huge amount. It’s show time every day, it’s a team of people, like, running a circus, which is running a rock-and-roll band. Mick Fleetwood
There is no music unless the drum and the drummer are one. e. e. cummings
I’m a visionary drummer and I have been for a long, long, long time. Bill Ward
I’m really not into the educational aspect of performing. It’s not in me. Dave Lombardo
I guess I did make my name out of my drumming, and I have the big drum sets, and I’m doing all these crazy, odd-time signatures, so, yeah, I guess drumming was very important to what made me popular. Mike Portnoy
I used to be a drummer in a band, and I really loved playing the drums, so I look forward to the right opportunity to do that at some point. Maybe even on TV. Every single live performance I’m doing on TV, I want it to be different and unique. Zedd
I’m not a singer who plays a bit of drums. I’m a drummer that sings a bit. Phil Collins Inspiration Drums Quotes
To me, I always felt like drums have to be the support and the driving factor in a song, and there’s places where the drummer has to show off and do things and get the spotlight, but not all the time. You’ve gotta pick and choose. And it’s always gotta be about the song. That’s really the bottom line. Vinnie Paul
Drums all have their own particulars – each drum has a place where they sound the best – where they ring out and resonate the best, and the head surface isn’t too loose or too tight, mainly so you get a good rebound off of the head. Chad Smith
I find that doing the drums last, coming from a drum history, really works well for me. Tommy Lee
I wanted to play drums because I fell in love with the glitter and the lights, but it wasn’t about adulation. It was being up there playing. Charlie Watts
If you only play metal, it’s going to be very apparent that you’re a one-dimensional drummer. Joey Jordison
I think it’s very cool for the drummer to be set free from having to worry about holding down the beat every once in a while, though it’s a little constricting. James Hetfield
Alex Van Halen… I loved his playing because he had so much energy; he made those songs exciting, along with everything else that went with him. Vinnie Paul
I’ve always seen my drumming as lyrical anyway. Jimmy Chamberlin
When I lost the use of my hi-hat and bass drum legs, I became basically a singer. I was a drummer who did a bit of singing, and then I became a singer who did a bit of percussion. Robert Wyatt
I am also a drummer of sorts. I’ve got an electronic set sitting in my bedroom. Gary Cole Inspiration Drums Quotes
A lot of times, when a band finds success with a certain style or sound, they have a really hard time breaking away from that to grow as artists. Matt Cameron
I think it’s important for a young musician to stick with a band for a while and really work with a band and stay focused. Mike Portnoy
Bass players and drummers are brothers in the basement cooking up the groove that makes people move. John Densmore
I’m the Best Keith Moon-type drummer in the world. John Bonham
At this point, I think I would garner a lot of hate mail if I was now on the cover of Modern Drummer seeing as I’m not a modern drummer anymore. Jason Schwartzman
Anytime you strike the drums, you have to be aware that you’re creating a musical event. Vinnie Colaiuta
I’d rather be entertained and go to a show and watch a drummer and have somebody that makes me actually smile. So I don’t judge drummers based on their technical ability; I judge them based on the overall package and what they bring to the music they’re part of. Mike Portnoy
I’m a rock-and-roll drummer, so my job is to create chaos. Greg Saunier
I can understand how some people might resent me for having the audacity to continue playing music, but it’d take a lot more than that to stop me from doing it. I started Foo Fighters because I didn’t want to retreat. Dave Grohl
I can’t play anywhere near like I used to, and I was a hot drummer. It doesn’t bother me, because frankly, if you get to that point where you can’t hold a drumstick properly, there are many other things in life which are far more important, like cutting a loaf of bread or a piece of cheese. Phil Collins

Drumming Legends Speak: Quotes for Inspiration

I love being a drummer but I love being a musician in general and I love the Foo fighters. Dave Grohl
I love playing drums and helping out. Mike Portnoy
I surround myself with incredible musicians who inspire me to always do my best. Mike Portnoy
But unfortunately, in my unrelenting drive to get back on that drum stool, the major casualty in all of it was that I really forgot about me. Rick Allen
In respect for drummers, see, I love drummers. Miles Davis
I was always quite shy so I became a drummer. David Essex
I’ve always loved the mixture of crushing live drums with a programmed groove, that really cool blend, like in the verse there’s a really funky drum beat that is programmed then it comes in to the chorus; you’ve got that enormous human feel where the band kicks in. Tommy Lee
You know, another jazz drummer, Ed Thigpen, who played with Oscar Peterson way back – it was the first time I ever heard rivets in a cymbal. And then I heard that Chico Hamilton had them too, and I went, ‘Oh, that’s it. I’m taking that for my sound.’ And it worked well on ‘Riders On The Storm,’ so that’s one thing. John Densmore
But, I don’t think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can’t create his own Interpretation of the chart and he plays everything that’s written, he becomes mechanical; he has no freedom. Buddy Rich
If you mess around with jazz, you better have a good drummer and a good bass player. Gunther Schuller
I’ve talked to some drummers who seem to have a very hard time staying in shape on the road, including some drummers touring with high-profile acts that don’t have to live on fast food every night. Matt Cameron
I think you get to a point where you watch something just to enjoy it. I don’t think it’s really done so that you’re supposed to feel, Oh, he’s the most wonderful drummer. I think the whole lot is what’s more enjoyable. Charlie Watts
In The Go-Go’s, my philosophy is that I contribute whatever the song requires. I never think, ‘What can I put in here to show off the latest trick that I just picked up?’ What I think is, ‘What’s required from me as a drummer to make this a better song?’ Gina Schock
When I was a kid I never learned to play. I actually got in bands through watching people play and copying them. Charlie Watts
Certain drummers drop time, and I like to play on top of the beat. Miles Davis
I wanted to completely honor The REV and pay tribute to him and carry on the legacy that he intended with this record. Mike Portnoy
The golden rule of drums is hands clapping and feet tapping, and when you are in and out of consciousness, you can’t do that to best of your ability. Steven Adler
You don’t have to be a great drummer to be the most important guy in the band. Mike Portnoy
Seemed to me that drumming was the best way to get close to God. Lionel Hampton
The simplest beats, on what rock music or any music has been formed on, can be the toughest beats to execute and perform, because it’s really easy to not respect a simple / beat, because people always want to play fast. Joey Jordison
I don’t have perfect pitch. My drums sound like a drummer, not a drum machine. Taylor Hawkins
I guess by taking lessons early on, and really trying to play all the rudimentary stuff, and try to have it sound as good as my teacher. It took a lot of practice, which I enjoyed, and still do. Matt Cameron
Most studios in Memphis had a house set of drums; the drummers just brought their own sticks. Steve Cropper
Musicians play music because you love… I loved to play drums since I was five. It’s all I ever wanted to do. Rock stars, or as we call them, posers, guys who want to just look great, dress great. They’re not musicians; they’re looking for the fame. Peter Criss
I told people I was a drummer before I even had a set, I was a mental drummer. Keith Moon
I’m very influenced by jazz drummers. I always liked drummers like Roger Taylor, Keith Moon, Ian Paice, John Densmore. I just learned from playing to those drummers. Steven Adler
Before you can follow your own drummer, you have to hear the drummer. Srikumar Rao
If you have a great band with a mediocre drummer, you have a mediocre band. If you have a mediocre band with a great drummer, you have a great band! Duke Ellington
Probably some of the most impressive drumming I’ve done is on the ‘Far Beyond Driven’ record. Vinnie Paul
It’s all about the music. For me, that’s truly what I live for. Just music constantly. Always listening to, writing, or playing music. That’s definitely me. Tommy Lee Inspiration Drums Quotes
When I was thirteen I only wanted to be a drummer. Ringo Starr
When you leave the planet, you leave music behind. Alex Van Halen
I could stand out front and sing Eagles songs that I sing in my set, but I think people enjoy watching me sing and play the drums. It seems to fascinate people. I don’t know why. Don Henley
The records that I grew up listening to had feel, and the drummers that inspired me – like Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, Phil Collins and Roger Taylor – all had their own voice and individual style. Taylor Hawkins Inspiration Drums Quotes
I don’t want people to think that I think I’m this great drummer because, to me, I’m just a kid playing drums, and I love music. Mike Portnoy
A drummer is usually like the backbone. Brody Dalle
Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument – learning to do your craft – that’s the most important thing! It’s not about what goes on in a computer! Dave Grohl
When you approach this instrument for the first time, what comes out of you is simply what you feel. Dennis Chambers
I have no interest in playing ‘perfect.’ To me, it’s more about being an entertainer. Having a connection with the audience. Mike Portnoy
You can put me in front of any kit, and it is a fun thing to have to adapt. It inspires me to try different things. I like that. Mike Portnoy
Not everybody likes or understands a drum solo, so I like to bring in effects and sounds to keep their interest. John Bonham
That’s what the drummer is supposed to do. Keep the time. If you can do something else besides that, fine. But the time is essential and non-negotiable. Elvin Jones
The drummer’s always going to be there. They’re the floor of the whole deal and everyone can stand up on you. Ringo Starr
I’d just play ’til my hands fell off. My parents would yell at me to stop because they couldn’t stand the noise any more! I was terrible! It must have been hard for them to listen to me as a beginning drummer. Randy Castillo
At heart I cannot accept that I am a well-known rock ‘n’ roll star and one of the greatest drummers in the world. Keith Moon
As a drummer, I always approach things as, ‘I want to play just enough to keep other drummers interested, but not enough to go over the average listener’s head.’ Vinnie Paul
Once I had defined myself as a compositional drummer, I thought, “Well, I want to be an improvisational drummer.” Neil Peart
Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn’t sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste. Buddy Rich Inspiration Drums Quotes
I don’t play beats. I hate playing beats. I’m an orchestration drummer. I’m a musical drummer. Bill Ward
The polarity of Mitch Mitchell and Moe Tucker offers a pretty good understanding of what a drummer’s role is. Fab Moretti
Almost everything I’ve done, I’ve done through my own creativity. I don’t think I ever had to listen to anyone else to learn how to play drums. I wish I could say that for about ten thousand other drummers. Buddy Rich
I consider every drummer that ever played before me an influence, in every way. Buddy Rich
The one thing I do know is that I’m the best Taylor Hawkins drummer there is, and that is all I can hope to be. And when it comes to music, musicianship and skill, there is no such thing as better or worse because so much is personal opinion, and I can see that now. Taylor Hawkins
In hindsight, if I could go back in time and relay a message to my younger self, I would tell him to work on his time keeping, and that the job of a drummer is not to be the one that gets noticed the most on stage, or to be the fastest, or the loudest. Above all, it is to be the timekeeper. Taylor Hawkins
I never had lessons. Used to try to play to records, which I hated doing. Still can’t play to them. Charlie Watts
When I was a kid, I went through a lot of musical phases, and one was when I’d learn everything that The Beatles ever recorded. After I started drums, I fell in love with their music so much that I just wanted to learn everything. Eric Carr

Percussive Inspiration: Wisdom from Drum Masters

I love being a drummer but I love being a musician in general and I love the Foo fighters. Dave Grohl
I love playing drums and helping out. Mike Portnoy
I surround myself with incredible musicians who inspire me to always do my best. Mike Portnoy
But unfortunately, in my unrelenting drive to get back on that drum stool, the major casualty in all of it was that I really forgot about me. Rick Allen
In respect for drummers, see, I love drummers. Miles Davis
I was always quite shy so I became a drummer. David Essex
I’ve always loved the mixture of crushing live drums with a programmed groove, that really cool blend, like in the verse there’s a really funky drum beat that is programmed then it comes in to the chorus; you’ve got that enormous human feel where the band kicks in. Tommy Lee Inspiration Drums Quotes
You know, another jazz drummer, Ed Thigpen, who played with Oscar Peterson way back – it was the first time I ever heard rivets in a cymbal. And then I heard that Chico Hamilton had them too, and I went, ‘Oh, that’s it. I’m taking that for my sound.’ And it worked well on ‘Riders On The Storm,’ so that’s one thing. John Densmore
But, I don’t think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can’t create his own Interpretation of the chart and he plays everything that’s written, he becomes mechanical; he has no freedom. Buddy Rich
If you mess around with jazz, you better have a good drummer and a good bass player. Gunther Schuller
I’ve talked to some drummers who seem to have a very hard time staying in shape on the road, including some drummers touring with high-profile acts that don’t have to live on fast food every night. Matt Cameron
I think you get to a point where you watch something just to enjoy it. I don’t think it’s really done so that you’re supposed to feel, Oh, he’s the most wonderful drummer. I think the whole lot is what’s more enjoyable. Charlie Watts Inspiration Drums Quotes
In The Go-Go’s, my philosophy is that I contribute whatever the song requires. I never think, ‘What can I put in here to show off the latest trick that I just picked up?’ What I think is, ‘What’s required from me as a drummer to make this a better song?’ Gina Schock
When I was a kid I never learned to play. I actually got in bands through watching people play and copying them. Charlie Watts
Certain drummers drop time, and I like to play on top of the beat. Miles Davis
I wanted to completely honor The REV and pay tribute to him and carry on the legacy that he intended with this record. Mike Portnoy
The golden rule of drums is hands clapping and feet tapping, and when you are in and out of consciousness, you can’t do that to best of your ability. Steven Adler
You don’t have to be a great drummer to be the most important guy in the band. Mike Portnoy
Seemed to me that drumming was the best way to get close to God. Lionel Hampton
The simplest beats, on what rock music or any music has been formed on, can be the toughest beats to execute and perform, because it’s really easy to not respect a simple / beat, because people always want to play fast. Joey Jordison
I don’t have perfect pitch. My drums sound like a drummer, not a drum machine. Taylor Hawkins
I guess by taking lessons early on, and really trying to play all the rudimentary stuff, and try to have it sound as good as my teacher. It took a lot of practice, which I enjoyed, and still do. Matt Cameron
Most studios in Memphis had a house set of drums; the drummers just brought their own sticks. Steve Cropper
Musicians play music because you love… I loved to play drums since I was five. It’s all I ever wanted to do. Rock stars, or as we call them, posers, guys who want to just look great, dress great. They’re not musicians; they’re looking for the fame. Peter Criss
I told people I was a drummer before I even had a set, I was a mental drummer. Keith Moon Inspiration Drums Quotes
I’m very influenced by jazz drummers. I always liked drummers like Roger Taylor, Keith Moon, Ian Paice, John Densmore. I just learned from playing to those drummers. Steven Adler
Before you can follow your own drummer, you have to hear the drummer. Srikumar Rao
If you have a great band with a mediocre drummer, you have a mediocre band. If you have a mediocre band with a great drummer, you have a great band! Duke Ellington Inspiration Drums Quotes
Probably some of the most impressive drumming I’ve done is on the ‘Far Beyond Driven’ record. Vinnie Paul
It’s all about the music. For me, that’s truly what I live for. Just music constantly. Always listening to, writing, or playing music. That’s definitely me. Tommy Lee
When I was thirteen I only wanted to be a drummer. Ringo Starr
When you leave the planet, you leave music behind. Alex Van Halen Inspiration Drums Quotes
I could stand out front and sing Eagles songs that I sing in my set, but I think people enjoy watching me sing and play the drums. It seems to fascinate people. I don’t know why. Don Henley
The records that I grew up listening to had feel, and the drummers that inspired me – like Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, Phil Collins and Roger Taylor – all had their own voice and individual style. Taylor Hawkins
I don’t want people to think that I think I’m this great drummer because, to me, I’m just a kid playing drums, and I love music. Mike Portnoy
A drummer is usually like the backbone. Brody Dalle
Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument – learning to do your craft – that’s the most important thing! It’s not about what goes on in a computer! Dave Grohl
When you approach this instrument for the first time, what comes out of you is simply what you feel. Dennis Chambers
I have no interest in playing ‘perfect.’ To me, it’s more about being an entertainer. Having a connection with the audience. Mike Portnoy
You can put me in front of any kit, and it is a fun thing to have to adapt. It inspires me to try different things. I like that. Mike Portnoy
Not everybody likes or understands a drum solo, so I like to bring in effects and sounds to keep their interest. John Bonham
That’s what the drummer is supposed to do. Keep the time. If you can do something else besides that, fine. But the time is essential and non-negotiable. Elvin Jones
The drummer’s always going to be there. They’re the floor of the whole deal and everyone can stand up on you. Ringo Starr Inspiration Drums Quotes
I’d just play ’til my hands fell off. My parents would yell at me to stop because they couldn’t stand the noise any more! I was terrible! It must have been hard for them to listen to me as a beginning drummer. Randy Castillo
At heart I cannot accept that I am a well-known rock ‘n’ roll star and one of the greatest drummers in the world. Keith Moon
As a drummer, I always approach things as, ‘I want to play just enough to keep other drummers interested, but not enough to go over the average listener’s head.’ Vinnie Paul
Once I had defined myself as a compositional drummer, I thought, “Well, I want to be an improvisational drummer.” Neil Peart
Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn’t sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste. Buddy Rich
I don’t play beats. I hate playing beats. I’m an orchestration drummer. I’m a musical drummer. Bill Ward
The polarity of Mitch Mitchell and Moe Tucker offers a pretty good understanding of what a drummer’s role is. Fab Moretti
Almost everything I’ve done, I’ve done through my own creativity. I don’t think I ever had to listen to anyone else to learn how to play drums. I wish I could say that for about ten thousand other drummers. Buddy Rich
I consider every drummer that ever played before me an influence, in every way. Buddy Rich
The one thing I do know is that I’m the best Taylor Hawkins drummer there is, and that is all I can hope to be. And when it comes to music, musicianship and skill, there is no such thing as better or worse because so much is personal opinion, and I can see that now. Taylor Hawkins
In hindsight, if I could go back in time and relay a message to my younger self, I would tell him to work on his time keeping, and that the job of a drummer is not to be the one that gets noticed the most on stage, or to be the fastest, or the loudest. Above all, it is to be the timekeeper. Taylor Hawkins
I never had lessons. Used to try to play to records, which I hated doing. Still can’t play to them. Charlie Watts
When I was a kid, I went through a lot of musical phases, and one was when I’d learn everything that The Beatles ever recorded. After I started drums, I fell in love with their music so much that I just wanted to learn everything. Eric Carr

Groove to Greatness: Quotes by Famous Drummers

Playing fast around the drums is one thing. But to play music, to play with people for others to listen to, that’s something else. That’s a whole other world. Tony Williams
The thing I try to do the most is to play in terms of the song and play in terms of what I’m hearing. Jimmy Chamberlin
My dad was a drummer and would always have music on around the house. Bree Runway
Just because you’re not a drummer doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep time. Thelonious Monk
Music used to be a more personal thing, and it defined who you were. Now it’s like wallpaper. Stephen Morris
In the studio you can auto tune vocals, and with drums, you can put them on a grid and make them perfect. I hate that sound. When someone hands me a record and the drums are perfectly gridded and the vocals are perfectly auto tuned, I throw it out the window. I have no interest in rock music being like that. Taylor Hawkins
First and foremost, play what you love to play. Don’t try to jump on a bandwagon or a trend or a popular musical craze. Mike Portnoy
A lot of young drummers have a tendency to really overplay. Sometimes simple is better, and the notes that aren’t played between the spaces are bigger than the notes that are. Vinnie Paul
I do like to look at female drummers, because I am one. Caroline Corr
To be a drummer you also have to be a musician. Ian Paice
I don’t care about technique. I have kind of been pigeonholed as a technical drummer since I was in Dream Theater for all those years, but it’s actually very far from the truth. Mike Portnoy
Since my early childhood, I’ve played drums in visuals as well as sound. Bill Ward Inspiration Drums Quotes
I made a dollar a day sweeping a laundry out. Then we made a record that was number two in Los Angeles. We got so excited hearing it on the radio that Carl threw up. Dennis Wilson
I get to play what I’m feeling on my solo records, and I get to bang the hell out of a drum kit in Black Sabbath. Bill Ward
Going from playing a backroom of a bar to a show for 0,000 people… that’s pretty wild. The Rev Inspiration Drums Quotes
My advice always is to start very simple and master your timing and master the most simple beats that you can, and you just keep elevating from that. Trying to go right into playing fast is not necessarily the best way to go about it, because if you don’t have your foundation locked in, it’s hard to progress. Joey Jordison
A good groove releases adrenaline in your body. You feel uplifted, you feel centered, you feel calm, you feel powerful. You feel that energy. That’s what good drumming is all about. Mickey Hart
I like being in the back. I’ve done that for so many years, I’m really comfortable doing it. I don’t like the solo thing as much as I like playing drums behind someone. Sheila E.
When I was a kid, of course I wanted to be the fastest, the loudest and the one with the biggest drum set, but obviously my aspirations have changed a bit since then. Taylor Hawkins
There were a lot of gifted amateurs in my day. Most of the kids now play fantastically well. I think there are so many bands around now who might get there, but it’s a tougher journey. Nick Mason
You need to take risks, you never know if the end results will be beautiful or strange, you need to be instantaneous, listening to every moment, without missing a scrap of the music, even if you play a rest. Brian Blade
No acting, no production, could take the place of that moment when you come out in the dark onto the stage and the drummer plays four beats on the hi-hat and then lights and music. It just takes your breath away. No words can do what music can. Ken Stott
When I was a little kid, I took tap and ballet. I’ve always loved to dance. I’m a rhythm machine. Tommy Lee
I would like to think that the singer is the butterfly, and the drummer is just the little grub in the ground, working to become a caterpillar. Robert Wyatt
Playing drums, for me, is like breathing. It’s like thinking. It’s like eating. It’s like walking. Joey Jordison Inspiration Drums Quotes
You have a natural groove inside of you, but the more you practise, the more comfortable you will be with your instrument. Vinnie Paul
Your personal history is a part of what happens with your hands and your head as you play music. Dave Grohl
I have an open mind, and I try to be critical of none of the bands, even if something’s not to my personal taste. After all, somebody worked really hard on that music. Bill Ward
Eat drums! Eat cymbals! Animal
I found that to really make money, you had to give up music. So I gave up money. Mel Lewis
Mainly I was able to perform with music – I played the French horn, I would sing, and I was a drummer in the pipe band. So I think it was a way to show off. Ewan McGregor
Drumming was the only thing I was ever good at. John Bonham
I want to keep pushing the limits for drummers and expressing myself. Travis Barker
I have been blessed with musical visions and the ability to harness them. Bill Ward
Don’t try to follow any trends, just concentrate on writing great songs and knowing your instrument. All the other stuff will fall into place. Steven Adler
It’s always interesting to me that we all hear music differently. It’s an awesome experience to hear what other people hear. Tommy Lee
I think the drummer should sit back there and play some drums, and never mind about the tunes. Just get up there and wail behind whoever is sitting up there playing the solo. And this is what is lacking, definitely lacking in music today. Buddy Rich
I read somewhere that drummers are practically Olympic athletes. I feel pretty good, most of the time. After years, I can’t expect much better than that! Michael Bland
You only get better by playing. Buddy Rich
The greatest contribution jazz has made in music has been to replace the role of the conductor with a member of the ensemble who, instead of waving his arms to keep time and convey mood, is an active member of the musical statement. That person is the drummer. Elvin Jones
It doesn’t matter what songs we sing. I’m a drummer. Chicks dig me. Larry Mullen, Jr.
Drummers shouldn’t just think of themselves as drummers. If you’re going to be a musician, you should expand your horizons, compose things, and work with other instruments. Stewart Copeland
The sound levels on stage were so loud with all that constant banging and smash, smash, smash; it did untold damage to the fine nerve endings in the inner ear, though it is worse in the left, which is the side of my snare drum and the monitor. Roger Taylor
In rock & roll heaven, there ARE drum solos, but only the drummers can hear them. Lin Brehmer Inspiration Drums Quotes
I think every band is a little cautious when the drummer starts to write tunes. Matt Cameron
Gene Hoglan is one of my friends, and when I watch him play, I’m blown away; I can’t believe what his body can do. Bill Ward
The reality is that my style of drumming is largely an athletic undertaking, and it does not pain me to realize that, like all athletes, there comes a time to… take yourself out of the game. Neil Peart
The drum is the heart of music. The saxophone can play and then rest, as can all of them except the drums; the drummer keeps going – he can’t afford to stop. Jo Jones

Sticking to Success: Inspirational Drum Quotes by Legends

I make a living playing rock n’ roll. I’m not going to complain about anything. Taylor Hawkins
I think that drummers have come a long way, but they haven’t forgotten players like Gene Krupa, or the other jazz players. Bill Ward
Do you know why they call a drummer’s seat a throne? Because drummers are kings and queens. Ed Thigpen Inspiration Drums Quotes
I don’t take breaks, man. In the past, I used to spend my free time getting in trouble, and now I spend it working on my music. If I’m not playing drums with my cover band, Chevy Metal, I’m working on songs for myself. Taylor Hawkins
The most important thing is that you honor that musical integrity, whether you make music that sounds like ABBA or you make music that sounds like Void. Dave Grohl
Love every minute of it… Appreciate it and try not to get carried away because it can be a short career. Topper Headon Inspiration Drums Quotes
I had trouble fitting in, in a musical sense. A lot of drummers get sidetracked by the instrument. It can engulf you. Tre Cool
I am a little deaf now. Without my hearing aids in, I miss a lot of peripheral sounds. I had tinnitus, too, for a while. Roger Taylor
I have been through a lot of ups and downs in life, both personally and professionally, and I discovered over the years that I have a lot of fortitude, and I got that from my dad. Joey Kramer
I’ve been using Pearl for so long, ever since I was a kid. Same thing with Paiste. They have both taken such great care of me, and I can’t thank them enough. Joey Jordison
I don’t enjoy ‘Dust in the Wind’ as much. But I do enjoy ‘Song for America’, ‘Carry on, Wayward Son’, and many songs – Kansas is really a drummer’s dream to play in. And I like ’em all. Phil Ehart
In my last band, Soundgarden, I had a couple of different drummers sit in on some stuff and it was fun for me to kind of take a break and watch the band. Matt Cameron
In jazz, you listen to what the bass player is doing and what the drummer is doing, what the pianist and the guitarist is doing, and then you play something that compliments that, so you are thinking simultaneously and thinking ahead. David Amram
In the Foo Fighters, my main job is to be the drummer, and that’s enough. Taylor Hawkins
But I think that any young drummer starting out today should get himself a great teacher and learn all there is to know about the instrument that he wants to play. Buddy Rich
Engaging with the audience lets them know I’m approachable. I don’t like that whole, ‘You can’t talk to Sheila E thing’ – I don’t like that. Sheila E.
Having that music around us all the time, it was so inspiring. But at the same time, I was a kid. I didn’t pay attention to any of it. I’d get on the drums and hit them a few times, and then go outside and play. Sheila E. Inspiration Drums Quotes
To me, a great drummer isn’t always about somebody with chops who can shred. A great drummer is someone who is part of a great band. Mike Portnoy Inspiration Drums Quotes
It’s been years and years and years I’ve been playing the drums, and they’re still a challenge. I still enjoy using drumsticks and a snare drum. Charlie Watts
I had some proper training, but that was only on snare drum. Learning all the techniques in marching bands and realizing how important it is to play tight set a standard for me for when I did get into a band. Vinnie Paul
I think that the rhythm sections, drummers in particular, are the unsuing heroes of the music. It’s the rhythm section that has changed the styles from one period to the other. Max Roach
Almost the moment he died, they put him in Playboy as one of the greatest drummers, which he was – there’s no doubt about it. There’s never been anybody since. He’s one of the greatest drummers that ever lived. Jimmy Page
I only started playing piano because I had chickenpox when I was about and wasn’t allowed to play my drums for a whole week… We had a piano in the house, so I just sat down and played that instead. Taylor Hawkins
I’m not into albums that are meant to sound perfect. Dave Grohl
There is no roles. No one is keeping any roles. The drummer is also answering everybody and everything. So it is a constant conversation and communication between musicians on an extremely high level with extremely valuable material, motifs, and melodies. Miroslav Vitous
My soul is that of a drummer…. I didn’t do it to become rich and famous. I did it because it was the love of my life. Ringo Starr Inspiration Drums Quotes
That’s how we grew up – kinda like Pops would put his drums, his percussion and instruments into the car and we would just go to a facility in the Bay Area and he would say to us, ‘You think we have it bad? There are people worse off than we are. Let’s go give back to the kids.’ And that’s how we grew up. Sheila E.
It’s nice when somebody says that you’re their ‘favorite’ drummer. Mike Portnoy
I’ve worked hard, but this business can be tough, and I just consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the career that I have, and to still be having so much fun playing drums and making music. Taylor Hawkins
The drums are demanding and yet he never misses a beat. Jacqueline E. Smith
Buddy Rich was one of the most incredible technicians in the world, on this planet, but the only people he could really impress, who knew what he was doing was another musician or another drummer. Dick Dale
I actually wanted to be a drummer, but I didn’t have any drums. Stevie Ray Vaughan
On the records that I grew up with and loved, every song was unique – it’s almost as if you had a different journey every time – and the drums were big part of that story. Joey Jordison Inspiration Drums Quotes
I would like to declare my view for the record that Drummer Jokes are a cruel and pernicious form of humour introduced to the world by under-humoured persons lacking in sensitivity and concern for other drummers. Robert Fripp Inspiration Drums Quotes
A great drum record has to sound good; in fact, it should sound special. It should capture the richness and the actual tones of the drums themselves, regardless of who is playing. Joey Jordison
I don’t ever have any bass in my monitors at all; I instead like to lock in with the guitar. I know the bass player has got to be locked in with the drummer, but to me, metal music is about the guitar and drums locking in and operating like a machine together. I played with my brother forever, and we were magically locked in together. Vinnie Paul
I just write… if it’s really good, it’s going on the record. If it’s average, it’s going in the trash. Tommy Lee
If I couldn’t play drums it would have destroyed me. If you’re thrown in the deep end you swim, and that’s basically what I did. I had to do it and with the rest of the band behind me and the encouragement I got from people from all over the world, I knew that I was going to play. Rick Allen
Marvin Gaye was a killer drummer. I think he just played during the soundchecks and he’d have another guy sing his parts while he played the drums. He just wanted to play the drums and have some fun. Dr. John
But I’ve always liked to be the kind of drummer and musician who likes to go outside of what’s expected of me, and I’ve always been able to do more than you necessarily hear with every band I’ve ever played in. Matt Cameron
I’m a street player, and all of my influences come from bands that I was listening to at the time when I was growing up. I was very impressed with guys like Mitch Mitchell. I liked rock and roll drummers, and I loved rhythm and blues guys like Clyde Stubblefield with James Brown. Man, that band blew me away all of the time. Joey Kramer Inspiration Drums Quotes
I remember in the early days when we played six nights a week for a month and I was doing my long drum solo every night. My hands were covered in blisters. John Bonham
I’m in the gym every day, Monday through Friday. And I train really hard to go out and do a tour. So that, basically, what I’m doing with my trainer is that I train harder in the gym than the amount of energy that I expend on the stage. So by the time I’m ready to go out on the road, doing a show is a whole lot easier. Joey Kramer Inspiration Drums Quotes
I have had an amazing career for a man who hits things for a living. Larry Mullen, Jr.
Thank God that I had the ability to understand that I had a different beat and that I was a drummer. James Brown
I’m a rock drummer. I couldn’t sit down and pretend to be a jazz drummer. Vinnie Paul
I don’t care what anybody says about Ringo. I cut my rock-n-roll teeth listening to him. Don Henley
I can understand why some of these drummers and bass players become cult figures with all of their equipment and the incredible amount of technique they have. But there’s very little that I think satisfies you intellectually or emotionally. Ken Burns Inspiration Drums Quotes
If it’s successful and it sounds awesome, and looks killer live, then I guess I can pat myself on the back and take all the credit too. Tommy Lee

The Groove Masters: 10 Drummers Who Revolutionized the Sound of Music

In the world of music, there exists a select group of individuals whose rhythmic prowess and innovative spirit have left an indelible mark on the industry. These are the “Groove Masters,” the drummers who have redefined the very essence of music through their unique contributions. Today, we celebrate 10 such legends who have shaped the course of musical history.

  1. John Bonham – Led Zeppelin’s powerhouse drummer, Bonham’s thunderous beats and relentless groove were instrumental in defining the sound of hard rock.
  2. Ringo Starr – As The Beatles’ rhythm keeper, Starr’s simplicity and inventiveness created the foundation for countless timeless tunes.
  3. Keith Moon – The frenetic force behind The Who, Moon’s explosive drumming style introduced a new level of energy to rock ‘n’ roll.
  4. Buddy Rich – A jazz virtuoso, Rich’s lightning-fast hands and impeccable timing earned him the title of one of the greatest drummers of all time.
  5. Stewart Copeland – The Police’s Copeland blended punk, reggae, and rock, crafting a distinctive sound that still resonates today.
  6. Gene Krupa – A pioneer of the drum solo, Krupa’s contributions to swing music remain a benchmark for drummers worldwide.
  7. Ginger Baker – Cream’s volatile beat-master, Baker’s experimental style pushed the boundaries of rock drumming.
  8. Elvin Jones – Coltrane’s go-to drummer, Jones’ polyrhythmic approach redefined the possibilities of jazz percussion.
  9. Carter Beauford – Drummer for Dave Matthews Band, Beauford’s fusion of world rhythms and rock catapulted him to modern drumming stardom.
  10. Sheila E. – A trailblazer for female drummers, Sheila E.’s Latin-infused beats brought a fresh perspective to pop and funk music.

These drummers didn’t just keep time; they created a new language of rhythm. Each brought their own unique flavor to the art of drumming, leaving a profound impact on the songs and bands they collaborated with. Their influence continues to resonate across genres, generations, and musical boundaries.

Whether it’s the thundering power of John Bonham’s “Moby Dick” solo or the intricate jazz patterns of Elvin Jones, these Groove Masters have left an enduring legacy that proves music is not just heard but felt deep within our souls. They are the heartbeat of our favorite songs and the pulse of our musical history, forever redefining the boundaries of what’s possible with a pair of drumsticks in hand.

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