Was John Bonham a good drummer?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 19, 2026
Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham has topped Rolling Stone's Top 100 Drummers list. The late sticksman beat Cream's Ginger Baker, Keith Moon from The Who and Neal Peart from Rush to the No. 1 spot in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Drummers Of All Time.
Why is John Bonham considered the best drummer of all time?
“Bonzo”, as he was affectionately known, was renowned for his fast, loud and heavy drum sound, together with his incredible kick drum play. He was the powerhouse that underpinned the heavy metal sound but his playing was much more intricate than that, and that's why he's still seen as the world's best ever drummer.
Who was the greatest drummer of all time?
Best Drummers Of All Time: 20 Iconic Musicians Who Can't Be Beat
- 8: Stewart Copeland. ...
- 7: Clyde Stubblefield. ...
- 6: Phil Collins. ...
- 5: Buddy Rich. ...
- 4: Neil Peart. ...
- 3: Ginger Baker. ...
- 2: Keith Moon. ...
- 1: John Bonham.
Is John Bonham a better drummer than Neil Peart?
Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren has shared his honest opinion on why he thinks the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham is easily better than the late Rush drummer Neil Peart and said Bonham's style is extremely close to him.
What did Jimmy Page think of John Bonham?
“He would have a natural balance to everything he was playing. And then he'd give a bass-drum accent that you'd feel it go into your stomach. His technique was just amazing. He was such fun to play with.
45 related questions foundWhy is Led Zeppelin so popular?
The Pioneers of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal
Led Zeppelin's legacy and influence encompass the rock 'n roll genre. They pushed the limits, challenged ideals, and pulled out all the stops when it came to making music. They were rooted in blues but unlike some of their contemporaries, they went in hard and heavy.
Are any members of Led Zeppelin still alive?
The band's three surviving members — Plant, Page and Jones — worked on the selection and shared some of their stories from along the way. “There is no shortage of books about Led Zeppelin, but they've never involved Led Zeppelin,” book editor Dave Brolan said.
Who did Neil Peart think was the greatest drummer of all time?
A stand out member of the sixties set was certainly Jimi Hendrix, and while he gathered up plaudits for his innovative style, Peart was attracted to his drummer Mitch Mitchell instead.
Did John Bonham know Neil Peart?
Whereas ZeppelinandRoses put: “I doubt John Bonham was completely unaware of who peart was by the time of his death but just because he hadn't a Rush album doesn't mean he had no idea who he was.
Where does Neil Peart rank as a drummer?
Today, Peart is simply considered one of the best drummers in rock history. A 2014 list from Modern Drummer listed him at No. 3 in their all-time rankings, calling him “inarguably been the most visible, most popular symbol of the modern drummer” and stating that “his body of work over the past forty years…
Who do drummers think is the best drummer?
The top ten drummers of all time
- 1 – John Bonham. Unsurprisingly, John Bonham is number 1 on most lists of drummers.
- 2 – Neil Peart. ...
- 3 – Stewart Copeland. ...
- 4 – Buddy Rich. ...
- 5 – Keith Moon. ...
- 6 – Dave Grohl. ...
- 7 – Ramon “Tiki” Fulwood. ...
- 8 – Ginger Baker. ...
What made John Bonham so good?
John Bonham's legendary drumming style and power have influenced an entire generation fo rock drummers. In honour of his immense talents, Polyphonic created a wonderful homage to one of rock'n'roll's most important and influential drummers.
Was Neil Peart a good drummer?
He was "considered one of the best rock drummers of all time, alongside John Bonham of Led Zeppelin; Ringo Starr of The Beatles; Keith Moon of The Who; Ginger Baker of Cream and Stewart Copeland of The Police." Being "known for his technical proficiency", the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame inducted him in 1983.
Is Jason Bonham as good as his father?
Sammy Hagar says Jason Bonham is as good as his father John Bonham. “I'm one of the guys that have said that Jason is as good as his dad was. And it almost hurts my heart to say that but Jason deserves that credit because he's phenomenal.
Why did Led Zeppelin break up?
No other hard-rock group was as consistently popular, as influential or as explosive. Led Zeppelin split up in 1980, when the heartbeat of the group, drummer John Bonham suddenly died. When Plant kicked off his solo career that night in 1982, he had to face up to his own legacy.
Why did Keith Moon wear headphones?
Keith started using headphones on stage in 1971 for certain numbers, which he taped to his head with gaffertape, so he could hear the backing tape for Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled Again.
How did rush end?
Rush ceased touring at the end of 2015, and Lifeson announced in January 2018 that the band would not continue. On January 7, 2020, Peart died of glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, at the age of 67.
How good a drummer was Gene Krupa?
Krupa's reputation still looms large in pop culture: Rolling Stone recently put him at Number 7 in its list of the 100 greatest drummers of all time. Yet among jazz critics and historians, and many musicians, it has become part of the received wisdom that Krupa was an unmusical drummer, and that he played too loud.
Was Ringo a good drummer?
Ringo, whose new album Give More Love has just come out, wasn't just the funniest Beatle, the life and soul of those early press conferences; and he wasn't just the best drummer in the Beatles. He was the best drummer for the Beatles. This is a vital distinction to make.
Who is the goat of drumming?
1. Neil Peart, Rush – The G.O.A.T.
Are Jimmy Page and Robert Plant still friends?
Robert Plant Remains “Great Friends” With Jimmy Page, Still Plans To Do “Different Things”
Where is Jimmy Page now?
Jimmy Page currently lives in Deanery Garden, a home in Sonning, Berkshire. The house was designed and built by architect Edwin Lutyens at the turn of the 20th century, and the gardens were planted from Edwin's designs by famous horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll.
Is Led Zeppelin the best rock band ever?
Led Zeppelin has gone down in history as one of the biggest bands of all time. I'm here to convince you that they are, in fact, the greatest of them all. Remembered as the biggest band of the 1970's, Led Zeppelin gained iconic status through their electrifying live shows.
