Famous American Drummers

Vote for Your Favourite American Drummers

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Dave Grohl
(Founder of the Rock Band 'Foo Fighters')
Dave Grohl
6
Birthdate: January 14, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Warren, Ohio, United States

Regarded as one of the most popular and influential rock musicians of the 1990s and 2000s, Dave Grohl is best known for his association with the famous rock band Nirvana, for which he was the drummer. Also a singer-songwriter, Dave Grohl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

 2 
Tommy Lee
(Founding Member of the Heavy Metal Band 'Mötley Crüe')
Tommy Lee
5
Birthdate: October 3, 1962
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Best known as the drummer and founding member of the bands Mötley Crüe and Methods of Mayhem, Tommy Lee Bass has been riddled with major controversies and has even spent time in jail for spousal abuse. Brash and bold, he has also been named to VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists list.
 3 
Travis Barker
(Drummer of the Rock Band 'Blink-182')
Travis Barker
6
Birthdate: November 14, 1975
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Fontana, California, United States

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is known for his mohawk and tattoos. He has also been part of bands such as The Transplants+44, and Box Car Racer, and starred in the reality series Meet the Barkers. He owns a record label and a clothing brand, and has written a memoir.

 4 
Chad Smith
(drummer, musician)
Chad Smith
5
Birthdate: October 25, 1961
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Saint Paul
 5 
Sheila E.
(Percussionist)
Sheila E.
4
Birthdate: December 12, 1957
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
 6 
Karen Carpenter
(Singer & Drummer Known for Her Distinctive Three-Octave Contralto Vocal Range)
Karen Carpenter
4
Birthdate: March 2, 1950
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Died: February 4, 1983

One half of the popular musical duo The Carpenters, Karen Carpenter was an American drummer and singer. Her death at age 32 and life-long struggles with eating disorders led to increased awareness of conditions like anorexia and body dysmorphia, which were little-known at the time. In 2010, Carpenter was named on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers of all time list.

 7 
Levon Helm
(Singer, Musician, Autobiographer, Composer, Actor, Mandolinist, Drummer, Songwriter)
Levon Helm
4
Birthdate: May 26, 1940
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Elaine
Died: April 19, 2012
 8 
Buddy Rich
(Musician)
Buddy Rich
4
Birthdate: September 30, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: April 2, 1987
 9 
Meg White
(photographer, musician, actor, percussionist)
Meg White
6
Birthdate: December 10, 1974
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Detroit
 10 
Stevie Ray Vaughan
(Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer)
Stevie Ray Vaughan
5
Birthdate: October 3, 1954
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dallas
Died: August 27, 1990

Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American musician. Stevie achieved so much in his mainstream career, that spanned only seven years, that he is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists ever and one of the most influential and iconic musicians in the blues music history. He is credited with reviving blues-rock and his work continues to influence several artists.

 11 
Don Henley
(Founding Member, Drummer and Co-Lead Vocalist of the Rock Band 'The Eagles')
Don Henley
4
Birthdate: July 22, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Gilmer, Texas, United States

Don Henley is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, and musician. A founding member of Eagles, Henley contributed immensely to the success of the band. Don Henley has also been successful as a solo artist, selling more than 10 million albums and winning two Grammy Awards. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named him among the greatest singers of all time.

 12 
Alex van Halen
(The Drummer and Co-Founder of the Rock Band 'Van Halen')
Alex van Halen
3
Birthdate: May 8, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Alex Van Halen is an American musician known for his drumming skills. He is credited with co-founding the now-defunct band, Van Halen. The band's self-titled debut album influenced several musicians in hard rock at the time of its release in 1978. Alex is also credited with coining the term brown sound, which was usually associated with his late-brother Eddie's guitar.

 13 
Stewart Copeland
(Musician)
Stewart Copeland
3
Birthdate: July 16, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Alexandria, Virginia, USA
 14 
Taylor Hawkins
(Musician)
Taylor Hawkins
5
Birthdate: February 17, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
 15 
Jeff Porcaro
(Former Drummer best known for his work with the rock band Toto, but is one of the most recorded session musicians, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions)
Jeff Porcaro
3
Birthdate: April 1, 1954
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Died: August 5, 1992
 16 
Dennis Wilson
(musician)
Dennis Wilson
4
Birthdate: December 4, 1944
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Inglewood, California, United States
Died: December 28, 1983
 17 
Joshua Dun
(American Musician, Drummer and One Half of the Musical Duo ‘Twenty One Pilots’)
Joshua Dun
4
Birthdate: June 18, 1988
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio, United States
Joshua William Dun, or Josh Dun, gained fame as part of the music duo Twenty One Pilots, with Tyler Joseph. Apart from being the drummer, he also contributes to percussion and trumpet. He had earlier been part of House of Heroes. He is known for his signature X tattoo.
 18 
Steven Adler
(Drummer and co-songwriter of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s)
Steven Adler
3
Birthdate: January 22, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
 19 
Jack Antonoff
(Singer)
Jack Antonoff
4
Birthdate: March 31, 1984
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bergenfield, New Jersey, USA
 20 
Teddy Pendergrass
(Singer)
Teddy Pendergrass
4
Birthdate: March 26, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kingstree, South Carolina, USA
Died: January 13, 2010
 21 
Alex Wolff
(Actor)
Alex Wolff
4
Birthdate: November 1, 1997
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
 22 
Joey Ramone
(Lead vocalist of the punk rock band the Ramones)
Joey Ramone
4
Birthdate: May 19, 1951
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Forest Hills, New York, United States
Died: April 15, 2001
Joey Ramone revolutionized punk rock with his band the Ramones. He was known for his distinctive hiccups, croons, and snarls, which he incorporated in his songs. He was also part of the activist group Artists United Against Apartheid. He died at 49, after a 7-year struggle with lymphoma.
 23 
Questlove
(Musician)
Questlove
5
Birthdate: January 20, 1971
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 24 
Danny Carey
(Drummer, Jazz musician)
Danny Carey
3
Birthdate: May 10, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lawrence
 25 
Stephen Stills
(Singer-songwriter)
Stephen Stills
4
Birthdate: January 3, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
 26 
Vinnie Paul
(Former Musician best known for being the drummer and co-founder of the heavy metal band Pantera)
Vinnie Paul
4
Birthdate: March 11, 1964
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Abilene, Texas, United States
Died: June 22, 2018
 27 
Peter Criss
(Drummer, Singer)
Peter Criss
4
Birthdate: December 20, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
 28 
Thundercat
(Musician)
Thundercat
4
Birthdate: October 19, 1984
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
 29 
Teddy Geiger
(Musician)
Teddy Geiger
5
Birthdate: September 16, 1988
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, USA
 30 
Daniel Johnston
(Singer-songwriter)
Daniel Johnston
4
Birthdate: January 22, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, USA
 31 
Mike Portnoy
(Drummer, Musician, Singer, Record producer, Composer)
Mike Portnoy
4
Birthdate: April 20, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Long Beach
 32 
Dave Lombardo
(Drummer, Musician)
Dave Lombardo
3
Birthdate: February 16, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
 33 
The Rev
(Musician, Drummer)
The Rev
4
Birthdate: February 9, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Huntington Beach, California, United States
Died: December 28, 2009
 34 
Max Weinberg
(Drummer)
Max Weinberg
4
Birthdate: April 13, 1951
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: South Orange, New Jersey, USA
 35 
Anderson Paak
(Singer)
Anderson Paak
3
Birthdate: February 8, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oxnard, California, U.S.
 36 
Jam Master Jay
(Musician)
Jam Master Jay
4
Birthdate: January 21, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: October 30, 2002
 37 
Matt Cameron
(Musician)
Matt Cameron
3
Birthdate: November 28, 1962
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: San Diego, California, USA
 38 
Jim Gordon
(Musician)
Jim Gordon
5
Birthdate: July 14, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
 39 
Randy Jackson
(Singer-songwriter)
Randy Jackson
4
Birthdate: October 31, 1961
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States
 40 
Jani Lane
(Singer-songwriter)
Jani Lane
3
Birthdate: February 1, 1964
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, USA
Died: August 10, 2011
 41 
Gary Clark, Jr.
(Musician)
Gary Clark, Jr.
3
Birthdate: February 15, 1984
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Austin, Texas Austin, Texas, U.S.
 42 
Josh Klinghoffer
(Musician)
Josh Klinghoffer
4
Birthdate: October 3, 1979
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles
 43 
Sib Hashian
(Musician)
Sib Hashian
4
Birthdate: August 17, 1949
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: March 22, 2017
 44 
Gene Krupa
(American drummer)
Gene Krupa
3
Birthdate: January 15, 1909
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: October 16, 1973
 45 
Kim Deal
(Singer)
Kim Deal
4
Birthdate: June 10, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio, USA
 46 
Shannon Leto
(Musician)
Shannon Leto
4
Birthdate: March 9, 1970
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
 47 
Desi Arnaz Jr.
(Actor, Musician)
Desi Arnaz Jr.
4
Birthdate: January 19, 1953
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California,United States
 48 
Eric Carr
(Drummer, Musician)
Eric Carr
3
Birthdate: July 12, 1950
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: November 24, 1991
 49 
Shawn Crahan
(Musician)
Shawn Crahan
3
Birthdate: September 24, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa, United States
 50 
Morris Day
(Musician)
Morris Day
3
Birthdate: December 13, 1956
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States