Best Drummers Today – Best in the World!

Today’s music industry is dominated by electronic and sample-based music, but there is still a long list of amazing and busy drummers out there. What’s even more impressive is that many of these drummers aren’t just in bands or jazz ensembles – they’re the backbone of a lot of popular recordings.

This is refreshing and inspiring, as it shows that pop culture, technology, and great musicianship can coexist.

Making this list was not easy, as there are probably more unique and incredible drummers today than at any other time. To narrow it down, I considered three factors: mind-blowing skills, creativity, and musicality.

Here are my top picks for the current best drummers in the world, covering all genres from rock to jazz and everything in between.

1. Josh Freese

The drumming world was rocked a while ago when we lost one of the greatest drummers, the Foo Fighters’ own Taylor Hawkins. And everyone was asking, who could ever fill his shoes?

Well, let me tell you, they picked another legend – Josh Freese! The industry blew up with tweets and shouts of approval, confirming that the Foo Fighters made the right choice.

Josh has been crushing it with bands like Nine Inch Nails, The Replacements, Weezer, and most recently I saw him play with Sting and Danny Elfman at Coachella and this guy is crazy talented.

He’s known for being the perfect chameleon drummer. He just vibes with whoever he’s playing with, even if it’s his first time playing with them, it feels like he’s been playing with them for years!

And don’t think he’s just a touring band drummer. He’s also an incredibly prolific studio musician who has played on over 400 massively successful albums. That’s right, 400 and he’s barely 50 years old. I hope to catch him live for many more years with the Foo Fighters.

2. Chad Smith

The Red Hot Chili Peppers had a significant influence on Foo Fighters’ music. Even Taylor Hawkins once said that Chad Smith was one of his drumming heroes. And let’s face it, Chad is essentially a rock god, so it’s no surprise.

Although Chad Smith is best known for being a member of both Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chickenfoot, he has also done some seriously impressive session work for big names like Johnny Cash, Miley Cyrus, Eddie Vedder, Lana Del Rey, Halsey, and even Post Malone. His versatility is truly eclectic.

One of the reasons why Chad Smith is so impressive in the drumming world is how he combines ghost notes and footwork into a super smooth flow that is reminiscent of The Police’s Stewart Copeland and Queen’s Roger Taylor.

Moreover, this guy’s versatility is off the charts! He can rock out in any genre, especially pop. Most people don’t even realize he has worked with DJs like Paul Oakenfold and was even featured on Dua Lipa’s Grammy-winning Future Nostalgia album. Talk about range!

3. Yussef Dayes

Dayes is a relatively new addition to the list of top drummers, but his popularity has been steadily increasing as of late. I first heard him on the album “What Kind of Music” with guitarist and producer Tom Misch, and I was instantly blown away.

Hailing from London and in his late 20s, Yussef Dayes has been making major waves in the neo-soul and lo-fi hip-hop worlds.

Although he is heavily influenced by jazz and reggae, much like Stewart Copeland, AllMusic.com describes him as playing a funky combination of broken beats and electronic-inspired hip-hop. His band, United Vibrations, is also making waves and appearing on BBC Radio and Gilles Peterson’s acclaimed broadcast.

In many circles, he is considered to be the new and up-and-coming Questlove. I definitely heard some of that when I first heard his amazing duet with Tom Misch, but I feel like he’s even more versatile. Here’s a video compilation of Yussef being a human drum machine.

4. Dennis Chambers

When I think of Dennis Chambers, I think of pure power! I remember a drum clinic he did at Berklee College of Music where he hit the snare so hard that he changed snares twice and broke three sticks within 40 minutes. Crazy, right?

But don’t get me wrong, he’s not all show and no substance. Even though he’s mostly known as a jazz fusion drummer, he also excelled with his Latin beats while touring with Carlos Santana for over three years.

Dennis was very active during what I would call the golden age of Jazz-rock, playing with legends like Steely Dan, John Scofield, Maceo Parker, and The Brecker Brothers.

I thought his drumming on the Return to The Brecker Brothers tour was just perfect. It was a combination of dynamic musicality and ridiculously powerful virtuosity at the same time.

Today, he’s still crushing it as part of Victor Wooten’s band.

5. Mark Guiliana

So, Mark Guiliana wasn’t really a household name until the legendary David Bowie himself chose him as the drummer for his final studio album, Blackstar. However, in the jazz world, Guiliana had already made a name for himself as a top dog when he teamed up with pianist Brad Mehldau for Mehliana, an incredible concept band that jazz and electronic music fans both loved.

These days, Guiliana has been hitting the road with St. Vincent in the rock scene, killing it as part of a solid rhythm section with Beck’s bass player Justin Meldal-Johnsen.

The New York Times even called him a cult icon among drummers, while Timeout magazine said, “What do you get when you mix hard bop drum master Elvin Jones with a Roland 808 drum machine, divide the result by J Dilla, and then multiply by the power of Squarepusher? Mark Guiliana, that’s what.”

6. Mike Portnoy

There are rock bands, and then there’s Dream Theater. I mean, mention Dream Theater to anyone who thinks they’re a shredder, and you’ll see them cower away with their tail between their legs.

Along with virtuoso genius John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy has been a founding member of Dream Theater for decades.

He has won over 30 awards from Modern Drummer magazine and is considered one of the fastest and most virtuosic players in the history of progressive rock and metal. If the title “beast” ever applied to a drummer, it would be Portnoy.

He’s heavily influenced by bands like Rush, Queen, The Who, and Iron Maiden, but what makes him stand out is that he can play some crazy complex, almost orchestrated parts, matching the speed and technique of only one other drummer, Neil Peart.

Aside from Dream Theater, Portnoy also filled in for Avenged Sevenfold when their drummer, Jimmy Sullivan, passed away while producing the band’s fifth album.

Portnoy is a drummer’s drummer, often called the Steve Vai of drums. His speed and foot technique are out of this world, making him unmatched by any live drummer today.

7. Steve Gadd

Aside from the late, great Jeff Porcaro of Toto, nobody compares to the mighty Steve Gadd in terms of feel. While in college, I watched the Buddy Rich Drum Championship videos, and although they featured amazing players like Dave Weckl, the audience would chuckle whenever Steve Gadd started playing because it was out of this world.

It’s impossible that you haven’t heard a song with Steve’s infamous feel. He has played with Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, and, of course, Joe Cocker.

Naturally, Gadd’s work on Steely Dan’s jazz-rock album “Aja” earned him the title of drum legend, but what really blew my mind was seeing him jam with Paul Simon at that epic concert in Central Park. I’ve never seen anyone who wasn’t from Africa play African rhythms with such ease.

And get this, he even came up with his own drum pattern called Mozambique, which is like a blend of jazz-funk and African shuffle.

8. Dave Grohl

I have yet to meet a musician who wasn’t completely blown away and taken aback by Nirvana’s debut. The power of their music is raw and emotionally simple. It’s impossible to discuss modern drummers without mentioning Dave Grohl.

Ironically, he may only be surpassed in this particular type of rock by Taylor Hawkins. However, the Foo Fighters have established a strong legacy, particularly with the inclusion of the great Josh Freese.

Dave, like Ringo Starr, doesn’t get the recognition he deserves as a drummer since he is now primarily a singer and frontman. Interestingly, he cites Ringo Starr as one of his greatest influences and possibly the greatest drummer of all time. While I may disagree, I do recognize Ringo’s contribution.

Recently, I watched Dave’s documentary entitled “Sound City” about the famous studio in Van Nuys, California where “Nevermind” was recorded. I highly recommend it to any indie or alternative rock fan.

9. Vinnie Colaiuta

Vinnie Colaiuta is one of Berklee College of Music’s greatest alumni, having left an indelible mark on the music industry. He has won more than 15 “Drummer of the Year” awards from Modern Drummer magazine’s annual reader polls, and over 10 “Best Overall Drummer in the World” categories in the same magazine.

Although he has played with numerous artists, from Frank Zappa to Joni Mitchell, he is perhaps best known for his incredible polyrhythmic work on Sting’s “Ten Summoner’s Tales” album. The song “Seven Days” is one of the few pop songs on the radio to have ever been played in a 5/4 time signature.

If you watch the video of it, Vinny makes it look so simple, as if he were playing a straight funk beat. It’s absolutely incredible.

Colaiuta was a shoo-in with Sting since he shares a lot of techniques with former Police member Stewart Copeland, and his hi-hat work is amazing.

He also has an incredible swing in both jazz and reggae. Currently, he is touring with Herbie Hancock and even has his own podcast on Spotify called “Breakfast with Vinny,” which is both entertaining and insightful.

10. Abe Laboriel Jr.

Abe Laboriel Jr. is the son of Abraham Laboriel, who is one of the greatest session bass players of all time. Growing up alongside his father, Abe Jr. was mentored by legendary LA drummers such as Jeff Porcaro, Chester Thompson, and percussionist Alex Acuna.

He later joined Sting’s band and also played with Steve Vai and Fiona Apple. I was particularly impressed when I saw him play with Seal on his North American tour.

Some even called him the young Dennis Chambers due to his powerful snare hit.

Abe also excels at fusing Latin, hard rock, and pop in a very unique way. In some ways, he’s a mix between Jason Bonham, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Dennis Chambers. Versatile, yet always loud!

11. Brian Blade

Brian Blade is one of those drummers who can play anything! He’s a total legend in the jazz scene and even won a Grammy for being part of Chick Corea’s trio back in 2013.

But what really put him on the map was his tasty drumming skills on Norah Jones’ epic song “Don’t Know Why.”

I mean, who hasn’t heard that huge hit? Brian’s drumming is so subtle and beautiful it just takes the song to a whole new level.

After that, Blade became a cult hero when he teamed up with producer Daniel Lanois for Bob Dylan’s record of the year-winning album “Time Out of Mind.” He even recorded with the legendary Joni Mitchell before she passed away.

12. Travis Barker

This guy needs no introduction, he’s a celebrity both on and off the stage. People say he’s the best rock drummer in the world, and honestly, I can’t argue with that.

Now, that’s a heavy title. I mean, there are so many amazing drummers out there. What sets Travis apart is his unique style and sound.

Other rock drummers, like Tommy Lee (who didn’t make this list, by the way), seem to be all about showmanship. They twirl their sticks in the air and do crazy acrobatics. But Travis is also a producer. He gets involved in pushing the envelope on what’s possible when recording live drum kits in the studio.

Hey, if you’re a subscriber on splice.com, I highly recommend checking out his Loop sample pack. It’s mind-blowing. You might expect some big rock drums in the style of Dave Grohl or Tommy Lee, but he actually has some really cool, distorted, almost Nine Inch Nails-type loops. They really surprised me, and I’m still using them in my productions to this day.

13. Simon Phillips

In my opinion, Simon Phillips is probably the best studio drummer in the world. It’s almost an understatement to say that he has played with everyone.

What makes him truly incredible is his range.

Although he’s mostly known as a rock drummer highly influenced by legends like Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, and Bernard Purdie, he’s also a bit of a chameleon, much like Vinnie Colaiuta.

His discography has some major highlights, such as playing with Jeff Beck, Judas Priest, Pete Townshend, Tears for Fears, and The Who. But he will probably be forever remembered as the only drummer who was able to successfully replace the legendary Jeff Porcaro in the band Toto.

Personally, Jeff Porcaro is my favorite drummer of all time, and when he passed away, I was quite young, but I remember feeling that loss.

However, when I heard Phillips play with Toto, it was as if he was truly channeling Porcaro while also adding some of his own flavors.

14. Ilan Rubin

Lastly, we have Ilan Rubin, a standout drummer best known as the current drummer for Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails. Though he’s barely in his early thirties, Rubin has already recorded with M83, Beck, Paramore, and currently with his band, The New Regime.

Rubin recently replaced Josh Freese in composer Danny Elfman’s band after Freese moved on to take Taylor Hawkins’s place in the Foo Fighters. With this, Ilan gets the title of the “Best Film Music Drummer” in the world for playing with both Trent Reznor and Danny Elfman.

Ilan has some impressive achievements, including being inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 as a member of Nine Inch Nails. He also holds the Guinness Book of World Records record as the youngest musician to ever play on the Woodstock stage, filling in for the band F.O.N at just 11 years old!