14 Famous Dead Drummers (+ Ones Who Died Recently)

There are countless famous musicians who passed away too soon. They all made a massive impact on the music industry and many of them are still being listened to today. The drum community, in particular, has lost many of its leading innovators.

We’re going to have a look at some deceased drummers and explain why they made such a big impact on the evolution of drumming.

Aaron Spears

In the arena of Pop and R&B drumming, few were as influential as the late Aaron Spears. To say he was a preferred drummer for up-and-coming pop acts is an understatement.

He enhanced the groove for artists like Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber. He even earned a Grammy nomination for his work on Usher’s multi-diamond album, Confessions, in 2004.

Tragically, he passed away on October 31, 2023, at the age of 47.

Aaron’s work as a producer also deserves recognition. He earned praise from Questlove of The Roots and Usher, who said Aaron was the closest thing to a hip-hop drum machine but with soul.

Check him out laying down this super tight groove for Ariana Grande’s “Bad Idea”.

Fred White

I don’t think there’s a single person reading this who hasn’t bobbed their head or flat out jumped out of their seats at a party to dance to the great groove of Earth, Wind & Fire’s song “September”.

That right there is the contribution of their legendary drummer, Fred White.

Along with his family members, bassist Verdine and singer Maurice White, he was the backbone of the band.

His brother Verdine called him a child prodigy and played with him since his early years, training him to always be grooving with the bass.

Maurice White, who is also a prolific drummer, eventually brought Fred in to cover the more complex grooves as the band expanded.

Other classic grooves he contributed to were “Boogie Wonderland” and most recently, Diana Ross’ “Thank You”.

Throughout his long career, he won 6 Grammys and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Philip Bailey, also a vocalist of EW&F, posted a loving tribute upon his death.

He died on January 2, 2023. He was 67 years old.

Jeremiah Green

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Jeremiah Green from Modest Mouse. He was one of the most original drummers in indie rock.

I’ve always appreciated their music, but my interest heightened when Johnny Marr from The Smiths joined in 2006.

Many musicians, including Maggie Rogers and Patrick Carney from The Black Keys, have praised him for his unique style in emo rock. His innovative beats have significantly influenced bands we listen to today, such as The Black Keys and Arcade Fire.

On Christmas Day in 2022, his mother shared the heartbreaking news that his oral cancer had advanced to Stage 4.

He tragically passed away on New Year’s Eve, just a week later, at the age of 45.

Here’s a mix of some of his best tracks.

Taylor Hawkins

When the greatest rock drummer of the ‘90s calls you to play drums in his new band, you know you must be someone special. Taylor Hawkins is best known as the drummer for massive rock band Foo Fighters, fronted by ex-Nirvana man Dave Grohl.

Hawkins, however, had an illustrious career before, and during, his time with the Foo Fighters. He played drums for Alanis Morisette and Sylvia, and found time to form side projects like Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.

Tragically, Hawkins died on tour in Colombia in March 2022. The mammoth Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts, which took place in late 2022 in LA and London, were testament to the drummer’s legacy and talent.

Joey Jordison

Legendary Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison was, until his untimely death in 2021, one of the leading drummers in heavy metal. Jordison’s brutal, powerful playing style was a major feature of Slipknot’s meteoric rise from nu-metal upstarts to bona fide rock royalty around the turn of the century.

Joey Jordison’s influence on modern metal drums cannot be overstated. He was, in 2010, voted the best drummer of the previous quarter-century. Jordison was regularly received with metal and drumming accolades while he was alive.

Sadly, Joey Jordison battled illness during the later years of his life. A spinal cord condition impacted his life and ability to play drums from around 2010 onwards.

It was testament to Jordison’s willpower and musicianship that, despite the loss of use of his left leg, he was able to learn to play drums again through rehabilitation.

Sadly, Joey Jordison passed away in his sleep, aged 46, in 2021.

Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts manned the throne for the Rolling Stones for almost sixty years. Watts was originally a jazz drummer, and joined the Stones in 1963 when the band was still playing London’s jazz and blues clubs.

It wasn’t long after that that Watts’ propulsive, deep groove locked in with Keith Richards’ rhythm playing to propel the Rolling Stones to superstardom.

Watts’ approach to the drums drew more from old-school jazz than contemporary rock stylings of the 1960s. His drumming had as much personality and showmanship as frontman Mick Jagger’s legendary dance moves.

One of Watts’ favorite techniques was lifting his hi-hat on the 2 and 4 beat instead of playing straight eighth or sixteenth notes. This meant that the snare drum stood out more in the overall mix of the band, giving the Rolling Stones their distinctive beat and groove.

Watts also famously did not get on well with certain bandmates. One infamous evening, Mick Jagger phoned Watts’ hotel room, demanding “where’s my drummer?”

Charlie Watts woke up, shaved, put on a full tailored suit, tie, and shoes, walked down the stair to Mick Jagger and punched the frontman square in the face. He told Jagger: “Never call me your drummer again. You’re my singer!”

Charlie Watts died at the age of 80 in 2021.

Neil Peart

Neil Peart was an iconic drummer who formed part of the Canadian band Rush. His drumming was the inspiration for many young people to start learning the drums.

Unfortunately, he died of an illness at the age of 67. The band Rush retired a few years earlier due to Peart’s illness. Rush is arguably still one of the most well-known bands in the world, especially to the older generations.

John Bonham

John Bonham is one of the most famous rock drummers to have lived. He played for Led Zeppelin and he made a massive impact in music with his large drums and heavy-hitting. It was always a spectacle to see Bonzo in action. His energy is arguably what made Led Zeppelin the rocking band that they were.

John Bonham died after drinking a heavy amount of alcohol one night at the age of 32. This cause of death was popular amongst rock musicians at the time.

Buddy Rich

While John Bonham was a famous rock drummer, Buddy Rich was a famous jazz drummer. In fact, he’s probably one of the most well-known drummers in the world. Buddy Rich pushed the boundaries of how good someone can get at the drums.

He was always playing intense drum solos and leading jaws to drop after seeing what he could do with a drum kit. He died due to having a brain tumor in his late 60s.

Ginger Baker

Ginger Baker was the drummer in the popular rock band, Cream. He played alongside legendary guitarist, Eric Clapton. Baker was known to mix jazz and African rhythms with rock drumming, creating a drumming style that was very unique to anything else at the time.

He apparently wasn’t the most liked musician around, but he was definitely one of the best. He died at the age of 80 due to some heart issues. He was a professional gigging drummer for the majority of his lifetime.

Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan

The Rev was one of the main members of the band, Avenged Sevenfold. He was a well-known drummer in the metal scene and it came as a shock to many when he passed away. He played a huge role in the success of Avenged Sevenfold’s music and wrote many of the songs.

He died of a drug overdose at the young age of 28. Many drummers have played for Avenged Sevenfold since, but none have filled the role like The Rev did.

John Blackwell

John Blackwell was most well-known for drumming for Prince. He was a lead musician in the R&B and Gospel scenes for most of the 2000s. One notable fact about him is that he was one of the first famous drummers to adopt a hybrid acoustic/electronic setup. You’ll see every R&B drummer doing that nowadays.

Unfortunately, John Blackwell died of a brain tumor at the age of 43.

Jeff Porcaro

Jeff Porcaro was a legendary drummer. He played in the band, Toto, and famously put his name on the map with the Rosanna Shuffle. This groove was played in the song, Rosanna, and it’s one of the most famous grooves in the drumming world.

Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack at the age of 38.

Gene Krupa

Gene Krupa was one of the most famous drummers in the 20th century next to Buddy Rich. The two of them were often competing for the spotlight. Gene Krupa took a showman approach and appeared in many films. He was highly entertaining to watch.

Although he was a showman, his playing was very advanced on the drums. He famously played the floor tom and many drummers learn to play what is known today as a “Gene Krupa tom solo”.

He died at the age of 64 due to heart failure.