Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake Inspired by the comments on other threads about the great drummers and convinced that we can never have enough silly lists on this board, how about a list of the best drummers in punk/rock/new wave/alternative/whatever? Leaving aside obvious oldies like Moon and Bonham and Ginger Baker, here's a few off the top of my head: Topper Headon, Clash DJ Bonebrake, X Damon Che, Don Caballero/Bellini Rey Washam, Scratch Acid/Rapeman Peter Moffett, Gov't Issue/Burning Airlines John Wright, Nomeansno Stewie Copeland, Police Mac Macneilly, Jesus Lizard/86 Dave Grohl, Scream/Nirvana/Foo Fighters/QOTSA John McEntire, Bastro/Tortoise/a thousand others I'm sure I'm leaving out some obvious ones.... https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,3892#msg-3892 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:43:13 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15213#msg-15213 Re: scream https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15213#msg-15213 Aitch Trouser Press Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:20:36 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15210#msg-15210 Re: scream https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15210#msg-15210
Robert Gotobed (wire)
+
David Narcizo (throwing muses)

both whipped up some seriously complex rhythms

for power:
Gabe Katz (Blind Idiot God)

and taking it ol'school:

Art Blakey]]> mjm716 Trouser Press Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:33:34 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15044#msg-15044 Re: scream https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15044#msg-15044 blasmo Trouser Press Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:43:45 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15042#msg-15042 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15042#msg-15042
That may have been true in his post-Police efforts ... and heck, maybe in his pre-Police efforts, for all I know. But to me, it was a different story in The Police.

Sting may have provided the songs and the voice, but his bass playing was more of an anchor role. Andy Summers was sort of a "watercolorist" on guitar, adding washes of sound. When it came to instrumental prowess, Stewart was the "front man" of the band.

Of course, the mark of a truly great band is that every member knows his role, and the parts fit together right. That's a big part of why The Police became so renowned as a band ... and why the post-Police efforts of all three members, from Sting on up, just haven't scaled those heights.

]]> Delvin Trouser Press Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:06:45 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15036#msg-15036 Re: scream https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15036#msg-15036 STEVE Trouser Press Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:05:04 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15035#msg-15035 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15035#msg-15035 Can't believe the absence of Sly And Robbie here.]]> Aitch Trouser Press Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:26:03 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15004#msg-15004 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15004#msg-15004


Post Edited (07-18-08 11:07)]]> erikalbany Trouser Press Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:04:55 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15003#msg-15003 Re: 80's Van https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,15003#msg-15003


Post Edited (07-18-08 16:55)]]> erikalbany Trouser Press Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:01:42 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14998#msg-14998 Re: scream https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14998#msg-14998
Even ABC's Alphabet City works pretty much because of Thompson and Bernard Edwards.

So I think the rule could be amended to be the "If the backing band includes members of Chic, The Attractions, or The Egyptians (Morris and Andy!), then the song is improved" rule.

Damn, I cannot sleep lately, and that leaves me too much time to think.
David]]> blasmo Trouser Press Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:08:27 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14996#msg-14996 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14996#msg-14996
I used to be a professional percussionist, and played a lot of gigs in the OKC area, both as a rock drummer, jazz drummer and vibes player. The rock because I could bash and smash and read music (so I could sight read and replace anyone who needed to miss a gig, and the jazz because I was trained for it, though I was a better mallet player in that style. I say former percussionist because I gave it up to get a film degree, but that's a different story.

Truthfully, my brother is an amazing rock drummer, one of the best. If he hadn't gotten stuck here in Oklahoma, he might have had a chance. See The Candyguns website for more info. I am not exaggerating here.

John Badanjek -- Mitch Ryder's old drummer.
Any of Zappa's drummers, who always knew how to balance technique and power.

Stewart Copland always seems like he wants people to remember that he was talented, too. I admire his playing, but I remember that band Animal Logic he was a part of, with Stanley Clarke, and he always overplayed there. I can imagine that being stuck behind Mr. Sting might make you want to grab some attention, though.

I always thought INXS' drummer was much better than his band.

Colin Moulding was an underrated bass player, as was Terry Chambers ("pea-soup! pea-soup!") as a drummer.

Cheers.

Let me amend this. Stewart Copland live always seemed the need to show-off. After re-listening to some Police this morning, I remember that I had seen him play live 3-4 times when I came up with this opinion. Not that he's any less of a drummer for it, but sometimes he seemed to overwhelm the song. Great drummer, for sure.



Post Edited (07-18-08 09:02)]]> blasmo Trouser Press Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:06:29 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14995#msg-14995 80's Van https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14995#msg-14995 Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart.

Which is a shame, cause when you hear those songs live [[i]Grand Opera House[/i]] or re-cut with the Chieftans, or taken out of their albums and compiled beside better songs, you realize the writing was as good as ever.

What I do give Van alot of credit for is that, when you hear that gauzey, synth production in the context of, for example "When Heart Is Open" (from Common One,) it seems like he may have had a genuine interest in Ambient music at the time. As I've said before, Common One is the missing link between James Brown and Music For Airports.

[Eno producing Van- that I'd like to hear]]]> M. Johnson Trouser Press Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:05:52 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14994#msg-14994 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14994#msg-14994 diskojoe Trouser Press Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:41:39 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14993#msg-14993 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14993#msg-14993 erikalbany Trouser Press Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:00:29 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14991#msg-14991 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14991#msg-14991
Even the most worthless genre seems to produce at least one gem.]]> breno Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:48:55 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14990#msg-14990 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14990#msg-14990
If we had known what sort of horrible ugliness the whole hard-rock scene was going to produce a decade or so later, we might have embraced hair metal. A lot of those '80s bands, at their best, could bring some decent songs to the table. Actual songwriting was all but forgotten in '90s post-grunge hard-rock/heavy metal, in favor of pounding beats, a lot of enraged screaming, and TRULY unlistenable guitars.

> After nearly two decades now of not being bombarded with it anymore, it's much easier
> just to see it as a goof and to have a live and let live attitude towards it.

That's a big part of my point. Some time around 1996, the monstrous beast of hard-rock squatted down with much discomfort and took a gigantic shit, and expelled out Limp Bizkit, Korn, Godsmack, Disturbed, Static X, and a lot of other disgusting bands. I heard all their crappy music and thought, "Jeez, when did rock stop being fun?"



Post Edited (07-17-08 16:08)]]> Delvin Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:04:42 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14989#msg-14989 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14989#msg-14989 rhettlawrence Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:50:03 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14988#msg-14988 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14988#msg-14988
Quote

Can you suggest examples of '80s artists who employed guitar tones that are unlistenable today?

Any hair metal guitarist. Of course, they were unlistenable back then, too.

Except Def Leppard, Enuff Znuff & G&R. They all had their good points.

(Actually, my attitude towards hair metal in general has softened over the years. After nearly two decades now of not being bombarded with it anymore, it's much easier just to see it as a goof and to have a live and let live attitude towards it.)



Post Edited (07-17-08 12:12)]]> breno Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:08:53 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14987#msg-14987 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14987#msg-14987 > plastic aesthetic?

Probably more of the second factor than the first one. Ry Cooder, for example, is an artist whom few would accuse of being "tacky." He did very well with digital recording, as early as 1979.

"Unlistenable," of course, is subjective. Can you suggest examples of '80s artists who employed guitar tones that are unlistenable today?]]> Delvin Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:02:23 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14986#msg-14986 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14986#msg-14986 erikalbany Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:54:42 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14985#msg-14985 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14985#msg-14985
It's not as though my wife's going to come home and catch me shutting off the stereo abruptly, and say, "You were listening to Abba again, weren't you? Jeez, you didn't even close the drapes!"

]]> Delvin Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:45:54 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14978#msg-14978 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14978#msg-14978
Drummers :

Jerry Nolan - Not subtle but knew how to keep it moving - especially with the Heartbreakers.

Stephen Goulding (The Rumour)

Reni (Stone Roses)

Jody Stephens (Big Star) - Heck, for "Back of a Car" alone he'd deserve mention.

Bassists :

Bruce Thomas definitely.

Clint Conley - not only great in and of himself but how his playing weaves in and out of the best MOB tunes

Peter Hook in his JD days

]]> mats84 Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:53:19 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14977#msg-14977 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14977#msg-14977
One of my pet peeves, which I have gone off about here on several occasions, is how many mid-80s bands (Big Country, OMD, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, the Bangles) have gotten written off as guilty pleasures or MTV oddities or some such, when they were in fact damn good bands (for at least their first few albums, anyhow) and deserve to be remembered as such.

I will continue to rage at the heavens about this until things are put right.

And Bryzecki or however the hell you spell his last name was indeed a motherfucker. He and Tony Butler were a great rhythm section.



Post Edited (07-16-08 19:14)]]> breno Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:07:35 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14975#msg-14975 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,14975#msg-14975 rhettlawrence Trouser Press Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:32:55 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4057#msg-4057 Corporate policy, as dictated by shitbags https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4057#msg-4057


Post Edited (02-08-06 14:04)]]> Delvin Trouser Press Wed, 08 Feb 2006 22:03:32 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4055#msg-4055 Re: lori b's new thang https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4055#msg-4055 Wonder what the corporate policy is on this one?]]> madisdadi Trouser Press Wed, 08 Feb 2006 21:17:34 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4045#msg-4045 lori b's new thang https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4045#msg-4045 www.myspace.com]]]> satchmykels Trouser Press Wed, 08 Feb 2006 16:50:30 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4031#msg-4031 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4031#msg-4031
paul erickson and jeff mooridian!


john anglim's gotta make my drummer list, too!]]> satchmykels Trouser Press Tue, 07 Feb 2006 23:19:02 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4030#msg-4030 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4030#msg-4030 > goodun.............for either gender


aside from the man named mars, i've probably seen her play more than any other drummer...

only good thing i can say about her drumming, is that it's better than her singing. ;)




ooooh, but kat and michelle more than made up for miss b's shortcomings!



Post Edited (02-07-06 15:10)]]> satchmykels Trouser Press Tue, 07 Feb 2006 23:03:47 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4023#msg-4023 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4023#msg-4023 madisdadi Trouser Press Tue, 07 Feb 2006 19:01:31 +0000 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4022#msg-4022 Re: Topper vs. DJ Bonebrake https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3892,4022#msg-4022 >Bruce Foxton (The Jam)

I can't believe you mentioned these two guys and not Bruce Thomas from the Attractions. All three are responsible for some of the most brilliant, melodic pop bass lines ever recorded.

Great list, though, overall.]]> scratchie Trouser Press Tue, 07 Feb 2006 18:46:23 +0000