With the discussion of the greatest guitarist of all time, I started to think about other musicians that don't play guitar, and was wondering other peoples' ideas on who their favorites/all time greats were.

As for bassist, I think that Les Claypool of Primus and Victor Wooten are a couple of the best of all time. Others I really like are Geddy Lee of Rush and Cliff Burton, the bassist of Metallica's first three albums. He was killed when their tour bus crashed in Sweden in 1986.

He was a phenomenal bassist, exemplified in "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth," and "Orion."

My favorite drummers ever include Neil Peart of Rush, Danny Carey of Tool, and Brann Dailor of Mastodon.

Brann Dailor is probably my favorite overall, where he plays incredibly complex tempos and plays these fills that are absolutely insane. He brings a jazz fusion touch to an extreme metal band and helps make them one of the most unique groups out there today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqayQGHHMhg -- Footage of Brann

Vocalists:
My favorite clean vocalists are Freddie Mercury (best ever), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden era, he's kind of a weenie now), Neil Fallon of Clutch, Ronnie James Dio, and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden.

Harsh vocalists I love are Randy Blythe of Lamb of God and Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth.

What are your favorite musicians overall? Any instrument!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KDubbsRunsIt,

Bass has to be James Jamerson, the guy who made all the old motown basslines. Drums is, for me at least, Carter Beauford of Dave Matthews Band, followed closely by Neil Peart. They made me want to be a drummer. Vocalist has to be the Lizard King himself, Jim Morrison.

EDIT: How could I forget Marvin Gaye?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SirTophamHatt,

Vocals is Sam Cooke, no contest at all for that one.

Bass - I'd give to Victor Wooten

Drums - Carter Beauford and Stewart Copeland

All around instrumentalest is unquestionably Mark O'Connor.

quote:

Originally posted by KDubbsRunsIt:
Neil Fallon of Clutch,

What are your favorite musicians overall? Any instrument!

First off, mad props on the Clutch. The most underrated band of the last two decades. Neil is not only a great vocalist, his lyrics rival anyone's. "I have plans for the future against the futuristic clans, move out west and buy some desert land, or maybe up North just passed Alaska. You know nothing of this if they ask ya."

And that brings me to the greatest drummer: JP of Clutch. Hands down, the dude can jam. From instrumental jazz grooves to seriously hard rock.

Good call on Les and Vic Wooten, probably my favorite two. Honorable mention to Tim C of Rage/Audioslave just for his tone and knowing his "role" in the band. The dude covers the bottom with no need for a rhythm guitarist. Despite Morello's genius, the pit always sways to Tim's side.

Old school drummers, John Bonham and Bill Bruford, and Zappa always had good drummers(Bozio, Dunbar).
Bass, I agree with the ones mentioned already plus Bootsy Collins, Paul McCartney, and Stanley Clark.
I agree Freddy Mercury probably had one of the best voices, but I always enjoyed Lennon and McCartney together.
Keyboard Keith Emerson did some pretty cool stuff, especially live.
Little Feat has an excellent live album with amazing performances on all instruments including the Tower of Power horns.

I'll give punk its voice in this thread.

Matt Freeman (Rancid) rocks a pretty mean Bass.

Josh Freese (Vandals) is good on the drums.

El Hefe (NOFX) is easily one of the better guitarists out there.

and for kicks: Greg Attonito (Bouncing Souls) on vocals.

quote:

Originally posted by KDubbsRunsIt:
Neil Fallon of Clutch,

As Don said, good call with the clutch. Easily one of my favorite bands and massively underrated in every possible way.

quote:

and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden.

I need more cowbell!! haha, had to do it

Danny Carey (TOOL)
Justin Chancellor (TOOL)

quote:

Originally posted by weinerdog:
Little Feat has an excellent live album with amazing performances on all instruments including the Tower of Power horns.

Yes, great album. "Waiting for Columbus" is the name of it.

John Bonham has always been my favorite drummer. Jimmy Paige was asked why they never replaced him so they could continue on with Lead Zep. He said " We can't find a drummer that even comes close to John. "

Chris Squire is unmatched on bass IMO?

let's broaden our horizon when it comes to drumming and see what you all think about Jim Kilpatrick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYT77qnPqcI&feature=related

^^^^Definitely the best drummer I've ever heard wearing a kilt. But, seriously he must have drove his parents crazy.

quote:

Chris Squire is unmatched on bass IMO?

When I was young I never really realized basses had different tones until someone explained to me that he had a Rickenbacker. He could be very subtle at times and then bombastic as he11. Vital part of the Yes sound.

To be honest John Bonham is my all time favorite drummer. I've got the dvd of their's and it's bizarre to see the old black and white videos. It doesn't appear that his sticks are that thick back then, but they sound like logs.

So he gets the kilt wearing drummer of the year award. The coveted plaid drumstick award.

quote:

Definitely the best drummer I've ever heard wearing a kilt.

By the way do you normaly wear a kilt when listening to drummers.

quote:

Originally posted by revkev34:

quote:

Definitely the best drummer I've ever heard wearing a kilt.

By the way do you normaly wear a kilt when listening to drummers.

and nothing else I actually tried to think of a different way to state that, but of course failed. I should have said, "The best kilt wearing drummer I've ever heard". Definitely.

Vocals: Chris Cornell (when vocal cords arent snapped in half)

Bass: Flea, Red Hot Chillie Peppers (the man has a hole in is thumb an inch deep!) a close second would be P-Nut via 311, that dude can slap that thang around like no other.

Drums: Gotta give it to The Thunder God Himself, Rick Allen of the Def Leppard fame.
(come on, the dude only "gots" one arm!)

Drums, I like Brain from the band Praxis. Brain also plays with Buckethead and Les Claypool alot. Speaking of Claypool, I like his bass playing. Always was a fan of John Henry Bonham on the drums. Check out the link below. See Brain banging away on the skins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61k041I4aEo&feature=related

Hands down the best drummer is Buddy Rich. If you haven't heard him, look him up on youtube. I also really like Neil Peart, Nicholas Barker, and Hellhammer.

Best vocalist...Smokey Robinson, Phil and Don Everly, David Crosby

Best Drummers... Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the DEAD. At least they're the most creative.

As you can see I'm old school.

quote:

Originally posted by jswartz:
Best vocalist...Smokey Robinson, Phil and Don Everly, David Crosby

Best Drummers... Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the DEAD. At least they're the most creative.

As you can see I'm old school.

You really dont see anymore bands with two drummers. I always thought that it was really cool. The Allman Bros. had two, Didnt the Dead as well? I think they did.

quote:

Originally posted by brownsearthrule:

quote:

Originally posted by jswartz:
Best vocalist...Smokey Robinson, Phil and Don Everly, David Crosby

Best Drummers... Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the DEAD. At least they're the most creative.

As you can see I'm old school.

You really dont see anymore bands with two drummers. I always thought that it was really cool. The Allman Bros. had two, Didnt the Dead as well? I think they did.

Your right about the Allman Bros. and the Dead, although there was stretch in the early '70s that Mickey Hart didn't drum with them.

If you've ever been to a Dead and/or Allman Bros. show than you'd realize why 2 drummers complimented their "big full" sound.

Also during the middle of each Dead show the drummers did a 20 minute solo. They had about a zillion different percussion instruments and would often just "wow" the crowd with the way they used them.

quote:

Originally posted by brownsearthrule:

quote:

Originally posted by jswartz:
Best vocalist...Smokey Robinson, Phil and Don Everly, David Crosby

Best Drummers... Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the DEAD. At least they're the most creative.

As you can see I'm old school.

You really dont see anymore bands with two drummers. I always thought that it was really cool. The Allman Bros. had two, Didnt the Dead as well? I think they did.

On their past two albums, The Melvins have used 2 drummers, to really great results. Lots of fun rhythms that border on cacophony.