Bonham vs Moon: who was the better drummer

[Jim Ratto]

Keith Moon vs John Bonham?

[John Rayburn]

I'll give you three guesses as to what my answer is....

[javabug]

Oh Jim, you really want to see fists thrown, don't you???

Bonham is one of the most influential drummers in history, and for good reason.  I love Moon's loose, all over the place style.  Total rock and roll.

But I'm really more of a Mickey Dolenz fan myself.   

[Speed-Randy]

Neal Peart, hands down winner, break your sticks, all bow down to the great ONE

[Sarge]

John Bonham for me.  For me, there are a couple of others guys that deserve a mention here though.  One is Chris Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble band.  Another is Steve Jordan from the John Mayer Trio album (and lots of other sessions with different groups).  Lastly is Ringo Garza from Los Lonely Boys...if you haven't seen this young man play the drums, your missin' out big time (check out their Austin City Limits DVD).

[Rennsurfer]

Jim, why bother? We all know (and I'm not joking, for a change) that the best all-time drummer, ever, is John Henry "Bonzo" Bonham.

Period.

Few have come close, many have been influenced by him... but he remains the best.

Rest in peace, John. You'll always be missed.

[John Rayburn]

Thank God for you , Mark!

[JS]

While Bonham may have breen a "better" drummer from a technical point of view, I like Moon´s style better.
I really like Chad Smith a lot.

[ESH]

My vote's with Moby Dick.

 

[JustinCase]

Neal Peart, hands down winner, break your sticks, all bow down to the great ONE

So true. I´ve played drums for ten years when i was younger and Neil Peart was my drumming idol at the time. He has, in my point of view, the most creative and groundbreaking way of playing drums. Also want a give a vote for Vinnie Paul of Pantera. I´m not much of a fan of Pantera´s music, but i have always liked his technique.

[Jim Ratto]

I think for sheer power, nobody beats Bonham (try 4 Sticks or In My Time of Dying)

I think for sheer anarchy, in drumming, nobody beats Moon (Pictures of Lily)

Other favorites: Mitch Mitchell from JH Experience and Ginger Baker from Cream.... both very jazzy drummers

Billy Kreutzman and Mickey Hart, together.... upstoppable. Like a steam locomotive......

[John Rayburn]

I think for sheer power, nobody beats Bonham (try 4 Sticks or In My Time of Dying)

I think for sheer anarchy, in drumming, nobody beats Moon (Pictures of Lily)

Other favorites: Mitch Mitchell from JH Experience and Ginger Baker from Cream.... both very jazzy drummers

Billy Kreutzman and Mickey Hart, together.... upstoppable. Like a steam locomotive......

                                       Shear power is a great way of putting it. Jones used to hang back by Bonham so he could look him in the eyes . He said he could literally feel the air concussion off of the bass drum hitting him in the face.

[Jim Ratto]

didn't Bonham (during recording of stuido stuff) have to be put off in his own room becuase he played so viscously? 

[John Rayburn]

I've heard both Page and Plant say that he would sometimes be set up out in the hall.

[javabug]

Other favorites: Mitch Mitchell from JH Experience and Ginger Baker from Cream.... both very jazzy drummers

Last Feb. I got to see Buddy Miles from the Band of Gypsies play.  I'm not sure if it was the setting, or age, but it kinda sucked.   

Ever hear the Keith Moon story when he was at some party one time, someone approached him and introduced Moon to their girlfriend.  Moon's salutation was punching out the girlfriend.

Maybe UK urban legend.   

[Jim Ratto]

In a short bit from Jerry Garcia.... something about the Dead and The Who were playing same bill somewhere in U.S., and were residing at same hotel, with adjacent rooms on the same floor.... Jerry in one room and Moon next door, and they were on something like the 9th floor. Story goes something like Moon ran out of coke in his room, and needed his fix, and proceded to first, crabwalk along ledge OUTSIDE the hotel on 9th story and scratch at Garcia's window (knowing full well Jerry wouldn't be w/o his stash) and when that didn't work, then burrowed his way through the adjoining BRICK wall from his room and into Garcia's. 

[Harry/FDK]

BONZO... Steal one bass drum from him, and he could still play like they were double. He set rythms and grooves for the next 100 years.

MOON, Fill every fucking gap in a song, play like a madman, fill up 10th of seconds in a break without rythm thunders,  and still managed to groove into the rythm of whatever song they did.

But for me: Bonzo. I just like "open" stuff.
Ramble On.

[John Rayburn]

How'd he get through the brick?

[ian c]

I think for sheer anarchy, in drumming, nobody beats Moon (Pictures of Lily)

tre cool puts up a good show !!!

chester thompson is the best drummer i ever saw live ............
that baldy bloke put up a good show too when they paired up

[Jim Ratto]

BONZO... Steal one bass drum from him, and he could still play like they were double. He set rythms and grooves for the next 100 years.

MOON, Fill every fucking gap in a song, play like a madman, fill up 10th of seconds with a out of rythm thunders and still managed to groove into the rythm of whatever song they did.

But for me: Bonzo. I just like "open" stuff.
Ramble On.

that's right! Bonzo had that foot pedal technique down, he made it sound like double bass drum even with one foot! Rolling your heel and ball of your foot on quick-action pedal.... I practiced it for awhile, not easy to do.... listen to Good Times Bad Times for clear example.

Watching Moon play... like an insane little elf with the power of the universe coming out of his body, has to be the most atypical insane dumming of any rock and roll band... with Moon it's the fills and the TEXTURE.

another guy.... Stephen Perkins....  guy is so damn precise in his grooves and not short in the POWER area either.

[ian c]

who does that guy play with jim ??

[Jim Ratto]

who does that guy play with jim ??

he was drummer for Jane's Addiction and then later Porno for Pyros

[Jim Ratto]

How'd he get through the brick?

his hands.

[Harry/FDK]

I've heard both Page and Plant say that he would sometimes be set up out in the hall.

That's on DVD. Yes they did.

For you air drummers out there: Kashmir seems to be so monotone. Start checking his beats, breaks and the groove he puts into it.
Its just INSANE SIMPLICITY yet so complicated.

[ian c]

who does that guy play with jim ??

he was drummer for Jane's Addiction and then later Porno for Pyros

not listened to either of them for a while . will have a listen on the way to the restraunt ...

[Harry/FDK]

How'd he get through the brick?

his hands.

What else.

[ian c]

I think for sheer anarchy, in drumming, nobody beats Moon (Pictures of Lily)

tre cool puts up a good show !!!

chester thompson is the best drummer i ever saw live ............
that baldy bloke put up a good show too when they paired up

dug this up on youtube for ya !!!!!
if this doesnt get your foot tapping ... you must be dead
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sA3rJXV4R4E" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/sA3rJXV4R4E</a>

[ian c]

went to see my old band buddy last time i was in uk , to see if he wanted to buy his bass guitar back ....
hes now drumming and showeed me his electronic practice kit ...  i'm gonna get me one of those !!! it was only about 300 quid !!

looked at em in guitar centre last time i was there and it was about 3000 dollars 

gonna go see how much they can get me a cheap set for next week ...

[John Rayburn]

For years I had always thought Kashmir was the song that summed up the band. Recently I heard Plant in an interview say the same thing. He said Page and Bonham got together and came up with the basic song, Jones then stepped in and did his usual arranging and then Plant added his lyrics. But he said it wouldn't have worked without Bonham. He'd never seen anyone with both the light finesse and the shear power as that. He noted that when he started to hit hard, the force would shock you.

[Harry/FDK]

For years I had always thought Kashmir was the song that summed up the band. Recently I heard Plant in an interview say the same thing. He said Page and Bonham got together and came up with the basic song, Jones then stepped in and did his usual arranging and then Plant added his lyrics. But he said it wouldn't have worked without Bonham. He'd never seen anyone with both the light finesse and the shear power as that. He noted that when he started to hit hard, the force would shock you.

AMEN.