Best Drummer? Nah

I just received an email a few hours ago and it turned out to be a reply to some of my comments of a particular video in YouTube. Correction, make it a particular drummer. Simon Phillips. Well, I just felt compelled to air my grouses here after being bombarded by protests of Simon Phillips loyalists.

Just a little background over here on Simon Phillips. He is one of the world's most renowned and respected drummers, whose style not only reflects his technical gift but also his distinct musical sensibility. He was a sessionist drummer in his early years working with the likes of Mick Jagger, The Who, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Joe Satriani, Tears for Fears, Judas Priest, Roxy Music, Michael Schenker, Nik Kershaw, Phd., Al DiMeola, 801, Pete Townshend, Russ Ballard, Robert Palmer, Stanley Clarke, The Pretenders, Jon Anderson, Whitesnake and Dave Gilmour... to name but a few. He then joined Toto and became the successor to Jeff Porcaro. Currently, he is on a break from Toto to continue on his solo efforts.

I stole the highlights from Drummerworld. You can get his full background from there or his official website.

Anyway, Simon isn't the best drummer out there in my opinion. And this has garnered quite a lot of disagreements from fans of Simon. Well, that's your opinion and this is mine.

Simon ain't the best drummer 'coz he ain't got the grooves. He's very technical, employing a lot of drum rudiments. Nothing wrong with that as all grooves are based on rudiments. The thing is, Simon does not make it 'flavourable' or 'groovy' with the rudiments.

Perhaps some of you out there thinks that he's the best because of his quick flexes over the kit. No doubt over his speed. I've seen him live in a drum clinic and he is indeed fast and precised. I respect his speed. But speed is not all that makes a drummer the best.

Here is a video depicting some of his boring solos. Some may argue he is just displaying the warm tones and sounds of the Tama Bubinga toms and thus not displaying his grooves. A valid point, though I still think he could make it more 'interesting' since he is said to have grooves.



Nevertheless, there is a saying that goes: one man's rubbish is another man's treasure. And so, one man's grooves is another man's boredom. It's subjective. If you think Simon's playing style is groovy, so be it.

But my verdict is that Simon's style of playing is not groovy and not 'interesting'. Thus, he is not the best drummer.