Ringor Starr or Charlie Watts

[Daniel S.]

First, I think Ringo Starr is a great drummer, one of the best in rock music. Yet he never gets any respect and I think its jealousy. He happened to luck into the most succesful rock band in history and people seem to resent it. Most bands got together by chance yet there is this fixation on how Pete Best got kicked out and Ringo got his spot. In a way Ringo did win the lottery, but he is a superior drummer and worthy of the spot. Which brings me to the Rolling Stones, considered the Beatles main rival, yet this is the band with a truly mediocre drummer and no one ever gives Charlie Watts any sh*t. I was just listening to Aftermath and noticed how bad Charlie Watts' drumming is. Not terrible but very bland. By the way I love Aftermath, great record. Bill Wyman's bass playing really is superb.

[halblaineisgood]

Ringo! Why wouldn't a world class band have a world class drummer......The guy grooves like a mofo on wheels......I think as far as rock drummers goes ringo is only second to hal.

[MBE]

Hmm I like Charlie and Ringo fairly even musically but gotta give Ringo the edge on personality. Charlie has the worst stage presence of any drummer I ever saw. Ringo is fun to watch.

[matt-zeus]

There's a great clip of Charlie when he's watching Mick cavorting around singing 'Silver Train' off 'The old grey whistle test', it basically says 'What a fool!' and its priceless!
I like Charlies drumming around that early 70s time, and I like the sound of the drums also (Think 'Tumbling Dice'), but since the late 70s his drum sound has been too clean and a bit boring, and he is partly responsible for the Stones playing all their songs too fast when they play live, which gets rid of the groove which is mostly whats good about the Stones.
I like Ringos drumming, its quite idiosyncratic, but I find it irritating when other groups ape the same trademark Ringo fills again and again - eg Oasis.

[pixletwin]

Ringo. hands down. Charlie was a jazz guy and played really well. But when I hear his drumming I hear nothing that says (Wow... Now that is a Charlie Watts riff"... Ringo on the other hand had such a distinctive ringo-ness that I have to choose him. Charlie's the better technically. But Ringo was a more interesting drummer.

[richardsnow]

Gimme Ringo anyday.

It really grates on me that Ringo gets grief from thick people saying he's crap and yet Charlie gets praise because .....oh yeh he plays jazz so he must be good.

I've heard Charlie on his jazz records play great but it's as if he can't be bothered on some Stones records.  His drumming on "I'm Free" is plain out of time in places, I had to rewind the CD when I first heard it to check it didn't jump.

Like what he does on "My obsession " though.

Also gotta respect the fella for that story about him flooring Jagger. Not sure if it's true as I'm not a Stones brain. But I heard Mick said something like "where's my Drummer" and Charlie popping him one and saying "I'm not your drummer, you're my singer"    Is that a true tale or Stones legend?

Anyway back OT, I'd have Ringo in my band anyday.  Love his funny fills.

[the captain]

Broken record here, but Ringo. I think Charlie Watts is a good drummer, but he doesn't quite do it for me. And because I love pop music, Ringo (to me) is the best rock-pop drummer in history. Not overbearing, just right there where you need him, spot on.

There was a time when, mostly just because when you're a certain age it's fun to act superior, I would knock Ringo (having heard others do it), and say that he was just lucky to be there, etc. But a few of my drummer-friends in college--not to mention professors--put me in my place quite quickly and clearly. It was around then that I learned this little thing called TASTE, and that all musicians didn't have to play everything they know on every song... Ringo is the most tasteful pop/rock drummer.

[MBE]

That Silver Train clip is really funny. Watch TAMI show as Brian starts mocking Mick's chicken like head bobbing.

[shelter]

Yet he never gets any respect and I think its jealousy.

He was one of the best rock drummers of his time, but to most people he will always be the only Beatle that couldn't really sing or write songs. That's the downside of being in such an extremely talented band.

[Daniel S.]

That Silver Train clip is really funny. Watch TAMI show as Brian starts mocking Mick's chicken like head bobbing.

Do you have the link to this clip? Couldn't find it. 

[MBE]

It's during Off The Hook. Brian smirks while doing it.

[Daniel S.]

 

[matt-zeus]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uVRh76G5yLM

Check out Charlie around 2.46

Micks dancing is great in this!

[1-1-wonderful]

I vote Keith Moon 

[pixletwin]

Really Steven Drozd from the Flaming Lips outshines them all so its a moot point. 

[Beach Boy]

Ringo of course. He played with the best group ever and I don't mean the Beatles. 

[pixletwin]

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes? 

[Beach Boy]

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes? 

 

[donald]

I like em both but Ringo has the spice and taste.

I once read something, by one of the Beatles I think, where it said that Ringo varied the beat and technique for nearly every song in the catalogue.  I started listening for the variety and I found that there was indeed a lot of variety.

I think of songs like Come Together, She Loves You, The Night Before, Good Morning, and they all have some nuance.

Get off my cloud!

[pixletwin]

Can anyone show me a more innovative drum recording than what Ringo Starr did in Strawberry Fields? Absolutely phenomenal drumming.

[Daniel S.]

I agree that Ringo's drumming was outstanding on that song, but didn't Paul also play drums on SFF? I heard one of the guys from the Fab Feaux being interviewed on the radio and he said near the end of the song Paul assisted Ringo, not because Ringo wasn't doing a good job but because he only has two hands and they wanted to add an extra beat. Never read any books about the Beatles or the sessions so I don't really know.

[donald]

Interesting point Heywood.

People talk about overdubs and second guitarists and layering but you seldom hear about dubbing in extra drums or a second percussion being used.

Niow that I think about it, I'll bet it happened all of the time.

[Mahalo]

  Charlie Watts

[Alex]

Hey, aren't we forgetting our very own Dennis Wilson?

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[Daniel S.]

He sucks.