Ringor Starr or Charlie Watts

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Let's remember, neither Ringo or Charlie "lucked" into their positions in these bands.... Rather, they were THE BEST drummers in town and The Beatles/Stones got lucky when they threw in with them. The Stones used to sit around moaning that they'd be damn good if they could only get that Charlie Watts cat from Alexis Corner's band. In fact, they basically made it their mission to get him.

Ringo is my fave because he's creative. I think he even blows away Bonham in that Bonham was great, yes, but basically stuck with the same old 4x4 sh*t that got old. Albeit, he did it with amazing power and feel. But Ringo just played more creative part and was more of an innovator.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

My personal favorite drummer is neither Ringo nor Charlie but Nick Mason.

Nice to see someone giving Nick props!!!!

I could go on and on about how awesome he is, but I'll let Dave to it for me:

@ 1:30:00

http://youtu.be/MtS5TDrTK2U

[Sheriff John Stone]

Just for the hell of it I will mention a few of my favorite "band" drummers.... Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster  Cult....

Wow! There's a name you don't see mentioned often, but, you're right. Al Bouchard did some great work with BOC.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Or Mick Avory! He was more skilled I think than either Charlie or Ringo.

[I. Spaceman]

I'll take both, and Bobby Elliott.

And also, Heywood Floyd is a moron.

[Aum Bop Diddit]

Just for the hell of it I will mention a few of my favorite "band" drummers.... Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster  Cult....

Wow! There's a name you don't see mentioned often, but, you're right. Al Bouchard did some great work with BOC.

I am a huge BOC fan and have seen them live in recent years -- it's a good band and Buck is still amazing but they so miss Albert on the tubs.  It really boils down to that "swing" thing -- as much as it seems contradictory in a hard rock band!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Yeah, I grabbed that later double live album of theirs (1981, I think) and couldn't quite figure out what was wrong until I examined the cover and found that Albert wasn't there for most of it...

[Justin]

I'll take both

I was expecting (hoping) to see more of THIS type of a response to this thread!

[Sheriff John Stone]

Just for the hell of it I will mention a few of my favorite "band" drummers.... Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster  Cult....

Wow! There's a name you don't see mentioned often, but, you're right. Al Bouchard did some great work with BOC.

I am a huge BOC fan and have seen them live in recent years -- it's a good band and Buck is still amazing but they so miss Albert on the tubs.  It really boils down to that "swing" thing -- as much as it seems contradictory in a hard rock band!

I'm curious why Al Bouchard - and his brother, Joe - left BOC many years ago. Were they just tired of it, or was there a disagreement?

[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.

viewed through the lens of hindsight: both

Too young 5 years ago to enjoy two conflicting styles.
My whole fragile worldview would havefallen apart! 

[Mike's Beard]

Or Mick Avory! He was more skilled I think than either Charlie or Ringo.

Not many people know that Mick was in the Stones before Charlie joined.

[Aum Bop Diddit]

Just for the hell of it I will mention a few of my favorite "band" drummers.... Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster  Cult....

Wow! There's a name you don't see mentioned often, but, you're right. Al Bouchard did some great work with BOC.

I am a huge BOC fan and have seen them live in recent years -- it's a good band and Buck is still amazing but they so miss Albert on the tubs.  It really boils down to that "swing" thing -- as much as it seems contradictory in a hard rock band!

I'm curious why Al Bouchard - and his brother, Joe - left BOC many years ago. Were they just tired of it, or was there a disagreement?

Albert was the first to go -- he was kicked out.  Long story, but ego and erratic behavior at the center.  Too bad too, because he contributed a LOT to those early classic LPs in terms of writing and arranging.  Joe left several years later when the ship basically had sunk in terms of current commercial appeal, though there may have been some friction.  Allen Lanier only split fairly recently, for health reasons I believe.

[Aum Bop Diddit]

Or Mick Avory! He was more skilled I think than either Charlie or Ringo.

Not many people know that Mick was in the Stones before Charlie joined.

Not exactly -- he rehearsed with them a few times I think.  I like Avory but he doesn't seem to have a "style" the same way as Charlie and Ringo.

[Lonely Summer]

Or Mick Avory! He was more skilled I think than either Charlie or Ringo.

Yeah, right on! It's about time someone noticed Mick's playing. Think of all the different styles of songs the Davies brothers wrote, and Mick could play the perfect parts for all of them.

[Gertie J.]

without reading the whole discussion, i'll say no one is close to Art Blakey. And this comes from one who's of negative opinion about jazz overall.

[Spiritinthesky]

Tough one that, both are great drummers, but I would go Ringo, just because he was a Beatle!

[rn57]

Coming in pretty late on this one but I'd say Charlie. He is more versatile - though no denying Ringo has far more stage personality. Also, it's worth keeping in mind that Ringo was the first to threaten to quit the Beatles, and, it appears, decided to stay partly because he realized that it wouldn't be that hard to replace him. After all, it had happened once before (albeit momentarily and due to Ringo's tonsils acting up) with Jimmy Nicol. 

But Charlie leaving the band, either for the big Birdland in the sky or just retiring, could mean the end of the Stones.  He's just the guy who ties it all together. He's always known when to hold back and let two guitars do their thing, and when to come charging in.  He's indispensable.

[drbeachboy]

I thought Ringo was a good drummer up through Revolver. After that I really didn't care for it much. Over his entire career Charlie was more consistent in his style, so he gets my vote.

[Gertie J.]

Ringo. I hate Stones.

[halblaineisgood]

Ringo. I hate Stones.

What Rolling Stones song really grinds yer gears?

I'm not out to convince you that they're good or something, I m just curious. Name a few.

[Shady]

Ringo. I hate Stones.

Even "Start me up"?

That can't be

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Speaking of Start Me Up:

Charlie does this awesome, almost one handed drum fill going from the snare and around the toms near the end of the song. It's a moment that always makes me smile....

[Justin]

And to think, "Start Me Up" was originally written and recorded (in about 60 takes) as a reggae song....

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

And isn't the released version the first and only take in 4x4?

[bluesno1fann]

Gotta be Charlie.

Keith himself said that if something happens to Charlie, the Stones are finished.

Plus he and Bill kept the Stones rolling, they weren't called the world's greatest rhythm section for no reason!