Drum solos are cool, right? But what about drum solos in songs. Today, I’ll be going through 14 of my favorite drum solos, fills, sections, in popular music.
Table of Contents
- 1) Moby Dick – Led Zeppelin (John Bonham)
- 2) Tom Sawyer – Rush (Neil Peart)
- 3) Ram Jam – Black Betty (Peter Charles)
- 4) In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins (Phil Collins)
- 5) YYZ – Rush (Neil Peart)
- 6) Hot For Teacher – Van Halen (Alex Van Halen)
- 7) Aja – Steely Dan (Steve Gadd)
- 8) 6:00 – Dream Theater (Mike Portnoy)
- 9) Wipe Out – The Surfaris (Ron Wilson)
- 10) Tribute To Johnny – The Smashing Pumpkins (Jimmy Chamberlin)
- 11) Fred – Tony Williams (Tony Williams)
- 12) Brother to Brother – Gino Vannelli (Mark Craney)
- 13) Eleven – Primus (Tim Alexander)
- 14) Take Five – Dave Brubeck (Joe Morello)
- Conclusion
1) Moby Dick – Led Zeppelin (John Bonham)
Who can deny John Henry Bonham? His drum solo in ‘Moby Dick’ is out of this world. While the album version of the solo is just around two full minutes, in concert, Zeppelin would extend this solo, giving John upwards of twenty minutes sometimes.
The climax of the solo features a pattern known as “Bonham Triplets.” This group of three notes became a hot lick many rock and jazz drummers utilize to this day.
Moby Dick is an instrumental off of Led Zeppelin II released October 22, 1969. Personel and composers of the song include John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and Jimmy Page.
2) Tom Sawyer – Rush (Neil Peart)
John Atashian / Alamy Stock Photo
A compositional drummer by nature, Neil Peart is not shy in feature sections. His drumming is technical, busy, and purposeful. The breakdown in ‘Tom Sawyer’ features a 7/8 section followed by a lavish drum solo that follows the chord changes of the intro.
Similar to Bonham’s triplets I just mentioned, this song utilizes an almost identical rudiment known as quads. The hands and feet perform a syncopation of thirty-second notes across the toms and kick drums.
Tom Sawyer’s drum feature is emulated to this day by thousands of drummers worldwide; popular rock-pop act Imagine Dragons once covered the song on an arena tour.
The song was included on the studio album “Moving Pictures;” released in 1981. Songwriters on the track include Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, Alex Lifeson, and Pye Dubois.
3) Ram Jam – Black Betty (Peter Charles)
For those unaware, the song ‘Black Betty’ was not written by the 70s band Ram Jam.
The song is a 20th-century African-American work song credited often to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, though early recordings are not him.
Ram Jam’s iteration became a smash hit. The instrumentation on the song is a bit spastic, yet organized strangely.
Drummer Peter Charles rips near the end of the song as the band cuts out. This tune is definitely worthy of the list.
4) In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins (Phil Collins)
I can hear the sound of gated drums as I type this roundup. While “In The Air Tonight“ may not have a full-fledged mad drum solo, it does feature one of the most iconic drum fills
5) YYZ – Rush (Neil Peart)
Neil’s back at it again with the solo section. This time it’s YYZ, an instrumental based off the rhythmic morse code of Toronto’s airport location identifier.
YYZ features Neil’s “signature ride pattern” as well as a rippin’ solo trade between Neil and Geddy followed by a guitar solo from Lifeson.
6) Hot For Teacher – Van Halen (Alex Van Halen)
It’s a common misconception that the beginning of Hot For Teacher features a motorcycle idling.
Alex Van Halen layered two double bass drum parts together. The reason the first bass drums sound different is that they are EQ’d differently.
No matter your opinion on Van Halen, you have to respect the groove and playing of Alex Van Halen on Hot For Teacher (and in general).
7) Aja – Steely Dan (Steve Gadd)
There’s no way I would forget the wonderful playing from Steve Gadd on the song ‘Aja’ by Steely Dan.
Throughout most of the song, Gadd’s playing is somewhat reserved. Around the three minute mark, things kick up a notch.
The solo begins at 4:41 alongside a sax who plays a melody while Steve plays intricate patterns between the band’s offbeat chord changes.
Near the end, the same theme returns with the offbeat chord changes. The ride groove the Steve plays as the song fades is out of this world.
8) 6:00 – Dream Theater (Mike Portnoy)
6:00 from Dream Theater is hugely technical. Mike Portnoy puts on an incredible performance. The initial drum fill and groove stand out as a notable entry to the list.
Mike played an incredible part in DT. While he may not be in the band anymore, his performances will always be cherished by drummers of tomorrow.
9) Wipe Out – The Surfaris (Ron Wilson)
If you’re a drummer and you didn’t learn to play Wipe Out, I feel bad for you.
While I can’t say I enjoy surf music from this era, I can tell you I annoyed everyone in middle school with this lick.
Wipe Out features one of the most iconic grooves to this day; the song still is used all over popular culture.
10) Tribute To Johnny – The Smashing Pumpkins (Jimmy Chamberlin)
I was browsing a forum when I heard about Tribute To Johnny. I do like The Smashing Pumpkins, but I wouldn’t consider myself a big fan.
The post suggested listening to the end of the bridge section around 1:53.
Jimmy takes an impressive four-bar solo that is very reminiscent of Hocus Pocus by Focus (another song we have on this list).
11) Fred – Tony Williams (Tony Williams)
Just take a minute and listen to Fred by Tony Williams. Tell me you’re not blown away immediately. I absolutely love the playing and creativity on this album.
12) Brother to Brother – Gino Vannelli (Mark Craney)
I owe it to my father, else I would have no clue about Gino Vannelli. Brother to Brother is an epic song featuring great melodies and impressive solo sections.
Mark Craney’s playing is spectacular throughout the song. The drums and bass begin trading off at 4:35 (similar to YYZ by Rush, seems Vannelli could have been an influence on them).
13) Eleven – Primus (Tim Alexander)
No, this isn’t the South Park theme song. It’s ‘Eleven’ by Primus. As the name suggests, the track is in 11/8.
Tim Alexander has some incredible grooves and fills throughout. His playing is so tight, and I can hear the Neil Peart influence.
14) Take Five – Dave Brubeck (Joe Morello)
Take Five by Dave Brubeck is a masterclass in elementary jazz drumming. This tune provided a significant foundation for my playing as I learned.
Conclusion
As we can see, there aren’t too many songs out there with full-on drum solos in it, but it’s nice that we have these.
Many of the drummers I included today are also listed in my best drummers of all time roundup, so give that a read if you’re interested.
What are some of your favorite songs with drum solos? I’d love to add your suggestions to the list. Please leave a comment down below and share the article on social media if you enjoyed reading it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Great list and, you just can’t leave the one classic rock drum solo of all time out from In-a-GADDA-Da-VIDA drummer Ron Bushy.
I have no issues whatsoever with your list. All great drum solos. But one was not mentioned, and rarely is when drum solos are brought up…Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer during the song, ‘Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2.’ Simply unbelievable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P19BpRijJD4
I also want to add that Roger Taylor from Queens drum solo in Keep Yourself Alive is amazing.
Please listen to Inna Garda D Vida!!! Ron Bushy of the Iron Butterfly delivers an amazing drum solo performance!!!
I believe the song by the Police is called “ Voices” , Stuart Copland’s effort there is simply breathtaking!
omar hakim on i burn for you, by sting
Did anybody ever see buddy rich because not to mention him is just stupid
Good list, but its incomplete. Gene Krupa- Benny Goodman vand ” Sing Sing Sing”
Soul sacrifice, Santana. Enough said natch…..
Steve Upton, wishbone ash, Handy
Hard to believe Gene Krupa not on hour top 10.
Ina Gada Davida. Followed Wipeout as the best known and most excellent drum solo in rock music . Then came Moby Dick . Top 3 all time
I guess Keith Moon didn’t make the list because it is a list of solos. A singular, isolated part of a song. Keith didn’t do solos. He did wild drum fills from start to finish on almost every song. Mainly on Tommy.
I can’t believe you leave out Peter Chris, on 100,000 years. Hands down the best drum solo. In my humble opinion
I would have thought Sandy Nelson would have appeared on the list
Keith Moon. The Who, ‘Won’t get Fooled Again…..
The list is a little lax. Buddy Rich greatest ever. In-a-ga-da-da-vit-a was the first platinum album before the was a platinum album. And then there was Tank by Carl Palmer from Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Really hard to make a list like this.
No list of great drum solos is complete (in fact, is sorely lacking) if it doesn’t include the one by Paul Hancox on Telling Your Fortune from Chicken Shack’s Imagination Lady (1971).
If you’re going to mention Tony Williams, how can you overlook his drum work (not quite a solo, but near enough) on Stanley Clarke’s Life Suite (1974)?
Other solos not to be missed are that of Simon Phillips on Crete Revisited from Mo Foster’s Bel Assis (1988), Jim Gordon’s on Derek & The Dominoes In Concert (1970), Pierre van der Linden’s on Anonymus II from Focus III and Steve Upton’s on Handy from Wishbone Ash’s debut album (1970).
And what about Buddy Rich, reckoned by some to be the best drummer ever?
No list of great drum solos is complete without https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xAa_iV3we4
Don’t forget either
Pierre Moerlen’s solo on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0tsWMzmr-c or the one by Bob Durham on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ske_l78Kgq0.
Without the Kiss 100,000 Years solo by Peter Criss makes this list incomplete. The play with Gene, Paul and Ace I’d what makes it the greatest drum solo of all time. So cool and heavy. Also, no mention of the greatest drummer of all time Mitch Mitchell. Totally uncool.
“But what about drum solos in songs.” That is the defining line here. There are plenty of live solos. We are talking on studio albums.
Actual drum solos. Not fills.
Fix The Error – Between The Buried And Me
Ectogenesis – Animals As Leaders
Orbital Elements II – Obscura
Even I haven’t listen to all songs on your list, growing up in 60s-70s, I kind of heard most of the “classic” rock songs and in my book In A Gadda Da Vida aka ‘In the Garden of Eden’ is # ONE; the drums solo is the most intelligent ever heard, an opening roads, the transition from the other instruments solos, the nerve and the combination of drumming and tempos (I am just a listener not a musician so excuse my wording) but to me it is a super coherent masterpiece of drumming.
Kenney Jones’ solo at the end of Rod Stewart’s “(I Know) I’m Losing You” is a personal favorite.
Wait, where is King Crimson’s Starless? And Jürgen Rosenthal’s drum solos on every song he has been part of through Scorpions and Eloy?
Ever heard of the Allman Brothers Band?
Keith Moon’s performance on “Who Are You” was incredible.