Lead vocalists who were very good drummers

T

Texas

250+ Posts
I didn't say "drummers who were also singers" because although guys like Phil Collins and Don Henley are very talented I've not heard them do solo work.

Grand Funk Railroad, in their day, had their biggest hit "We're an American band". The lead vocalist on that song was drummer Don Brewer, who has one of my all-time favorite drum solos in this song. Buddy Rich he wasn't (although his solo in the studio version of this song was much faster, like Rich). Brewer was more about power and over-the-top-70s goofiness (sometimes he'd use his own nappy head as a drum). He sang "Shinin' on" and some of that groups other hits, but the lead guitarist was the main singer.

But...he's the best vocalist I've seen who was also a very good solo-quality drummer. Any other of those guys out there?
 
Texas,

You are seriously not heard Phil Collins solo work?

The obvious answer to your question IS Phil Collins.
 
My first thoughts would certainly be Phil Collins and Levon Helm.

But I'll mention Pete Rivera formerly of Rare Earth:

The Link

The Link

Blue collar, funky, ballsy R&B.

Here he is with his current band Celebrate:

The Link

I've always enjoyed his vocals.

smile.gif


I saw Don Brewer drumming for Bob Seger at the Erwin Center in the eighties.

He didn't sing, but his drumming was a highlight.....especially on Seger's "Hollywood Nights."
 
Seriously, I've never heard ('til now) Collins do solo work. (I've actually seen him do keyboard accompaniment in a one-man performance of "In the air tonight" during a Jerry Lewis MDA telethon a few years back.)

Thanks, all.

(I've also read a Henley interview where he said people always seemed to treat him as a curiosity whenever he'd be singing while simultaneously playing the drums...he said they'd just stare at him but he "didn't know why".)
 
Texas,

Next you are going to say that you never saw someone murdered while listening to Phil Collins.
 
You're not being clear when you refer to "solo work" -- most people think you mean working as a solo artist (a singer). I think you mean that you haven't seen them do drum solos.
 
Karen Carpenter was a drummer, too.

As for Stevie Wonder...it's the mark of an incredible artist when they do something (as in the case of that video ya'll linked to, thanks) which amazes you while simultaneously not surprising you.
 
Les Claypool.

Always heard he was originally the drummer for Primus, but the original bassist quit or something. So, he switched to the bass and Sizzle-Fry was born. Interviews with bandmates always said as good as he was on bass, he was a better drummer. Of course, this is all rumor and interview fodder from the late 80's / early 90's.
 
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