surfbeatslbc wrote:

It's all opinion, of course, but to me it's Dusty, then everyone else.

Agree with most mentioned, though some I haven't heard much of (but will soon!) and was going to mention Dane Carter as well but Brian beat me to it. Ted P. is the drummer I most aspire to be. I love what Dusty does, but I know I'll never play like that. Maybe a bad analogy, but to me Ted is to Dusty like Ringo is to Bonham. Maybe Jovanna is the Ginger Baker of the group, and Tim F is the Buddy Rich (but much nicer to his bandmates, I hope), LOL. Love hearing them all.

My top 5:
Dusty W.
Ted P.
Tim F.
Jovanna
Dane C.

I love watching Tim play (lefty on a right handed kit):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgFE1vJOLh8

Wow! I'll take the Ringo analogy any day, I love Ringo, always have, though my fave is Moonie:). Really, as I prepare to leave for Italy, I am FLOORED to even be mentioned in the same sentence as Dusty and all of the other greats that play a heck of a lot more than I do. Being mentioned at all, not to mention a couple times is getting me extra pumped for Surfer Joe and our tour! And I have to say, I couldn't do it without the SP rhythm section. My vote for best surf bass player goes to John Pilgrim!
Here are a couple more I need to mention that haven't been mentioned yet:
Damien Llanes/Sir Finks (a natural born surf drummer)
Earl Palmer
Dennis Wilson (he hit harder than Ringo or anyone else pre-65)
Skip Hand PJ & The Galaxies/PJ & Artie (he wins for best drummer name)
Jeff Utterback!
Thanks!

http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com

Last edited: Jun 16, 2015 10:25:44

true, I was thinking of both of them.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Not a fan of "who's best" because there's so many great drummers, all with their unique style. But drummers often don't get the respect they deserve in a guitar driven genre like surf, So here's 5 of my faves.

Hal Blaine - The Superstocks, The T-Bones, Hal Blaine and the Young Cougars and so many more! A legend. 'Nuff said!
Ron Wilson - The Surfaris! Tribal surf drumming at it's untouchable best.
Mel Taylor - The Ventures! Some say they are instro not surf but they're plenty surf to me. His drumming is downright inspiring!
Tim Fitzpatrick - The Lively Ones have some of the best drum recordings from the 60's bands, hands down.
Ted Pilgrim - Satan's Pilgrims! I dig his straightforward four on the floor approach! Groovy in-the-pocket drummer.

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

Jimmy Lester
Jason Smay
Mel Taylor

Emilien03 wrote:

I'm more in the jazzy side combined with good energy and groove, not that much rocking energy.

Richard Delvy
Tim Fitzpatrick
Lorenzo Valdambrini
Ted Pilgrim

Actually the list goes on, but this is a good question Ralf!
Are you unhappy with drummers?

Hal Blaine is just a monster!

I am exactly on your side with the jazzyside combined with the right energy!
I am unhappy with most drummers... we tested a lot of drummers last year to find a good new one. Most drummers can NOT play Surf! You need a good technique, a good feeling for dynamics!!!! and so on...
Playing in an instrumental band it is something complete different to regular rock or something...
We found a great new drummer. He is called Perzi.
He has got experiences in different 60s style beat bands and with his old band "Plan 9", a well known band in Germany in the 90s. He learned the so called Astronauts beat in one week! He is playing Caravan with a COOL jazzy feeling! If needed he can play FAST! And I have learned that surf is fast music mostly. It makes really fun to play with him!!!

Best drummers in Surf...
Yes, of course there are a lot of fantastic musicians.
Dusty Watson: A master in his own style. He can play punk style if needed and even moody slow stuff!
Mel Taylor: When you watch the old Ventures in Japan videos and see him playing Wipe Out!!!! This is so wonderful! You can see AND hear the fun in playing!
Other cool drummers for me: Ted Pilgrim (Yes! Of course! SP are PURE Surf. Ted also mentioned somewhere that Mel Taylor is a big hero for him.)
Baron Shivers: Yes! I like his style a lot! Straight forward power player, also pure fun surf style!
The drummer from the Boss Martians!!!!!!!!
The drummer girl from Surf Coasters!!!

Ah, yes there are a lot more... but those mentioned are the first I think when I think about good drummers in surf.

Twang cheers!

Ralf Kilauea

www.kilaueas.de

https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien

Joan from Els A-Phonics tells me you gotta see Eugeni in action this Summer! Looking forward to see the Spanish drummer in California.

When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.

"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
"The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com
"Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb

simoncoil wrote:

I don't think you're talking about the same band. I have known the guys from Plan9 (the Berlin surfband) for years and they only had two drummers through all the time. And I wouldn't call them "well known" either...

That being said, I am really looking forward to see the new Kilaueas line up!

Ah, yes yes!!! I meant the band Plan B! Not Plan 9...

Here you can see our new drummer in a video from 1991! 1991!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t0qIlWMk_8
Haha!

Twang cheers!

Ralf Kilauea

www.kilaueas.de

https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien

Beyond what everyone said, and I agree with Ralf's choices...I present to you this guy, no idea who he was, but I want to play with this style of drummer:
https://soundcloud.com/ran-mosessco/the-gallstones-kiss-me-quick/s-xBGak

Ran

The Scimitars

Last edited: Jun 19, 2015 05:35:48

That's one of the examples I mentioned 9 years ago in the Surf drumming thread...only took this long to rip it and upload it
The song is a simple rip-off of Mr. Eliminator, but the drums are really my favorite style of surf drumming.
Ran

The Scimitars

I always stay away from phrases like "best" or "most", especially when describing musicians, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my former band mate Tom Hoey. Sure he/we don't play strict Surf as defined by many here but as an Instro/Surf drummer his Hal Blaine like abilities to play many styles is hard to beat.
The day we recorded this I surely thought the world of his playing.
A talented Cat

https://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic/song/17619194-numb-one

Cheers,
Jeff

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic