Who doesn’t love a wild rock drum solo? Who could forget killer solos like Ginger Baker’s breakdown in “Toad” or John Bonham’s slam-fest in “Moby Dick”? That being said, the following three famous drummers deserve way more credit for their talents, and they have a few underrated drum solos to back up that claim. Let’s take a look!
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “Rope” by Foo Fighters (Taylor Hawkins)
Taylor Hawkins was one hell of a drummer. We lost a truly great musician when he passed in 2022. At the very least, we have a hefty catalogue of work to enjoy for decades to come. And one standout drum track from Hawkins has to be his contribution to the 2011 song “Rope” from Foo Fighters’ seventh album Wasting Light.
The drumming on this song isn’t particularly complex, but the energy is there. Honestly, Hawkins was the kind of drummer who could pack the mildest classic composition with incredible energy. The cowbells really add to the vibe, and it’s overall a wild, explosive drum solo that rivals the greats.
2. “Painkiller” by Judas Priest (Scott Travis)
“Painkiller” is the title track from Judas Priest’s killer 1990 album, the first to feature the drum stylings of Scott Travis. It’s a more speed metal-leaning release from the heavy metal band, and it’s quite loved by fans to this day.
On the song “Painkiller”, Travis proves that he belongs in Judas Priest. This has to be one of the best drum solos ever recorded in the history of metal, though that opinion would likely be controversial to hardcore metal fans. It’s super loud, super aggressive, and a powerful example of Travis’ talents.
3. “Eleven” by Primus (Tim Alexander)
This is definitely one of the most underrated drum solos on this list. I don’t get it; Primus rarely gets much love in conversations about instrumentation and musical talents in rock music. Perhaps this funk metal outfit is just too weird for the mainstream.
Regardless, on the 1991 song “Eleven” from Sailing The Seas Of Cheese, Tim Alexander delivers one of his finest drum solos. Those smashing drums fit the unique energy of the song (and the whole of the album) quite beautifully.
Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images
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