LEVON HELM
When I think of singing drummers, Levon Helm is always top of mind. He was the driving back beat of The Band from their first formation in 1967, after playing in Ronnie Hawkins' band in Toronto with Robbie Robertson and Rick Danko. Helm stayed with The Band until their final performance on November 25, 1976, a performance made famous by Martin Scorsese's film The Last Waltz. The Band reunited in 1983 without Robertson to do some touring, resulting in a few more albums and another break-up in 1999. Although The Band used many members as lead vocals on their albums, it was always easy to tell which songs were sung by Levon Helm, his country twang always making the listener feel at ease. His more famous songs as lead singer include "The Weight" (with Danko), "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Up On Cripple Creek" and "Mystery Train". Helm passed away on April 19, 2012 from throat cancer at the age of 71.
PHIL COLLINS
When I was around 12 years old, listening to AM radio in my room, this band called Genesis was all over the airwaves. The songs "Mama", "That's All" and "Illegal Alien" seemed to be on constant rotation, and I liked them all. I thought to myself "I really like this new band called Genesis!". It wasn't too long after wards that I learned Genesis had been around for a few years prior to those songs. I also learned that Phil Collins, the lead singer, was also the drummer of the band. My mind was blown! I believe this was my first introduction to a singing drummer, first that I remember anyway. Now, as an adult, I can honestly say Phil Collins is not the best drummer, nor is he the best singer, but he definitely could play some hit songs when he wanted to! When he joined Genesis in 1970, he largely played drums and percussion supplying backing vocals until 1975. That's when lead singer Peter Gabriel left the band. After auditioning hundreds of wannabe rock stars, Genesis decided to let Collins take lead vocals on their 1976 album A Trick Of The Tail. Collins' list of accomplishments after that album are immense, either recording with Genesis or as a solo artist. Tragically, in 2009, Phil Collins let it be known to the world that he could no longer play the drums because of problems with his neck (dislocated vertebrae) and his hands (nerve problems). His most recent tour in 2018 had him singing his hits from a chair on stage while a band played behind him.
ROGER TAYLOR
When one thinks of songs being sung in the band called Queen, usually the name Freddie Mercury pops up. And why wouldn't it?!?! Mercury was perhaps one of the best rock voices we will ever know. But what many don't realize is that the drummer of the band, Roger Taylor, provided most of those fantastic harmonies. He also lent his voice as the lead singer to a few Queen songs over the years, my favourite being "I'm In Love With My Car" from the album A Night At The Opera. In addition to his work with Queen (which started in 1970 and still goes on today) Taylor has released 5 solo albums where he plays a whole myriad of instruments and sings lead vocals. He also had a side band while still recording with Queen called The Cross that released 3 albums of their own from 1987 to 1993.
GIL MOORE
He's the drummer and vocalist in my second favourite power trio from Toronto, Triumph. (Please don't ask who my favourite power trio from Toronto is). The thing about Gil Moore is that he was and is a terrific drummer. To add to that talent, he can sing!! Most of Triumph's more radio-friendly, successful songs have guitarist Rik Emmett as the lead singer, but Moore can be heard on quite a few of their songs, including the one that may have broken the band into the mainstream, Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way" in 1977. He also sang lead on other hard rockers like "Rock And Roll Machine", "Young Enough To Cry", "Allied Forces" and "I Can Survive". Moore has been a member of Triumph since 1975, until their break-up in 1993, and reunion in 2008. In 1978, Moore founded Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada's largest recording studio. Acts such as Drake, Guns N Roses and Aerosmith have recorded there over the years.
DON HENLEY
Similar to Phil Collins with Genesis, when I first heard of Don Henley I had no idea that he used to be the drummer for the Eagles. I knew he was in the band, and sang some songs for them, but drummer??? No way. Along with writing almost all of the Eagles' songs, along with Glenn Frey, he also lent his voice to a bunch of their biggest hits; "Witchy Woman", One Of These Nights", "Life In The Fast Lane", "Desperado" and some song called "Hotel California". It has been said that Henley may not have been the best or most technical drummer the rock world has ever known, but, again, all those moving parts, keeping the beat AND singing some of the most beloved songs in rock history is pretty damned impressive to me. When Henley went solo he recruited a whole group of session artists, but he would still play drums on a few tracks like "All She Wants To Do Is Dance", "The End Of The Innocence" and "The Last Worthless Evening" to name a few. He still plays with the Eagles on tour but hasn't released a solo album since 2015.
PETER CRISS
The original Catman, Peter Criss came to the rock band KISS after he placed an ad in a rock magazine...drummer looking for a band. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons called him up, liked him, and the rest is history. Criss played drums on the first 6 KISS studio albums until he was in a serious car crash in 1978. Although he played on one track on KISS' seventh album, Dynasty, he left the band in May of 1980, replaced by Eric Carr. Criss reunited with the band in 1996, but left again soon after their tour. During his first years with the band, many rock pundits didn't give him too much credit as a drummer, but he lent his gravelly voice to some popular songs while behind the kit; "Black Diamond", "Hard Luck Woman" and "Mainline". His most famous vocal performance, coincidentally, is one that doesn't have a drum track, "Beth". Peter Criss hasn't been doing too much in the music industry for the last couple of years, so it's about time to rejoin KISS, I guess.
PETER HOORELBEKE
You may not know the name, but I bet you know the voice. Hoorelbeke, sometimes known as Peter Rivera, was the main singer and bad-ass drummer of the funkiest white band around, Rare Earth. Hoorelbeke joined Rare Earth at their formation in 1960 and stayed around until 1974. During that time the band became the biggest white band signed by Motown Records. Between 1968 and 1972 the band recorded some major hits for the label, all with Hoorelbeke as the main vocalist while killing on the drums. Some hits include "Get Ready", "Born To Wander", "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and "I Just Want To Celebrate". He still performs to this day, releasing a new album in 2014 under the name Peter Rivera.
MICKY DOLENZ
I gotta tell ya, I had no idea Micky Dolenz sang so many songs for The Monkees. I just assumed it was Davy Jones laying down all those vocals. To tell you the truth, I was never a huge fan of the band, but I do remember hearing that Dolenz wasn't a drummer when the band was formed for their TV show in the '60's. He had to learn as he went along, at first miming at playing, then learning to actually play. When The Monkees started to tour after the success of their show, Dolenz had become a fairly good drummer. The songs he would sing behind the kit included "Last Train To Clarksville", "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone", "I'm A Believer", "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and the Monkees' theme song. Now I want to know what the hell Davy Jones sang?!? Dolenz has released many solo albums, releasing his latest in 2017, and still plays with whatever formation of The Monkees comes around.
Here are a few more singer/drummer people worth mentioning:
Karen Carpenter - She was a fabulous drummer, and an amazing singer, but she never really did both at the same time (with the exception of The Carpenters' first album).
Eric Carr - The man who took over for Peter Criss in KISS, he pretty much sang the songs Criss did.
Ringo Starr - Played for a band known as The Beatles for a time. So-so drummer, terrible singer!
Sheila E. - Kinda looked like a novelty when introduced by Prince back in the '80's. Turned out she could really play and was a pretty good singer, too.
Dave Grohl - He didn't sing while behind the kit for Nirvana, then he sang like crazy for the Foo Fighters, but didn't play drums all that much.
Buddy Miles - Played with Jimi Hendrix and his Band Of Gypsys, then sang and played in a whole myriad of bands afterwards.
Albert Bouchard - Played with Blue Oyster Cult, sang a few songs, including "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll".
There are many other drummer/singers....who are your faves??????
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