Singing drummers

[larryace]

2 part question:
How many drummers out there sing? I do but I'm not so hot with harmonies.
Also how many famous singing drummers can you name?

[michael drums]

2 part question:
How many drummers out there sing? I do but I'm not so hot with harmonies.
Also how many famous singing drummers can you name?

I do.

Don Brewer - Grand Funk Railroad
Kelly Keagy - Night Ranger
Gil Moore - Triumph
Don Henley - The Eagles, solo
Phil Collins - Genesis, solo
Karen Carpenter(RIP) - The Carpenters
Nigel Olsson - Elton John
Tommy Lee - Motley Crue, solo
Dave Grohl - Nirvana, Foo Fighters
Ringo Starr - The Beatles, solo
Micky Dolenz - The Monkeys
Meg White - The White Stripes
Sheila E. - Prince, solo

...to name a few.

[larryace]

Damn Michael good list. Do you sing harmony? Do you get a monitor?

[kristen]

I don't... yet, maybe in the future. I would also like to add Taylor Hawkins - Foo Fighters to that list

[larryace]

Singing is just so damn much fun for me, I totally just go for it. I have a limited range, and can't do much harmony, but playing music live is all about accentuating the positive and downplaying the negative. Taylor Hawkins, good add. How about the guy from the Dave Clark 5, is that Dave Clark?

[Drumsword]

I don't... yet, maybe in the future. I would also like to add Taylor Hawkins - Foo Fighters to that list

You beat me to it....lol

I sing as well, at least on the music that I write I sing lead and usually sing backup with whatever band i'm with.

[mrchattr]

I sing...mostly harmonies, but I do some leads, including some improvised stuff at some shows, where I'm improvising beats and lyrics simultaneously. It's a lot of fun.

[Drumsword]

Improvising lyrics while playing?.......you're good.

The first time I played and sang, we were doing pre-production for my first solo c.d. By the end of an hour of getting the hang of singing into a mic while doing what needed to be done on the drums, I was soaked with sweat and felt like I'd run a marathon. After a few days though it started coming naturally.

[mrchattr]

Improvising lyrics while playing?.......you're good.

The first time I played and sang, we were doing pre-production for my first solo c.d. By the end of an hour of getting the hang of singing into a mic while doing what needed to be done on the drums, I was soaked with sweat and felt like I'd run a marathon. After a few days though it started coming naturally.

I actually think it's easier to sing something improvised while playing than to sing a regular song. I mean, I write a lot and stuff, so getting it to rhyme, etc, isn't too big of a problem. But when you sing a song that everyone knows, that has a set rhythm, set lyrics, etc, then if you mess it up a little, everyone notices. But when you're just making crap up, if you get hung up and add a pause, or phrase something in a funny way because you are concentrating on something else, people don't know. And I admit, I can usually get my point across, but not nearly as eloquently as if I weren't doing it all at the same time.

[Tim Waterson]

When I stated playing drums I put the headphones on and a stack of records dating myself..LOL and played while I played i sang along to the songs so it just came natural.

being able to Sing and having STRONG harmonies has gotten me MANY gigs.
Omar Hakim,and Abe L w Paul Mccartney got their gigs not just on drumming but also their vocal ability.
BEST singing drummer would go to Deen Castranova with JOURNEY check out his voice here....http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=-gomgFZsG-0
Tim

[lewisn27]

there is a guy in an indie band that sings, i think the band is blood red shoes or something

[mrchattr]

Oh, and to answer the second part of the question, there's already that huge list, but Carter Beauford from DMB is probably the band's best singer, with Dave clocking in at #2.

[zzdrummer]

Levon Helm anyone? My favorite

[caddywumpus]

I get hired sometimes because I'm one of the few drummers who can sing bass while drumming in my area. My range is from the F above middle C down to the B below the bass clef. I usually get stuck singing the "It's a celebration" part on Celebrate, for example. I also sing in vocal groups (quartets) and with a caroling agency during the holiday season (gotta do something during the slow months). Diversify, diversify, diversify!

[drumhead61]

Stan Lynch - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Roger Taylor - Queen
Lee Kerslake - Uriah Heep
Terry Bozzio - Worth checking out "Titties and Beer" or "Broken Hearts are for Assholes" but if you're just interested in drumming, Bozzio's is pretty special on "The Torture Never Stops" and "Zoot Allures"
Albert Bouchard - Blue Oyster Cult

As for me I will just stick to learning the drums and leave the singing to the rest! I sing ALONE...all by myelf!

[dale w miller]

I sing with my band. On our last album I even sing lead on 2 lines.

Abe Laboriel Jr is one of my favorite singing drummers.

[Jon Cable]

Luis Cardenas?? played drums for Rengade I think [Bermuda is a friend of his] but had a coupla hits singing too; check out 'Runaway' on youtube, has Del Shannon, Donny Osmond and some dinosaurs in it!! Also had 'the biggest drum set' in the world according to Guinness tv show [4 bass drum Luddie in leopard print I think, maybe tiger]

[michael drums]

Damn Michael good list. Do you sing harmony? Do you get a monitor?

Thanks, larryace! ;-)

My inspirations on that list!


Yes, I do sing harmonys! Leads, also! I usually get headphones, but sometimes a monitor.


Thanks for asking! :-)

[rockinrider]

Peter Rivera - Rare Earth

http://www.peterrivera.com/home.html

One of my favorites....

[larryace]

Wow it's really cool that a lot of you sing. And yes! Levon Helm! Duh! Deen Castronova, of course! The guy in the Fab Faux sings his ass off, not sure of his name.

[kristen]

Also, Fred LeBlanc - Cowboy Mouth

[Drumsword]

Luis Cardenas?? played drums for Rengade I think [Bermuda is a friend of his] but had a coupla hits singing too; check out 'Runaway' on youtube, has Del Shannon, Donny Osmond and some dinosaurs in it!! Also had 'the biggest drum set' in the world according to Guinness tv show [4 bass drum Luddie in leopard print I think, maybe tiger]

I loved that set, was tiger print. Boasted every size drum ludwig made at the time if I'm not mistaken. and that version of runaway is my favorite by far. The dinosaurs in the video were great, but donny osmond looked fake.

[ahum]

Levon Helm anyone? My favorite
exactly what I was thinking.

[mrchattr]

The dinosaurs in the video were great, but donny osmond looked fake.

This is just a fantastic line.

[foursticks]

I LOVE Buddy Miles' singing - especially with Hendrix on the Band of Gypsies album. 'Changes' is just the grooviest song.

[aydee]

As far as drinking summers, ..ah mean singing drummers go, I particularly enjoy Kenwood Dennard when the spirit moves him.

cheers.

[rmandelbaum]

I sing backing and a little lead.

[Vipercussionist]

When I stated playing drums I put the headphones on and a stack of records dating myself..LOL and played while I played i sang along to the songs so it just came natural.

being able to Sing and having STRONG harmonies has gotten me MANY gigs.
Omar Hakim,and Abe L w Paul Mccartney got their gigs not just on drumming but also their vocal ability.
BEST singing drummer would go to Deen Castranova with JOURNEY check out his voice here....http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=-gomgFZsG-0
Tim

Absolutely Tim!! Being able to play is a given, but, two for the price of one get's it done!
HA HA !! It rhymes it's kind beautiful!!

I play in a three piece band and it really opens up the sound of a band with lead and two harmony vocals.
.
.

[EvanMatthiesen]

i sing lead on a lot of songs while drumming. i think drumming and singing is great because you can accent with vocal parts, and overall feel the rythym of the vocals/drums together, which i think are the 2 most important instruments for staying on time. Levon Helm is a good example, its like his vocals and drumming are the same instrument.

[Vipercussionist]

2 part question:
How many drummers out there sing? I do but I'm not so hot with harmonies.
Also how many famous singing drummers can you name? I sing, pretty much ALL harmony. I'm more inclined to sing the harmony to stuff I hear anyway, so I put it to good use.


The list michael drums posted has a few of my favorites!
Don Brewer
Phil Collins
Karen Carpenter
Roger Taylor
Don Henley
Mick Tucker



Meg White - The White Stripes?? She plays drums?? I knew she OWNED some drums but . . .

[EvanMatthiesen]

another thing i just thought about

In the Beatles Anthology book, theres a quote of Ringo saying something about how he always tried to do fills during breaks in the vocal part. for example, in A Day In the Life: "he blew his mind out in a car.. ba boom boom, bap, budum." -very effective.

what im getting at is that when your the singer AND the drummer, you can do that easier cause its the same brain.

[bojangleman]

well, i can sing and play at the same time...

but, nobody ever wants to hear that i promise! lol

when the singer doesnt show up, its usually me...which sucks for the other members =P

Alex

[Nodiggie]

have my respect.

Very seldom am I able to sing and play simultaneously.

[Oly!]

Aaron Gillespie of Underoath is absuloutly brilliant.

[Pete Stoltman]

Mel Torme was a legendary singer and quite respectable on the drums but I don't think I ever heard him do both at the same time.

[joshisaces]

I know this thread is old, but.. Aaron Gillespie

[doorstilend]

the guy from CCR cant remember his name

[Guz2]

Nicko Mcbrain like singing...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmyoMTp60cE

[drumguyfromWI]

I do, but I usually only do background vocals like shouts and things like that.

[rmandelbaum]

I use a head worn mic and a great foot switch by pro co. I only turn the mic on when I need to sing.

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/2/4/0/327240.jpg

[EltonBear]

Levon Helm anyone? My favorite

I'm surprised it took that long for someone to mention him! I'm glad I'm not the only fan around here.

There's a few more, Andy Burrows from Razorlight, Matt Helders from Arctic Monkeys, the dude from Funeral For A Friend...

But they're not as good as The Band. Two drummers, and one of them sings lead :D

[rhythmjunkie]

Josh Dion- He plays drums for Chuck Loeb and has his own band in which he plays the drums and is the lead singer. He's one of the finest "groovers" and has an amazing voice.



http://www.joshdionband.com/

[jim]

Duncan Redmonds from Snuff,how he sings when blasting out flat out punk baffles me.

[crdirtRider856]

What was that band that played that song " What I Like About You"? That dude played and sang I think. Also a new heavier band with 2 singers, one is the drummer....Damn I cant remember their name right now. But the drummer has the better voice imo, the main singer just screams. Thats annoying the hell outta me that I cant think of em right now.

I give respect to those that do both, I tried it and found it too distracting to my playing, therefore I never tried it again. I suck at singing anyway so oh well.

[joosti]

James "the rev" Sulivan - Avenged Sevenfold
Don't know if you can call it singing, but some people do..

[schist]

Grant Hart - Hüsker Dü

[eddiehimself]

Meg White - The White Stripes?? She plays drums?? I knew she OWNED some drums but . . .

Haha there's a band called glasvegas in the uk who also have a female drummer who also is completely useless, is this some sort of conspiriacy by record producers?

the dude from Funeral For A Friend...


That would be Ryan Richards. It's more screamo than singing i would have said.

I'd also like to add the fat guy out of atreyu does singing and drumming. I try to but i'm pretty useless at singing for any sort of length of time really.

[wolfgang]

Derek Grant from Alkaline Trio does some singing. Not a ton of lead stuff, but he's a good singer and a sick drummer.

I plan to do some in my band. I haven't really done a lot yet. My only vocals to date have been the "ooooooooo"s in All My Loving haha

[moshpitdrummer]

i've always thought the voice is kinda like another limb. i mean its the same as getting independence of your right arm from your right foot. you just gotta get your voice independent from the rest of your body.

im not very good at it (still practicing) but it is fun :)

[stasz]

Jon Fishman from Phish
Kris Myers from Umphrey's McGee
There used to be a video of Tony Williams singing a song with Lifetime in paris on youtube but i can't seem to find it...

I'm still working on the whole singing thing. I'll sing along if I know the words and the drums are simple enough that I don't trip over myself trying to do so.

[bojangleman]

well, update from my last post i guess..since the thread has been revived..lol

i sing alot of backup for my band...im the only back up...so, im not near good enough for lead, but i can do back up pretty well...

but here's a list..lol

Capital Lights
Superchick
Starlit Platoon
Article One
Underoath
Avenged Sevenfold
Atreyu
Black Stone Cherry
Foo Fighters
Motley Crue
Nickelback
Three Days Grace

thats all i got right now..lol

Alex

[TheWonk]

Paper Lace

Phill Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNwALaxek_Q

[Ian Williams]

Ringo Starr
Dave Grohl
Peter Criss
Eric Carr
Tommy Lee
Charlie Benante

[jim]

What was that band that played that song " What I Like About You"? That dude played and sang I think. .
these guys.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=C__zkeVvvLU&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GJzmFVEZn1Y&feature=related

[Mr. Dyck]

John Bonham sang background as did Kieth Moon at least on albums. Rick Allen, Eric Singer, Phil Rudd(back in the early days), Levon Helm, Don Henley. There are so many really good singing drummers that I think, unless your tone deaf, everyone should try singing lead and back-ups.

[michael drums]

I do.

Don Brewer - Grand Funk Railroad
Kelly Keagy - Night Ranger
Gil Moore - Triumph
Don Henley - The Eagles, solo
Phil Collins - Genesis, solo
Karen Carpenter(RIP) - The Carpenters
Nigel Olsson - Elton John
Tommy Lee - Motley Crue, solo
Dave Grohl - Nirvana, Foo Fighters
Ringo Starr - The Beatles, solo
Micky Dolenz - The Monkeys
Meg White - The White Stripes
Sheila E. - Prince, solo

...to name a few.

Just wanted to post this again, due to the recent thread that was just started of the EXACT subject.

;-)

[Isaac Lee]

Mike Portnoy has been known to do some vocals.

[goatwacker]

I do. Lead and back-up harmony, whilst drumming. It's not as hard as you think.
Drums always come first though. I'm not a singer. I'm a drummer who can sing.

[rjvsmb]

Eric Singer.

20202020

[PQleyR]

Roger Taylor? Anyone?

[Ian Williams]

What was that band that played that song " What I Like About You"? That dude played and sang I think. .

In fact, is Jimmy Marinos - The Romantics, sings and plays open-handed (left-hand lead).

[michael drums]

I hope the administrators realize that there's TWO of the exact same threads about singing drummers.

Maybe they can be combined? It would make it easier, I believe. ;-)

[DrummerDavid]

I wish I could sing. One of the reasons that I am a drummer is because I am a little tone deaf.

[IneptDrummer]

What was that band that played that song " What I Like About You"? That dude played and sang I think. Also a new heavier band with 2 singers, one is the drummer....Damn I cant remember their name right now. But the drummer has the better voice imo, the main singer just screams. Thats annoying the hell outta me that I cant think of em right now.

I give respect to those that do both, I tried it and found it too distracting to my playing, therefore I never tried it again. I suck at singing anyway so oh well.

I think you're thinking of Underoath (Aaron Gillespie is the drummer/singer). He is a great singer, and an awesome drummer as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7fxK3-sAaE

I used to scream and drum in a previous band, which was a ton of fun. Its actually easier on drummers than actual singing. You wouldn't think so, but when done correctly and non-destructively, screaming requires much less air than singing. And its suprisingly easier on your throat. I've even heard that when done right, screaming is lower impact on your voice than whispering.

[Fill Drummin]

I'm glad someone mentioned Kris Myers from Umphrey's McGee. IMHO the best singing drummer out there right now. Levon was good but never had parts like Myers. That kid is redonkulous! And the "What I Like About You" was The Kinks.

I also sing and play. I'm not a fan of the mute switch for the drum vocal for several reasons. As a novice engineer, I can assure you that a mic opening and closing behind the drums is a nightmare for any engineer trying to maintain a consistent drum sound. If you are a singing drummer and aren't playing to any more than about 750 people, or playing outside a lot, overheads are largely overkill and a waste of channels. An open mic behind the drums is as good as (if not better than) any overhead I've ever used. And even if you don't sing and are playing in a small room and not doing a multi-track recording, overheads are still a waste. I've had plenty of drummers say it was a part of their sound and insisted I use overheads. Little did they know I never turned them up and, if I was short of channels, never even plugged them in. You also have to remember that, as a drummer, you're probably setting up behind the rest of the band. Any other open mic on stage is probably pointed in your general direction and will easily pick up all your cymbal work and, the meat of your drums.

Just some things to be aware of next time you insist an engineer use overheads in a small room or in conjunction with a vocal mic behind the drums.

[Anchein Vouivra]

Bernd 'Nossi' Nosk - Birth Control (incredible body dissociation)
Robert Wyatt - Matching Mole
Tim Alexander - Laundry
Brian Chippendale - Lightning Bolt
Mani Neumeier - Guru Guru