Also, do bands like Green Day and Linkin Park and Nickelback use rides?
And are they used to play paradiddles in songs, or regular 4/4 beats too, or usually crashed on?
Why does a bass need more than one string?
Why do guitarists need to play chords?
Why do guitars use effects pedals?
Why do pianos have white keys?
Cymbals are clothes, bass/snare and toms are your dolly. Dress your doll how you want the choice is yours.
I suggest working with your perception of your drum set to eliminate identifying "riding", "filling" and "back beat".
I would much rather play the ride than the hi-hats. In many types of music, hats are played during the verses and rides are played during the chorus. Drum and cymbal setups are very personal. If you see no need for a ride, then do not get one. I do not want to listen to much music that does not have them. Peace and goodwill.
I've seen some drummers play without rides, most notably Phil Rudd of AC-DC. Playing the ride elevates the mood and feel of the song, while the hats make it more solid.
(i play rock/ punk) and i have no real idea on how to form a beat that involves the ride.
In the beginning their was no ride cymbals, no crashes either, no splashes, no china... they were just called "cymbals", the size and the weight determined the role of the cymbals, it's only later the names and the category started to become standard.
As far as rock/punk is concerned, a heavy ride with a nice cutting bell still does it big time as far as driving the chorus and/or the guitar solo, alternatively, a washy ride cymbal can be as devastating as an half open hi-hat but with a totally different feel, some drummers have only ride cymbals on their kit (flat ride, light ride, heavy ride, crash/ride, and so on) and they play various type of music, including rock.
Some rock crashes are heavier cymbals than some light jazz ride, go figure... it's all down to personal taste and what sounds good when you play, the rest is just marketing and etiquette.
In the early days, the 'hi hat' was only a foot tall or even less.
Its sound does emulate the cowbell on its bell.
Really, it is just a sound you can use whenever you feel like it, but the general rule is to use it in loud parts of the song or in jazz/latin.
This ^^
You don't need a ride. Then again, you don't need hi hats either (or at least Keith Moon didn't).
In the 80s rides were a dirty word - it wasn't a "clean" and crisp sound and at that time anything that sounded dirty was thought of as dated. Hence Duran Duran's anti ride stance. In the 80s there never seemed to be enough mics for toms or cymbals. Funny dat.
Look, on a really base level, rides in rock music are used to fill in the gap during the guitar solo to make up for lack of rhythm guitar.
That's less of an issue if you have two guitars or keys, but then I often shift to the ride when I want to give the song a lift. Millions of drummers do this - often in solos or bridges. You want to be able to have a range of textures at your disposal.
Have a listen out for drummers' ride cymbals ... work out which ones sound light and which ones sound dark, and the effect they have on the music. Did the drummer use the bell or the bow of the cymbal, or both? In rock ride cymbals are less important than in other styles.