There is completely nothing creative about playing in a coverband..Like, really nothing..
If you mean in the literal sense to create, you're right. A cover band is about re-creating (see below.)
There is ofcourse some education in figuring out how other drummers played their parts, but to just plain cover them is useless..
I make my living figuring out how other drummers play parts, and how producers program them. And it's not just about copying their parts, it's about getting inside their head to figure out what they would play if they were called to play on a track.
As for just plain covering parts being useless, I'd like to meet the drummer who's going to come up with better parts than anyone whose song they're covering. Please think about that for a minute.
Nobody has ever said to me "Hey, you played just like the guy on the record! Whattsa matter, can't think for yourself?" Indeed, my willingness to play covers like the original versions is what keeps me working. I've replaced more than a few drummers who couldn't or wouldn't grasp the concept. Just sayin'...
Bermuda