Rock music is a genre that has produced many legendary drummers, from John Bonham and Neil Peart to Dave Grohl and Travis Barker. However, there are also many rock drummers who are not as famous or appreciated as they deserve to be. These drummers have contributed to the evolution and diversity of rock music with their unique styles, skills, and creativity. In this article, we will list the top 10 underrated rock drummers of today, based on their musical achievements, influences, and innovations.

Most Underrated Rock Drummers

10. Jon Beavis – Idles

Jon Beavis is the drummer of the British punk band Idles. They have been making waves in the rock scene with their politically charged and socially conscious lyrics, as well as their explosive and energetic live performances.

Beavis is a versatile drummer who can play fast and furious, as well as slow and groovy, depending on the mood and message of the song. He also adds electronic elements to his drumming, creating a dynamic and modern sound. Some of his best work can be heard on songs like “Mother”, “Colossus”, and “Meds”. Jon Beavis is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting him in tenth place on our list.

9. Georgia Hubley – Yo La Tengo

Georgia Hubley is one of the founding members of the American indie rock band Yo La Tengo, along with her husband Ira Kaplan. Hubley is not only a drummer, but also a singer and a pianist. She contributes to the band’s diverse and eclectic musical style.

Hubley‘s drumming reflects influences from jazz, folk, pop, and noise rock. She easily transitions from gentle and subtle to loud and chaotic. She also has a distinctive voice that complements Kaplan’s vocals. You can also hear some of her best work on songs like “Autumn Sweater,” “Sugarcube,” and “I Feel Like Going Home.” Georgia Hubley is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting her in nineth place on our list.

8. Zach Hill – Death Grips and Hella

Zach Hill is a drummer who is known for his extreme speed, stamina, and technicality. He is the co-founder of the experimental hip hop group Death Grips. He combines his drumming with electronic beats and samples, creating a chaotic and aggressive sound that defies genres.

Hill is also the founder of the math rock band Hella, where he showcases his virtuosity and creativity with complex rhythms and patterns. Many in the music industry widely regard Hill as one of the most innovative and influential drummers of his generation. You can also discover his best work in songs such as “Guillotine,” “The Fever (Aye Aye),” and “Biblical Violence.” Zach Hill is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting him in eighth place on our list.

7. Daniel Fang – Turnstile

Daniel Fang is the drummer of the American hardcore punk band Turnstile. Critics have praised their genre with a fresh and original approach. Fang’s drumming is fast, tight, and powerful, but also melodic and funky, adding a groove and a bounce to the band’s sound. He also incorporates elements of metal, hip hop, and pop into his drumming, making it diverse and unpredictable.

Fang is not only a drummer, but also a producer and a graphic designer, who helps shape the band’s aesthetic and identity. Some of his best work can be heard on songs like “Real Thing”, “Generator”, and “Moon”. Daniel Fang is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting him in seventh place on our list.

6. Greg Saunier – Deerhoof

Greg Saunier is the drummer and co-founder of the American indie rock band Deerhoof. They have gained recognition for their experimental and quirky music, which blends noise rock, pop, punk, and avant-garde elements. Saunier’s drumming is minimalist but expressive. He also uses a small kit with only a snare, a bass drum, a cymbal, and sometimes a hi-hat. He plays with a lot of dynamics, accents, and syncopation, creating a rhythmic contrast to the melodic vocals of Satomi Matsuzaki.

Saunier also produces and mixes most of the band’s albums, giving them a distinctive sound quality. Some of his best work can be heard on songs like “The Perfect Me”, “Milk Man”, and “Breakup Songs”. Greg Saunier is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting him in sixth place on our list.

5. Janet Weiss – Sleater-Kinney and Quasi

Janet Weiss is a drummer who has been part of several influential indie rock bands, such as Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Wild Flag, and The Jicks. Weiss is a powerful and precise drummer who can play with a lot of intensity and emotion, as well as subtlety and finesse. She also has a great sense of melody and harmony, often singing backup vocals or playing other instruments.

Weiss‘s peers and fans widely respect and admire her. Rolling Stone magazine has called her one of the best drummers of all time. Some of her best work can be heard on songs like “Dig Me Out”, “The Fox”, and “Rattled by the Rush”. Janet Weiss is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting her in fifth place on our list.

4. Matt Helders – Arctic Monkeys

Matt Helders is the drummer of the British indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. They have been one of the most successful and popular bands of the 21st century. Helders is a versatile and creative drummer who can adapt to different styles and genres, from garage rock and punk to hip hop and pop. He also has a distinctive voice that adds a contrast to the lead vocals of Alex Turner.

Helders is not only a drummer, but also a songwriter, producer, and DJ. He has collaborated with artists like Iggy Pop, Queens of the Stone Age, and Lady Gaga. Some of his best work can be heard on songs like “Brianstorm”, “Do I Wanna Know?”, and “R U Mine?”. Matt Helders is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting him in fourth place on our list.

3. Stella Mozgawa – Warpaint

Stella Mozgawa is the drummer of the American indie rock band Warpaint. Critics have praised their atmospheric and hypnotic music, which blends rock, psychedelia, and dream pop. Mozgawa is a skilled and expressive drummer who can play with a lot of nuance and texture, creating a rich and layered sound. She also adds electronic elements to her drumming, such as loops, samples, and effects, making it more diverse and experimental.

Mozgawa is not only a drummer, but also a multi-instrumentalist, who plays guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion. Some of her best work can be heard on songs like “Undertow”, “Love Is to Die”, and “New Song”. Stella Mozgawa is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting her in third place on our list.

2. Dominic Howard – Muse

Dominic Howard is the drummer of the British rock band Muse. They have gained recognition for their ambitious and epic music, which incorporates elements of classical, progressive, alternative, and electronic rock. Howard is an energetic and dynamic drummer who can play with a lot of speed, power, and accuracy, as well as groove and flair. He also uses a variety of drum kits, cymbals, pads, triggers, and pedals, creating a diverse and complex sound.

Howard is not only a drummer, but also a producer and an engineer, who helps shape the band’s sonic vision. Some of his best work can be heard on songs like “Hysteria”, “Knights of Cydonia”, and “Uprising”. Dominic Howard is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting him in second place on our list.

1. Danny Carey – Tool

Danny Carey is the drummer of the American progressive metal band Tool. Critics have acclaimed their intricate and innovative music, which explores themes of philosophy, spirituality, psychology, and science. Carey is a masterful and technical drummer who can play with a lot of precision, complexity, and creativity. He also incorporates elements of jazz, fusion, world music, and sacred geometry into his drumming, making it more diverse and mystical.

Carey is not only a drummer, but also a composer, mathematician, occultist, and collector. Some of his best work can be heard on songs like “Schism”, “Lateralus”, and “Pneuma”. Danny Carey is one of the most underrated rock drummers today, putting him in first place on our list.

The Bottom Line

These are some of the most underrated rock drummers of today. They deserve more recognition and appreciation for their musical contributions. These rock drummers have shown that drumming is not just about keeping time or making noise, but also about expressing oneself, creating art, and pushing boundaries. They have inspired many other drummers and musicians with their styles, skills, and innovations.

If you enjoyed this article or have any comments or suggestions for other underrated rock drummers that we missed out on this list, please let us know in the comments section below.