© Getty Images

John Bonham - Bonham (pictured second left) provided the power behind Led Zeppelin, and is cited by many music critics as the greatest and most influential drummer in history.

© Getty Images

Keith Moon - Legendary drummer for The Who, Moon's singular drumming technique is still praised by critics and musicians. He's up there with John Bonham as one of the world's greatest.

© Getty Images

Buddy Rich - Few drummers match Buddy Rich for power, speed, and virtuosity. As a bandleader, he was instrumental in blending his drum rhythms into complex orchestral arrangements.

© Getty Images

Phil Collins - The English drummer is also a gifted singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. A member of Genesis, he went on to forge a highly successful solo career.

© Getty Images

Ringo Starr - He isn't The Beatles' original drummer, but Starr's input forever changed the Fab Four's sound. Incidentally, left-handed Starr plays a right-handed kit.

© Getty Images

Ginger Baker - A pioneer of drumming in genres like jazz fusion, heavy metal, and world music, Baker is also celebrated as a founder of English rock trio Cream. A giant among drummers!

© BrunoPress

Charlie Watts - Watts has played drums for the Rolling Stones since 1963. He also tours with his own group, the jazz-influenced Charlie Watts Quintet.

© Getty Images

Mick Fleetwood - Co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood's drumming has provided the band with a solid backbone since 1967.  (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Mitch Mitchell - An English drummer, Mitchell is best remembered as a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0 NL)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Gene Krupa - Krupa was an American jazz drummer, bandleader, and composer. He also appeared in several Hollywood movies.

© Public Domain

Shelia E. - Commonly referred to as "The Queen of Percussion," Shelia E. worked with the George Duke Band before meeting Prince in 1978. Her drumming is notable on the 'Purple Rain' recording sessions.

© Getty Images

Dave Grohl - Grohl's four years with seminal grunge band Nirvana sealed his reputation as one of the industry's most accomplished drummers. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Max Weinberg - The longtime drummer with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band has also worked as bandleader for 'The Tonight Show.' Weinberg tours regularly with his own band as well.

© Getty Images

Tommy Lee - One of the wild boys of rock, Tommy Lee is a founding member of hard rock band Mötley Crüe. His revolving and spinning drum kit endeared itself to millions of metalheads.

© Getty Images

Alex Van Halen - Dutch-American musician Alex Van Halen is known as being the drummer and a founding member of Van Halen. He cites Buddy Rich among his lifelong influences.

© Getty Images

Earl Palmer - Palmer played drums for the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and a host of other illustrious music stars. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Steve Gadd - A highly regarded drummer, percussionist, and session musician, Gadd has worked with Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, and Kate Bush, among many other diverse acts. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Neil Pert - Influential and technically adept, the drummer with Canadian rock band Rush was also its primary lyricist. Pert is now retired from music.

© Public Domain

Hal Blaine - Session drummer Hal Blaine has worked with Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, and Steely Dan, among other legendary acts. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Bill Bruford - Bruford was the original drummer with progressive rock band Yes. He is now retired. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.5)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Terry Bozzio - The American drummer has worked with the likes of Frank Zappa. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 3.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste - A founding member of American band The Meters, Modeliste is regarded as a pioneer of New Orleans funk.  (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Clyde Stubblefield - Working with James Brown, Stubblefield's drum patterns on Brown's recordings are considered funk standards.(Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Stuart Copeland - The American musician and composer was the drummer for British rock band The Police. He continues to produce his distinctive drum sound and singular style on solo projects and movie soundtracks.

© Getty Images

Ian Paice - Paice co-founded the original line-up of heavy metal pioneers Deep Purple. He later played drums for Whitesnake and the Gary Moore Band.

© Getty Images

Michael Shrieve - Shrieve is best known as the drummer with Santana. His drum solo during 'Soul Sacrifice' at Woodstock has gone down in music history as one of the most electrifying.  (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Manu Katché - A French drummer and songwriter, Katché has worked with, among many others, Peter Gabriel and Dire Straits. (Photo: Wikimedia/GFDL 1.2)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Larry Mullen Jr. - U2's drummer played martial beats in a childhood marching band, an experience he acknowledges as influencing his decision to become a musician. 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and 'Pride (In the Name of Love)' perfectly illustrate the martial beat present in many of the band's compositions.

© Getty Images

Cindy Blackman - The American jazz and rock drummer was inspired to play drums after listening to celebrated jazz drummer Max Roach. She frequently works with Lenny Kravitz. More trivia: Blackman is married to famed guitarist Carlos Santana.

© Getty Images