The following are famous drummers, mostly in the fields of metal, rock, and jazz.

See also: List of jazz drummers, List of percussionists

• Alex Acuña (Alejandro Neciosup Acua) (1944- ) (Jazz) Born in Peru, became ensconced in the annals of jazz history when he joined ranks with the watershed group [[Weather Report].
• Rob Affuso (1963-) (Punk) (Skid Row)
• AFX Perhaps more precisely considered a "meta-drummer." Along with Luke Vibert and Squarepusher, he is a formidable pioneer and master of drill n bass.
• Tim 'Herb' Alexander (Rock) (Primus)
• Rick Allen (1963-) (Rock) (Def Leppard), lost his left arm in a 1984 traffic accident, but learned to drum one-armed and continued on with the band.
• Barry Altschul (1943-) (Jazz)
• Andy Anderson (1951-) (Rock) (The Cure)
• Animal (197?-) is the Muppet drummer for Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, the band for The Muppet Show. Animal is usually chained to the drum set, as his musical outbursts are extremely violent. He may have been "inspired" by the antics of Keith Moon of The Who.
• Carmine Appice (1946-) (Vanilla Fudge) Also wrote Realistic Rock, the first book about rock drumming that was actually written by a rock drummer.
• Vinny Appice (Rock) (Black Sabbath) Younger brother of Carmine Appice.

• Ginger Baker (1939- ) (Rock) (Cream) Known for his innovation, virtuosity, and showmanship.
• Paul Barbarin (c.1900-1969) (Jazz) One of the very best of the pre-Big Band era jazz drummers. A member of the Barbarin family, a dynasty in New Orleans jazz.
• John Barbata (1945-)
• Travis Barker (Rock) (Blink 182)
• Joey Baron
• Murat Bayhan (1974-)
• Carter Beauford (Rock) (Dave Matthews Band)
• Louie Bellson (1924- ) One of the most accomplished jazz drummers of all time.
• Pete Best (1941-) Early drummer with the Beatles.
• Keith Binder (1984-)
• Gregg Bissonette (1959-)
• Jimmy Carl Black (1938-) (Frank Zappa's The Mothers of Invention)
• Cindy Blackman
• Ed Blackwell (1929-1992) First came to national attention as the drummer with Ornette Coleman's quartet, around 1960. Known as one of the great innovators of the free jazz of the 1960s, fusing New Orleans and African rhythms with bebop.
• John Blackwell
• Brian Blade
• Hal Blaine
• Art Blakey (1919-1990) (Jazz) One of the inventors of the modern, bebop style of drumming.
• Jason Bonham (1966-) (Rock) Son of John Bonham.
• John Bonham (1948-1980) (Rock) (Led Zeppelin) Recognized as one of the most influential and loudest of all drummers
• Mike Bordin
• Terry Bozzio
• Bill Bruford (1948-) (Yes)
• Budgie (Pete Clarke) (1957-) (Siouxsie & the Banshees)
• Ron Bushy (1945-) (Rock) (Iron Butterfly) Drummer on the legendary song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

• Will Calhoun
• Matt Cameron (1962-) (Rock) (Soundgarden and Pearl Jam)
• Jim Capaldi (1944-2005)
• Danny Carey (1961-)
• Karen Carpenter
• Terri Lyne Carrington
• Jimmy Chamberlain (1964-)
• Dennis Chambers
• Joe Chambers
• Chad Channing (1967-) (Nirvana)
• Damon Che (Don Caballero)
• Jon Christiansen
• Kenny Clarke
• Jimmy Cobb
• Billy Cobham
• Vinnie Colaiuta (1956-)
• Phil Collins (1951-) (Rock) (Genesis)
• Gerry Conway
• Tré Cool (Rock) (Green Day)
• Jason Cooper
• Stewart Copeland (Rock) (The Police)
• Billy Cotton
• Chris Curtis (1941-2005) (The Searchers)
• Alan Dawson
• Mikkey Dee (ex-King Diamond, Motörhead)
• Jack DeJohnette (Jazz)
• Baby Dodds (1898-1959) One of the best and most important of the early jazz drummers.
• Mickey Dolenz (1945- ) (The Monkees)
• John Dolmayan
• Virgil Donati
• Frankie Dunlop
• Peter Erskine
• Sheila E (Sheila Escovedo) (1957- ) Served as the drummer and musical director for Prince
• Vic Firth
• Jon Fishman
• Mick Fleetwood (1942-) (Fleetwood Mac)
• Al Foster
• John French
• Steve Gadd (1945-)
• Pete Gill (ex-Saxon, ex-Motörhead)
• Paul Glover
• Alan Gratzer
• Milford Graves
• Dave Grohl (1969-) (Rock) (Nirvana and Foo Fighters)
• Trilok Gurtu
• Omar Hakim
• Minor "Ram" Hall (1897-1959)
• Tubby Hall (1895-1946)
• Jan Hammer
• Zac Hanson
• Beaver Harris
• Mickey Hart (1943-)
• Billy Hart
• Roy Haynes
• Levon Helm
• Horacio 'El Negro' Hernández
• Raymond Herrera (Fear Factory)
• Paul Hester
• Billy Higgins
• Steve Hindalong
• Brian Hitt
• Gene Hoglan
• Matt Horton
• Steven Hunt (1954-)
• Steve Jansen
• Elvin Jones (1927-2004) (Jazz) (John Coltrane Quartet)
• Papa Jo Jones
• Philly Joe Jones
• Steve Jordan
• Manu Katché
• Tokuchi Kuriyama
• Connie Kay
• Eric Kretz
• Gene Krupa (1909-1973) Known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.
• Papa Jack Laine (1873-1966) Has been called the first white jazz musician. The patriarch of the early 1900's New Orleans music scene.
• Martin Laird
• Martin Lamble
• Thomas Lang (1967-)
• Pete LaRoca
• Jon Lee (1968-2002)
• Tommy Lee (1962-) (Metal) (Mötley Crüe)
• Dave Lombardo
• Shelley Manne
• Billy Martin
• Nick Mason
• Pat Mastelotto
• Dave Mattacks
• Paul McCartney
• Ed McTaggart
• Jo Jo Mayer
• Billy Mintz
• Keith Moon (1947-1978) (Rock) (The Who) Considered one of the most innovative and original drummers in rock and roll.
• Fabrizio Moretti
• Bob Moses
• Paul Motian
• Flo Mounier (1974-)
• Larry Mullen, Jr.
• Sunny Murray
• Paul McKinnon (1946-)
• Cubby O'Brien
• Babatunde Olatunji (1927-2003) Nigerian drummer and World Music pioneer
• Jay Osmond
• Ken Owen
• Ian Paice
• Carl Palmer (1950-)
• Melvin Parker
• Vinnie Paul
• Neil Peart (1952-) (Rock) (Rush) Drummer and lyricist. Considered the most technically perfect drummer in rock and roll.
• Jan Pelan (1981-)
• Simon Phillips (1957-)
• Jeff Porcaro
• Joe Porcaro
• Mike Portnoy
• Cozy Powell (1947-1998)
• Chano Pozo
• Prince
• Sean Reinert
• Buddy Rich (1917-1987) (Jazz) Drummer and bandleader. Billed as the World's Greatest Drummer; known for his technique, speed, and ability to improvise.
• Dannie Richmond
• Ben Riley
• Herlin Riley
• Max Roach (1924-) (Jazz) One of the first drummers to play in the bebop style.
• John Rutsey (1953-)
• Kim Ruzz
• Pete Sandoval
• Gina Schock
• Peter Sellers (1925-1980) Better known for his acting.
• Phil Selway (1967-)
• Chad Sexton
• Chad Smith
• Steve Smith
• Tom Sørensen
• Squarepusher
• Zak Starkey (1965-) (Rock) Son of Ringo Starr, has played for The Who
• Ringo Starr (aka Richard Starkey) (1940-) (Rock) The Beatles
• Bill Stewart
• Clyde Stubblefield
• Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor (ex-Motörhead)
• Roger Taylor (1949-) (Queen) Drummer/percussionist and vocalist.
• Chester Thompson
• Tjodalv (Kenneth Åkesson)
• Laurence Tolhurst
• Tico Torres (Hector Tico Samuel Torres) (1953-) (Rock) (Bon Jovi)
• Lars Ulrich (1963-) (Metal) (Metallica)
• Chad Wackerman
• Bill Ward (1948-)
• Charlie Watts (1941-) (The Rolling Stones)
• Jeff Tain Watts
• Chick Webb (William Henry Webb) (1909-1939) (Swing music) Drummer and band leader.
• Dave Weckl (1960-)
• Andy Whale
• Brad Wilk
• Lenny White
• Meg White (White Stripes)
• Paul Wertico (1953-) (Jazz) (The Pat Metheny Group)
• Tony Williams
• Boris Williams
• Shadow Wilson
• Robert Wyatt
• Adrian Young (1969-) (Rock) (No Doubt)
• Cesar Zuiderwijk
• Terry Baker (Kirk Franklin)