27. Chad Smith
Chad Smith, the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is noted for his traditional funk-inspired beats delivered with the strength and loudness of arena rock. Production executive Rick Rubin was so taken with Smith’s drumming that he hired him to play on other projects. Anthony Kiedis, the lead vocalist of the RHCP, credits Smith’s drumming for encouraging him to perform on stage with innovative dancing techniques. “All I have to do now is close my eyes and listen to Chad,” he explained simply. “It’d be acting if I didn’t do it,” says the actor.
27. Chad Smith
26. Phil Collins
Before he became the great pop vocalist that we all know and love today, Phil Collins worked as a drummer for a number of various groups in the 1970s, including Brian Eno’s Brand X and, of course, Genesis. The late ’70s were the years in which he invented his characteristic gated snare drum sound, which was later emulated by a slew of other performers throughout the ’80s. Following the publication of his smash single “In the Air Tonight” in 1981, he was sought after by major performers such as Eric Clapton and Robert Plant, who recruited him to drum on their respective albums.
26. Phil Collins