woogiebear said:

Tambourine is one of my favourite songs to drum to - such a great groove and funky fills.

Swa

Sheila E Definitely Was The Best Drummer Prince Had Then Michael B

michael b or sheila e

Sheila by a country mile. I like her influence on Prince and his music. On stage, they're magic together and that vibe is infectious to the audience.

Cora has some of that too. Michael B. is amazing as well. In fact, there's not one Prince drummer I don't like. But Sheila makes the show jump to an 11 for me.

Few of us orgers was debating about this a few nights ago on a dark street we'd collectively agreed probably in this order

John Blackwell
Shelia E
Prince
Michael Bland

Sheila!
Not just because of her undeniable skills,
but because of the flavor and personality she put in to the mix was not just skimmed on the top, but permeated so deep into the music she participated that it's now part of the purple sound.
[Edited 5/31/09 12:01pm]

kaptainkrunk said:

8-)glad to see soo many different responses to this question . this one is so hard to gauge because of all the great musicians mentioned.I love all of the drummers and their hard work.
so here's my list and reasoning . 1. Michael B ,his drumming actually to me made Prince's music better.
2.Sheila E. She's soo talented I think she actually challenged his musicianship.3.Bobby Z yes bobby,not as talented as the musicians above.but really he was the best fit during the heyday.4. John .blackwell wooinderfull live but never got the same feeling on record.5. TBD.
peace carmy

Swa said:

Co-sign ...

John Blackwell hands down.

nurseV said:

Dr Fink wasn't a drummer

When U say Prince Drummer the top 2 will be Sheila E & Bobby Z

Sheila because even Bobby said she was a more spectacular drummer
and Sheila learned the Prince sound and played 'Prince's music'
I've heard her play at aftershows A Love Bizare, Head, America and she played it like the album, Purple Rain as well, it's why at the Brit Award Show Prince had Sheila move Corra off the drums to play Purple Rain

Sheila E. & Bobby Z are Purple Soldiers
I've heard way too many shows from the earliest days up to Parade/Dream Factory
Bobby was very good with the Rock/Funk combination. Those were the days when Prince had a very definining sound. And Bobby did the job very well. Even Prince said the thing he loved about Bobby was that he followed his every move whereas drummers like Morris played to 'show out' their skill.

Purple Rain
America
Mountains
Power Fantastic
It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

Just a few of the album cuts where Bobby performed with the full Revolution


I don't think any drummers after these 2 played Prince music even though some of them are really good drummers. Some could be considered Best Drummers, just not Best Prince Drummers
[Edited 6/1/09 8:41am]

There is something about the musicians that started out with Prince, they helped Prince form the sound that we know as Purple Music or Prince's Minneapolis Sound

the Revolution members in particular(including Dez) were serious (Moons) for Prince(the Sun)

"Within the 1st 45seconds I knew he was beyond gifted My 1st impression was that it was genius at work He played the piano like no one I had ever seen It sounded like he had 4 hands; he was just playing chords and filing out more chordal information on the piano than I've ever heard. It was the first time I think I'd seen anyone who could really really compose without trying. He was very mysterious and very quiet. I knew from the 1st second that this person was worth dedicating my entire career to." -Bobby Z 1976

Linn LM-1

... and Sheila E, of course!

And Bobby Z too.

To me, hands down it would be Sheila.

for me l would say between michael B and shelia .....

sheila is my favorite . that whole era was golden, the whole band. her whole "latin flavor" and her and p's chemistry . then john and michael b. respectively. cora has her moments (that rock and roll o2 aftershow ). as does bobby z. . kirk, meh. love princey on the drums too

John Blackwell would be my first choice (the guys a phenomenon on the drums)

Michael B and Sheila E would then come after.

Got to say it was good to see Blackwell perform once again on the Leno show with prince

kumala75 said:

I think John Blackwell. Then Sheila.

woogiebear said:

Isnt that him on drums on Irresistable Bitch as well? And the America video is fun drumming

Kirk Johnson. #1 That's my dawg. Then Michael Bland second. Gotta love that giant sound.

I like Cora more than John Blackwell.

John Blackwell... good drummer but not very professional.

Bobby Z -- cheated a lot. Just played to a drum machine and hit cymbals.

PearlDrummer said:

lol cheated?

he played the organic drums until about 1999/Purple Rain, then Prince wanted the electic drum sound
which is what Prince wanted for the sound.
After Purple Rain (Parade)it went back to a regular drum set with a bit of drum machine. Sheila E. also was expected to play/use the drum machine on the SOTT/Lovesexy tour, especially the parts where she was upfront with Prince








[Edited 6/8/09 10:57am]

I think when judging this it has to go by how that person fit as a band member, how did they represent Prince in attitude, respect, history etc etc

For example we can't rightly judge Bobby z versus a more recent drum just on skill because unless your following Bobby Z's playing up until now, you stunting his development from 1978-1986

Even Sheila E you have to follow her playing until now because people continue to develope and grow

So to me, when I take in the overall PRINCE drummer, I'm looking at the history the look did that drummer play drums to Prince music or did they play PRINCE music.
And in my following Prince music from the beginning
I have 2 give it 2 Bobby Z & Sheila E

I like John Blackwell or Michael Bland.

I like all of prince's drummers, but Michael Bland is my personal favorite. Besides, I have a crush on him.

Brofie said:

I don't know how is the drummer on Irresistable Bitch

As well as most of the drumming for Purple Rain which was 98% live recording

Bobby Z is the drummer on America
also the drummer on Ball(Dream Factory) which is Eye No with different words
[Edited 6/8/09 9:36am]

PearlDrummer said:

I just listened to a live version of America I believed performed during the end of the Purple Rain tour

and Bobby Z soloed on the drumset/electical drums and he tore it up, you have to have some skill to be able to work a drum set

Which by the way the drum machine was used a lot with RbB Rock & even Jazz bands during the mid 80's


[Edited 6/8/09 10:50am]




[Edited 6/8/09 11:06am]

1. Sheila:
The most versatile (stylewise), the most influential probably.

2. Micheal Bland:
The one with the most impressive'sound', less versatile then Sheila, but great on the rock songs.

3. Bobby Z:
Technically not very gifted maybe, but he was there from the beginning, important for the sound of the revolution, and he had a good timing at starting the drummachine

4. John Blackwell: too flashy and 'show off' for me. Nice for a couple of songs, but gets irritating for an entire concert.

5. Cora Dunham:
Nothing special. Sober style (= better IMO), but not loud and tight enough.

6. Kirk. J.
To be honest, I cant really remember any of his real drum work, just those horribly cheap drummachine patterns on Emancipation, New Power Soul and Rave.