Who is considered Prince's best drummer. IMHO its the fabulous Sheia E for her versatility and virtuoso playing

I think Michael B is an incredible rock drummer especially on Prince 90's albums and Blackwell on the rainbow children but Sheila E is a drummer as well as percussionist who can do Jazz, rock, funk and Latin jazz. Bobby Z was a great drummer in the Revolution but i there is no evidence that he influenced Prince's music

My favorite is Michael Bland and John Blackwell hands down. After that it I guess Sheila but its quite a bit of a dropoff for me between Michael and John vs Sheila. The other drummers he had really dont matter to me at all.

There was a list of the best female drummers circulating a few months back and all of Prince's female drummers were in the top six on the list. Sheila at number 1, I think Cora came in at 3 or 4 then Hannah at 6.

trax said:

My favorite is Michael Bland and John Blackwell hands down. After that it I guess Sheila but its quite a bit of a dropoff for me between Michael and John vs Sheila. The other drummers he had really dont matter to me at all.

my thoughts exactly hannah so far hasnt shown me nothing that makes me fall 4 her style and cora was just there she didnt impress me at all.if people would go back and listen 2 the npg trio prince sonny and michael they would blow 3rd eye off the stage they rocked so damn hard. i be talking to michael on facebook at times and he still jam with prince and they still work 2gether .he said he cant believe people really think is a great drummer. he is like magic on the drums 2 me

Michael Bland

On the drums Shelia E not bad for a girl....her drum solo on Sign O' Times is point on

Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit for your consideration...

Queen Cora

[Edited 2/16/14 21:27pm]

Cora is an awesome drummer and i love her drumming on Prince's Indigo Night CD. However it's always Sheila E. for me

I've been to live shows featuring each of his drummers (except the new girl). My heart says Sheila, but my ears still say Michael Bland was the best he ever had.

I just wish he would get a drummer NOW. What's up with the girl bandsa and why hasn't Cindy Blackman been his drummer? That chic can kick it with the best of them.

iambackbitches said:

I just wish he would get a drummer NOW. What's up with the girl bandsa and why hasn't Cindy Blackman been his drummer? That chic can kick it with the best of them.

No chance. She has already playd with Lenny for years. No way she plays with Prince now.

Sheila is the most talented and had the most influence throughout Prince's career imo. John Blackwell is a close 2nd, and Michael Bland is an even closer 3rd.

1)Sheila E.

2)Michael B.

3)Bobby Z.

wally19 said:

I think Michael B is an incredible rock drummer especially on Prince 90's albums and Blackwell on the rainbow children but Sheila E is a drummer as well as percussionist who can do Jazz, rock, funk and Latin jazz. Bobby Z was a great drummer in the Revolution but i there is no evidence that he influenced Prince's music

I would say Bobby Z (not influenced) but was a part of the creation of that foundation of Prince music, because he zeroed in on Prince from the beginning and dedicated himself to Prince. He said that himself. Bobby Z vs everyone else was with Prince before there was any fame. Bobby Z started wth 94East, no doubt Prince communicated with Bobby about styles and technology as well as programming. The Minneapolis SOund/Linn drums, and that feel Prince was going 4 starting with Controvery in2 1999 and Purple Rain was a very crucial point in Prince music. Everyone after that just did what was already done or played on top of that.

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Because those drummers in that foundational period of Prince music took is vision/sound and duplicated it, almost being styled by it themselves ie Jellybean, Bobby Z, Sheila E, Sheila E's drummer, I see them as his best for the style and foundation alone.