The Most Influential Drummers of All Time

Ronald Shannon Jackson (Last Exit)

An avant-jazz icon, Ronald Shannon Jackson made his name by being fast, wild, unpredictable, and robotic. Jackson was originally a parade drummer, he learned from African rhythms and funk musicians, which made his style very unique yet recognizable. Jackson started Decoding Society and later formed Last Exit, an Avant-jazz-punk quartet that still plays today. If Ronald Jackson didn't start his career as a drummer in a marching band, it's likely that his sound would be much different. 

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The More You Know

  • During a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, someone donated $35,000 so that VH1 Classic would have to play “99 Luftballons” on repeat for an entire hour.
  • Freddie Mercury's famous overbite was the result of him having four extra teeth in his upper jaw.
  • After Kurt Cobain passed away, Dave Grohl almost joined Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers after they played together on Saturday Night Live.
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded Blood Sugar Sex Magik in a haunted house that was previously owned by Harry Houdini.
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