19 Drum Solos, Fills, Breaks and Intros That Everyone Should Recognize
Drummers bring the beat to life the moment they take their seats. These skilled musicians weave together grooves, lines, and rhythms that form the backbone of any song. Though genres greatly differ, skilled drummers deliver the energy that thirsty listeners want.
Some drum patterns leave a lasting impact on the audience. With a few steps or a sharp snare hit, a drum section can become iconic. Whether it’s a killer intro or a dependable fill, drummers set the pace for the musical journey.
While there are countless amazing drum solos, fills, breaks, and intros, certain beats from snares, toms, and crashes leave the strongest impression on everyone.
In the Air Tonight
Many of Phil Collins’ percussion contributions extend beyond his solo career. Some of his Genesis jams, mainly “I Don’t Care Anymore,” highlight the energy instilled within two drumsticks. However, his moody ballad “In the Air Tonight” remains the most popular track.
Radio stations still play the song, but Mike Tyson’s memorable moment in The Hangover definitely made the song’s climax unforgettable for many listeners. More than halfway through the track, Collins explodes onto his drum set with an insane break. The percussion portion perfectly resonates with Collins’ legacy as a thunderous drummer.
Wipe Out
While some artists aim for subtlety, Ron Wilson throws down on the toms in “Wipe Out” by the Surfaris. The track’s name aligns with a tumble from a surfboard; surf music wildly rides waves with “Wipe Out” because of the song’s instrumental catchiness. Also, the delirious laughter at the song’s start provides listeners the cue to start twistin’ and turnin’.
“Wipe Out” leashes onto any radical soul from any generation. Not only does Wilson’s rapid-fire drumline drop in naturally, but it also gets the people stoked. Of course, Wilson incorporates fills between the far-out guitar leads to keep the party afloat, man.
Ballroom Blitz
Much like Ron Wilson’s deliberate pulses, the Sweet’s Mick Turner fires away an anxious line in “Ballroom Blitz.” Sounding as if a riot’s knocking on the door, the “Blitz” track remembers a rough night of rock ‘n rollin’. Some maddening connections play into the lyrics’ insanity, but it’s a well-known rock tune even our grandparents know about.
As soon as “Ballroom Blitz” kicks off, Turner sets the stage with his drumming, paving the way for Brian Connolly’s quirky vocals. The lyrics remark on several scenes one by one, with Turner supporting the narrative with a loyal rhythm. Though chaotic, everyone knows the “Ballroom Blitz” and its wild instrumental synergy.
Superstition
Some genres rock too aggressively; others, like funk, handle topics more gently, like Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” jam. Wonder supplies a few instruments for his Talking Book lead single, including drums and keyboards. If Wonder’s drums halt any feet from moving, then the synth’s eclectic spirit will do the trick.
Though the track’s rubbery rhythms maintain a sweet movement, the opening drum kicks display the proper first step on the funk train. The fills captivate the continued essence of superstitious occasions, yet an introductory kick solidifies “Superstition” as a groovy vibe.
Sunday B. Sunday
Bono, The Edge, and the other members of U2 stand as some of music’s definitive icons for several decades. Their drumming artist, Larry Mullen Jr., marches alongside messages of protest in “Sunday B. Sunday.” Like Stevie Wonder’s introductory method, Mullen Jr. grasps listeners with a few kicks.
In addition to the track’s opening drumming, Mullen Jr. supplies a stable offering of fills to complement Bono’s vocals. Armed with a merciful snare and tom attack, the skilled drummer creates a dependable line for parading, stomping, and singing.
Overkill
Motörhead stands as one of those hard-rock bands anyone relies on to release some steam. With their “Overkill” track from the album of the same name, the English rock group sends fans into overdrive. Lemmy Kilmister supplies his shouts, “Fast” Eddie Clarke strums his guitar, and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor smashes on drums.
The latter sets up “Overkill” with an accelerated snare and tom mix, generating a hyper sound. Moreover, “Overkill” serves as an essential track in Motörhead’s discography, notably in their final tour. If “Overkill” misses the mark, then “Ace Of Spades” further illustrates the intensity of Motörhead’s awesomeness.
Home Sweet Home
A gentle piano welcomes fans to the harmonic opening of “Home Sweet Home” by Mötley Crüe. Vince Neil delves into a curious delivery before Mick Mars and Tommy Lee interrupt Nikki Sixx’s keyboard commencement. Sixx later backs Neil up with vocals, yet Lee sustains a steady line with a bangin’ break in the melody.
The track’s switch-up depends heavily on Lee’s heart-stopping break, which kicks the song’s pulse into another pump. Lee’s drums cease near the song’s closing, yet they play an essential role in “Home Sweet Home.”
Some fans today recall Motley Lue’s alluring tribute to the song in Hot Tub Time Machine. Didn’t you read that somewhere on Lougle, too?
Smells Like Teen Spirit
An anthem for the youthful rebels, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sparked the grunge movement into mainstream attention. Nirvana shifted the music waves of glam rock in the ’80s to a more grounded, alternative territory with gloomy twists.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” starts with a guitar riff, yet Dave Grohl kicks the song into motion. Drum fills appetize the approaching chorus, Kurt Cobain’s bitter lyrics, and a sturdy line throughout the verses. With a tune of such attitude, a tasteful drumline falls so anyone can recognize it from just a few taps.
Enter Sandman
Almost any track off Metallica’s The Black Album dominates the heavy metal space with Lars Ulrich at the sticks. “Sad but True” creates a brutal rhythm, while “Wherever I May Roam” magnifies the band’s guitar grooves. However, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” remains their most popular due to its presence in pop culture.
From entrance music for athletes to waking up astronauts, “Enter Sandman” understands the assignment with such reverberance. Ulrich implements his hard-hitting patterns with fills and breaks, sending the lyrics into a commanding force.
“One” also sees Ulrich with an arrangement of famous tempos, mainly toward the track’s latter anarchic half.
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Who’s Next begs the question as The Who explores various topics with their 1971 album. The production features many of the band’s greatest hits, including “Baba O’Riley” and “Behind Blue Eyes.” Moreover, the boys from London introduce “Won’t Get Fooled Again” as the closing track.
Keith Moon sits on the throne, armed with a breaking preface to lead Roger Daltrey into the initial verse. Fills and a dependable flow follow; later in the track, Moon lays down some solo swings with the guitarists supporting the breakdown. With TikTok remixes and pop culture references, it’s impossible not to hear the famous music at play.
My Sharona
Realtor Sharona Alperin lives on as the inspiration behind the Knack’s “My Sharona” debut single. Doug Fieger aligns the lyrics with his admiration for Alperin, notably with its “My Sharona!” declaration in the chorus.
The song relies on a tom-tom drum rhythm to move with the continuous guitar strums and reinforcing vocals. While many recognize Bruce Gary’s pattern, it’s derived from The Miracles‘ “Going to a Go-Go” composition, with Benny Benjamin as the initial drummer. Nonetheless, “My Sharona” incorporates a charming drum model we know and kick the floor to.
Tom Sawyer
Many reasons stand and uplift “Tom Sawyer” and its everlasting impression in the annals of rock music. Written and performed by Rush, “Tom Sawyer” sails around an inspiring arrangement of keyboards, guitars, and drums, the latter coming from Neil Peart.
Rush maintains a lengthy lineup of smashing hits, yet everyone appreciates the “Tom Sawyer” delivery and Geddy Lee’s amusing vocals. Though “Limelight” prevails as a close second, Peart’s drumming highlights the band’s flair and energy with notable solos and fills.
Sunshine of Your Love
Cream encapsulates plenty of psychedelic fixes through their delicious-sounding rock tunes. One such tasty serving relies heavily on “Sunshine of Your Love” and its groovy linguistics. Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Pete Brown, and Ginger Baker bring out their tools of mysticism.
Ginger Baker’s tom-tom drum rhythm follows a more simplistic standard, yet it’s arguably the band’s most popular. For us and the fans, Baker’s masterful drumming is best heard on Cream’s “Toad.” The instrumental is responsible for an unforgettable night at the Royal Albert Hall, where Ginger indulges in a lengthy solo.
Rock and Roll
Rock and roll music ain’t noise pollution, yet some instrumental tracks sound like heavy bluster, unlike “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin. The song bulldozes your ears with kickin’ patterns and vocals, led by John Bonham’s power-hungry drums.
Bonham’s fast delivery and fills lead the band into the track, preserving a legendary theme. Bonham even integrates an outro, but his drumming best lies within the “Moby D.” solo of the band’s second album.
If you’re jotting down noteworthy solos from influential drummers, look no further than John Bonham’s contribution to rock music.
Walk This Way
Whether you’re stepping to Run-DMC’s remix or Aerosmith’s original recording, “Walk This Way” gets the crowd moving. Joey Kramer sits as the band’s drummer, producing a funky drum pattern applicable to rock and hip-hop celebrations.
Though a couple of fills complement the various guitars in “Walk This Way,” Kramer’s introductory beat and steady groove stamp the song’s presence with fans. However, if folks were more aware of its existence, we would also recognize “Rag Doll” and its filthy beauty of smashing percussions.
Raining Blood
Pinpointing any of Dave Lombardo’s genius drum arrangements offers a sweet joyride through Slayer’s thrashing discography. With face-melting guitars and voice-cracking lyrics, Slayer delivers the goods, and we’re looking at “Raining Blood” as one of their best. Mixed with eerie rain effects, “Raining Blood” sends everyone into a frenzy.
The song marks itself with an introductory drum filter before diving into thrash metal territory, with all instruments breaking down distinctive grooves. Lombardo’s got the fills, breaks, and rhythms to maintain the high-intensity Slayer comes with.
“Criminally Insane” is a close second if streaming playlists favored its treatment over other Slayer gems.
Rosanna
While many of us adhere to Toto’s “Africa” as their number one hit, “Rosanna” adds Jeff Porcaro’s half-time shuffle drum beat. The tune reminds folks of sweet summer days, and Porcaro’s excellent implementation solidifies the song’s eternal status.
Now armed with the “Rosanna Shuffle,” Procaro can assemble any crowd with just a few notes. It’s regarded as a problematic pattern to master, with its focused tempo molded by previous artists like Bernard Purdie and the aforementioned Jon Bonham.
Of course, nothing beats the fills like Toto’s “Africa” infectious sound.
Soul Sacrifice
Bringing home a Santana record always warrants a party, and the debut album comes as no surprise. The self-titled album features the “Soul Sacrifice” instrumental that attracted many trippy heads at the 1969 Woodstock festival.
Though other musical tools appear in the track, percussionist Michael Shrieve bangs down a tremendous solo. It’s vibrant and soulful, and Shreive’s commitment remains legendary for its presentation and influence.
Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)
Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang first penned “Sing, Sing, Sing” before Benny Goodman turned it into a household tune. The original composition follows a smooth presentation, while Goodman’s orchestra incorporates smashing additions to kick up anyone’s shoes.
Goodman’s recording features Gene Krupa on drums, and he introduces the listener to an addictive drumming pattern. The drums open the door for a collection of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and more to join in. Goodman is on clarinet, though Krupa’s beats stick closely with Big Band-era greats.
