John Bonham’s thunderous groove with Led Zeppelin has long been the gold standard for rock drumming. His feel, power, and instinctive swing turned the kit into a weapon of mass impact, and generations of players have chased that sound ever since. So when the conversation turns to anyone being “better than Bonham,” it’s usually met with disbelief. Yet in a moment of rock-nerd honesty, two of modern rock’s most outspoken Bonham devotees, Jack Black and Dave Grohl, have both pointed to one drummer who, in their view, edges even the mighty Bonzo.
That drummer is Stewart Copeland of The Police.
A Different Kind Of Greatness
To be clear, neither Black nor Grohl has ever dismissed Bonham’s legacy. Quite the opposite, Grohl has repeatedly called Bonham his biggest influence, while Black has practically worshipped Led Zeppelin throughout his career. But when the discussion shifts from sheer power to range, innovation, and technical originality, both men have singled out Copeland as a drummer who redefined what rock drumming could be.
Copeland didn’t just keep time, he composed rhythm. His playing fused punk aggression with reggae off-beats, jazz accents, and lightning-fast hi-hat work that sounded like nothing else in rock at the time. Songs like “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “Walking on the Moon” weren’t just driven by drums, they were built around them.
Dave Grohl: From Power To Precision
Dave Grohl has often said that while Bonham taught him how to hit hard, Stewart Copeland taught him how to think as a drummer. Copeland’s parts weren’t about brute force, they were about tension, space, and unexpected accents. For Grohl, that discipline and inventiveness made Copeland a more complete drummer in the broader musical sense.
Grohl once noted that Copeland could make a simple groove feel dangerous and unpredictable without ever overpowering the song, a skill that’s far harder to master than volume alone.
Jack Black’s Ultimate Drum Hero
Jack Black has been even more explicit in his admiration. A lifelong student of rock history, Black has praised Copeland as the drummer who made him realize drums could be melodic. To Black, Copeland’s playing wasn’t just rhythm, it was personality. Every snare crack and hi-hat splash carried attitude, wit, and intelligence.
In playful debates about the greatest drummer of all time, Black has joked that while Bonham may win on power, Copeland wins on versatility, creativity, and fearlessness, a statement Grohl has enthusiastically backed.
Bonham vs. Copeland: Power vs. Possibility
The comparison ultimately isn’t about diminishing John Bonham. Bonham remains the undisputed king of feel and force, the drummer who made rock sound colossal. But Stewart Copeland expanded the drummer’s role, turning the kit into a lead instrument that could dance, jab, and converse with the rest of the band.
Where Bonham shook the earth, Copeland changed the rules.
The Verdict From Two Rock Icons
For Jack Black and Dave Grohl, the debate ends not with disrespect, but with perspective. Bonham may be the most powerful drummer rock ever produced, but Stewart Copeland is the drummer who proved there were no limits.
And when two of rock’s loudest Bonham fans agree on that point, it’s worth listening.
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