10 Best Rock Drummers Of All Time

When new wave came out in the 70's, every band seemed to be bringing everything back to basics. Instead of going with the trends, The Police moved rock forward thanks in part to Stewart Copeland's inventive drumming style.

Throughout their hit songs, Copeland employed incredible precision in the Police while incorporating reggae drumming into their early work. While initially playing inventine off-beat reggae rhythms, Copeland wanted to explore every aspect of his playing during the band's tenure, which involved more complex fills and accents that were reminiscent of jazzier drummers. Up until the band's later releases, Copeland experimented with different feels and genres, such as the calypso beat present on "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic."

While his drumming remained stellar throughout the band's short run, Copeland always played to enhance the song. Though his runs may have been absolutely maniacal, it was never performed in a way that encroached on Sting's territory or muddied the arrangement. Any drummer can use their songs as rhythm showcases, but Stewart Copeland exhibited exquisite taste as he played to make sure each Police track had the shot in the arm it needed to become adventurous rock masterpieces.