10 Most Underrated Drummers Of All Time

The journey to find a drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers was virtually impossible to track in the early days. Despite having some prime candidates like Jack Irons and D.H. Peligro from the Dead Kennedys, Flea and Anthony Kiedis' search for the perfect guy almost seemed like a lost cause as the '80s came to a close. On a whim though, they found what may be one of the most accomplished skinsmen they had ever seen.

While you can call Chad Smith's style pretty by the numbers for the Chili Peppers, that's only because it has become so synonymous with their sound over the years. Ever since the release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Smith has given a masterclass on how to sit in the song with every subsequent Peppers record. Compared to the typical funk stuff everyone recognizes, Smith really knows how to lean back, like having nothing but the bare essentials for almost half of Under the Bridge.

There are some times when he goes off the rails though, like being able to juggle the genres of funk, punk, and arena style rock throughout Give It Away. Most importantly though, Smith's connection with Flea has made them the tightest rhythm section in the business, playing off of each other and striking gold nearly every time. Chad Smith is not nearly the first guy you think of when you think of the Chilis, but he really is the rock and roll energy that ties them all together.