I Feel a Bit Weird Posting This, But Follow Me with This List of Female Drummers

I know I’ll get slammed in some quarters for succumbing to sexist portrayals of women with this post, but that’s not my intention.

As someone who has played drums for years–I was actually an instructor once–I’ve always been fascinated by other drummers and their technique and chops.  And I’ve always hated the stereotype that women make bad drummers–or shouldn’t take up the position at all.  

That’s total bullshit.

When The Carpenters were around in the early 70s, people were aghast that Karen was the drummer. I remember relatives saying “That’s so-unladylike.  Why doesn’t she play the piano like a normal girl?”  It took years–decades–before the idea of a female drummer became commonplace in rock’n’roll.  I know that seems goofy now, but it’s true.

I’ve always admired those who broke down that stereotype.  For example, when I was a teacher, I had many female students, including a middle-aged mom whose attitude was “F**k it.  The kids are gone and now I’m gonna do what I wanna do.  And I wanna learn how to play the drums.  Teach me!”  I loved the woman.  Almost no one had those kinds of guts in the early 80s.

Today, though, female drummers (and bass players, another once-verboten position in rock) are as common as the robins on my front lawn.  Yet there are those who still believe that girls can’t do drums justice or that they’re an un-ladylike instrument.  Really, people?

Take a look at this list of cool female drummers.  Yes, it’s under the unfortunate headline of “9 of the Hottest (and Coolest) Drummer Girls on YouTube,” but try to ignore that kind of link baiting.  Instead look at their technique and confidence.  They really do rock.