Alex Van Halen vs. Gregg Bissonette

[SilvioDante]

A coworker and I were discussing Van Halen and the EEAS band. The discussion turned to the drummers. We had a disagreement on which, if either, drummer was better. I told him I would go to the experts, the DLR Army. I will not tell which side I am on as so not to influence the outcome (and in case I am wrong, not to get flamed).

We have agreed to live by the decision of the Army. Thanks for your help.

[Panamark]

I'll bite...

Alex Van Halen

Bissonette is a cool drummer, but dudes.. Put on Hot for Teacher and its
game over..

[ELVIS]

Put on Van Halen II, WACF and Fair Warning and it's over with 90% of all rock drummers...

[Panamark]

So who are the 10% that AVH doesnt blow away ELVIS ??

Curious ?

[Terry]

On a sheer technical level, I'd say Bissonette perhaps edges Alex Van Halen out by a few hairs.

In terms of individual stylistics, I'd say AVH brought a bit more to the table in CVH than Bissonette did in the EEAS and Skyscraper efforts. Bissonette was almost TOO polished on those records at times for my tastes.

[kwame k]

Bissonette may be technically better because he was trained and played in big band, blah, blah, blah.

Alex had his own tone and style, brown sound was coined for his snare sound after all ......sure there's a ton of Bonham in his style but he is an amazing drummer. Play Alex and it's tougher than you think.

[Big Troubles]

oh god, alex for sure.

[hambon4lif]

Oh jeez...

Let me know when Luzier enters the conversation....

....I'll take Ray for the block, Alex!


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[Onofrio]

Gotta go Alex, hands down. And I'll take Ray over Bissonette any day.

[Big Troubles]

agreed. ray over greg. but alex FOR THE WIN!

sorry got caught up in that Jeopardy moment...

[Terry]

Bissonette may be technically better because he was trained and played in big band, blah, blah, blah.

Alex had his own tone and style, brown sound was coined for his snare sound after all ......sure there's a ton of Bonham in his style but he is an amazing drummer. Play Alex and it's tougher than you think.

Outta Love Again, In A Simple Rhyme, Hang 'Em High...all stellar.

[Panamark]

Alex gets some bad comments from time to time around here, I reckon
he's probably the most consistent of the original four..... (Over the entire career
including last tour)

[BALLYJUNKIE]

alex van halen always kind of reminded me of a gene krupa meets john bonham.......van halen its self is kind of a rock version of big band /swing....mostley up tempo numbers with a big rock sound .....alex does get overshadowed by ed ,but every rock drummer knows alex has layed down some tasty fills and great grooves on every vh song .

[KTC5150]

Just listen to Light Up The Sky, Everybody Wants Some!, Mean Street, Hang em High, Hot For Teacher, AND I can throw in some tunes from SPAMMY'S era, but I don't need to...

[Mr Walker]

One of the things I really miss about the old DDLR.com site was revisiting the thread where Catfish told Alex Van Halen he wasn't shit without David Lee Roth at The Grove in Orange County... sorry to digress.