I have played in a few bands where there were 2 drummers. Some not so good where it became a drum off to one up each other. That really took away from the quality of music and sucked overall. But one where myself and the other guy really jelled. We'd trade off parts of the beats and it was a pretty interesting sound. It just sort of happend while we jammed one time and we kept at it. We set up at opposite ends and worked together to compliment each others style. It really added a neat layer to the music. You really need the right person to make it happen. Our styles were quite different and the more we played the more we just knew what the other was going to do. It was a pretty cool time. We also used it to add layers of percussion much like the Allmans did with Butch and Jamo and others.

When I saw James Brown a few years back, he had two drummers (as well as two bass players and two guitar players).

One drummer was younger and seemed to take "lead" on most of the newer songs, while the other drummer play more of a "rhythm " style of drumming. I would compare it to lead and rhythm guitar parts. The older drummer would take the older songs. It was interesting.

yep James brown had two ...

about the allman brothers Band I have seen them over 100 times Butch and Jaimoe play NOTHING alike Butch is the driver and Jaimoe plays jazz fills and accents Jaimoes side band is all jazz and that is the beauty of it the ABB would not even sound close to what it does without both drummers and Mark Quinonnes on percussion.....

The two 10CC drummers really had it together..

Cheers

Tortoise has 2 drummers......they just played here a few days ago........

Last time thru,they came over the next day,and bought $200 worth of records!

There were a bunch of sessions back in the day that had both Jim Keltner and Ringo playing drums. A few guys who've doubled up with Keltner said he has the ability to melt into what was going on without it being noticed he was there until you muted his tracks. Not a surprise from him. For lack of a better term, he's on a different "metaphysical" level from most of us where the drums are concerned IMO. "The Concert For George" is a good opportunity to watch him in his 2nd drummer role.

Also, "Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan has both Gadd and Rick Marotta rounding out that track so tastefully that it sounds like one guy, along with "Glamour Profession" on Gaucho.

I did some stuff in Nashville with a second drummer and I tell ya, if you and the other guy are listening and "Gets it", it's like you're the crew on an B-17 or something. Feels like driving a steamroller. Big ol' fun.

ETA- At one point, James Brown had !FIVE! drummers onstage BUT according to Jabbo, there were never 2 drummers playing time simultaneously.

Whoa, 100 times. Now that's a fan. And for good reason 'cause the Allman Brothers are legendary. I just was able to catch them once myself.

So I put on In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, a pair of good head phones closed my eyes and listened. I trust what you say that the two had separate rolls and style, but man I still cannot tell that its two drummers playing.

What a great great tune!

Just to add another group to the list of bands with 2 drummers...the band...

Cheers

Just thought of a few more:

Charlie Daniels back in the day.

The Outlaws back in the day.

Willie Nelson (never have figured THAT one out.)

Hawkwind for a while.

Paul Young

There were a couple of Joe Walsh tours where he had Andy Newmark and another I can't remember and another tour where he had both Joe Vitale (big surprise) along with Russ Kunkel.

I can't remember who but awhile back, somebody did a recording using both Steve Smith and Neil Peart at once.

ETA- Oh fer crissake! How could I forget Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer on some of the Phil Spector stuff???