Trained as a jazz drummer, Charlie Watts joined the Rolling Stones in 1963, shortly after the band was founded. His playing was like his appearance: direct and straightforward. It was often said that the Rolling Stones would probably have long broken up without his calming influence and diplomatic acumen, as conflict flared between the quarrelsome Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

The son of Polish immigrants, he played with jazz legend Benny Goodman, among others, and became one of the key figures of swing. In 1938, he founded his own big band, Gene Krupa and His Orchestra, with which he scored hits in the US charts from the very beginning. He was one of the first drummers to make the drums famous as a sounding instrument and not just as a mere beat generator.

Tony Williams is considered one of the most important post-war drummers. When Williams was just 17, Miles Davis brought the child prodigy into his quintet. Since he was too young for jazz clubs, he often had to enter them through the back entrance on concert nights. His technique, precision and speed are still breathtaking, even from today's perspective. Williams died of heart failure in 1997.

The Beatles' Ringo Starr became the first real world star on the drums. Jazz influenced how he played, but he also became a kind of "joker" element in the band, much like other drummers up through the 1960s. He sang some of the most famous Beatles songs, then had a successful solo career and today, at 80, looks fitter than ever.

In contrast to his colleague Ringo Starr, who today is considered a health nut, The Who drummer Keith Moon lived a typical rock'n'roll lifestyle. He died in 1978 at the age of only 32 as a result of alcohol and drug abuse. Moon is still considered an iconic rock drummer of the 1960s and 1970s due to his flashy and dynamic playing and performing.

With his characteristic grooving and rolling beats, John Bonham aka "Bonzo" became the symbol of the rock drummer in the 1970s. Led Zeppelin's songs drew much of their sex appeal from the rhythms that Bonham evoked together with bassist John Paul Jones. They formed the perfect basis for the melodies of guitarist Jimmy Page and lead singer Robert Plant.

Karen Carpenter became world famous with her brother Richard as the duo The Carpenters. She was both an excellent drummer, and a talented singer and entertainer. She made major appearances on US television and became a role model for countless female drummers, especially given that the spot behind the drums was dominated by men. She died in 1983 as a result of her anorexia.

Best known as a member of the English rock band the Police, he is one of the great virtuosos of pop drumming: Stewart Copeland combines various seemingly incompatible genres into his style, including punk, reggae, pop and rock. No matter how tricky a rhythm or solo may be, Copeland glows with the joy of playing, while his driving beats remain one-of-a-kind.

You can probably safely call him one of the godfathers of modern metal drumming: Lars Ulrich of Metallica. From the very beginning, the band's founder was also the band's mouthpiece, which is rather unusual for drummers. His technique is characterized by hard double-pedal playing, unusual syncopations and speed.

Born into a family of musicians, the "queen of percussion" Sheila Escovedo aka Sheila E. played with Diana Ross, Herbie Hancock and Lionel Richie, among others, before becoming internationally known as Prince's drummer in the 1980s. In 1984, she began a successful solo career as a singer and percussionist that continues to this day.

Probably very few can claim to have been a drummer in one of the most important rock bands of all time and then to have had an even greater career as a singer and guitarist. Dave Grohl, ex-Nirvana drummer and mastermind of the Foo Fighters, had that fortune and, above all, the talent and stamina for it. And he is still considered the "nicest guy in rock'n'roll."

Probably Germany's best-known drummer, he is also a multi-talent: Dirk Felsenheimer, aka Bela B, is a drummer (who always plays standing up), singer, songwriter, guitarist, book author and actor. In his music career with the band Die Ärzte as well as a solo artist, he combines elements of punk, rockabilly, country, rock and pop in continually new and surprising combinations.

This ensemble uses drums called karyenda, which are made of hollowed tree trunks covered with animal skins. They often perform at ceremonies such as births, funerals and coronations of mwami (or kings). Recognized by UNESCO in 2014 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the karyenda are considered sacred in Burundi.

The Royal Drummers of Burundi had a major influence on various musicians such as The Clash, Echo and the Bunnymen, Adam and the Ants, Malcolm McLaren and Bow Wow Wow. A field recording of one of their performances was also featured on Canadian singer songwriter Joni Mitchell's "The Jungle Line," a song on her 1975 album, "The Hissing of Summer Lawns."

Some drums are called "talking drums" as their pitches can be regulated to mimic human speech. Used as communication devices in western African societies, these hourglass-shaped drums have two drumheads connected by leather tension cords, which allow the player to change the pitch of the drums by squeezing the cords between their arm and body.

The talking drum made an appearance in English rock musician Peter Gabriel's fifth solo album, "So," in 1986. The song "In Your Eyes" features Senegalese singer songwriter Youssou N'Dour (right, performing with Gabriel in 2014) singing a part at the end of the song translated into his native Wolof, while renowned French drummer and songwriter, Manu Katche, played the talking drum.

The tabla is one of the most recognizable percussion instruments from the Indian subcontinent and commonly used in north Indian classical music. Consisting of two drums, called bayan and dayan for the left and right hands respectively, the drums feature a layer of goatskin stretched over a metal or clay vessel. Pictured here is famed Indian tabla virtuoso, Zakir Hussain.

Although inspired by a traditional Irish folk song called "Down by Blackwaterside," this instrumental by the English rock band had an Indian flavor to it thanks to the tabla-playing of drummer and sitarist, Viram Jasani. Recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London, "Black Mountain Side" was part of the group's 1969 debut album, "Led Zeppelin."

This iconic Irish drum is said to pre-date Christianity, and is believed to have begun as an implement first rather than an instrument. Believed to translate from Gaelic as "skin tray," it has been used among others to carry peat. It features prominently in the instrumental music of Irish folk band The Chieftains. Kevin Conneff is seen here playing a bodhran, with bandmate Matt Molloy on flute.

Credited with popularizing Irish folk music, The Chieftains gained further mainstream acclaim in the US in the 1970s when they worked on the Academy Award-winning soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick's 1975 film "Barry Lyndon." Their 1995 album "The Long Black Veil" featured some famous collaborations, including "The Rocky Road to Dublin," which they did with The Rolling Stones.

Latin percussion instruments like congas, bongos, and timbales have also featured prominently in mainstream music. Seen here is famed Mexican-American guitarist and songwriter Carlos Santana whose band produced hits like "Black Magic Woman" and "Smooth" accompanied by percussion instruments such as the maracas that the singer is seen shaking here.

Brazilian drumming group Olodum (pictured) had long been an institution in the country's famous carnival scene. But they gained global exposure in 1996, when they were featured in a Michael Jackson song, "They Don't Care About Us." The band is also actively involved in social movements against racism and for civil and human rights.

Trilok Gurtu is yet another master drummer and world music pioneer who seamlessly melded Indian classical music, Western jazz and funk, African music and Brazilian music. Among others, he has collaborated with Gary Moore, John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, Joe Zawinul and Robert Miles.

The drum set has been named music instrument of the year 2022 by the German Music Council — and percussion instruments from around the world are regularly incorporated into drum kits. More than just musical instruments, traditional drums are often considered sacred. Used as a mode of communication or for religious purposes, in some cases, even their creation often involves rituals.