1984 Hit Named Among Greatest Drum Solos of All Time

When it comes to rock and metal bands, the lead singers and guitarists usually get all of the love, while the drummers and bass players are in the back, largely ignored by excited crowds. Even outside of rock and metal music, the role of the rhythm section is often overlooked, which is a shame, because it's one of the most important pieces of any dynamic group.

But musicians such as Keith Moon, John Bonham, Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland remain among the most popular rock drummers of all time, so there are ways these important players are getting attention.

Now, a 1984 rock hit is being recognized for having one of the greatest drum solos of all time. It's a fun song that still plays well today.

A Van Halen Classic Has a Drum Solo That Keeps Rocking Hard

That song is Van Halen with "Hot for Teacher." The song has what's being called one of the greatest drum solos of all time by Stefan Joubert of the London Drum Institute.

"Right from the start, Alex Van Halen kicks 'Hot for Teacher' into high gear with an explosive double-bass drum solo," he states in the feature. "It's fast, it's intense and it sets the tone for one of Van Halen's most energetic songs."

Joubert adds that this drum solo is "pure rock 'n' roll excitement – it makes you want to grab some sticks and try (key word: try) to keep up." That's definitely the case, because this solo rocks fast and hard, just the right way.

If you're looking for a fun song to crank as loud as possible this summer that never gets old, "Hot for Teacher" fits the bill. The cherry on top is that it does showcase Alex Van Halen's legendary drumming, and that kicks it into high gear and gives it an energetic sound that it just wouldn't have without his drumming. Van Halen's music served as the blueprint for hair metal, and "Hot for Teacher" was a large part of it.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 3:59 AM.