Stewart Copeland of The Police reflects on drummers who have redefined what the instrument can achieve in rock music, citing jazz legend Buddy Rich as having set an unmatched standard. Copeland credits Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker as influences on his own approach to breaking conventional 4/4 rhythms, and his drumming helped The Police transcend punk formulae during the 1970s, distinguishing them through refined instrumental work and creative use of space.

Copeland's innovation stemmed not merely from unusual time signatures but from subtly disrupting expectations within standard 4/4 frameworks—shifting emphasis away from obvious beats, incorporating reggae and dub sensibilities, and leaving deliberate gaps that gave room for Sting's bass. In his later career, Copeland has expressed particular admiration for Buddy Rich's 1966 live album *Swingin' New Big Band*, believing Rich demonstrated unrivalled "drum-set virtuosity" by treating the drums as a lead voice whilst maintaining ensemble control. Copeland considers this achievement unmatched in the decades since.