Andy Newmark - Restraint, heavy pocket, definite groove. His stuff with Sly & The Family Stone and Roxy Music is some of my favorite drumming. His commitment is 100% to the song.
Bill Bruford - Boundless musicality. Drummer as composer. Thinks in terms of integration between players. Incredible talent. One of my all-time favorite musicians.
Terry Bozzio - Innovative approach to the kit is inspiring and admirable, though I don't have much of his style in my playing. He's off the charts in my book and has taken drumset playing to the next plateau.
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) - Added very musical and melodic parts to his role. Greatly underrated.
Aynsley Dunbar - Remarkably versatile. Played any genre at top level. A drummer's drummer.
Paul Thompson - Roxy Music drummer, played incredibly well and enhanced every song with good choices and support. Check out his stuff on the albums "Country Life" and "Siren" to hear what I mean.
Vinnie Colaiuta - Like Bozzio, a source of awe and admiration, not necessarily a relatable style to my approach.
Buddy Rich - Tops in my book.
If I had to say who had the most direct influence on my playing, I would have to note a combination of Newmark, Ward, Thompson and Buford. (Not that I'm anywhere NEAR their levels, mind you!)
I would also point out some local players that I've grown up watching and digging in Chicago:
Gregg Potter - Excellent showman and hard driving monster of a player.
Tom Scheckl - Plays with The Buckinghams now. Another monster.
Bob Berg - Plays with The Stanley Paul Orchestra. Incredible musician. Wonderful human being.
Rock On!
TOMANO