Rich's influence extended from jazz to rock music and jazz fusion. He influenced drummers John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Ian Paice of Deep Purple, Tré Cool from Green Day, and Bill Ward of Black Sabbath. Phil Collins stopped using two bass drums and started playing the hi-hat after reading Rich's opinion on the importance of the hi-hat. Roger Taylor, drummer of Queen, acknowledged Rich as the best drummer he ever saw for sheer technique. Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker has credited Rich as the greatest drummer of all time.