Have rock drummers ever played standing up?

Two examples

The Velvet Underground - Moe Tucker

The Jesus & Mary Chain - various

None of them used pedal drums.

I'd have thought drumming was good exercise and a fairly healthy occupation - providing you don't have the sort of lifestyle that Keith Moon and John Bonham did.

I saw Matt Walker play standing up when he was with Billy Corgan of The Future Embrace Tour back in 2005.

Yes, like SMB said the dude from the Stray Cats did. Also the drummer from one of my favorite bands, Southern Culture on the Skids, always plays standing and he kills it. Dave is an awesome drummer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYoLGS6uzao

Chris Adler from Lamb of God is not any doubt one in all the proper drummers interior the international...arms down. the different 3 you pronounced do no longer even belong interior the comparable sentence w/Adler. additionally inspect the drummers from Shadows Fall, Unearth, Primus, Rush, gadget, Gojira, Nile, Opeth, Steve Vai, Dream Theater...to call some...in case you p.c. to hearken to some unwell drumming.

It can be done, but you'd need hella strong ankles/calves because you have to hit the bass pedal with your foot. Drummers that have back problems just simply don't sit up straight when they play. Posture is key when playing any instrument.

I can't imagine how you'd kick the base pedal standing up.