Elaine Bradley
The plan was clear for Neon Trees’ new album: big sounds, big ideas, and big performances. Neon Trees’ Pop Psychology is what happens when a successful pop-rock band pursues a hip-hop recording approach using Peter Gabriel’s So and Kanye West’s…
Harvey Mason: The Groove Is All Around
Harvey Mason is one of the most recorded musicians in history. His precise, soul-filled drumming has knocked out fans of sophisticated groove playing for more than forty years, on such seminal albums as Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters, Charles Earland’s Leaving…
Lee Goodness
Photo by Nicole Goodness Curtis Mayfield was unlike any other soul artist, and the job of servicing his timeless grooves was a unique challenge, especially during the dawn of electronic drums. The journeyman player who helped bring Mayfield’s message…
Upbeat Triplets Breaking Free From the Downbeat
This month we’re going to look at quarter- and 8th-note-triplet rhythms that are offset to the upbeats. When we talk about upbeats, we’re usually referring to the “&” counts between the quarter notes in a straight 8th or swung context.…
News
Keep up to date with the drum world via news items, interviews, lists, and more
VAN HALEN’S ‘BALANCE’ EXPANDED EDITION CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH UNRELEASED TRACKS WITH MODERN DRUMMER LEGEND ALEX VAN HALEN
Rock fans and drummers alike have reason to celebrate this summer as Rhino Records announces the arrival of Van Halen’s “Balance (Expanded Edition)”—a deluxe reissue of the band’s multi-platinum 1995 classic. Landing August 15 on 2LP, 2CD, and Blu-ray, the…
Steve Smith & Vital Information NEW PERSPECTIVE 2025 East Coast Tour
Steve Smith & Vital Information featuring Steve Smith on drums, Manuel Valera on keyboards and Janek Gwizdala on bass, embark on an East Coast Tour starting Thursday, June 19 at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in Portsmouth, NH followed by…
Mike Portnoy Challenges Son Max to Learn Dream Theater’s “Honor Thy Father” on the Spot: Watch
Legendary drummer Mike Portnoy surprised his son Max by challenging him to learn and perform the Dream Theater song “Honor Thy Father” on the spot in a new Father’s Day video from the folks at Drumeo. Mike, who founded Dream…
Shane Hawkins Performs Taylor Hawkins’ Real Favorite Foo Fighters Song to Play: Watch
At a drum clinic in England, Shane Hawkins, the son of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, revealed that his dad’s favorite Foos song to play was actually the track “Low,” not the tune “Aurora,” as commonly suggested. Shane took…
Videos
Rig rundowns, play-throughs, interviews, and more featuring your favorite drummers
Danny Carey - TOOL - Tour Kit Rundown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ7oqWdMvt8 Welcome, fellow audiophiles, drumming enthusiasts, TOOL fans, and lovers of all things progressive! Today, we've scored an exclusive backstage peek into the rhythmic labyrinth that is Danny Carey's drum kingdom for TOOL's Fear Inoculum Tour. Surrounded by instruments, Danny…
Gear
Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories
The 100 Year History of the Modern Drum Set
TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription 49+ Years of Archives 500+ Back Issues Drum Channel Lesson Videos Interviews, Lessons & Gear Reviews from Drum Legends Subscribe Now…
SOME MOST EXCELLENT FOOTWORK!
TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription 49+ Years of Archives 500+ Back Issues Drum Channel Lesson Videos Interviews, Lessons & Gear Reviews from Drum Legends Subscribe Now…
EVANS REALFEEL 10" ATTACKTILE PAD SCHOLASTIC PACK
TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription 49+ Years of Archives 500+ Back Issues Drum Channel Lesson Videos Interviews, Lessons & Gear Reviews from Drum Legends Subscribe Now…
DW SONICPLY SHELLS, NEW HEADPHONES FROM BEYERDYNAMIC
TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription 49+ Years of Archives 500+ Back Issues Drum Channel Lesson Videos Interviews, Lessons & Gear Reviews from Drum Legends Subscribe Now…
More from the Frankie Banali Collection
TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription 49+ Years of Archives 500+ Back Issues Drum Channel Lesson Videos Interviews, Lessons & Gear Reviews from Drum Legends Subscribe Now…
Rebounding with Excellence.
TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription 49+ Years of Archives 500+ Back Issues Drum Channel Lesson Videos Interviews, Lessons & Gear Reviews from Drum Legends Subscribe Now…
Kit of the Month
Sonny’s Gold Sparkle Founders Reserve Kit
TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription 49+ Years of Archives 500+ Back Issues Drum Channel Lesson Videos Interviews, Lessons &…
Continue ReadingPodcasts
Host David Frangioni goes in-depth with the biggest names in drumming
Todd Sucherman - Styx - Modern Drummer Podcast with David Frangioni #36
EXCLUSIVE: The wait is over—Todd Sucherman’s Q&A Podcast has landed! Joined by his longtime drum tech Mark Petrocelli, Todd answers your top questions submitted via social media. Host David Frangioni guides the conversation, digging into the stories, tips, and insights…
Johnny Rabb - Collective Soul - Modern Drummer Podcast with David Frangioni #35
Modern Drummer catches up with Collective Soul drummer Johnny Rabb and his longtime drum tech Wayne Shovlin backstage in West Palm Beach, Florida, during the Summer Camp with Trucks Tour. Hosted by David Frangioni, this episode of the Modern Drummer…
Jack Lawless - Jonas Brothers - Modern Drummer Podcast with David Frangioni #34
As promised, here is the podcast with Jack Lawless of the Jonas Brothers, filmed during their visit to the Seminole Hard Rock Live last year. Enjoy! Check out Jack's rundown here: • Jack Lawless - Jonas Brothers - Tour ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3a_TXrSK1U&list=PLk9v-UDiMeUgmap-dWI4ZFSn47nLUmwlG&index=3
Jim Sonefeld - Modern Drummer Podcast with David Frangioni #33
Modern Drummer sat down with Jim Sonefeld of Hootie and the Blowfish while on the Summer Camp with Trucks tour. Watch Jim's Tour Kit Rundown Here: • Jim Sonefeld - Hootie & The Blowfish ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCa1GA1yKdI&list=PLk9v-UDiMeUgmap-dWI4ZFSn47nLUmwlG&index=5
Hall of Fame
A look back at the legendary drummers elected to Modern Drummer’s Hall of Fame
Keith Moon Elected to Hall of Fame in 1982
Excerpted from the September 2003 issue In his last interview, published posthumously in October 1978, Keith told International Musician and Recording World, “You can’t work out things too much. We do certain build-ups and things, but you can run into…
John Bonham Elected to Hall of Fame in 1981
Excerpted from the John Bonham tribute issue, July 1984 John Bonham played, for the most part, a very simple drumkit, consisting of a 14x26 bass drum, a 12x15 small tom—at first mounted on a snare stand and later on the…
Buddy Rich Elected to Hall of Fame in 1980
Excerpted from the January 1977 issue When it comes to interviewing Buddy, one must learn to expect the unexpected. You can end up with a first rate story, or no story at all. He’s a very intense human being, with…
Gene Krupa Elected to Hall of Fame in 1979
Excerpted from the October/November 1979 issue “I’m happy that I succeeded in doing two things: I made the drummer a highpriced guy, and I was able to draw more people to jazz.” The above quote of drum master Gene Krupa…
