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August 2014
August 2014
Features

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…

Story by Ken Micallef | Photos by Alex Solca
Features

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…

by Ken Micallef
Features

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…

by Drew Schultz
Education

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.…

by Bill Bachman
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News

Keep up to date with the drum world via news items, interviews, lists, and more

2023 Readers Poll: CJ Thompson Wins "Hip-Hop"

The winner of the "Hip-Hop" category in Modern Drummer's 2023 Readers Poll is... CJ Thompson! Thompson has spent a great deal of the last year playing for Charlie Puth, but his collaborative streak is definitely noteworthy: In the last year,…

Modern Drummer
Sep 22, 2023

2023 Readers Poll: Dave Weckl Wins "Jazz Fusion"

The winner of the "Jazz Fusion" category in Modern Drummer's 2023 Readers Poll is... Dave Weckl! The Modern Drummer Hall of Famer has had yet another prolific year, and remains a significant inspiration to drummers everywhere. He's stayed busy throughout the last…

Modern Drummer
Sep 21, 2023

10 Shoegaze Albums Slowdive’s Simon Scott Thinks Everyone Should Own

Crate Digging is a recurring feature that takes a deep dive into music history to turn up several albums all music fans should know. In this edition, Slowdive drummer Simon Scott goes through 10 essential shoegaze albums. From the first…

Consequence
Sep 5, 2023

Iron Maiden Drummer Nicko McBrain Reveals He Suffered a Stroke in Early 2023

Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has revealed that he suffered a stroke back in January. McBrain issued a written statement and posted a video message via Iron Maiden’s website, informing fans that he was temporarily paralyzed on his right side.…

Consequence
Aug 3, 2023
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Videos

Rig rundowns, play-throughs, interviews, and more featuring your favorite drummers

Jeremy Colson: Steve Vai Tour Kit Rundown

Jeremy Colson: Steve Vai Tour Kit Rundown

Jeremy Colson gives Modern Drummer a glimpse of the stage kit for Steve Vai's 10-week tour in 2022. Colson plays on a sea-foam green-colored Tama birch walnut kit. He also plays with Sabian cymbals, including a max stack that Colson…

Modern Drummer
Jul 11, 2023
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Gear

Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories

Pearl and Drummer Dennis Chambers Create New 10-over 8 Signature Snare.

Pearl and Drummer Dennis Chambers Create New 10-over 8 Signature Snare.

TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now All Access (Print + Digital) USA $179.99…

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2023
Vic Firth Terra™ Series

Vic Firth Terra™ Series

TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now All Access (Print + Digital) USA $179.99…

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2023
Roland Zenology Pro

Roland Zenology Pro

TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now All Access (Print + Digital) USA $179.99…

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2023
Latin Percussion Launches New Range of Frame Drums

Latin Percussion Launches New Range of Frame Drums

TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now All Access (Print + Digital) USA $179.99…

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2023
ddrum Dominion Birch 4PC Shell Pack With Paper White Birch Wrap Quality Drums, Compact Price

ddrum Dominion Birch 4PC Shell Pack With Paper White Birch Wrap Quality Drums, Compact Price

TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now All Access (Print + Digital) USA $179.99…

By Jason Mehler
Aug 31, 2023
ProMark Retractable Nylon Brushes

ProMark Retractable Nylon Brushes

TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now All Access (Print + Digital) USA $179.99…

By Brian Hill
Aug 31, 2023
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Kit of the Month

Dave Sundeen’s Custom Kit

TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now…

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Podcasts

Host John DeChristopher goes in-depth with the biggest names in drumming

This Week's Episode!

Episode 140: My Top 10 most influential albums with Mark Guiliana

From the archives, My Top 10 with Mark Guiliana, Grammy-nominated American drummer, composer and leader of the band Beat Music. Mark G walks us thru his Top 10 most influential albums.

Modern Drummer
Sep 14, 2023

Episode 139: My Top 10 Solo Drum Albums with Glenn Kotche

From the archive, Glenn walks us thru his Top 10 favorite solo Drum & Percussion albums.

Modern Drummer
Sep 7, 2023

Episode 138: My Top 10 Drum Tracks

Oft-Overlooked Drum Tracks With Styx’s Todd Sucherman

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2023

Episode 137: David Frangioni With Benny Greb

From the archives, Thrill to "The Art of Groove" with Benny Greb with Host David Frangioni

Modern Drummer
Aug 24, 2023
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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…

Story by T. Bruce Wittet
Jan 10, 2022

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…

Story by T. Bruce Wittet
Jan 10, 2022

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…

Story by Jim Warchol
Jan 10, 2022

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…

Story by Karen Larcombe
Jan 10, 2022
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