Drummer News, Stories, Reviews | Modern Drummer Magazine
January 1985
January 1985
Features

Yes's Alan White

You can't blame Alan White of Yes for smiling. It's a lazy sort of grin, to be sure. It's the kind that hardly takes an effort to rouse. But it's also a supremely confident, "I told you so" sort of…

by Robert Santelli
Features

Shelly Manne - The Last Interview

It was 1957, I was 16 years old, and I had no business being on the bandstand, but there I was sitting in with Russ Freeman on piano and some local jazz musicians at the B/ackhawk in San Francisco's Tenderloin…

by Charles M. Bernstein
Features

Ollie Brown — Breakin’ Out

Every once in a while you stumble across someone who is articulate and personable, and who will talk about drums and drumming 'til the cows come home without becoming boring. Ollie Brown is such a person. Big in size, he…

by Susan Alexander
Features

Nick Mason - Finding His Own Way

The name Pink Floyd conjures up all sorts of memories—some very distant and others not so long ago. Over a span of 17years, they have given us such classic records as A Saucerful Of Secrets (1968), The Dark Side Of…

by Robyn Flans

News

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

Gretsch's 140th Anniversary Concert in NYC: Photo Gallery

On May 23rd, 2023, Gretsch drums returned to New York City for a remarkable 140th anniversary celebration. The South Carolina-based drum company organized a special one-night-only concert at The Cutting Room in New York City to honor the rich history…

Modern Drummer
Jun 1, 2023

Remembering John Bonham: Drummers Pay Tribute to the Led Zeppelin Legend

Heavy Consequence contributor Greg Prato is also the author of several rock books. His 2020 oral history, titled BONZO: 30 Rock Drummers Remember the Legendary John Bonham, pays tribute to late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. Below he shares excerpts…

Consequence
May 31, 2023

Rock'n'Roll Fantasy Camp Announces July Edition in NYC

If you've ever wanted to live out your rockstar dreams, Rock'n'Roll Fantasy Camp is here to make that possible. Taking place in New York City, Rock'n'Roll Fantasy Camp will go down from July 13th-16th, 2023. You'll have an opportunity to…

Modern Drummer
May 26, 2023

Kirk Arrington, Longtime Metal Church Drummer, Dead at 61

Longtime Metal Church drummer Kirk Arrington died Monday, May 22nd, at the age of 61. The band shared the news of Arrington’s passing in a social media statement on Monday night, writing, “We just received the sad news, Kirk Arrington…

Consequence
May 23, 2023
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Videos

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

Mike Portnoy: The Winery Dogs' Tour Kit Rundown

Mike Portnoy: The Winery Dogs' Tour Kit Rundown

Join The Winery Dogs drummer and Modern Drummer's May 2023 cover star Mike Portnoy as he gives us a rundown of his drum kit. Portnoy is currently on tour with The Winery Dogs, and in typical Portnoy fashion, his kit…

Modern Drummer
May 30, 2023
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Gear

Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories

Tone Wings Add Some Focus to Your Drum Tone

Tone Wings Add Some Focus to Your Drum Tone

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I first saw Tone Wings by Liquid Sound technologies. It’s not your every-day drum product. At first glance, you might think they fell off a piece of expensive furniture. However, garnering my…

By Jason Mehler
May 31, 2023
Evans Hybrid Sensory Percussion Sound System An Open Canvas for Sonic Expression

Evans Hybrid Sensory Percussion Sound System An Open Canvas for Sonic Expression

As a product that began as a successful Kickstarter campaign by Sunhouse Technologies, Sensory Percussion™ has matured and evolved thanks to a partnership with EVANS drumheads. The joint venture has created the new EVANS Hybrid Sensory Percussion Sound System. This…

By Jason Mehler
May 31, 2023
Outlaw Drums Sound Control Technology Snare  A Clean Sounding, Extremely Stable, Stave Constructed Snare Drum

Outlaw Drums Sound Control Technology Snare A Clean Sounding, Extremely Stable, Stave Constructed Snare Drum

Outlaw Drums are known as high quality stave construction drums that are built from centuries-old wood. They ooze with history. For anyone who owns one of these drums, they know how great they sound. Yet, in some circumstances and environments,…

By Brian Hill
May 31, 2023
beyerdynamic Reimagines its Classic M Series Microphones

beyerdynamic Reimagines its Classic M Series Microphones

beyerdynamic – the preferred audio brand for live music and studio professionals globally – is unveiling a redesign of its storied M Series mics at NAMM 2023. The iconic M Series, which has recorded Jimi Hendrix’s explosive guitar riffs and…

Modern Drummer
May 31, 2023
Latin Percussion Launch Panderos De Plena Folkloric Puerto Rican Drums

Latin Percussion Launch Panderos De Plena Folkloric Puerto Rican Drums

Latin Percussion is pleased to present its new Panderos De Plena, a collection of handheld drums to honor the rhythmic heritage and culture Puerto Rico. This further expands the brands extensive range of professional world and ethnic percussion instruments. Latin…

Modern Drummer
May 31, 2023
Gretsch Drums Launch Limited Edition 140th Anniversary Kit

Gretsch Drums Launch Limited Edition 140th Anniversary Kit

When Friedrich Gretsch opened a small music shop in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1883, no one expected his drums would become one of the most respected, iconic brands in music history. To celebrate, Gretsch is proud to present the Limited Edition…

Modern Drummer
May 31, 2023
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Kit of the Month

Taurus Lovely’s “Crown of Thorns” kit

Taurus Lovely is the touring drummer for the Tina Turner Broadway show entitled Tina. For Modern Drummer’s Kit of the Month, Taurus has brought us his Treehouse custom “Crown of Thorns” drum kit.…

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Podcasts

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

John DeChristopher Live From My Drum Room With Cady Zildjian

John’s guest is Cady Zildjian. Cady is the Vice Chair Board of Directors for the Zildjian Company. She is the eldest of the 15th generation of the Zildjian Family and the daughter of Debbie Zildjian, granddaughter of Armand Zildjian and…

Modern Drummer
Jun 1, 2023

John DeChristopher Live From My Drum Room With Vinnie Colaiuta

From the archives, this episode of Live From My Drum Room With Vinnie Colaiuta! originally aired on January 29, 2022.  John’s guest is legendary drummer, Vinnie Colaiuta! John and Vinnie discuss Vinnie's years at Berklee College of Music and living in…

Modern Drummer
May 25, 2023

John DeChristopher Live From My Drum Room With Cindy Blackman Santana

John’s guest is the incomparable Cindy Blackman Santana! Cindy talks about her formative years as a drummer and hearing Max Roach for the first time, and shortly after, the great Tony Williams and the influence Tony has on her playing.…

Modern Drummer
May 18, 2023

John DeChristopher Live From My Drum Room With Jeff "Tain" Watts

John’s guest is legendary Jazz drummer, composer, band leader and seven-time Grammy winner, Jeff “Tain” Watts. John and Jeff talk about when they met in 1980 while Jeff was attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Jeff’s background in Classical…

Modern Drummer
May 11, 2023
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Hall of Fame

A look back at the legendary drummers elected to Modern Drummer’s Hall of Fame

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

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

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

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
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