Polyrhythm Books, Professor, Distinguished Drummer: Pete Magadini
Drumming history has a wonderful lineage of fantastic and illustrious teachers: George Stone, Gene Krupa, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Joe Morello, Gary Chester, Joe Porcaro, Gary Chaffee, Peter Erskine, Carmine Appice, John Riley, Pete Magadini, and many more. According to…
Myles and Layne Ulrich of Taipei Houston
Being the sons of a Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame drummer (Metallica’s Lars Ulrich,) comes with its own set of challenges and ever-evolving history. But Layne and Myles Ulrich are not exactly shy and retiring. In fact, they are…
Jamie Wollam
The Inner Workings of Tears For Fears Everyone wants to be a “rockstar.” The fame, the lights, the constant validation…while this lifestyle is appealing for most, it includes certain unseen realities and obstacles that are only faced once in the…
Chris Johnson
From Gospel to Gaga… and Everything In-Between! On the heels of another huge Lady Gaga tour, and a newborn son, drummer Chris Johnson has a lot to smile about. The last 20 years have been filled with tours with Rihanna,…
News
Keep up to date with the drum world via news items, interviews, lists, and more
Today, Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain launches Metal Sticks, a powerhouse Heavy Metal show with Modern Drummer CEO David Frangioni
Nicko McBrain, the iconic drummer of Iron Maiden for 42 years, recently retired from touring, has teamed up with Modern Drummer CEO, David Frangioni to bring fans the Heavy Metal podcast they’ve been waiting for: Metal Sticks! Dedicated to interviewing…
Simple Plan, Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3, and Lolo.
Modern Drummer last saw Simple Plan in 2023 with Sum 41 and the Offspring. Since then, they have toured with Avril Lavigne, released a documentary, and are currently on their 25th anniversary tour along with Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3, and…
Nandi Bushell “Would Have Said YES in a Heartbeat” If Offered Foo Fighters Drummer Gig
Nandi Bushell, the 15-year-old drumming sensation who once defeated Dave Grohl in a drum battle, says she “would have said YES in a heartbeat” if offered Foo Fighters’ recently vacant drummer position. While the Foos have made no official announcement…
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…
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 History of the Bass Drum Pedal and Sock Pedals
As a drum collector I quickly became fascinated with early bass drum pedals and how they evolved over time to what we know today as the modern-day bass drum pedal. The bass drum is the driving force of our musical…
Trinity Cymbals: 16" Brilliant Holey China
Trinity Cymbals continues to build momentum in the drumming world, carving out space alongside other established cymbal manufacturers. I recently ran into the Trinity team at the 2025 Music City Drum Show in Nashville, TN. They had an impressive display…
Acon Digital - Drum Production Suite
Acon Digital has earned respect among engineers and producers with several flagship products in different areas of audio production. They’ve built a reputation for solving practical problems such as noise and unwanted reverb, while providing transparent, musical processing tools that…
Drum Baffles: Out of the Cage with Less Bleeding
For any drummer who has had the experience of the clear, three-sided drum cage, Drum Baffles are here! No more cages! Matthew Schallmo of Drum Baffles has identified one of the main reasons why people need drum cages: The CYMBALS!…
New Products from Latin Percussion, Waves, Sensaphonics, and News from Porter & Davies, Sonique Drums, and Headhunter Drumsticks
Latin Percussion Announces New World Beat Instruments Latin Percussion (LP®) is excited to announce LP® World Beat, a curated collection of family friendly recreational rhythm-making products. LP World Beat instruments have been developed in collaboration with effervescent artist, Mona Tavakoli with the lively aesthetic…
Alex Van Halen Signature Snares
It’s difficult to describe the massive influence that Alex Van Halen had on generations of drummers. His explosive energy, thunderous double bass technique, and unique snare sound combined with his blazing speed and showmanship helped redefine the drummer’s role in…
Kit of the Month
Satin Flame Memories and Inspiration
This month’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Justin Ryan. It is a heartwarming story in which every drummer can relate. Here are Justin’s thoughts on this very special instrument, “My…
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…
