May 1982
May 1982
Features

Aynsley Dunbar

Did you ever meet someone who speaks only when it matters? And who means everything he says? Aynsley Dunbar plays drums like that.

by Rick Mattingly
Features

Alex Acuna - Transcending All Influences

At 37, L.A.-based Alex Acuna could honestly call himself—if he weren't so self effacing—one of the world's most versatile drummer/percussionists.

by Michael Rozek
Features

Marty Morrell: Beyond The Glory

The night before I was to interview Marty Morrell, long-time drummer with the late jazz pianist Bill Evans, I sat up late in a downtown Toronto highrise listening to albums recorded in New York and Tokyo: Marty trading fours with…

by T. Bruce Wittet
Features

Derek Hess - Rossington Collins Band

Derek Hess plays drums with the Rossington Collins Band, a group made up of Lynyrd Skynyrd band members plus some new faces.

by Scott K. Fish
Advertisement

News

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

Ringo Starr Celebrates 85th Birthday With Peace, Love, and Musical Tribute in Beverly Hills

Ringo Starr celebrated his 85th birthday at his Peace & Love Statue in Beverly Hills, CA on July 7th with current and former All Starr band members, friends, celebrities, his kids, and grandkids. February 9th, 1964, was a day that…

Modern Drummer
Jul 14, 2025

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2025

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is a one-of-a-kind experience. The festival includes all genres of music including Jazz, Blues, Rock, Country, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Zydeco, Bluegrass, Jam-Band, Alternative-Rock, Brass Band, and New Orleans’ own Mardi Gras Indians. In 2019 the…

Modern Drummer
Jul 7, 2025

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…

Consequence
Jun 13, 2025

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…

Consequence
Jun 2, 2025
View All News

5th Annual Music City Drum Show

Get tickets

Videos

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

Danny Carey - TOOL - Tour Kit Rundown

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…

Modern Drummer
Mar 10, 2024
View All Videos
Advertisement

Gear

Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories

The 100 Year History of the Modern Drum Set

The 100 Year History of the Modern Drum Set

It’s difficult to imagine that the drum set of today has only been in existence for just over 100 years. The history of the modern drum set began in the late 1800’s, with a drummer being able to play the…

By Tim Northup
Jul 1, 2025
SOME MOST EXCELLENT FOOTWORK!

SOME MOST EXCELLENT FOOTWORK!

Yamaha Corporation is Making Waves again with their new high-end kick and two legged hi-hat pedals! Modern Drummer received a box full of these impressive pedals to take through their paces and see what we thought of them. What we…

By Brian Hill
Jul 1, 2025
EVANS REALFEEL 10" ATTACKTILE PAD SCHOLASTIC PACK

EVANS REALFEEL 10" ATTACKTILE PAD SCHOLASTIC PACK

The RealFeel drum pad was a trusted favorite among drummers long before it became part of the Evans (D’Addario) lineup. I still have my original HQ Percussion double-sided 12” RealFeel from the early 2000’s. The newer Evans model with its…

By Jason Mehler
Jul 1, 2025
DW SONICPLY SHELLS, NEW HEADPHONES FROM BEYERDYNAMIC

DW SONICPLY SHELLS, NEW HEADPHONES FROM BEYERDYNAMIC

Drum Workshop SonicPly Shells Drum Workshop has introduced SonicPly drum shells to the Collector’s Series, the first new shell construction since PurpleCore in 2021. Developed by DW’s “woodologist,” John Good, the latest design blends the best characteristics of wood and metal to offer a new,…

Modern Drummer
Jul 1, 2025
More from the Frankie Banali Collection

More from the Frankie Banali Collection

Frankie Banali was best known as a member of Quiet Riot, the Los Angeles based metal band whose 1983 breakout album Metal Health was the first heavy metal album to top the Billboard album chart. They racked up huge hits…

By Donn Bennett
Jun 1, 2025
Rebounding with Excellence.

Rebounding with Excellence.

ProMark Drumsticks were founded in 1957 by Herb Brochstein. Since that period, ProMark has evolved to become a leading staple in drumstick innovation and manufacturing. As is commonly known today, the company is now owned and operated by D’Addario. Since…

By Brian Hill
Jun 1, 2025
View All Reviews

Kit of the Month

Sonny’s Gold Sparkle Founders Reserve Kit

This month’s Modern Drummer Kit of the Month comes to us from Sonny Flint. Sonny’s main rock kit is a hand-crafted British Drum Company Founders Reserve kit with a Gold Sparkle wrap, roundover bearing…

Continue Reading

Podcasts

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…

Modern Drummer
Apr 20, 2025

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…

Modern Drummer
Apr 11, 2025

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

Modern Drummer
Apr 3, 2025

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

Modern Drummer
Mar 27, 2025
View All Podcasts

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
View All Collection
Advertisement