In the last few years Modern Drummer has featured several drummers that have filled a famous gig after the original drummer has left, retired, or passed away. The most recent example is our last two cover features, Gregg Potter and Anika Nilles. They are sitting on the two of the hottest drum seats in musical history, Buddy Rich’s and Neil Peart’s. As the history of music rolls on, this will be a common occurrence. People and drummers don’t live forever, but music does! Stepping into the musical shoes of a great drummer is a highly pressurized situation, and we should appreciate that these drummers are keeping excellent music alive. In the history of music many great drummers have stepped into a band after another equally great drummer has left. And none of us can appreciate these situations until we have been lucky enough to do it ourselves. Jimmy Cobb came […]

September 2026 Issue