An Editor's Overview
Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Nuggets of Drum Wisdom
In addition to interviewing some of the most cutting-edge drummers on the planet, we also like to check in with some of the living legends of our instrument, those unique personalities who paved the way for us years ago and continue to inspire future generations via their ageless artistry and sage teachings.
Enduring Effort
The first time I saw MD at a shopping mall bookstore in the early 2000s, I remember thinking, Wait, someone makes a magazine for US?
Long Live Rock!
Perhaps more than any other band on the planet, Dave Grohl’s post-Nirvana vehicle represents the very heights of grandeur that rock can still attain.
It Was Twenty Years Ago....
You can keep up with what’s going on at NAMM by checking in at moderndrummer.com and at our social-media pages.
Props to the Drum Shops
When was the last time you visited a music store or drum shop? If you’re like me, you’re probably spending less and less time hanging and talking shop with other local drummers and musicians while picking up a new pair…
Voices Refined
In conversation, this month’s cover artist, Arejay Hale, exudes excitement. That should come as no surprise if you’ve ever seen him play with Halestorm, the rock group he started as a youngster. But as I listened back to our conversation…
Drums: The Secret to Happiness
Last summer my family and I decided to move out of the house we’d been living in for thirteen years, and into a new one. Among other things, the old place didn’t have a basement, and the jazz-size drumkit we…
Hidden Treasures
Hello, everyone in MD land. I hope your summer went well. There were so many classic and new bands out on the road; hopefully you got to enjoy a few of those live shows. And hopefully you didn’t miss last…
Pre-Gig Calibration
Being an employable drummer in 2018 carries more demands than it did in 1918, especially when it comes to melding live performances with the variety of A/V technology being used by most pop, rock, and R&B artists these days. And…
On the Road
I love our new series, “It Happened on the Road,” and this month’s piece on Courtney Barnett’s Dave Mudie is no exception. It’s wild considering what can happen when you throw a group of musicians into a bus, van, plane,…
Drum Journalism
Every once in a while when I’m trying to sound important in an editorial meeting, I’ll pull out this line: “We can never forget that even though we’re all drummers around this table, it’s just as crucial that we’re journalists…
The Boys Are Back in Town!
Hi, everyone. It feels as though I was just wishing you a happy New Year and we were all freezing in the cold—especially here in the northeast—and now I’m saying, “Happy summer!” TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
A Year in Transition
There have been numerous landmark events in music history that have made certain years seem more significant than others, such as the death of Johann Sebastian Bach in 1750, which signified the end of the Baroque period, or the dawn…
Finding a Balance
Drummers often grapple with certain questions or problems that could be answered by simply finding the right balance between two choices. For example, a popular debate among drummers is the choice between using traditional or matched grip. Or some players…
