Departments

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.

Advertisement

It’s a New Year, Twelve Advice’s of the Holidays

Now is a good time to pass along some drumming tips that are important to me, and I hope that you will find these helpful as well. I will list them in numerical sequence, but not necessarily in any order.…

Peter Erskine
Dec 31, 2023

Mikkey Dee’s Scorpions 2022 Vegas Residency Kit

  This Sonor SQ2 kit was built for Mikkey Dee and the Scorpions 2022 Vegas residency. It was also used for the Scorpions Rock Believer Tour. The snare the Mikkey is using on this kit is the same dimension drum…

Modern Drummer
Dec 1, 2023

Out Now! December 2023

Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in the…

Modern Drummer
Dec 1, 2023

Neil Peart Scholarship & Lifetime Achievement Award

  The Neil Peart Spirit of Drumming Scholarship The Neil Peart Scholarship, in collaboration with Neil’s wife Carrie and Modern Drummer, is proud to present the second recipient of the Neil Peart Spirit of Drumming Scholarship to Aimee Peckham. The…

Modern Drummer
Dec 1, 2023

Peter Erskine remembers Dom Famularo

The recent passing of Dom Famularo left the drum world reeling in loss. Many of us knew that Dom had been bravely fighting the pancreatic cancer that was ravaging his system, and his relatively brief period of remission brought a…

Peter Erskine
Dec 1, 2023
Advertisement

Living Dead Drums

This month’s Kit of the Month comes from drummer Nick Mason. Nick has sent pictures of his custom finished Yamaha Stage Custom set. Nick is known as the “Living Dead Drummer” and plays Yamaha Drums and Paiste Cymbals. His drums…

Modern Drummer
Dec 1, 2023

Dom Famularo 1953-2023

Drummers don’t often get a chance to retire, and if they do, our community of drummers doesn’t give people gold watches or big retirement sendoffs. Maybe it’s because musicians usually don’t really want or need to retire “officially”, not to…

Modern Drummer
Dec 1, 2023

Nick Mason’s Solo Tour Set

Drums: Drum Workshop. Custom Painted by Katy Hepburn (Recreation of 1973 Ludwig Kit influenced by Katsushika Hokusa) Bass Drums: 20” and 22 “.  Toms: 10”, 12”, 13”, 14”, 16” , 18”. Snare: DW Edge 14” Cymbals: Paiste. Prototype 8” Micro…

Modern Drummer
Nov 1, 2023

OUT NOW! November 2023

Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in the…

Modern Drummer
Nov 1, 2023

Drummer and A&R Person, Dave Rath - It’s the Drums That Makes People Move

  Maybe you are in a band that is trying to “make it” and get signed, but young musicians and bands must navigate a lot of things these days. And with many of those things, come different people with different…

By Mark Griffith
Nov 1, 2023

"The Deathless Horsie"

Recorded live at the Odeon Hammersmith in London England on February 19th, 1979, Frank Zappa’s “The Deathless Horsie” was the show opener and appeared on the recording Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar. Vinnie Colaiuta’s drumming is an unbelievable display…

Transcription by Marc Atkinson
Nov 1, 2023

Drummers Make the World Go ‘Round

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Avedis Zildjian Company. Founded in 1623, Zildjian is the oldest musical instrument company in the world as well as the oldest company in the USA. Zildjian has a great past because it…

By Peter Erskine
Nov 1, 2023
Advertisement

Mysterious Traveller

This month’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Phil Raskin. This Slingerland 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 set was originally owned by drummer and educator Skip Hadden. The drums originally had a natural finish but are now finished…

Modern Drummer
Nov 1, 2023

Transcriptions. Vocabulary.

This month Modern Drummer is glad to welcome Marc Atkinson. Marc’s transcription of Vinnie Colaiuta’s drumming on Frank Zappa’s “The Deathless Horsie” will astound you and leave you laughing and bewildered. Marc’s precision, attention to detail, and his ability to…

Mark Griffith
Nov 1, 2023
Advertisement