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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.

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Tama’s Dream Theater Custom Logo kit

The kit shown here is from Dream Theater’s 2002-04 tour. It was created by Tama drums to meet Mike’s imaginative specifications and was dubbed “The Siamese Monster” because it essentially consists of two conjoined kits. The massive collection of drums…

Modern Drummer
Jan 1, 2023

Carl and I

This month’s Modern Drummer documents another milestone in our drumming community’s storied history: Carl Palmer and the reunion tour of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It’s hard to believe that EL&P has not performed for many years, but they’re back, and…

Modern Drummer
Oct 31, 2022

Eric Carr inspires Kyle Schneider and “Fred.”

This month’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Kyle Schneider. The story that accompanies this kit is inspirational, educational, and touching. We’ll let Kyle tell the rest… “In 1985, I watched KISS: Animalize Live and I became completely…

Modern Drummer
Oct 31, 2022

What Drummer’s Don’t Like

There are reminders, and then there are painful reminders. I was on the receiving end of a most-unpleasant reminder recently concerning what I don’t like, and I thought it would be useful to pivot the negative experience into a teachable…

By Peter Erskine
Oct 31, 2022

Hal Blaine’s Ludwig and Blaemire 1960s and 70s Studio Kit

The unique studio kit that Hal Blaine designed (shown here) started with a Ludwig Super Classic blue sparkle bass drum and single-headed floor tom, along with a 6.5 X14 Supraphonic chrome snare drum (into which Hal etched his initials.) Then…

Modern Drummer
Oct 31, 2022
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OUT NOW! November 2022 – Volume 46 • Number 11

Modern Drummer is going to start spotlighting certain 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…

Modern Drummer
Oct 31, 2022

The Old and The New

As this month’s issue was coming together, I thought of the interesting mix of features that we have. There is no newer and more cutting-edge drummer and producer around today than Butch Vig. His use of electronics with his drumming…

Modern Drummer
Sep 30, 2022

Mapex MyDenity is no Gimikk

This month Modern Drummer’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Josh Tilton. It is a Mapex MyDenity series kit. He uses it for his band Gimikk which plays music from 70’s classic rock to modern pop. In speaking…

Modern Drummer
Sep 30, 2022

“The Little Things”

First impressions can be deceiving, but they can also be quite revealing. When it comes to music, we will often form an opinion or judgement based on just a few notes’ worth of playing. Most recently, I auditioned a drummer…

By Peter Erskine
Sep 30, 2022

OUT NOW! October 2022 Recordings in the Spotlight Volume 46 • Number 10

This month Modern Drummer is going to start spotlighting certain 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…

Modern Drummer
Sep 30, 2022

Fredy Studer

June 16, 1948-August 22, 2022 Fredy Studer was a drumming and musical renaissance man. He was a musician that played jazz and interpreted 20th Century Classical music. He was a stalwart of the European jazz scene, a bandleader and a…

Modern Drummer
Sep 30, 2022

Ludwig Super Classic Silver Sparkle Kit

The kit shown here represents Joe Morello’s abiding sense of individuality. Where most of his jazz contemporaries in the 1950s and 60s played Gretsch drums, Joe opted to go with Ludwig- a brand more closely associated with Ringo Starr, Ginger…

Modern Drummer
Sep 30, 2022
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Drumming Surprises!

I must admit I often get surprised by interviewing certain drummers. This month I had the pleasure to interview double bass drum groundbreaker Joe Franco, Megadeth’s Dirk Verbeuren, and Drumology’s Rob Silverman I have taught from Joe Franco’s amazing book…

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2022

Corey’s Kit

This month’s Kit of the Month comes from Canada’s Corey Chernesky. His impressive Tama SuperStar Birch Kit features a 7×8 Rack Tom, 8×10 Rack Tom, 9×12 Rack Tom, 12×14 Floor Tom, 14×16 Floor Tom, and 18×22 Kick Drums. His backbeats…

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2022
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