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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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Back to School
“School days, school daysDear old golden rule daysReadin’ and drummin’ and ‘rithmeticTaught to the tune of a signature stick …” Most of you may not be old enough to remember the tune, and my apologies for changing a couple of…
Ginger Baker’s Drum Workshop Collector’s Series 2015 Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp Kit
In 2015 Ginger Baker took part in that year’s edition of the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, where campers are mentored by legendary rock musicians- with whom they get to perform at the end of the camp. Citing the pain…
Past, Present, and Future
Music, drumming, and art (in general) is about past, present, and future. It’s a fine line to walk. If you are too much in the past, you are an out of touch dinosaur. If you are too much in the…
