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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.
Ed Shaughnessy
For those fortunate enough to have grown up somewhere between 1965 and 1991, whose parents allowed them to stay up until 11:30 at least to hear the famous downbeat to Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, drummer Ed Shaughnessy had to have…
Quiet Riot’s Frankie Banali
Frankie Banali was born in Queens, New York, to Italian immigrants Jack and Martha Banali. In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles, where he spent years honing his craft with many bands on the local scene. In time, he went…
Vinnie Colaiuta on Bromberg Plays Hendrix, Session Work, Retirement, and More
Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix passed away fifty years ago. This seems unimaginable, as his music, message, and influence are just as powerful and relevant today as they were during his few short years leading a musical revolution for freedom of…
CRITIQUE
RECORDINGS Oz Noy Snapdragon The exploratory guitarist and composer calls upon three drumming legends to cultivate this colorful crop of groovy, multicultural material. This smorgasbord of styles and sounds on Oz Noy’s Snapdragon—jazz, R&B, funk, rock, Latin, boogaloo—provides a bounty…
Trixon: Reborn!
This vintage white marine pearl Trixon kit comes to us from Chicago-based reader Jim Murray, who explains that the set was custom-built for him by superior craftsman Bain Creasy, of Huntington, WV, who has been restoring drums for over fifty…
I’ve learned probably the most from bass players -Tony Williams
I’ve learned probably the most from bass players. Drummers have to work closely with bassists, and I’ve been trying to understand bass players. It’s not just playing your instrument, getting off on how good you are alone. It’s also seeing…
Reset, Reflect, and Revive
Welcome to the March 2021 issue of Modern Drummer. Historically, this is the issue that we create and ship to the annual Winter NAMM Show. Like pretty much every live event planned for 2020 and beyond, however, the in-person 2021…
What are your drumming resolutions for 2021?
Develop my feel, deepen my pocket, and continue composing.Andrew Romanowski This year I hope to finally finish writing my first book!Andy Thurston Better timingandredurandofficial To make way more drums and to supply as many artists with drums as possiblepauledrums Practice…
Harvey Mason
I have always been a sympathetic player. I’ve always been in situations where I felt I was backing someone else up, and the object is to make them feel comfortable so they can do what they do the best they…
Charli Persip1929–2020
In hindsight, Charli Persip uttered perhaps the most unintentionally comical two words of his life when landing the biggest connection of his drumming career. In 1953, the upcoming drummer was playing in the house band at the Piccadilly nightclub in…
Mike Clark’sPost-Bop Drum Book
Mike Clark is a jazz-funk pioneer. As a member of keyboardist Herbie Hancock’s legendary fusion band Head Hunters, he wrote the playbook on how to turn busy, displaced 16th-note grooves into some of the coldest, most-sampled beats of all time.…
The Modern Drummer Festival Returns!
Another year has flown by, and what a year it was! 2021 is here and with it a new beginning. Modern Drummer is as committed as ever in uniting and inspiring the worldwide drumming community. It was in this spirit…
Nick Mason’s
Mysterious Mirror Hi, Modern Drummer. I hope everyone there is doing well and is healthy and safe. I don’t really see your Ask A Pro section these days, but I have a question about Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason that has…
CRITIQUE
Puscifer Existential Reckoning Puscifer began its life as a joke in a Mr. Show sketch but has since become Maynard James Keenan’s creative refuge from Tool and A Perfect Circle. Existential Reckoning is the fourth full-length from the project and…