Features
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.
Russ Kunkel - The Song Server
At the dawn of the ’70s, music fans noticed the credit “Drums: Russ Kunkel” popping up on reams of LP jackets. From that pivotal point, Kunkel’s momentum as a session ace surged through five decades. The drummer’s tasteful parts and…
Drum Wisdom: Jim Mola
By his own admission, Jim Mola moved to New York in 1985 to set the world on fire as a drummer. Now, after thirty-three years of experience in the trenches as a working musician, the types of gigs he’s playing…
New York Jazzer Jimmy Macbride
Still only in his mid-twenties, the drummer has been making a name for himself in the ultra-competitive New York City jazz scene for several years now, bringing an assured command of his instrument to recordings and live work with a sound that belies his age.
Dennis Wilson
As the reunited Beach Boys make headlines this year, MD remembers their late original drummer. The Smithereens’ Dennis Diken traces Wilson’s path to the top, recounts his dramatic fall, and examines his underappreciated skills. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
Dave King
As he blazes the trail of a true artist, he proves that a personal voice on the instrument trumps any sense of stylistic borders. MD associate editor Michael Parillo joins the Bad Plus drummer for a few steps of his…
BERNARD PURDIE: The Hitmaker
Bernard “Pretty” Purdie has played on enough tracks to overstuff an iPod. His drumming is, in fact, pretty. And nasty too. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
J.P. Bouvet
The 2011 Guitar Center Drum-Off champ and Roland U.S. V-Drums Contest winner shares his thoughts on soloing. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Joel Smith
For readers unfamiliar with gospel music and its rich history, imagine the way you might feel about John Bonham or Tony Williams, Jaco Pastorius or Charles Mingus. That's how much this multitalented musician means to legions of drummers and bass…
Travis Barker
Battles mythical and all too real have defined much of his life since MD last sat with him for a good long chat. With a recent solo debut, reams of one-off collaborations, new Transplants and Blink-182 activity, and a constant…
Corey Miller
Music and art have been inseparable for the tattoo icon since his earliest experiences as a drummer on the L.A. punk scene. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Ringo Starr: The Perfect Fit
When he joined the Beatles, he was the man, the one with all the playing experience. He fit like a glove, driving the music with a singular feel while meshing perfectly with the other Mop Tops and their wry sense…
Bob Marley's Carlton Barrett
The songs of Bob Marley and the Wailers spoke a passionate message of political and social justice in a world TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Jamaican Drumming — The Evolution of A Style
When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, its musicians reacted by inventing a rhythm style so unique and addictive, it helped an entire population find its voice. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Lloyd Knibb: Ska Pioneer
In the early 1960s, when Jamaica was liberated from British rule, the island’s musicians were tasting musical freedom, experimenting with and synthesizing a number of diverse influences from their native Caribbean, the Americas, and Africa to create a new style…
