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.
Mike Reid - Playing the Patterns with Justin Timberlake
In today’s pop music world, why does it seem that there are only a handful of drummers who are doing all of the top gigs? Why do pop stars like Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Charlie Puth, Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, and…
Andy Gander - Rhythmic Doctor from Down Under
In North America, unfortunately we rarely think about the tradition of drumming from other countries. Some of us have studied the evolution of English drumming. And if we have really dug deep maybe we have started to investigate the traditions…
Michal Miskiewicz - Playing ECM’s Air with Feeling
Jazz is a truly American artform, as is jazz drumming. However, that doesn’t mean that this important resource hasn’t been exported to the rest of the world. Poland was an importer of American jazz in the 1950s and 60s. But…
Dirty Honey’s Jaydon Bean - Can’t Find the Brakes
Dirty Honey is going full speed ahead, keeping the rock and roll flame burning and breaking the rules. Their song “When I’m Gone” was the first single by an unsigned band to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock…
Mikkey Dee - Playing Heavy Music on the Drums
From 1985 through 1989 drummer Mikkey Dee created a modern style of progressive hard rock drumming with the band King Diamond. The recordings and the drumming on Abigail and Conspiracy laid the groundwork for many of today’s most extreme metal…
Cymbal Swap - Try Before You Buy
As a lifelong cymbalholic (and a longtime member of that defunct website) I don’t know why someone hasn’t thought of the idea of Cymbal Swap before now. But thankfully two drummers and cymbal lovers named Justin Netti and James Saullo…
Inside Drum Workshop’s DWe
Now that the Drum Workshop DWe kit has been around for a few months, and people are starting to play them, Modern Drummer had some questions that we wanted to ask about possibly the most groundbreaking advancement in modern drumming.…
Sheridan Riley - Always Deft, Driven, and Devoted
Since their 2014 debut, Alvvays have skyrocketed to become one of the most beloved rock bands around. Their excellent 2022 album, Blue Rev cemented their indie rock hero status, and a huge aspect of their satisfying sound is owed to…
Greg Hutchinson - The Pocket is the Pocket
The music world has been aware of drummer Greg Hutchinson for a long time, through his jazz work with legends like Joe Henderson, Betty Carter, Johnny Griffin, and Michael Brecker. His work with his contemporaries like Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove,…
Eric Singer - Prelude to a KISS
Why would the title of an interview with KISS’s Eric Singer draw a title from a classic Duke Ellington composition? Well, I’ll let Eric explain that,“ I have music playing 24/7 in the house, it’s usually the Sinatra station on…
Virgil Donati Discusses Designing his New Techra Sticks
Virgil Donati is one of today’s finest and most intelligent drummers. The precision, articulation, and power in his playing is world renowned. When Modern Drummer learned that he was now endorsing Techra Sticks, we were intrigued. We wanted him to…
Lol Tolhurst and Budgie are Curious Creatures
Photo by: Louis-Rodiger It’s hard to imagine two other drummers from the post-punk era more influential than Lol Tolhurst from The Cure and Budgie from Siouxsie and the Banshees. Still to this day, you can’t turn on any alternative internet…
Chris Karabelas - for KING + COUNTRY Percussionist
Photo by: Alex Kluft Percussionist Chris Karabelas’ journey is an interesting story. He grew up outside of Baltimore, MD. His father was a big music fan who took him to more concerts than he can even remember. At five,…
Garrett Tyler - for KING + COUNTRY and Judah and the Lion
Photo by: Alex Kluft As we move through the for KING + COUNTRY percussion section, we move on to drummer and musical director Garrett Tyler. Garrett has been on the Nashville music scene for quite a while. His musical background…
