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.
John Sparrow of Violent Femmes
Expect the Unexpected After spending 18 years as the Violent Femmes percussionist, John Sparrow has been playing drums in the band for a while now. But what is the musical training ground for playing drums in one of the most…
Play What You Love: A Look Inside the Craftsmanship of the A&F Drum Co.
Simple design, practical application, and brilliant sound, are the three pillars that stand as the foundation for the somewhat newly created (but by no means unfamiliar) A&F Drum Company. There are so many adjectives that come to mind when I…
Barry Kerch: Rock and Roll’s Eternal Student
Some people in the media that say Rock and Roll is dead. But those people haven’t heard or seen Shinedown playing to 15,000 people every night. Sometimes when I interview drummers while they are promoting their new records, we don’t…
Daru Jones Soul-Hop and Rock-Hop Drumming
This month’s feature concludes Modern Drummer’s ongoing column called The Daru Sessions that started last year. In previous pieces we have focused on Daru’s gear, and his various musical and drumming influences. This month we conclude by talking about his…
Daniel Glass Finding His (And Your) Golden Groove
There is no other drummer today who is as grounded in ALL of the American roots styles of music than Daniel Glass. His moniker is drummer, author, educator. Since 2010, he has been the house drummer on Monday nights at…
Talking Art with Rick Allen
On the cusp of another massive tour that will bring them through South America and Europe, Def Leppard is getting ready to go out on a tour with the recently unretired Motley Crue opening. And while Def Leppard doesn’t have…
Robby Ameen Playing with Legends
Robby Ameen is a drummer that has never really gotten a whole lot of attention for what he’s done, and he’s done a lot! Not only did he create one of the best drum books ever, Funkifying the Clave’ but…
PARAMORE’S ZAC FARRO ALWAYS EVOLVING
Drummer Zac Farro was 16 years old when Paramore’s second album Riot! was released. Shortly after the release of their next record, Brand New Eyes, Zac went out on his own. He left the band in 2010, marking the end…
Pat Petrillo: Big Rhythm from Jersey
Pat Petrillo is the quintessential hard working professional musician. He is both a “drummer’s drummer,” and to some, an unsung hero. Pat has earned the respect of his peers and has built a great reputation in the drum industry. He…
Mark Kelso Expect the Unexpected
Mark Kelso is not your typical Canadian or your typical drummer. He doesn’t follow hockey, root for The Toronto Maple Leafs, live on poutine, or eat all of his meals at Tim Hortons. However, after getting over that initial shock,…
Brann Dailor: Mastodon’s Modern Metal Master
Brann Dailor is an interesting drummer. He was brought up around musicians, and it wasn’t a question of if he was going to play music. It was a question of what instrument would he choose to play? His interest was…
Chris Johnson
From Gospel to Gaga… and Everything In-Between! On the heels of another huge Lady Gaga tour, and a newborn son, drummer Chris Johnson has a lot to smile about. The last 20 years have been filled with tours with Rihanna,…
Jamie Wollam
The Inner Workings of Tears For Fears Everyone wants to be a “rockstar.” The fame, the lights, the constant validation…while this lifestyle is appealing for most, it includes certain unseen realities and obstacles that are only faced once in the…
Myles and Layne Ulrich of Taipei Houston
Being the sons of a Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame drummer (Metallica’s Lars Ulrich,) comes with its own set of challenges and ever-evolving history. But Layne and Myles Ulrich are not exactly shy and retiring. In fact, they are…
