Fred Below Archives - Modern Drummer Magazine

Fred Below

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.

Why Influencers Matter

The Drummers Who Forged Charlie Watts’ Style As a teenager in early ‘50s London, Charlie Watts discovered the American jazz art form and was transformed. He became obsessed with anything and everything regarding the American jazz movement—including the fashion and…

By Mike Haid
Oct 29, 2021

Blues Drummers: Part 2

Blues legends S.P. Leary and Fred Below, Stevie Ray Vaughn's Chris Layton, Jimmy Johnson's Fred Grady, and Robert Cray's David Olson.

by Robert Santelli
Mar 26, 2019

Fred Below — Magic Maker

Sometimes it seems as if people have more regard for classic "things" than they do for classic people. An antique Radio King snare drum, an antique K. Zildjian cymbal and a Billy Glad stone drumset would illicit floods of adulation…

Story by Scott K. Fish | Photos by D. Shigley
Jan 10, 2018

The History of Rock Drumming: Part 1 - The Blues Influence

Rock drumming was born of the culmination of two musical styles: blues and country/western. TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE 15% Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+…

by Scott K. Fish
Sep 21, 2017

Twelve Essential Shuffles - Some of Drumming's Most Influential Feels

While simple in concept, the shuffle, which features prominently in early jazz, blues, Motown, soul, funk, rock ’n’ roll, and hip-hop, among other styles, can be difficult to execute even for skilled drummers. In this article we’ll cover the essential…

Rich Scannella
Feb 17, 2017

March 1987 - Volume 11 • Number 3

Graeme Edge, Joe Smyth, Mitch Mitchell, Neil Peart, S.P. Leary, Fred Below, Chris Layton, Fred Grady, David Olsen, Panama Francis, Harry Lewis, Dave Weckl, David Garibaldi TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year…

Modern Drummer
Mar 1, 1987

September 1983 - Volume 7 • Number 9

Eric Carr, Fred Below, Denny Carmassi, Roy Brooks, Joe Chambers, Omar Clay, Fred King, Ray Mantilla, Max Roach, Warren Smith, Freddie Waits, Peter Erskine, Jerry Marotta, Ron Tutt TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or…

Modern Drummer
Sep 1, 1983