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.
Stars Are Only Human
Perhaps some of the young drummers who took exception to Neil Peart’s comments on fame in the April issue misunderstood him. Sometimes we create an imaginary personality for people we admire. When the personality revealed seems different (as it always…
Adding Variety To Simple Grooves
A popular remark among drummers has always been that “simple is better.” Many drummers, especially beginners, tend to over-play, failing to realize that in most situations the drummer’s role is to lay down a foundation—a background for other musicians to…
Jerry Speiser — Drummer At Work
Jerry Speiser comes from a land down under—Australia, to be exact. And he's in the group that helped make the land down under a desirable place to be and to be from. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
Les DeMerle — Transfuser
During this interview, Les DeMerle voiced slight annoyance and perplexity at reviewers who "always'' refer to him and/or his music as being "eclectic. " I believe that the commonly misunderstood definition of eclectic music is that it's weird, hard to…
Centering And Breathing
My first Concepts article for Modern Drummer was entitled “Drumming And Breathing.” Since that time, I have received letters and requests to write more on the same subject. Whether or not you are into yoga or meditation, there is ample…
Back To Back Rolls
Here are some exercises in back-to-back rolls. These rolls are a series of the same stroked roll (five-stroke, six-stroke, etc.) played in a continuous fashion, so as not to break the flow of constant 16th notes or an 8th-note triplet…
Art Blakey
THE first rays of dusk suffuse Art Blakey's Greenwich Village apartment with shards of amber gray light, and as the shadows dance upon his brow, Blakey's face takes on a totemic grace. The snow-white hair fades out of the foreground…
Carmine Appice — Telling It Like It Is
Anyone even remotely attuned to the heroics of rock's heavy hitters knows the name Carmine Appice.
Arthur Press — Classical Wisdom
Ask Arthur Press to sit down and discuss his life as a percussionist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and you'll see an interesting transformation take place.
Jonathan Moffett — Have Drums Will Travel
There is a calm aura around Jonathan Moffett.
Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst
A lot of attention has been paid to Australian bands in the last few years, and for good reason. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Yes's Alan White
You can't blame Alan White of Yes for smiling. It's a lazy sort of grin, to be sure. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Drumming And Prejudice
People like to talk, and will often repeat the most bizarre concepts and ideas without considering the harm they unwittingly do to others. Insecure people sometimes lash out verbally to discredit more successful drummers. When one’s career has not lived…
