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.
Johnny Rabb’s Collective Soul Touring Kit
Photos by Jason Mehler Drums: Ludwig Classic Maple – White Marine Pearl 16×22 Bass Drum, 10×13 Rack tom, 16×16 Floor Tom, 16×18 Floor Tom. Snares: 6.5×14 Supraphonic Snare, 3.5×13 Vibe Piccolo Snare, 10” Creative Percussion Roto Snare. Heads: Remo, Powerstroke P3 Bass drum…
The Sounds We Make
“Chances Are.” Composed by Robert Allen and Al Stillman. Sung by Johnny Mathis. Recorded in Columbia 30th Street Studio, where Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue was also recorded.1957. I was three years old when the Mathis single was released, and I can…
Drums and Sports
Let’s start here. Music is not a sport, and any attempt to make music or drumming into a sporting event where there are winners, losers, best, and worst, is something that I am (basically) against. Healthy competition can be advantageous…
Brian Thompson: Rack ‘em Up!
This month’s Modern Drummer Kit of the Month comes from Brian Thompson. Brian’s entire kit is mounted on a cool Gibraltar Stealth Docking Station rack consisting of a no-leg hi-hat stand, snare basket, 22” hoop over the bass, and a…
ddrum E-FLEX BT9 Electronic Drums
In 2022, ddrum unveiled their E-Flex series of electronic drums, designed to offer a quiet yet highly responsive playing experience. This line featured 6-inch mesh pads that provided both enhanced sensitivity and reduced noise. ddrum recently expanded the E-FLEX series…
Zac Farro Unleashed: A Legend in the Making
In the realm of modern rock drummers, Zac Farro is a standout star with a journey as dynamic as his drumming. As Paramore’s rhythmic powerhouse since his teens, Farro has navigated the band’s transformations, including a hiatus and triumphant return,…
Joey Mullen: Crafting the Rhythm Behind Paramore’s Explosive Sound
In today’s highly competitive world, carving out a name in drumming requires more than just raw talent. It demands courage, perseverance, and confidence. The man in question Joey Mullen, has proven that he has what it takes to succeed at…
The Gumbo Groove
New Orleans Legend: Johnny VidacovichYou Play What’s Pertinent to the Music! To be a true drumming legend in a town steeped in drumming is quite an accomplishment. But how does that happen? In the case of Johnny Vidacovich, you play…
Leslie Mandoki: Living His Dreams
Guitarists Al Di Meola and Steve Lukather call Leslie Mandoki the Hungarian Quincy Jones, and Jack Bruce calls him the German Duke Ellington. But drummer, lyricist, songwriter, bandleader, and producer Leslie Mandoki scoffs at those comparisons, and refers to Quincy…
Joe Boyd: And the Routes of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music.
Drummers usually talk about the same drummers, and we all know their names. But producers and music lovers often talk about a different list of drummers. Joe Boyd is one such producer, music lover, and author. In his legendary career…
December 2024 – Volume 48 • Number 12
TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Dennis Chambers’ solo from John Scofield’s “Pick Hits”
Dennis Chambers’ solo on “Pick Hits” from the live recording of the same name is the “soup du jour” this month. I consider Dennis to be on the Mount Rushmore of drummers—a rare group who revolutionized how the rest of…
Master Studies: Stroke Combination Studies,7 Stroke Roll Combinations
Going from single strokes to double strokes, to buzz (multiple rebound) strokes, involves different pressures on the sticks. You must be able to change the pressure your fingers are putting on the sticks without tension developing in the wrists. When…
The Curse Of The Expert
As drummers we’re all passionate and energetic people, so it’s really easy to fall into the trap of more more more. But to speak your voice, you counterintuitively have to DELETE. I didn’t do this for a long time. “I…
