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.
The 2016 Guitar Center Drum-Off Grand Finals
This past January 14, Guitar Center held its twenty- eighth-annual Drum-Off Grand Finals, at the Novo club in downtown Los Angeles. Over the course of the competition’s numerous preliminary rounds, which took place in more than 250 Guitar Center locations…
Ed Blackwelll — Singin' On The Set
Superlatives are like chuff before the wind in describing the drumming of Ed Blackwell, I'm sure I could speak with him for days and still walk away feeling like we'd never even got started. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
Split Hybrid
This hybrid electronic/acoustic drumset comes to us from the New York City–based drummer Howard Alper, who explains that the ability to combine traditional acoustic drums with loops and samples enables unique solo performances on a relatively small setup. “Recently I’ve…
Roger Hawkins: The Drums of Muscle Shoals
Amidst a small, conservative town in Alabama called Sheffield, where alcohol is prohibited, bootleggers prosper and the sidewalks are rolled up at 8:00 p.m., exists one of the country's major recording centers. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
Paul English: On The Road with Willie Nelson
It's difficult to write about Paul English without mentioning Willie Nelson. Paul says that Willie is his "favorite subject." But, there's something admirable about long relationships. For three decades the team of Nelson and English has been on the high…
Paul T. Riddle: Dedicated
Paul T. Riddle is a super, warm human being. He has been a member of The Marshall Tucker Band since before his high school graduation. We spoke at his hotel room in New Jersey and proceeded to cover everything from…
Drum Soloist - Jimmy Cobb
Jimmy Cobb: "Four on Six" TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
The New Peter Criss
It takes a lot of courage for a musician to leave an established group to pursue a solo career. It takes even more courage when the group is Kiss, who truly reached the top, both in popular success, and in…
Pedrito Martinez
The Cuban-born percussionist has been slowly building his profile in the States since waving goodbye to his homeland fifteen years ago and settling in New York City, where his local performances have become the gig to catch. Today, the buzz…
DISCIPLINE - Small Changes for Massive Progress
MD Pro Panelist Benny Greb suggests that some minor adjustments in habit—and maybe a tweak in your attitude toward practice— can result in unexpectedly large dividends for your playing. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Hal Blaine
To chronicle the career of Hal Blaine is an almost awesome task. The office walls of his Hollywood Hills home are adorned with gold records that span the last two decades of music, such memorabilia as a mounted "thank you"…
Famoudou Don Moye: Drawing on Tradition
The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) is an organization that was formed in Chicago by a group of African-Americans led by Muhal Richard Abrams. The organization was designed as an alternative to the traditional music business institutions…
Gil Moore: The Drums of Triumph
As drummer with the rock band Triumph. Gil Moore is conscientious about his art, stating that in order to expand technically, it is most beneficial to experiment with a diversity of musical styles. Moore is also very attentive to his…
Double Play: David Peters, Bobby Campo of Le Roux
While the plight of the drummer is strenuous enough in Los Angeles and New York, it is almost impenetrable for those living in various other parts of the country, which is most often the case. While the opportunities are surely…