On the Beat
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.
On the Beat With Danny Thompson of Alan Parsons: Landing the Gig
Hi, MD! I’m Danny Thompson, drummer for the Alan Parsons Live Project. I’m originally from the Bay Area and currently reside in Los Angeles. At an early age I was fortunate to study under the great Chuck Brown, whose “tension…
On the Beat With Tosin Aribisala: Let’s Get Happy!
Hello, everyone! From time to time I try to offer the drum community something tangible and inspiring—drum monologues, communal drumming, basic instructions, and workshops. Last year I embarked on a communal drumming project, which involved a few tribal drummers and…
On the Beat With Denny Seiwell: Talks New Book, Trio, and Drums
Hey MD drummers! How’s everybody doing? It’s Denny Seiwell checking in from Los Angeles. I’ve been playing drums since I was five years old. My dad was a drummer and I’ve had a pretty wonderful career that includes over…
On the Beat With Carmine Appice: Stick It!
Hi MD drummer dudes and girls! This is a fun time in my career. After forty-nine years in the music business and touring the world many times playing arenas, stadiums, theaters, etc., I’ve reached a point where I can sit…
On the Beat With Jessica Forsythe of Sick of Sarah: Always Learning
Hey everyone! I’m Jessica Forsythe and I drum in a band out of Minneapolis called Sick of Sarah. I moved to Minneapolis to audition for the band back in 2009 and have been a professional touring drummer ever since. I…
On the Beat With Kennith “Memphis??? Shepherd of Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal: Being a Part of the Collective
Hello MD! With the nickname “Memphis,” it’s not hard to tell where I’m from. I grew up around a lot of musicians and have been playing drums since age two. I’m currently with the soul/funk/R&B band, Josh Hoyer and Soul…
On the Beat With Educator Bruce Becker: Covering Odd Times in New Book
Greetings fellow drummers, it’s been a few years since my first MD blog and the release of my DVD Concept and Philosophies. My educational passions still continue to forge ahead. A reminder of my background, I was a long time…
On the Beat With Joel Silloway of the Life Electric: Exploring New Sounds
Hello MD readers! I was catching up with some fellow musicians and they posed perhaps the most simplest of questions: “Why did you choose drums”? I really couldn’t put my finger on the answer until a few years ago. I…
On the Beat With David Uosikkinen of the Hooters: In the Pocket
Hi, everybody! David Uosikkinen here. I’ve been playing drums with the Hooters for thirty-six years and we’re getting ready to tour this spring and summer. We will be out for thirty shows. In addition to playing drums with the Hooters,…
On the Beat With Matthew Parkitny of Hands Like Houses: Talks Touring and Recording
Hey guys and girls! My name is Matthew Parkitny and I play drums in the band Hands Like Houses. I’m super stoked to be writing a little number here on the Modern Drummer “On the Beat” feature, so here we…
On the Beat With Danny Dolan of the Virginmarys: Formal Lessons and Being Adaptable
Hello MD! My name is Danny Dolan from the Virginmarys. I live in Macclesfield, England and I consider myself a drummer. My introduction to the drum world began on my sixth birthday. I remember my dad being more excited than…
On the Beat With Abe Fogle of Rob Thomas: Road Update
Hi MD! The Australian leg of (Matchbox Twenty) Rob Thomas’ solo tour, The Great Unknown, was exciting. It was great to get back to Australia again and to experience such a beautiful country. The shows were phenomenal, and each one…
On the Beat With Aaron Hamel of Stone Cold Fox: Talks Listening and Understanding the Music
Hi! There are limited choices growing up in a small town, especially in music. I had the choice of the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, or the one radio station, which was country music. I chose the Beatles, and have tried…
On The Beat with Anup Sastry of Monuments
Hi MD, my name is Anup Sastry and I play drums in a band called Monuments. Below is a video of me recording my band’s song “Quasimodo” for the Creative Live Boot Camp with engineer/producer Eyal Levi. We spent a…
