Drummers
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.
Audioslave's Brad Wilk: Original Fire
By Michael Parillo For a guy who can really punish his drums, Brad Wilk has always been hip-shakingly funky. In 2002, he told MD, “I’ve listened to a ton of old organic funk. I would go to sleep with…
Lee Crystal
Still Loves Rock ’N’ Roll Lee Crystal, drummer for Joan Jett & The Blackhearts from 1981 to 1986, is just a regular guy from Brooklyn–except that he’s so much cooler than the rest of us. In 1977, three years out…
Steve Smith Update
There have been some major changes lately in Steve Smith’s two touring bands. “Over the past eight years Buddy’s Buddies has developed a unique ‘small big band’ sound and direction,” Steve explains. “We’ve moved away from exclusively playing music associated…
Timm Biery
Timm Biery is in the midst of a lengthy tour with Nils Lofgren, supporting the guitarists recent album Sacred Weapon, which was recorded at Lofgren’s home in Arizona. “We tracked for about thirteen days–Nils, of course, on guitar, and Kevin…
Chuck Burgi with Billy Joel
When Billy Joel decided to tour this year, Chuck Burgi went from holding the drum chair in Billy’s Broadway musical Movin’ Out to being the drummer in the legendary artist’s band. “There was no better way to audition for Billy…
Mike Wengren of Disturbed
Around the middle of last year, Disturbed began touring behind the new album, Ten Thousand Fists, and they’ve been out on the road, nonstop, ever since. Drummer Mike Wengren says it comes with the territory. “After ten years with the…
Michael Novak Jr. of Every Time I Die
The members of Every Time I Die are “lucky to be alive,” says their drummer, Michael Novak Jr. While touring earlier this year, the innovative metal-core band was driving through mountains in Wyoming when their van skidded on a patch…
Lamb of God's Chris Adler: More Than Meets The Eye
by Michael Dawson Last year, Modern Drummer Festival attendees learned what legions of devoted heavy metal fans have known for years: There’s something special about Lamb Of God’s drummer, Chris Adler. Not only has he pushed metal drumming’s trifecta of…
Jerome Dillon
For a solo album produced and composed by a drummer, one would anticipate involved drumming on each track, or at the very least, drums on every song. But in former Nine Inch Nails drummer Jerome Dillon’s case, his nearLY project…
Jim Fox of The James Gang and More
As The James Gang’s founder and only constant member during their 1966–76 run, you would think their criminally unheralded drummer, Jim Fox, would know if he owned the rights to his band’s name. “I just don’t know much about the…
Gutbucket's Paul Chuffo
If you’re unfamiliar with the Brooklyn instrumental quartet Gutbucket and you glance at the stage before a performance, you might think you’re about to hear some jazz. An alto sax, an upright bass, a hollow-body guitar, and a three-piece drumkit…
Tony Royster Jr.
Tony Royster Jr. has been busy. We caught up with him while he was home for a couple of days from globetrotting with En Vogue. “En Vogue needs someone to hold down the pocket while they’re singing,” the former child…
Motion City Soundtrack’s Tony Thaxton
For Motion City Soundtrack’s Tony Thaxton, his drumming career has gone full circle–at least in one sense. Growing up in Virginia as a budding drummer, Thaxton would often find himself behind a kit with a pair of headphones, playing along…
Barry Kerch of Shinedown
In 2001, Barry Kerch’s audition for Shinedown consisted of going into the studio, laying down tracks, and seeing what stuck. Within the tryout he performed the band’s eventual single, “45.” Though the record endured many producers and record company scrutiny,…
