The Greats

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.

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Keith Moon: The One And Only

Few players have come close to the level of unpredictability and invention that Keith Moon exhibited between 1964 and 1978, when he manned the drumset behind the grandest, loudest band of rock’s golden age, the Who. Moon’s drumming was an…

Modern Drummer
Jun 21, 2011

Uriel Jones: Architect of the Motown Sound

  Fifty years ago, the phenomenally popular style of soul music known as Motown was born. Back then, Uriel Jones could kick-start a surefire hit with a couple strokes on a tom, a crack of his snare, and not much…

Modern Drummer
Jun 13, 2011

Phil Rudd: The Very Definition of Rock Drumming

When many musicians and fans think about no-nonsense, rock-solid, play-for-the-song drumming, the first name that comes to mind is Phil Rudd. The Australian drummer played in several Melbourne bands, such as Buster Brown and the Coloured Balls, before joining up…

Modern Drummer
May 27, 2011

Roy Burns: Swing Star, Clinic Pioneer, Entrepreneur, And Beyond

Roy Burns has done it all—and done it well. He’s held the throne of numerous big bands. He’s established himself as an in-demand studio player, teacher, and clinician. He’s written numerous drum instructionals. And he’s one of the founding members…

Modern Drummer
May 19, 2011

Jimmy Cobb: Kind Of Blue And Beyond

Jimmy Cobb was one of the most popular drummers of the late 1950s. He began playing at an early age and found his influences among the bop pioneers. “Max Roach was the hippest music going,” remembers Cobb. “I also listened…

Modern Drummer
Apr 18, 2011
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Buddy Miles: The Power Of Soul

George “Buddy” Miles—nicknamed after “the world’s greatest drummer,” Buddy Rich—was born in 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska, and got an early musical education listening to the jazz that was played at home. At the same time, Buddy was listening to the…

Modern Drummer
Apr 1, 2011

Joe Morello: Changing The Way We Think About Time

In his classic book The Great Jazz Drummers, Modern Drummer founder Ron Spagnardi said, “Throughout his storied career, Joe Morello displayed a rare combination of drumming talents. He revealed an exceptional sense of swing and finesse combined with astounding technical ability. Along with…

Modern Drummer
Mar 14, 2011

Brian Downey: Style, Power, And Swing With Thin Lizzy

Music fans outside of Ireland by and large know Thin Lizzy and the band’s drummer, Brian Downey, from their 1977 hit, “The Boys Are Back In Town.” The song features one of the greatest guitar riffs and some of the…

Modern Drummer
Mar 9, 2011

Buddy Harman: The Original Country Drummer

Before Buddy Harman, there was no drumset on country music recordings. A true groundbreaker in the annals of drumming, after opeing up Nashville to the concept, Harmon went on to make nearly 20,000 records, including a plethora of hits with…

Modern Drummer
Jan 25, 2011

Paul Wertico: Prolific And Profound With Metheny And Beyond

(From the June 2010 issue of Modern Drummer magazine) Paul Wertico first grabbed the world’s attention as a member of jazz guitarist Pat Metheny’s group, with whom he recorded ten CDs and won seven Grammys between 1983 and 2001. Other…

Modern Drummer
Jan 10, 2011

Terry Bozzio: Chops Wizard, Genre Bender

He called it “an unbelievable musical education, beyond my wildest dreams.” And indeed, for any alumnus of avant-garde rock icon Frank Zappa’s groups, Terry Bozzio’s 1981 recollection of his time with the genius composer/guitarist was typical. Zappa was the greatest…

Modern Drummer
Dec 20, 2010

Tiny Kahn: His Own Kind Of Chops

The bop era of the ’40s saw the arrival of several somewhat lesser-known drummers. One of the most important was Tiny Kahn. “Tiny and I were both advocates of the small group approach to big band playing,” said Mel Lewis.…

Modern Drummer
Dec 3, 2010
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Rod Morgenstein: Cross-Genre Ripping

Rod Morgenstein is best known as the blazing left-handed drummer with the influential fusion band Dixie Dregs and the pop-metal band Winger. Rod’s professional career began in 1975 while he was still a student at the University of Miami, which…

Modern Drummer
Nov 15, 2010

John Riley : Master Player/Master Teacher

John Riley, one of the most respected drummer/educators of the past thirty years, was born in 1954, and began playing drums at the age of eight. At twelve Riley began playing in rock bands and was first exposed to jazz…

Modern Drummer
Nov 2, 2010
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