Feature Stories
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.
VIDEO! In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 5: Specialty Mics (November 2013 Issue)
by Donny Gruendler In the first four installments of this series we discussed very broad ideas for achieving stylistically appropriate drum sounds, from pop-rock to traditional jazz. Each setup employed different drums, head selections, and tunings, and we used…
Web Exclusive: David Langlois
by Michael Parillo In Modern Drummer’s November 2013 issue, our Portraits piece tells the story of David Langlois, who began his musical life in France as a drummer but found a chance meeting in his teenage years begin to…
John Bonham Celebration and Tribute Video
In remembrance of the passing of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Modern Drummer and a few friends pay special tribute to one of the greatest drummers of our time. In this clip, which was filmed backstage at the…
VIDEO! Rock Perspectives: Double Bass Workout Part 3 (October 2013 Issue)
by Todd Vinciguerra In this lesson we’ll mix 16th notes, 16th-note triplets, and 32nd notes on the bass drums and play them along with 16th-note-based hand patterns. Remember to play to a metronome or click track, and start off slowly…
It’s Questionable: Technology Corner: Room Mics (October 2013 Issue)
by John Emrich A lot of people don’t understand how to capture a good room tone, and most people with a home studio don’t have the type of room that will have a sound worth capturing. A large, warm-sounding room…
Steve Hackett Re-Revisits Genesis
The bandleader and longtime guitarist with the legendary British band discusses the great drummers he’s played with, as well as his latest release, Genesis Revisited II. MD: It’s amazing how Phil Collins was able to make all of the…
In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 4: Classic Jazz (October 2013 Issue)
Small-group jazz drumming is synonymous with legendary players such as Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams. Although these five gentlemen had very different approaches to timekeeping, each contributed to the jazz art form and…
The Goo Goo Dolls’ Mike Malinin Discusses Magnetic Track by Track
by Billy Amendola For Mike Malinin and his bandmates in the Goo Goo Dolls—bassist Robby Takac and singer/guitarist John Rzeznik—having their tenth album, Magnetic, debut at number eight on Billboard’s Top 200 chart shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Grammy-nominated…
Modern Drummer’s Greatest Drummers of All Time Poll
Modern Drummer magazine is assembling a historic list of the fifty greatest drummers of all time. To do that, we’re asking you to tell us who your personal top ten choices are. Once the voting is closed, we’ll tabulate all…
In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 3: Funk (September 2013 issue) UPDATED
September 2013 In the Studio Seeing Sounds Part 3: Funk by Donny Gruendler Funk drumming is synonymous with masters like James Brown’s Clyde Stubblefield, Tower of Power’s David Garibaldi, P-Funk’s Tiki Fulwood, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith.…
Famed Afro-Caribbean Drummer Steve Berrios Passes
Steve Berrios in 1994, standing at the corner of Broadway and 52nd Street in New York City, where the original Birdland club once stood Modern Drummer is sad to announce that Steve Berrios died this past week at the…
The Making of Alicia Keys’ "Girl on Fire" with Indie Studio Drummer Dylan Wissing
In this video, session drummer Dylan Wissing shares the story behind the making of the drum tracks on R&B superstar Alicia Keys’ hit single “Girl on Fire.” Dylan Wissing is a Hoboken, New Jersey–based drummer who operates his own recording…
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Tuning (UPDATED)
We asked the members of the MD Education Team to share their thoughts on how they prefer to tune their drums. Here’s what they had to say. Marc Dicciani Tuning is a critical skill that must be learned. Regardless…
Radio and TV Personality Eddie Trunk Checks In With Modern Drummer Online
Hot off hosting the Bonzo Bash East Coast Invasion at New Jersey’s Bergen Performing Arts Center this past June, VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show host Eddie Trunk fills us in on a few of the drummers who have been a…
