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.
John Stanier of Battles
by Billy Brennan Experimental rockers Battles released their sophomore full-length, Gloss Drop, this past June. Their powerhouse drummer, who caught many drummers’ attention with the band Helmet in the ’90s, gives us a look behind the scenes…
In Memoriam: Woody “Sonship” Theus
by Gerry Gibbs Woody “Sonship” Theus, whose credits include work with McCoy Tyner, Charles Lloyd, John McLaughlin, Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Michal Urbaniak, and Pharoah Sanders, passed away this past March 18, at age fifty-eight. Among the pallbearers at his…
Tony Williams: The Game Changer
One of the most influential, inspiring, and spontaneous forces in jazz, Tony Williams remains a classic example of artistry transcending technical analysis. In the October 2011 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, writer Jeff Potter explains Tony’s genius and influence,…
RHCP's Chad Smith
by Adam Budofsky This summer MD got to hang out with Chad Smith at his apartment in NYC for a few hours, rapping about his recent Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot, and Meatbats projects, all of which you can read…
311’s Chad Sexton
Interview by David Ciauro Photo (Top) by Jennifer Langman Summertime means one thing for good-time seeking concertgoers: the return of 311 headlining amphitheaters. Since the early 2000s, 311 has bucked the corporate structure of touring solely to support…
Shawn “Clown??? Crahan
Shawn “Clown” Crahan is best known as one of the percussionists in the metal megalith that is Slipknot. But Crahan carries a rich drumming background into his new project, the Black Dots of Death. by Billy Brennan The orchestrated chaos…
A Different View with Danny Kortchmar
By Billy Amendola More with the world-renowned right-hand man to rock’s singer-songwriter royalty, who is featured in the Different View column of the September 2011 issue of MD. Here Danny talks about some of the drummers he’s worked with over…
Carl Palmer - Not Slowing Down
by “Pistol” Pete Kaufmann MD recently spoke with the prog-drumming giant Carl Palmer while he was on tour with Asia. Palmer, whose career spans four decades, says he has no plans to slow down anytime soon. MD: How…
Jerry Shirley
The September issue of MD features an Update with the great Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley, who’s just released his book Best Seat in the House: Drumming in the ’70s With Marriott, Frampton and Humble Pie. In chapter two, “Ready…
MD Readers Poll 2011 Results
Welcome once again to the MD Readers Poll, where the greatest drummers on the planet are honored by the most educated drum fans around. Let’s get right to it: the envelope, please…. HALL OF FAME Jim Chapin Jim Chapin likely…
John Marshall on Soft Machine’s Quintessential Recordings
Soft Machine's John Marshall chats with MD Pro Panelist Paul Wertico in the Ask a Pro section of this month’s MD. Here, we present Marshall riffing on his quintessential recordings with the British jazz-rock institution. But first check out this…
Deftones’ Abe Cunningham
(from the July 2011 Issue of Modern Drummer Magazine) Story by Ken Micallef • Photos by Ashley Maile You play drums in a California alternative metal band whose members are constantly at war, and all the while you watch your…
Bob Gatzen: Student, Guru
Although he’s a talented drummer who has studied with famed player/teachers Joe Porcaro, Al Lepak, and Gary Burton and whose groups Moto and Spiral have featured top New York and Boston musicians, Bob Gatzen is perhaps best known as a…
A Different View: Duff McKagan
Bassist Duff McKagan is a founding member of Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, and his own band, Loaded, who’ve recently released their third album, The Taking. Duff is also a drummer, and he’s worked with a number of legends of…
