Bill Ward

Dead & Company, Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Santana, Jon Batiste, Jill Scott, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Kane Brown, H.E.R., Steve Miller Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gary Clark Jr., Leon Bridges, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Plus Hundreds More! To Appear at the 2023 New Orleans …

(BMG Records) By Scott Gudell Spectacular to hear and stunning to view.  This box set of a dozen seven inch singles/45s is billed as a celebration of the fifty year anniversary of Emerson / Lake / Palmer (ELP) and focuses on material from the decade they dominated, the 1970s, as …

By Alex Kluft Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction kicked off the opening night of their tour at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. This dream 90’s tour will end at the Hollywood Bowl on November 19th. For Jane’s Addiction, this was their first show with original bassist Eric Avery in 12 …

The mission is simple, but critical: One Beat. One Mission. End Hunger. WhyHunger—a non-profit founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin and radio deejay Bill Ayres to “change systems, policies, and institutions that perpetuate hunger and poverty in our world”—enlisted more than 100 drummers and percussionists to perform a …

The Queen of Percussion, Sheila E., is having a great summer. Besides being back to touring, it was announced in June, that the Latin Recording Academy will honor Sheila E. and her father Pete Escovedo with a Lifetime Achievement Award on November 17th in Las Vegas. On July 20th, Modern Drummer, the worldwide leading …

by Josh Buchignani   Charlie Benante, drummer of famed thrash metal group, Anthrax, has pushed the envelope of creativity and collaboration in a way that has brought a plethora of talented artists together for the making of this 14-track album entitled aptly “Silver Linings” culled from his collection of 2020 …

Val Sepulveda is an award-winning drummer from Villa Alemana, Chile now based in Los Angeles, CA. Her passion for drumming  started when she was 13 years old sitting on her first drum kit. She always followed beats and rhythms in songs, so when she learned her first groove (Michael Jackson’s …

Rat Scabies came to prominence with the Damned, the first British punk band to release a single (“New Rose,” October 1976), put out a full-length album (Damned Damned Damned, February 1977), and tour the U.S. (spring of ’77). Rat left the Damned in the mid-’90s, but has kept busy and …

“My passion in continuing Quiet Riot has everything to do with the fact that drumming is what I’ve always wanted to do,” Quiet Riot’s Frankie Banali told Modern Drummer in a 2015 interview. “I worked very hard and struggled a lot to get to the point that we did with …

LiveXLive to Produce and Distribute Live Pay Per View Show Featuring Incredible Lineup Reaching over 150 Million Social Media Fans — Taylor Hawkins, Chad Smith, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Thomas Lang, Alex Gonzalez A global platform for livestream and on-demand audio, video and podcast content in music, comedy, and pop culture, announced …

The Absence of Presence, American progressive-rock band Kansas’s sixteenth studio album, was released this past July 17 on Inside Out Music. The album follows up 2016’s The Prelude Implicit, which entered Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart at #14. Kansas, who have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide since their …

Jamie Oldaker, who for years toured with Eric Clapton and played on some of the legendary guitarist’s most iconic albums, passed away on Thursday, July 16. He was sixty-eight. Remarkably, Clapton is only one of the musical icons the drummer performed and/or recorded with. The list includes Leon Russell, Peter …

With the passing of studio great Joe Porcaro, we’ve gone back into the vault for his November 1994 Modern Drummer feature, in which we learned about his path to the top of the L.A. studio scene, and got an inside view of what it was like during the heyday of …

In the midst of the world-wide pandemic, Sweetwater is bringing its annual GearFest event completely online this Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27. All gear-obsessed musicians are invited, and no registration is required for GearFest2020. Featuring guest appearances, workshops, panels, in-depth interviews, and more from some of the biggest …

In association with Nick D’Virgilio and Sweetwater, Modern Drummer will be sharing a series of fantastic play-through videos from Nick’s brand-new album Invisible [Sweetwater Studios], starting today with “Turn Your Life Around.” But, first, the backstory — because it’s one hell of a saga. For many musicians who commit to …

Even before the pandemic shuttered most of the commercial studios for band sessions, Jerry Roe decided the new Friendship Commanders EP would benefit from being recorded at home. “We wanted a thicker, more lush, and much grander sound than what we went for on our previous release, Bill,” explains Roe. …

I really appreciated Billy Amendola’s Editors Overview in the November 2019 issue of Modern Drummer in which he asked readers to let the magazine and fellow subscribers know what we have been up to.

I’m really excited to announce that my recently released autobiography, Start With a Dream: A Drummer’s Journey from Rock & Roll to TV to Broadway, reached number one on the Amazon bestseller list!

A tribute to a drummer by a lead guitarist? Whoever heard of such a thing? But this was no ordinary lead guitarist and no ordinary drummer either—they were legends Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.

Comedian/Actor/Drummer Andrew Dice Clay’s son Max talks about his influences, gear, and playing with his brother Dillon.

Organizers of the ninth annual Hit Like A Girl contest for female drummers, percussionists, and beat makers have announced details and changes for this year’s edition of the international celebration of drumming.

Jonathan Schang, drummer and leader of the neo-prog band District 97, has graciously invited Modern Drummer to premiere the group’s video to the song “Sleep,” from their upcoming album Screens.

Los Angeles-based, female rock icons Cherie Currie and Brie Darling have joined together to record their debut album, The Motivator.

When I was eleven, Modern Drummer and Carmine Appice ran a contest. Carmine was searching for the next child drum prodigy to star in his upcoming Realistic Rock for Kids DVD. We submitted a video of my playing and I won!

It’s quite possible that many of you, like myself, have memories of running to the local music store to grab the latest monthly issue of Modern Drummer. I am a huge fan, so I’d like to start by saying what an honor it is to be a part of “On …

Hi MD readers, Rich Scannella here, I am checking in between my gigs with Jon Bon Jovi & the Kings of Suburbia.

What a pleasure it was to headline at the world famous Catalina Jazz Bar in Hollywood and share the stage with Dean Brown, Brandon Fields, Andrew Ford, and Hans Zermuehlan!

Hey everyone! It’s Caitlin Kalafus and I’m excited to be back “On The Beat!”

Hello MD! Greetings from our tour bus, which is rolling from St. Charles, Illinois to Youngstown, Ohio. I’m currently drumming on Ronnie Spector’s Best Christmas Party Ever! 2018 tour.

After recently inducting Judas Priest, Bill Ward, Doro, and other icons of rock and metal into the 2018 Hall of Heavy Metal History, it has recently announced the 2019 inductees.

The November issue of Modern Drummer includes a news item on the hunger-awareness campaign Beat Hunger, which recently brought together a number of pro drummers to help publicize the ongoing need for nutritious food and support for Haitians living in extreme poverty. A few of the participants were kind enough …

Spandau Ballet is one of Britain’s great iconic bands selling more than twenty-million records, scoring numerous multi-platinum albums, and amassing twenty hit singles across the globe since their humble beginnings as a group of friends with dreams of stardom in the late 1970s.

Hey there MD! Just touching base with a quick update on some fun stuff that’s been going on. Holy cow, does time ever fly! I’ll soon be going into my twentieth year playing with Glass Tiger, the Canadian rock band known for “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).”

Hey there, MD fans, Fred Eltringham here with a little update. I just finished up a spring/summer tour with the incredible Sheryl Crow. We’ll be out this fall for some festival shows and on September 5 we will be appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon playing Sheryl’s new …

Hello MD! I’m back with another Such Gold drum play-through video. The band also has two brand new music videos premiering this month, and in May we’re touring out to Montreal’s Pouzza Fest and back.

A massive hello to all you MD readers, Manny Elias here and it’s great to chat with you again! As some of you may remember I’m the original drummer from Tears For Fears (The Hurting and Songs From The Big Chair).

Hi to all you Modern Drummer readers! My name is Nigel Glockler, and I’m the drummer for the British heavy metal band Saxon.

(l. to r.) Larnell Lewis, Dave Weckl, Tommy Aldridge Yamaha Drums assembled nearly two-dozen world-renowned drummers on September 30 for live music, a celebration of the company’s innovation and success over the last fifty years, and an exploration of the company’s plans for the future. More than 400 people gathered …

Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess, bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan, and other metal royalty will be featured in the Annual Hall of Heavy Metal History Induction Ceremony.

Hello MD! My name is Logan Robot Gladden and I am honored to share my story with you here “On the Beat!” I am thirteen years old and have been playing drums and singing for as long as I can remember. As for the name Robot, I wish I had …

Hi MD! When you start playing drums, it’s natural to picture what “type” of drummer you are going to be. You follow icons, styles of music, and project what you want for your career. But drumming has led me to so many other interests.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Yes and drummer Alan White announce that Dylan Howe, son of guitarist Steve Howe, will be joining the band’s rhythm section on this summer’s North American Yestival tour. Dylan Howe “It’s a pleasure for me to welcome Dylan Howe to the Yes stage,” …

Hey, Modern Drummer readers! Fred Eltringham here. I recently played some special shows that I think quite a few of you will enjoy, especially if you are a ZZ Top fan.

Reverb.com, the online marketplace for buying, selling, and learning about music gear, will launch the Official Bill Ward Reverb Shop on Wednesday, June 28. The shop will feature drumkits, drumheads, cymbals, and more gear used on tour and in the studio throughout the iconic heavy metal drummer’s career.

Hello MD Readers! My name is Jimmy Meier and I’m the drummer of the New York City band the Dives. It’s truly an honor to be writing this for On The Beat!

This past April 21, Eric Slick, the drummer for the ’60s-influenced indie-rock band Dr. Dog, released his debut solo album, Palisades.

The June issue of Modern Drummer magazine features an interview with three-time Grammy Award–winning producer Russ Titelman who in his long career has worked with musical giants including Little Feat, Randy Newman, James Taylor, Brian Wilson, Cyndi Lauper, Graham Central Station, Rickie Lee Jones, George Harrison, Chaka Khan, the Bee …

At Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, drummer Steve Smith took the opportunity to, as we say, give the drummers some.

Hello MD readers! I’ve been drumming with “Weird Al” Yankovic since late-1980, and if you’d told me I’d still be doing that thirty-seven years later, I would have said you were crazy! And when I tell someone that I play drums for Weird Al, the response is often, “is he …

Hi Modern Drummer readers! My name is Steve Barney and I’m a UK-based session drummer who is fortunate to hit drums and people applaud! My first inspiration for playing drums came when my dad took me to see a Genesis concert in 1980—I was completely blown away by Phil Collins …

On Nathan East’s second solo album, Reverence, he once again steps into the spotlight as bandleader. Produced by East and Yamaha Entertainment Group of America founder Chris Gero, it’s no surprise that shortly after its debut (less than one month ago), the album hit the number-one spot on both the …

In Part 1 of our new interview with the iconic drummer Bill Stevenson, we discussed the latest Descendents album, the major lifestyle changes he’s made, and solving the drummer/producer dichotomy. Here we trace the early developments of his long and illustrious playing career, and learn about the broad range of …

To borrow from the great Walt Whitman: Bill Stevenson is large. He contains multitudes. Over the last four decades, the hulking drummer has tirelessly propelled the likes of Descendents, All, and Black Flag—a trio of trailblazing bands as skilled at progressive, fusion-inspired jams as they are straight-up punk rock burners …

Alphonse Mouzon came to prominence in the ’70s as one of the top drummers on the burgeoning fusion scene, playing with premier acts like Weather Report and Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House.

Born in Long Island, New York, Zummo began drumming at the early age of three when he discovered his dad’s drumkit. By the time he was seven he was an award-winning drummer, taking home the top prize in Long Island Drum Center’s Battle of the Beats. In 2004, Zummo helped …

Hello, Modern Drummer readers. I’ve had a lot of incredible musical experiences since I last wrote you two years ago, including recording drums and Irish percussion for the Broadway show “Outside Mullingar”, and fulfilling my lifelong dream of performing at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Hello, Modern Drummer readers. I’ve had a lot of incredible musical experiences since I last wrote you two years ago, including recording drums and Irish percussion for the Broadway show “Outside Mullingar”, and fulfilling my lifelong dream of performing at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Well, 2017 seems to be approaching fast! There are a lot of great music performances and some tours and recordings to talk about.

Hi there MD readers, Corky here. As some of you may know, I have been a professional drummer for half a century. You might remember me from such bands as Mountain and West, Bruce and Laing.

Last month Modern Drummer Online premiered two videos featuring drummer Marcus Gilmore performing with pianist, composer, and bandleader Kris Davis during the recording of her new album, Duopoly.

See what’s in the November 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Living Colour’s Will Calhoun!

Longtime New York City drummer Tony Leone is currently on the road with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood.

Hi, MD readers! My name is Joe Fitzgerald and I’ve been drumming with the Irish pop band Pugwash since 2010.

Hello, MD readers! I’d like to share recent news of my drumming and musical activities.

Hi MD! My name is Ivar Loe Bjoernstad and I’d like to share a few words about some things I consider important.

With Juniper, instrumental and percussion-heavy trio Square Peg Round Hole unleashes pondering melodies, brooding harmonic landscapes, and forward-thinking rhythms. Here, the group’s main drummer, Evan Chapman, discusses the concepts and influences behind the record’s broad sonic spectrum….

Hi MD readers! It is such a privilege to be writing for On the Beat. My name is Mickael Walle Wahlgren and I’m a drummer from Sweden. I moved to Los Angeles from Stockholm a year ago. In that time I’ve had the pleasure to play behind the artist Cam …

Allen is a revered figure in the field of forward-reaching, swinging jazz rooted in the tradition. When he first made waves in the jazz world, joining Freddie Hubbard’s band in 1982 at the tender age of nineteen, elder giants took note.

Hey everyone! I’m Caitlin Kalafus. I had the privilege of writing a blog for Modern Drummer about six years ago and I’m so honored to be here saying hello again!

See what’s in the July Modern Drummer magazine 2016 Gear of the Year Issue.

See what’s in the July Modern Drummer magazine 2016 Gear of the Year Issue.

We recently sat down with Clutch’s powerhouse drummer, Jean-Paul Gaster, to dig a bit into the making of Psychic Warfare, including which song gave him the most trouble, and we got some insight on some of his favorite drummers and recordings….

For drummers who’ve learned to thrive in the YouTube era, the creation of fresh, sharable content that will grab viewers’ attention often enough to keep their buzz buzzing is a crucial piece of the puzzle. Night Verses’ quirky drummer, Aric Improta, is certainly keeping his name on the lips of …

Josh Eppard By Manuel Casanova   by Stephen Bidwell   Josh Eppard has been out with Coheed and Cambria since this past autumn. The group toured Europe in January, and March will find the band headlining the U.S. with Glassjaw in support. Coheed’s latest studio album, The Color Before the …

Here the on-the-move drummer talks with MD Online about his new record and shares his wisdom on swing mastery….

The music world is quite a bit less bold today with the passing of David Bowie, the iconic artist who was as famous for his appetite for new musical ideas as he was for his ability to wholeheartedly inhabit whatever sonic world he created. One happy result of the singer, …

See what’s in this special 40th anniversary edition of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Neil Peart…

See what’s in this special 40th anniversary edition of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Neil Peart…

Over the course of his forty-year career traveling the globe to teach, perform, and conduct clinics, Dom Famularo has interacted with some of the finest drummers and drum instructors in the world. The following list contains many of those names, organized by country/continent. If you’re looking for top-notch drum instruction, …

In 2009, Audio One’s sound-specialist and producer David Frangioni spoke to Madonna’s musical director Kevin Antunes about Brian Frasier-Moore contributing to Frangioni’s series of drum sample libraries. Antunes thought it was a wonderful idea and three years later, in 2012, David Frangioni Presents Brian Frasier-Moore, Volume 1 was released.

The Los Angeles–based group Wand, featuring drummer Evan Burrows, singer and guitarist Cory Hanson, and bassist Lee Landy, are among the most prolific of the current crop of galaxy-gazing garage-rockers, producing three full-lengths in just over a year. Burrows makes the most out of the group’s ambitious music-world view, muscularly …

Prior to joining the revamped lineup of the hit alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin, Shaun Foist spent thirteen years immersing himself in all things drumming, including playing with Picture Me Broken, a band fronted by Gregg Allman’s daughter, Brooklyn Allman. Over the years Foist enjoyed a few “wow??? moments, including …

On October 3, 2015 in New York City, original Kiss drummer Peter Criss, session drummers Shawn Pelton and Billy Ward, along with Foghat’s Roger Earl, Modern Drummer’s Billy Amendola, and DW Senior Executive Vice President and drum making guru John Good made an appearance at DW Day at the Guitar …

During an all too brief tour break, Bordin took a moment to talk to Modern Drummer about why Faith No More got back together, the DIY ethos that drove the making of Sol Invictus, how he manages to deliver such a physical set every night, and much more….

The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) Executive Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Hagan to its advisory board….

Sweetwater, a top online retailer of music instruments and audio equipment in the US, is presenting GearFest 2015 on Friday, June 12, from 9 am to 6 pm, and Saturday, June 13, from 9 am to 5 pm, at the Sweetwater campus located at 5501 US Hwy 30 W in …

Greetings, MD readers! My last blog was back in 2010 and much has happened since then. I am currently slamming the skins for the Pikeville, Kentucky–based hard rock/metal band Downtrend. We are signed to an indie label called Vision Metal Records out of Tennessee….

Vic’s Drum Shop in Chicago has been selected to receive the 2014 Outstanding Retailer Award from Vic Firth. The award was presented to drum shops across America that achieved double-digit sales growth last year with more than $25,000 in annual sell-through of Vic Firth products….

Hey drummers! I’m Geoff Daking of the Blues Magoos. I started playing in the early ’60s in Delaware. When I was in high school I came to New York City on weekends to see Monk, Cannonball, and Coltrane with those great drummers like Elvin Jones. I moved to Greenwich Village …

  This article originally ran in the July/Aug 2010 issue of Drum Business.   by Fran Azzarto   Counterhoops are among the more mysterious elements of a drumkit. Some drummers aren’t even aware that there are different types, and among those who are, there is often confusion or outright ignorance …

At first thought, it might be easy to write off any bass drum pedal as a simple combination of footboard and beater. After all, how many ways can there be to strike a kick drum? To those non-drummers out there, it probably seems as elemental as step on a pedal, …

The second edition of the KoSA Miami/SFCPA weekend intensive workshop, a collaboration with the South Florida Center for Percussive Arts founded by Brandon Cruz, took place this past January. Registrants participated in classes of Brazilian percussion, African drumming traditions on drumset, Cuban rhythms, and advanced snare drum techniques in the …

Hi, Modern Drummer readers! This is Andre “Dre Energy??? Boyd. I’ve been on tour with Cirque du Soleil and playing cities like Zurich, Florence, Rome, Paris, Lisbon, Tenerife, and many more….

By its very nature, the drumset can be the hardest instrument to mike. Guitarists, for example, have it easy: They have only themselves, their axe, and maybe an amp to deal with, whereas a drummer’s territory essentially comprises a collection of vastly different instruments. In this article we’ll take a …

Hello, Modern Drummer, it’s nice to be back with a follow up after an amazing concert for the Phil Collins Little Dreams Foundation. The concert, albeit with a bit of drama, was a success. The Little Dreams Foundation sold out the Fillmore in Miami Beach and raised a lot of …

Jonathan Joseph recently wrapped up his second tour with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, a gig that you can read all about in the November issue of Modern Drummer magazine. Here we talk with Joseph, who’s also singer Joss Stone’s drummer and musical director, about his work with R&B singer Betty …

To ensure the continuation and revitalization of music education in economically challenged public schools across the country, non-profit organization Little Kids Rock will host its sixth annual Little Kids Rock Benefit, honoring Joan Jett and her music.

What is the rhythmic essence of progressive music? What makes prog so different from other genres? Does it require a specific skill set on the drumkit, or does the nature of the music make it open to interpretation? MD posed these and other questions to the drummers in Spock’s Beard, …

Recording with Black Sabbath was the first surprise; now the ex-Rage/Audioslave drummer dashes expectations again with the Last Internationale….

Drummer Bill Stevenson is among the most influential musicians associated with West Coast punk rock, on any instrument. After making his name with seminal hard-core band Black Flag in the ’80s, Stevenson proceeded to set a standard for punk drumming with the Descendants and All, later spreading his reputation even …

Here, as a companion to our August 2014 Influences piece on Mason, we speak with the drummer about his new album, his early days, the drummers who inspired him, and more….

Modern Drummer recently chatted with longtime Jethro Tull drummer Doane Perry while doing research for an article on drummer Dean Zimmer. Perry spoke at length about his relationship with Zimmer as well as his great friendship with the late, great Mark Craney, who, in addition to preceding Perry in Tull, …

Hello, Modern Drummer readers. I was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Watching my older brother, Paris (Alvin) Potts, and cousin Al Jackson, Jr. inspired me to play drums and marching drums throughout school, where my major was in music.

Performing with the Suffers for the last couple of years has been an experience. The process of writing, recording, and playing live is really a pleasure because of the (nine!) other talented musicians in the band….

Fest For Beatles Fans’ Michelle Joni Lapidos introduces the Ringo Symposium for our first video tribute to Ringo Starr. Saturday Night Lives’ Shawn Pelton kicks it off by sharing and explaining his favorite Ringo drum tracks….

Since its inception by camp director Petar Curic in 2007, this one-of-a-kind drum camp has featured such world-class instructors as Bill Bruford, Horacio “El Negro??? Hernandez, JoJo Mayer, John Riley, Gary Chaffee, Mike Mangini, Marco Minnemann, Benny Greb, Pete Riley, Pete Lockett, Gabor Dornyei, and Kim Plainfield. The weeklong camp …

World-renowned drummers, educators, authors, and instructional DVD creators Mark Schulman (Pink/Foreigner), Daniel Glass (Brian Setzer/Bette Midler) and Bruce Becker (Mike Stern/Ron Carter) will a drum camp this July 18–20 at the Hilton Woodland Hills/Los Angeles, located at 6360 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, CA….

See what’s in the July 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Omar Hakim…

We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team to share their thoughts on their favorite methods for developing independence. Here’s what they had to say.

Modern Drummer learned of the death this past weekend of Scott Asheton, drummer with the seminal Ann Arbor, Michigan, band the Stooges; his passing was noted in several media reports and on Stooges singer Iggy Pop’s Facebook page. In honor of Asheton’s unique place in rock ’n’ roll history, we’re …

Twist and Shout: Soul Legends Celebrate the Beatles, at the legendary Apollo Theater on 253 West 125th Street, is one of the star-studded charity concerts being held as part of NYC Fab 50: Celebrating the Music of the Beatles 50th Anniversary Celebration….

Fun Fun Fun Fest had its eighth go-round this past November 8–10, and it was three days of great music for fans of metal, indie, hardcore, electro, and hip-hop, as well as wrestling, comedy, skateboarding, and BMX….

Fun Fun Fun Fest had its eighth go-round this past November 8–10, and it was three days of great music for fans of metal, indie, hardcore, electro, and hip-hop, as well as wrestling, comedy, skateboarding, and BMX….

Jazz drummer Foreststorn “Chico??? Hamilton died this past Monday at the age of ninety-two. Hamilton was notable for his refined approach to the drumset, which leaned more heavily on creative orchestrations than on flash, an approach that in the 1950s inspired the movements of cool and chamber jazz. Notably, Hamilton …

My professional recording career started in 1990 with Dog Society. After years of songwriting, club gigs, and sessions, the foursome was signed to Atlantic East West Records….

Ronald Shannon Jackson died at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, this past October 19. Jackson was a renowned drummer, composer, and bandleader who supported some of the giants of avant-garde jazz, including Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, and Albert Ayler….

Thirty years into a career of trailblazing thrash drumming, Gene “The Atomic Clock??? Hoglan shows no signs of slowing down. Between touring and/or recording with Testament, Dethklok, and Meldrum, conducting drum clinics, and filming an instructional video, he’s as busy as ever….

Reflecting back on starting music as a professional, I immediately think of the first “real deal??? tour I ever took part in—Ozzfest 2004….

The Collective School of Music will present the following free drum clinics. Clinics will take place at the Collective School of Music, which is located at 541 Avenue of the Americas, 4th floor, New York, NY. Seating for the events will be limited and must be reserved in advance by …

Los Angeles studio and touring drummer Rick Latham has recently announced dates for ‘the Euro Tour 2013 2.0’

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 trio from Buffalo, New York, has sold more than ten million albums worldwide …

Click here for a lesson based on the standard exercise called “Irish Spring,??? which comprises swung double beats with smooth hand-to-hand turnarounds.

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….

The Northampton Jazz Festival has announced that the Al Foster Quartet, featuring Eric Alexander on saxophone, will headline a star-studded lineup for its third annual event. The free festival will occur on Saturday, September 7, from 11am to 9pm, in downtown Northampton, Massachusetts….

After a six-year absence, Queens of the Stone Age are back with a new sound on their latest record, …Like Clockwork. The ten-track album came with its fair share of trials and tribulations, though….

I play drums for the band Otherwise, who is on Century Media Records. Our debut album, True Love Never Dies, was released in 2012 and landed at number two on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart….

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones drummer Roy Wooten, aka Futureman, recently got together with fiddler and occasional Flecktones collaborator Casey Driessen for a two-day jam session and conversation for the project Fiddle/Sticks, in which Driessen has been exploring the fiddle as a rhythmic instrument. Here the two go into more …

For the seventh consecutive year, Drum Fantasy Camp will allow drummers of all ages, playing levels, and musical genres to spend time in small classes with some of the world’s great drummers. This year’s camp will be held August 8 through 12 at the Hyatt Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio….

I am heading out on tour again with Marilyn Manson and wanted to drop a line as to what I’ve been up to since I last caught up with Modern Drummer in a 2010 magazine feature.

Hello Modern Drummer readers. My name is Manny Kellough, and I am known mostly as the original drummer for Billy Preston….

The South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference started out in the late 1980s as a showcase for the Austin music scene and unsigned bands but has expanded wildly into a ten-day affair.

The South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference started out in the late 1980s as a showcase for the Austin music scene and unsigned bands but has expanded wildly into a ten-day affair.

The Stickman Drum Experience Fantasy Drum Camp will take place at the Cedar Lodge on Blackstrap Lake in Saskatchewan from June 27 to July 1….

Click here to check out what the MD Education Team members have to say about setting up your drumset for maximum results….

ArtistWorks, a leading provider of interactive online music lessons, has teamed up with Modern Drummer to present a live-streaming workshop with master drummer and ArtistWorks online teaching artist Billy Cobham….

View the Billy Cobham “40 Years of Spectrum??? live-streaming event right here on March 16 at 9 am Pacific Standard Time….

It’s been quite some time since I posted anything here at MD, but I am very pleased to report on my new gig with guitar guru Jeff Beck.

LAMA College for Music Professionals has announced details for its upcoming drum recording workshop on February 2, 2013.

Hey, MD readers. My name is Eric Slick, and I currently play drums for the Philadelphia group Dr. Dog. I’ll give you a brief history of my past, but I’ll intertwine it with two essential parts of making music: challenges and failures.

As a drummer myself, I had a burning question, “Why is it we’ve never heard from the drummer’s personality and character on and off the stage????

Growing up in the ’80s, one was forced to pound the pavement and hit up older record heads for information on obscure and creative bands.

My name is Brit Turner, and I live in Atlanta, Georgia, with my wife, daughter, dog, two cats, one fish, and a snail. Great things have been happening for me lately.

In addition to the cover story on big band star Buddy Rich, the December 2012 issue of Modern Drummer magazine features a fascinating conversation between the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra’s John Riley and VJO drum sub Paul Wells. The article contains lots of useful real-world advice from Riley; here Wells asks …

Randy Ciarlante occupied the second drum chair throughout the Band’s decade-long resurgence in the 1990s, touring with the group and playing on the critically acclaimed albums Jericho, High on the Hog, and Jubilation. Ciarlante was an ideal counterpart to Levon Helm’s drumming and singing, and the interplay between them was …

Hello, modern drummers, drummers of the modern persuasion, and otherwise non-vintage percussionists! Mike Albanese here, chief drum operator for Maserati, Cinemechanica….

Is traditional grip a useful technique that drum students should learn? We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think traditional grip is relevant in today’s teachings. Here’s what they had to say.

Hey there, Modern Drummer readers, Jayson Brinkworth here again from Canada. Things have been crazy busy up here with Aaron Pritchett and One More Girl gigs, as well as many sessions….

Hello, Modern Drummer readers. I last spoke to you in January. At that time, I was just beginning this Buddy Rich odyssey. We’re now getting ready to do our first extended tour, starting in mid-August.

Gearing up for a trip to Russia, the familiar routines are almost always consistent and universal—last-minute visa mayhem, practice, visit family and my girlfriend, and basically try to maintain some sort of peace of mind….

The September issue of Modern Drummer magazine features Cult drummer John Tempesta offering ten tips on navigating a journeyman career and growing as a drummer. Here he elaborates on those topics and talks about his most recent projects, including the Cult’s new album, Choice of Weapon….

We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think that reading skills are crucial. Here’s what they had to say….

Odd times, intergalactic themes, and more tom-toms. Rock drumming gets interesting….

I’m no doomsayer stockpiling toilet paper, bottled water, and Spam, waiting for Armageddon. But I’m acutely aware that gasoline and grocery bills have taken a significantly larger cut out of my income. Granted, gas prices have dipped for now, but there’s no way to predict if and when they’ll spike …

My name is Jared Schonig, and I’m a drummer living in New York City. The newest album by my band the Wee Trio is calledAshes to Ashes: A David Bowie Intraspective. (continue reading)

The recording of the Villains’ second album, Velocity, started with a series of pre-production rehearsals attended by the band and producers Stan Lynch and Billy Chapin. (continue reading)

As Jane’s Addiction continues its successful Theatre of the Escapists tour, a new generation of fans is being hipped to the ecstatic tribal glam event that is a Jane’s show—and to the uniquely galloping drumming approach of Stephen Perkins. In the latest installment of Modern Drummer magazine’s Influences series, we …

Hey guys, this is Matt Covey of Shai Hulud, the Suicide Dolls, and the Flaming Tsunamis. And the Hempsteadys. And the Franklin Brothers…and Young Pandas. About three and a half years ago, I was shocked to find myself on the road playing drums for a truly pioneering band….

The Grammy Award-winning master percussionist debuts an interactive, bilingual online music school.

The sun sets over El Paso, and over Juarez as well—which is apparently the murder capital of the world. So I regretfully agree to enter round two in my search for decent Mexican food in El Paso. 0 for 2 this year.

I’m Tim Walsh of the Stepkids, and I’m excited to be on here and hope to add to the wealth of knowledge that is MD’s awesome thirty-five-year history…

We asked several of Whitney’s long-time friends—drummer and musical director Michael Baker, producer/songwriter/drummer Narada Michael Walden, and percussionists Bashiri Johnson and Taku Hirano—to share their thoughts on working with the iconic singer, which we bring you exclusively on moderndrummer.com.

This is an excerpt of an article that originally ran in the December1986 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.

Hello, MD readers! I’m writing from my home in Nashville, Tennessee. I think I can speak for all touring musicians when I say that “home” is one of those words that can take on a whole new meaning on the road. To me it’s synonymous with family, friends, and vacation! …

What does it take to be a successful working drummer? Commitment. Click to read more about Nashville drummer Rich Redmond’s CRASH Course to Success.

Two drummers working it out, face to face—trading licks, contributing to a massive groove, spurring each other on—it’s one of the great musical traditions, and surely it goes back to the very invention of the drumkit at the beginning of the last century. This group of tunes focuses on tracks …

Perhaps the Mayans were right after all. The End of Days must be upon us when we live in a world that finds the Atlanta-based metal band Mastodon’s latest album, The Hunter, debuting on Billboard’s top ten and the single “Curl of the Burl??? being nominated for a Grammy. Drummer …

This article originally ran in the September 2005 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.

I wrote and directed a short film called The Drummer. It’s about a cathartic day in the life of a down-on-his-luck drummer named Dave. Dave doesn’t say much in the film (he’s got maybe three lines), but he doesn’t need to because in the end his drumming speaks volumes. Now, …

For big band great Mel Lewis, the drums were his easy chair and the band his hearth. He was the fire.

Milestones were bountiful in 2011 for NYC thrash icons Anthrax and their founding drummer.

It’s more than a thrill to be announced as the drummer for Queen Extravaganza! Roger Taylor, one of my favorite and most inspirational musicians, picked me as their new drummer! It’s insane. And I found out while I was on a roof, no less!

Over the course of the past ten weeks, vocalists, guitarists, drummers, bassists, and keyboard players from across the U.S. and Canada have auditioned online at www.queenextravaganza.com, hoping to become part of the Queen Extravaganza Tour, a major production launching in 2012 featuring performances of Queen’s biggest hits. The contestants performed …

Ben Riley commands respect from the moment he hits the bandstand. While he is best known (and beloved) for his years spent in Thelonious Monk’s quartet at the peak of that master’s powers, Riley has also recorded and performed with many other jazz greats.This article orginally ran in the February …

An interview with post-bop master Paul Motian, which ran in the April 2005 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.

Drumming news for the month of November complied in one place.

Hello, world, Phil Boucher from Gentlemen Hall here! I’ve been drumming exclusively with this six-piece band for over three years now, and it’s probably been the most exciting period of my life so far. We hail from Boston (where we all met at college), and we make dancey, hook-laden rock …

Things have changed so much in the past ten years—in general, and for me personally, in the way I interface with the music industry. I feel like those ten years have progressed in a very different and far more varied way than the ten years that passed before them.

MD Online recently spoke to Jack about the process of making his new EP, including the making of the video for the track “Outer Space Dream.???

Intimate in-studio videos of Billy Ward’s exciting new project offer a unique view of a high-art Americana recording.

Right up until his passing on October 11, Freddie Gruber was a source of deep and important knowledge for many top drummers.

Modern Drummer October Web Update News

MD Pro Panelist Daniel Glass on the magic of Deep Purple’s Ian Paice.

After thirty years, R.E.M. has officially called it quits. In April of 2005, though, MD was grilling the most recent addition to their lineup.

Jimmy Chamberlin playing the track “Not From Here,??? from Drum Channel’s Gannin Arnold Project DVD.

Familiarize yourself with the basics of cymbal alloys and you’ll be well equipped to make the correct cymbal purchases for the type of music that you play.

The studio star had a decade’s worth of important work under his belt when MD spoke with him for this 1981 cover story.

I’m Alex Sassaris, drummer of NYC rock band Eve to Adam. Since starting this band eleven years ago with my brother, singer Taki Sassaris, and guitar player Gaurav Bali, we’ve been spreading our unique blend of guitar-heavy, groove-oriented, melodic rock ’n’ roll.

Chamberlin is focusing on a new band, Skysaw, with whom he gets to revisit drumming concepts he’s long been interested in—but in a distinctly new format. In the November 2011 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, we honor Jimmy’s career accomplishments in the second installment of our Influences feature series. Here …

Hi, MD readers! My name is Scott Batiste. I play drums for Saviours, a heavy metal band from Oakland, California. I’ve been reading Modern Drummer since 1988. After all these years following the magazine, it’s a true honor to be asked to contribute.

Hello to all you drummers in MD-land! I am currently touring with ’80s teen idols Debbie Gibson and Tiffany on their Journey Through the ’80s tour…

’Tis the season for Chad Smith followers, with new Chili Peppers and Chickenfoot music blowing up all over the place. MD and the Bombastic One recently grabbed some grub and talked about some of his favorite classic-rock albums.

More with the world-renowned right-hand man to rock’s singer-songwriter royalty, who is featured in the Different View column of this month’s issue of MD.

I play in Sleeper Agent. Our music is fast-paced and energetic punk-infused pop rock. We’ve been together for about three years now. Our sound is heavily influenced by Jay Reatard, the Strokes, the Beatles, and many others…

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….

Modern Drummer’s 2011 Readers Poll Hall of Fame inductee is the late drummer/educator Jim Chapin, who passed away in 2009.

by Bob GirouardIt seems that since Danny Seraphine made a comeback of sorts of the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival, he’s kicked the current phase of his drumming career into high gear, appearing at events like Drummers for Jesus, the 2009 Chicago Drum Show, and a Terry Kath tribute, and making …

2011 is off to an exciting start for me as I prepare for a short radio promo tour followed by rehearsals and tours throughout the year with singer-songwriter Jason Reeves….

Hey, everyone, Pat Torpey here! Do you remember me? I’m the drummer of Mr. Big, and we have a new CD/download (or whatever you like) out that’s ready for your perusal. It’s all the original members—Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, and me. We decided to title it What If… …

We revisit a 2005 interview featuring memories of George Harrison, John Lennon, and Yes. As Yes continues their world tour – featuring the return of keyboardist Rick Wakeman, signifying the reborn “classic??? lineup – the band simply gets hotter and hotter. Drummer Alan White recently sat down with Modern Drummer, …

Hey there, everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve checked in. I wanted to personally thank everyone who voted me “Best Country Drummer” in last year’s Modern Drummer magazine Reader Poll. It is a real thrill and an honor to receive this award! A huge thanks to the fine staff …

Billy Ward is a unique force in the drum world—a technician of the highest order who can bring taste and creativity to a huge variety of musical situations, a clear and enthusiastic educator, and a notorious drumming thinker who is always ready with an unusual but pragmatic take on the …

Story by Billy AmendolaBetween his appearance on this year’s Grammys and his upcoming performance at the Oscars, JR continues his conversation with MD about what a typical day in the studio is like, his early influences, his upcoming DVD, drum solos, reading charts, and taking a break from the studio …

Hello, MD readers! I want to share my brush with greatness with you. I’m an amateur drummer who was lucky enough to be sent to David Fishof’s Rock ’N’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Philadelphia by my wife. The camp was held the weekend of October 22-24 and was a blast, …

by Rich Mangicaro The longtime Lou Reed drummer’s fascinating musical journey. Tony “Thunder??? Smith is one happy guy. Ever since I first met him over twenty years ago, I’ve found that joy and excitement just emanate from him when he’s talking about music. He couldn’t hide it, even if he …

It is my privilege to be invited to contribute here at moderndrummer.com, as I’ve looked forward to each new issue of the magazine for over twenty years! A little update: This past summer was pretty cool. May through August found me once again on the road with Ray Manzarek and …

I love drums! I have rooms full of them! I only really feel complete when I’m doing something with them! I’m sure you’re all nodding in empathy. This year has been an incredible, twisting journey in my drumming career, which has spanned over thirty years—and I’m only twenty-five! I’ve played …

Hey, MD readers! It’s your boy Gorden Campbell, and I’m back once again to give you an update on my travels around the globe! This has been a busy year for me. From the George Duke and American Idol tours, to recording my first instructional DVD, I’ve had a great …

Daniel Glass is an award-winning drummer, author, historian, and educator best known for helping to usher in the resurgence of swing with renowned L.A. group Royal Crown Revue….

Interview by Robyn FlansRead the Little Feat drummer’s cover feature from October 1995. MD: You have a unique playing style with Little Feat. Can you describe that style and where it came from? Richie: My style has grown with the band. It started out heavily influenced by blues, rock ’n’ …

John Tempesta has worked his way to the top of heavy metal drumming, but his first inspirations and influences to pursue the instrument came via Ringo Starr in the Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night and Dennis Davis supporting David Bowie at Madison Square Garden in 1977. John bought a …

(December 2010 Issue) Growing up, Mary J. Blige’s drummer knew he was preparing for big things. Today his résumé features some of the greatest artists on the R&B and gospel scenes, including Chaka Khan, Kirk Franklin, Keri Hilson, and Marvin Sapp. In this exclusive online companion piece to his interview …

Read the Little Feat drummer’s feature from March 1988.The drum world will never see another Richie Hayward. The longtime Little Feat drummer, who passed away in August, was among the most musically stylish and quietly influential drummers of the classic rock era, equal parts monster technician and old-soul groove master. …

Hello to all the readers of Modern Drummer! This is Derek Kerswill. I currently play drums full-time in the bands Unearth and Tangents, and also do a lot of independent studio work. My love for drums started the very first time I saw Animal on The Muppet Show. I kid …

Hey, Modern Drummer fans! I hope you’re all busy playing your butts off out there! As some of you may know, four years ago I made the big decision to retire my position as artist relations director at Paiste, after having the pleasure of that great gig for nineteen years. …

Aye, MD faithful readers! My name is Tosin Aribisala. It is an honor for me to write a blog for this awesome drummers’ magazine. I have been an ardent reader and subscriber to Modern Drummer for over eleven of my twenty-three years playing the drumset….

Richie Hayward, the drummer in the band Little Feat since their inception in 1969, was born in Clear Lake, Iowa, and was influenced by rock ’n’ roll pioneer Earl Palmer and big-band jazz drummer Sonny Payne. In 1966 he moved to Los Angeles and joined the Fraternity Of Man, whose …

If you ask Steve Jordan who his favorite drummer is, be prepared to get hit with a never-ending list of influences, ranging from the obvious—like jazz greats Kenny Clarke and Philly Joe Jones and funk innovators David Garibaldi and Stephen Ferrone—to the more obscure, like Motown/disco session drummer Andrew Smith, …

Queen was one of the most influential rock bands of the ’70s and ’80s, and continues to be massively popular today despite the untimely death of lead singer Freddie Mercury nearly twenty years ago….

I don’t care so much about difficulty or technicality. I like style, passion, creativity, and all that kind of stuff. Here are some videos that always challenge and inspire me no matter how many times I watch them….

See what’s in the June 2010 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring The Roots’ Questlove….

Famed bassist/producer/remix engineer Bill Laswell on Ginger, Tony, Elvin, Zigaboo, and more…

Foxy Shazam’s Aaron McVeigh Interviewed By…Aaron McVeighI was able to watch Foxy Shazam from on stage at South By South West, and let me tell you, there’s no other band like them. The band played three shows in one day at the Austin, Texas music festival, as part of their …

My name is Robb Rivera and I punish the drums for a South Florida band called Nonpoint. I first started playing drums at the age of nine and I was and dabbling on guitar as well….

The multi-Grammy winner is never short on great suggestions for improving your playing. In fact, when we asked Wertico to offer ten tips for his story in this month’s issue, he gave us sixteen! Here’s what we couldn’t fit in the magazine….

Following that I was in Stuttgart with my band Leaves’ Eyes. I tracked drums and percussion on a couple tunes that will be included on the digi-pack version of our latest CD, Njord. One track is a typical LEs balls-out rocker. On the other tune, an acoustic version of “Irish …

Jim Keltner is inarguably a true studio drum god. Highly regarded for his session work on solo recordings by three of the Beatles, Jim could also be considered a close life-long friend of George Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr…

During the ’40s, Heard appeared in several Hollywood films including Stormy Weather and Boogie Woogie’s Dream…

Over the past thirty years, Steve Smith has scaled the heights of pop-rock success with Journey, has been widely acknowledged as a true master of the instrument, and has performed with the greatest jazz artists of his generation—including in his own group, Vital Information. Since the age of nine, Smith …

For those of you who don’t know of me, I got my first big break as the touring drummer for the Moments, aka Ray, Goodman & Brown…

It’s been said that modern drumming made its first step towards maturity when Jo Jones arrived in New York in 1936 with the Count Basie band…

It’s taken the jazz community nearly half a century to catch up with the inventive and super-hip stylings of Roy Haynes—the oft-proclaimed “father of modern drumming.???

If you were to ask any jazz historian to name who they feel is most responsible for setting the standards in bebop drumming, 99.9% of the time you’re going to get one name: Max Roach.

The supercharged Avenged Sevenfold timekeeper keeps old-school metal alive with brute force, machine-like precision, and a flair for the dramatic…

On Tour And On Stage: 9 Lives (+9, +9 More). MD’s editors just can’t keep a list of their favorite albums short–even in service of a can’t-resist pun. Twenty-seven live albums you gotta have.

by Billy AmendolaAt the young age of seventy-six, there’s just no slowing down for artist, activist, and avant-garde queen Yoko Ono, widow of the late Beatle John Lennon. Her latest CD, Between My Head And The Sky, made with her new Plastic Ono Band, was coproduced by Yoko and her …

I’m a drummer and percussionist from Cleveland, Ohio, and I’ve been touring with my favorite group, the Four Tops…

I’m a drummer and percussionist from Cleveland, Ohio, and I’ve been touring with my favorite group, the Four Tops…

The Echo Falls is a modern indie-folk-rock trio from Oakland, California. Our first CD is coming out next month and reception has been great already…

The longtime Letterman bandleader and keyboardist chats with MD about some of his favorite drummers.

In celebration of the great, sometimes groundbreaking drumming performances of TV’s golden age, we present to you highlights along the illustrious Drumming On TV timeline…

Hello to all who have arrived here; nice to meet you. I play for a quartet called Flying Machines…

The venerable drum teacher passed away this July 4, leaving behind thousands of acolytes–and a million great stories. In this companion to the In Memoriam in the October issue of MD, we hear from some of Chapin’s many friends and drumming disciples.

I’m an independent musician and educator residing in Los Angeles and blessed to work internationally.

Billy Idol/Foreigner drummer Brian Tichy recently rediscovered his longtime obsession with getting into shape by using a speed bag. How, what, why? Let’s find out.

I'm a jazz drummer living in New York City. I've just released my first CD as a leader, The Tarrier.

It’s Anthony Biuso here, checking in with a blog to let you know what’s been going on in my world. I left (hed) p.e. in August of 2008 to devote more time to my previous band, T.S.O.L. I had a great time touring and playing with (hed) p.e., and it …

It’s Anthony Biuso here, checking in with a blog to let you know what’s been going on in my world. I left (hed) p.e. in August of 2008 to devote more time to my previous band, T.S.O.L. I had a great time touring and playing with (hed) p.e., and it …

In this online exclusive, we continue our conversation with Gerald Heyward, Aaron Spears, Cora Coleman-Dunham, and Nisan Stewart.

My own little record store, containing only albums I still like after twenty-five years–that’s suddenly what all my records look like splayed out across my room.

He exists at the rhythmic midpoint between Guns N’ Roses, Tom Waits, and Primus. And boy do we love him for it. (continue reading)

I just want to take this opportunity to share with you the amazing journey I’ve had over the last year–2008 was truly an unforgettable experience. After decades of playing in bands with other musicians and participating in international drum festivals, I decided to focus the last three years on solo …

Among today’s pop stars, John Mayer is unique. Despite his fame and frequent appearances in the tabloids, a deeper listen reveals that the singer/songwriter/guitarist is a real musician. If he hadn’t have been lucky enough to be picked up by a record label and thrust in front of the public …

Mitch Mitchell was not alone in blending jazz and rock drumming styles, but he may have pushed the combo further than anyone who came before him. Here a number of noted drummers provide further insight into Mitch’s influence….

The March issue of MD (out now) features Billy Ward’s fascinating conversation with Simon Phillips, Doane Perry, Marco Minnemann, Thomas Lang, and Jerry Marotta about the grooves that inspired them to play drums early on, and that continue to today. It seemed to make perfect sense for MD’s editors to …

My name is Hawk Lopez and I’ve been with Crown Of Thorns since 1994, when I was recommended to Jean Beauvoir by Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo….

My name is Hawk Lopez and I’ve been with Crown Of Thorns since 1994, when I was recommended to Jean Beauvoir by Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo….

Nickelback owns rock radio. Over the past five years the band has sold more than twenty-six million records while garnering awards and top-ten singles faster then you can say “Oh Canada.???

Spend just a few minutes watching Aaron Gillespie perform Underoath songs on stage from the comfort of your home computer via live footage posted on YouTube.

There’s J. Mascis, singer, speaker-shredding guitarist, and chief architect of Dinosaur Jr.’s very loud and deceptively tuneful sound. Then there’s J. Mascis, balls-to-the-wall hard rock drummer for Witch.

My name is Pat McDonald, and I’m currently touring the world with The Charlie Daniels Band. I’ve been with CDB for almost ten years now, and aside from touring with the band, I’m keeping busy with session work and local gigging in Nashville….

Jon Wysocki has been laying down his tasteful, well thought–out grooves with the chart-topping band Staind for thirteen years. The group, which hails from Springfield, Massachusetts, also includes lead singer/guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, and bassist/vocalist Johnny April. They’ve recorded six studio albums and four number-one singles, and …

My name is Felipe, and as I write my first blog, I'm getting ready to tour with STM Records' ISM.

Most recently, the band won the Maxell Song Of The Year award in the international John Lennon Song Writing Contest.

While many only know Billy Bob Thornton as an Academy Award–winning actor, he’s in fact been a musician far longer, ever since growing up in Arkansas…

Twenty-four year old Thomas Pridgen unleashes the most rabid drumming in recent memory on The Mars Volta’s The Bedlam In Goliath. Of course, the band’s fans have come to expect madness and mastery from the innovative Long Beach, California group…

Hey everyone, Jayson Brinkworth here writing from Canada. If this magazine doesn't get you fired up about playing drums, you must not have a pulse!

Hey everyone, Jayson Brinkworth here writing from Canada. If this magazine doesn't get you fired up about playing drums, you must not have a pulse!

As a leader, Billy Drummond has recorded three albums that exemplify his past-meets-future approach, a style marked by an allegiance to yesterday’s jazz masters, but with a forward-thinking bent….

With our new CD, Population, hot off the press, and with the backing of Yaris and Arts & Crafts, we hit the road last October for a two-month mega-tour across Canada and the US.

There have always been certain British rock bands who’ve been treated like deities at home, but who failed to translate to the American market….

2007 was another jammed year of traveling. Fifteen countries, and many of them more than once! Here are some highlights….

Nada Surf is one of the smartest, freshest-sounding rock bands of the past ten/fifteen years. And like they say, behind every brilliant band is an equally crafty drummer. Kit man Ira Elliot is as sharp as they get.

It shouldn’t really be much of a surprise that Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Nate “Danja??? Hills all have production credits on Duran Duran’s new album, Red Carpet Massacre.

I’m convinced that, ten years from now, we’re going to look back at 2007 as an unusually fertile time in music and in drumming.

Maná is a true rags-to-riches story. Fueled by an intense passion for music and a belief that music can transcend the boundaries of language, the Mexican rock band has sold more than twenty-two million records and collected eight Grammy Awards….

Since moving to New York in 1996, Allison Miller has thrived by refusing to acknowledge musical borders. Alli, as she likes to be called, has allowed her sincere love of pop and rock music to ground her jazz playing–and her passion for jazz to elevate her pop prowess….

I have a hard time when I hear a drummer say, “I saw you play with Billy Joel fifteen times, and there were so many questions I wish I could have asked you….”

It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Nate “Danja??? Hills signed on to co-produce Duran Duran’s latest CD, Red Carpet Massacre. After all, the band—keyboardist Nick Rhodes, singer Simon Le Bon, bassist John Taylor, and drummer Roger Taylor (guitarist Andy Taylor decided to bow out …

There’s been a fantastic wave of pop lately, so for you fellow pop-heads, I wanted to share some of what I’ve been diggin’ on my iPod….

Simply put, Max Roach brought jazz drumming into the modern age. Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell revolutionized jazz with new melodies and concepts; Max matched these musical geniuses with startling rhythms and reactive, action-packed drumming that still influences drummers on a profound level today….

If there is one thing I feel pretty confident discussing, it’s the concept of adaptability. In terms of drum history I went from being a tri-tom field drummer in high school to playing a Brufordesque Simmons kit in a prog-core quartet Jello Biafra called “the ‘Rush of hardcore.”…

In the February 2007 issue of Modern Drummer, we ran a feature called “Double Drumming’s 25 Greatest Hits.??? At the time we asked MD readers to submit their own favorite double-drum performances, which we’d post online at a later date. Well, the time has arrived, double-drum fans—the floor is yours!

As a self confessed “elder statesman of music,??? and one of the most influential drummers of the past fifteen years, Jimmy Chamberlin has a thing or two to say about the state of the instrument….

Mike Portnoy may very well be the hardest-working drummer in the business. His recent three-DVD set, In Constant Motion, speaks for itself. The undisputed king of progressive metal never sleeps!

Time. Feel. Groove. Pulse. For many, these are illusive concepts with multiple meanings. Does a heavy metal drummer “feel??? the pulse in the same way as a pop drummer?…

This past winter, the duality of rock drummer / experimental percussionist Glenn Kotche’s eclectic career reached an all-time high as he juggled writing/recording sessions for Wilco’s latest release, Sky Blue Sky, and composing “Anomaly,??? a seven-movement commission for world-renowned string ensemble The Kronos Quartet.

Atlanta studio ace Sean O’Rourke has been plugging away in the trenches of the local scene for over twenty years. Having also toured with Mother’s Finest, The Derek Trucks Band, and Aquarium Rescue Unit, O’Rourke is a seasoned road warrior.

MD Online spoke with the busy drummer mid-tour about what it’s been like going from rebuilding motorcycles to playing on hit records and sold out shows around the world….

Last summer I got to experience what it might have been like at Beatles concert at the height of Beatlemania. On separate occasions I saw shows by two new bands: The Click Five, from America, and McFly, from the UK. Not since I saw Hanson a few years ago did …

The Dave Brubeck Quartet was the most popular jazz group of that time. “Take Five,” featuring a drum solo by Joe Morello, was a million-seller. This group toured the world playing concerts instead of location club gigs. I can’t think of one jazz group today that approaches the level of …

As the drummer for two now classic metal acts, Pantera and Damageplan, Vinnie Paul has clearly leaned toward the heavier side of the rock spectrum. With his latest project, Rebel Meets Rebel, Vinnie is certainly maintaining ground he’s covered in the past….

New York City drummer Rich Pagano is way more than just a member of the hippest Beatle cover band you’ll ever hear. He’s also an accomplished singer and producer. As we journey through Rich’s MD Online interview, we’ll learn that not only does he do a stellar job of providing …

Not many people get to do exactly what they love and get paid for it – much less with two of the biggest artists in the world. Mickey Curry toured and recorded with Hall & Oates at the peak of their career, laying down a solid backbeat with perfect feel …

Billy Hart is one of the unsung giants of jazz. He’s recorded over six hundred albums, including seminal dates with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Joe Zawinul, Sam Rivers, Pharoah Sanders, John Scofield, Lee Konitz, Hank Jones, Pat Martino, Charles Lloyd, Dave Liebman, and most recently, heavy hitters like …

Not many drummers dictated the sound of the 80’s like Tony Thompson. That big, huge drum sound was everywhere: on classic recordings like Power Station’s “Some Like It Hot,” David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love,” the list goes on.

Growing up on a mix of R&B, pop, rock, and country, David Northrup, originally from Syracuse New York, moved south in the early ’90s playing sessions and gigging the Florida club scene. One of those gigs led him to meeting and working with ace session guitarist Les Dudek…

In Part 2 of our interview with the drummers of The Velvet Underground, we talk to Maureen Tucker, the player most often associated with the group….

At an age where most would be settling back and reaping the rewards of their major accomplishments in life, Richard Starkey, better known to the world as Ringo Starr, is not even thinking about slowing down. In fact, he’s exactly where he wants to be at this stage of his …

Steve Jordan has accomplished more in his drumming career than he ever could have imagined. Of the big names he played with, a short list would include Ashford & Simpson, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, The Pretenders, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, David Sanborn, Tom Scott, …

Tommy Lee is in a great mood, and he has every reason to be. His new CD, appropriately titled Never A Dull Moment, has just been released, and it’s off the hook! We recently caught up with Tommy while preparing for his upcoming tour.

Storming out of Tulsa, Oklahoma with their major-label debut, Middle Of Nowhere, featuring the “Can’t get it out of my head” hit “MMMBop,” drummer Zac Hanson and his brothers Isaac and Taylor became the biggest-selling teen idols of 1997. Zac, only eleven years old at the time, found himself a …

I saw the California-based pop band Rooney perform live before I was familiar with their music. Besides featuring some very powerful, tasteful drumming, I found them to be extremely melodic, with hooks that stuck in my head for days after the show….

With this week’s news of the passing of singer/songwriter/guitarist Lou Reed, millions of fans are grieving, while millions more people are learning for the first time how gargantuan an influence the New York musician and his ’60s band the Velvet Underground have had on rock music….

In between those gigs he’ll squeeze in a performance with Ricky Martin, Stevie Nicks, or Jennifer Lopez, among other top acts. But Danny’s brain is always thinking: How do I make my playing better? Equally important to him these days: How do I make the instruments I play better? Enter …

As Yes continues their world tour – featuring the return of keyboardist Rick Wakeman, signifying the reborn “classic” lineup – the band simply gets hotter and hotter. Drummer Alan White recently sat down with Modern Drummer, inaugurating the magazine’s brand-new Playback column, in which the world’s greatest players reflect on …

Roy Haynes is without question one of the most important jazz drummers in history. His impressive, sixty-year career has included work with such greats as Charlie Parker, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, and Pat Metheny, among many others. Haynes continues to be very active as …

When drummer Fred Hell was shot four times during a home invasion robbery, he was left with a bullet lodged in his skull. A member of LA-based psychobilly trio Tiger Army, Fred faced a long recovery and the possibility he might never play drums again….

Billy Hart is one of the unsung giants of jazz. He’s recorded over six hundred albums, including seminal dates with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Joe Zawinul, Sam Rivers, Pharoah Sanders, John Scofield, Lee Konitz, Hank Jones, Pat Martino, Charles Lloyd, Dave Liebman, and most recently, heavy hitters like …

Lil’ John Roberts’s name has been popping up more and more here at MD – in interviews with other artists, in conversations with people in the drum industry – and, most importantly, in mail from fans. It seems everyone is talking about Lil’ John. And after seeing him play, you’d …

Literally a few days before our interview with Sam Loeffler, the news came that Chicago trio Chevelle had just been awarded platinum status (sales of one million copies) for their sophomore effort, Wonder What’s Next. And that’s exactly the question that’s been on the minds of Chevelle fans – after …

It’s beyond belief when we found out we were playing for the Queen of England,” Mike Bordin gushes about his latest gig with the hugely popular Ozzy Osbourne. And “amazing” just about describes Bordin’s healthy career as a highly sought-after rock drummer. Through two decades of touring and recording experience …

“He’s a bad boy, that’s for sure,” says guitar star John Scofield of his talented young sideman Adam Deitch. On the Sco gig, Deitch comes across like a composite of two great drummers that the guitarist has worked with before’the original funky drummer himself, Clyde Stubblefield, and highly regarded jazz …

This last June, Ignition was released by Brian Setzer’s new unit, which he calls The Brian Setzer ’68 Comeback Special. And where Brian goes, so does Bernie….

At a 1999 Birdland performance with The Dave Holland Quintet, Billy Kilson led band and audience in a rousing chorus of drum worship. Holland, one of jazz’s most celebrated bassists and composers, has played with all the innovators, from Tony and Elvin to Jack DeJohnette and Billy Higgins. So you …

You have to be careful who you show off in front of, as Joe La Barbera learned early in his career. “I was working with a singer named Frankie Randall,” Joe recalls. “He had an offer to open for Buddy Rich in Las Vegas for a month. So I was …

Four years ago, when John Otto was first featured in Modern Drummer, the then twenty-three-year-old spoke with a wisdom and knowledge that belied his age….

Jack DeJohnette has remained one of the world’s premier drummers by always looking forward, and never losing the passion. Oh, and by playing some of the most uniquely beautiful drums ever.

The lyrics from one of Ralph MacDonald’s songs on his latest CD, Home Grown, start and end with words that sum up his life: “There is no better life than the island life. I love the island life, it makes my body free, it keeps my head together.”

Performing on stage twenty years after releasing Purple Rain, Prince doesn’t look like he’s aged a bit. In fact, it looks and sounds like he has more energy now then ever – and he seems to be enjoying it all a lot more this time around.

The scene: a cold night in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at North On Sixth, a multi-level hole in the wall jook joint where the bathroom graffiti is more political than obscene. Attracting a crowd of Manhattan intellectuals and Brooklyn deadheads, North On Sixth is tonight showcasing Ben Perowsky’s Moodswing Orchestra. A collection …

Creed is a phenomenon. They’re the first band in history to have four number-1 rock radio singles from a debut album. (By the way, that album, My Own Prison, went on to have a remarkable seven consecutive number-1 rock radio singles.) Their second album, Human Clay, entered the Billboard charts …

Like all the masters of psychedelic pop, The Flaming Lips blow your mind with the most ordinary of devices. These seem-to-be eccentrics, who’ve recently won a Grammy for the instrumental “Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon (Utopia Planitia),” are really just a bunch of hard-working regular guys, using modest tools: a …

You may have spotted the advertisement for a unique CD titled Drum Nation. It represents the music of drummers, created outside of the constraints of record labels. Terry Bozzio, Josh Freese, Bill Bruford, Steve Smith, and Stephen Perkins are just a few of the top players involved….

Daniel Glass says leaving a major record label has had a lot of ramifications for Royal Crown Revue…

Though he’s played drums for over two decades, Matt Walker is perhaps best known as “That guy who replaced Jimmy Chamberlin in Smashing Pumpkins.”