Clyde Stubblefield
Fusing rhythms from one style of music to another can help a player develop new ideas and fresh rhythmic approaches that might not have yet been previously explored.
Welcome to the second installment of articles based on my new book, Groove Freedom. I wrote this book for myself as much as I did for my students. There is nothing quite like the feeling of having one hundred percent freedom inside a particular groove. It’s a beautiful thing to …
Great Drum Breaks of the ’60s and Early ’70s Much has been written about Clyde Stubblefield’s legendary drum break on James Brown’s 1969 song “Funky Drummer.” Those few bars laid the groundwork for dozens of hip-hop tracks, and Stubblefield’s playing is still being analyzed, sampled, copied, and mulled over by …
We are excited to present the Modern Drummer 2018 Readers Poll winners!
Since 2012, drummers David Parks and Tom Hurst, along with guitarist Chris Nix, have hosted the biannual Nashville Drummers Jam benefit concert. The event began as a one-off show to raise money for King’s X drummer Jerry Gaskill after he suffered a debilitating heart attack.
This past February 18, funk pioneer and renowned James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield passed away. To coincide with this month’s tribute to the innovator [page 44], we asked our social media followers to name the tracks they think stand out from Stubblefield’s career. Although Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and “Mother Popcorn” …
This past January 14, Guitar Center held its twenty- eighth-annual Drum-Off Grand Finals, at the Novo club in downtown Los Angeles. Over the course of the competition’s numerous preliminary rounds, which took place in more than 250 Guitar Center locations nationwide, five finalists were chosen from among a pool of …
When I was a college student in Madison, Wisconsin, in the ’80s, I encountered the funk drumming legend Clyde Stubblefield. At that time, Stubblefield himself was not as well known as the classic grooves he played with James Brown, and David Garibaldi and Mike Clark were the only voices I …
Jeff Ballard, Rob Bourdon, Mitch Mitchell, Darren Pujalet, Clyde Stubblefield, Nathan Followill, Derek O’Brien, Ian Matthews, Chuck Tilley, Peter Erskine, Virgil Donati, Adam Topol, Tim Alexander
Bill Stewart, Raymond Herrera, Claude Coleman, Jason Bonham, Clyde Stubblefield, Omar Gongora, Brian Frasier-Moore, Ray Yslas, Andy Narell, Zutty Singleton, Vinne Colaiuta, Anton Fig, Gerald Heyward
Clyde Stubblefield, John “Jabo” Starks, Darren Jessee, Steve Alexander, Simon Kirke, Don Brewer, Bun E. Carlos, Phil Ehart, Abbey Rader, Todd Roper, Frankie “Kash” Waddy, Alex Cline JD Charlton, Morgan Rose, Jerry “J.I.” Allison, Steve Ferrone, Steve Smith, Carl Palmer, Ted Bonar, Ed Breckenfeld, Rich Rychel, John Riley, Harriett L. …
Peter Criss, Jimmy Cobb, Joey Shuffield, Andy Gangadeen, Mike Malinin, Tim Berkebile, Graham Lear, Barrett Deems, Hanna Fox, Kirk Covington, Clyde Stubblefield, Joe Daniels, David Light, Wallace Roney, Carter Beauford, Sam Wiley Jr., Bill Bruford, Dave Abbruzzese
Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey, Billy Drummond, John Riley, Clyde Stubblefield, Ben Gillies, David Bowie, Billy Higgins, Mikkey Dee, Joe Daniels, Dave Barborossa, Bill Bruford, Marc Quinones, John Riley
Posted: January 24, 2023
Modern Drummer is in Search of the Next Great Funk Musician
Modern Drummer is teaming up with Consequence and Yurt Rock in search of the next great funk musician. Here’s how it works: Courtesy of Yurt Rock, contestants can download a free Clyde Stubblefield drum pack. As James Brown’s drummer, Stubblefield is not just one of the most influential musicians in …
Posted: October 3, 2022
MODERN DRUMMER & YURT ROCK ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP
Modern Drummer Magazine today announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Yurt Rock, a widely-recognized producer of loops, samples, and more featuring the world’s leading musicians. As part of this exciting collaboration, Yurt Rock will be releasing a series of custom drum libraries from Modern Drummer’s digital catalog. The first release planned will …
Posted: January 15, 2019
Rob Mitzner in On The Beat
Hello Modern Drummer readers! This is my fourth time being featured here “On The Beat,” and I’m excited once again to share some of the things I’ve been up to.
Posted: August 1, 2017
Madison Area Music Association Announces Clyde Stubblefield Scholarship Fund Drive
The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) has joined forces with the Coalition for the Recognition of Clyde Stubblefield to assist in the effort to establish a scholarship fund in Mr. Stubblefield’s name.
Posted: July 21, 2017
On the Beat with David Stanoch: Where Old School Meets New—The Timeless Rhythm of Clyde Stubblefield
On Saturday, February 18, 2007, we lost a singularly unique artist, Mr. Clyde Stubblefield, known to musicians worldwide as “The Funky Drummer.” Check out the August 2017 print and digital versions of Modern Drummer for a look at Clyde’s life, career, and insights from the man himself, as well as …
Posted: March 2, 2017
Jason Trammell on Sinkane’s Life & Livin’ It
This past February 10, multifaceted producer and pop, funk, and jazz blender Ahmed Gallab released his sixth album, Life & Livin’ It, with his solo project Sinkane. Drummer and longtime Gallab collaborator Jason Trammell lays down tasty, soulful, and world-influenced grooves beneath the contagious hooks and gorgeous harmonies that adorn …
Posted: February 21, 2017
Clyde Stubblefield
In his September, 1999, cover story on John “Jabo” Starks and Clyde Stubblefield, funk and soul architect James Brown’s famous tandem drum team, writer Ken Micallef wrote, “Clyde’s groove exists in the perfect space all drummers seek but hardly ever find. ‘Soul Pride,’ ‘Sudsy,’ ‘The Chicken,’ and the famous, heavily …
Posted: February 21, 2017
Givin’ the Funky Drummer Some
Modern Drummer magazine’s September 1999 issue featured famed James Brown drummers Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks on the cover in a dual interview. We’ll be presenting Clyde’s half of the piece in an upcoming post; here we share quotes from three prominent drummers who went on record in that …
Posted: April 21, 2016
Iconic Singer, Songwriter, and Multi-Instrumentalist Prince Dies at Age Fifty-Seven
Prince’s massive appeal crossed genres and generations, and besides his singing, songwriting, and production prowess, the influential artist was adept on many instruments, including the drums. In fact, Prince and his longtime drummer John Blackwell appeared on the cover of Modern Drummer in January of 2005, soon after the release …
Posted: October 25, 2013
MD Writer “Pistol” Pete Kaufmann Conducts “Big Picture Drumming” Clinic
Musician and Modern Drummer writer “Pistol” Pete Kaufmann will be conducting his clinic on “Big Picture Drumming” at Warlock Drum studios in Downtown Jersey City, Saturday, November 9th, from 1 to 3pm. Big Picture Drumming is based on Pistol’s Modern Drummer Magazine educational piece and concepts will be geared towards …
Posted: July 31, 2013
In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 3: Funk (September 2013 issue) UPDATED
Click here to learn how to achieve a classic funk drum sound.
Posted: July 24, 2013
Stubblefield and Starks Webcast at Mycymbal.com
Memphis Drum Shop will host funk-drumming legends Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo??? Starks in a free live webcast from Mycymbal.com studios on August 7, 2013 at 2 pm CST….
Posted: September 21, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Traditional Grip
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.
Posted: September 21, 2012
Russell Simins of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Hey, all, Russell Simins from the one and only Blues Explosion here. I play drums and write music with bandmates Jon Spencer and Judah Bauer, two of the greatest guitarists I know, and I know a lot of them.
Posted: July 30, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Reading Music
We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think that reading skills are crucial. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: May 31, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Teaching Feel
We asked the MD Education Team if feel could be taught. See what they had to say….
Posted: April 12, 2012
Brad Hargreaves of Third Eye Blind
Hey there! A quick update on things in my world. I’m currently working on Third Eye Blind’s fifth record, cutting drums in London; we started on my mom’s birthday, March 11. Happy birthday, Mom!…
Posted: December 28, 2011
10 Indispensable Funk Albums
Funk music is all about the beat, and it’s no coincidence that many of our most influential drummers have made a name for themselves playing the style. If you want to learn the essence of the style, here are ten classic albums you should definitely check out.
Posted: September 29, 2011
Groove Alchemy by Stanton Moore
Stanton Moore reveals a concise chronological history of the rhythmic foundations and evolution of funky drumming.
Posted: July 25, 2011
Chris St. Hilaire of London Souls
Hello! Ahh…drums! How else can you smash heads with a stick and not go to jail? I started playing at about fourteen years old, when my dad got me my first drumkit. It was a Groove Percussion kit, and I really beat the thing to a pulp…
Posted: May 26, 2010
The Drummers of Tortoise: John McEntire, John Herndon, Dan Bitney
Tortoise’s three drummers—John McEntire, John Herndon, and Dan Bitney—continue to push sonic boundaries and rhythmic inventiveness…
Posted: April 20, 2010
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson: Quest’s Best
(June 2010 Issue) Hip-hop’s greatest band might be spending most of its energies rehearsing and performing on Fallon. But the Roots’ new album proves they’re still an awesome force in the studio. Here Quest, in his own words, gives us the inside dope on his best recordings. Common featuring Erykah …
Posted: January 21, 2010
Alexis Razon of Vinyl
“To start, it is an honor to write for an outstanding magazine that caters to drummers and percussionists worldwide. MD is a great resource for the drumming community….”
Posted: November 24, 2009
On Tour And On Stage: 9 Lives (+9, +9 More)
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.
Posted: October 21, 2009
Dave Brandt of The Echo Falls
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…
Posted: October 20, 2009
Drumming On TV
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…
Posted: February 1, 2007
Curt Bisquera
Curt Bisquera has been a first-call studio drummer since 1991, appearing on recordings or playing gigs with Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, Celine Dion, Morris Day, Ronan Keating, The Dixie Chicks, Seal, Bonnie Raitt, The Spice Girls, Boz Scaggs, Johnny Cash, Dave Koz, Ricky Martin, and Elton John. Here Curt talks …
Posted: July 15, 2006
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.???
Posted: July 19, 2005
Damien Fahey
Damien Fahey has a dilemma: These days he’s having a difficult time finding the time to play his drums. You see, Damien hosts one of MTV’s most popular shows, Total Request Live, which airs weekdays at 5:00 P.M. EST to an audience of 50 million viewers.
Posted: May 12, 2004
Adam Deitch with John Scofield
“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 …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Wilson Laurencin
If you live anywhere in Canada or the northern states, you’re going to recognize Wilson Laurencin from the television show Open Mike With Mike Bullard. And you don’t have to wait the whole show to catch a glimpse of Wilson, either. The camera’s constantly on the house band as they …
Posted: April 5, 2019
MD Podcast Episode 186: Pink's Mark Schulman, Funkifying Your Swing Feel, Pfeifer Snares, and More
Mike and Mike crack open the May 2019 issue and talk about cover artist Mark Schulman, who has been the drummer for the pop star P!nk for over twelve years.
Posted: July 21, 2017
Mike and Mike Podcast Episode 102: Choosing Drumheads, Clyde Stubblefield, Ludwig Acrolites Shootout, and More
In this episode, Mike and Mike share their thoughts on how to choose the best drumheads for different situations. The featured artist is legendary James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield.
Posted: March 7, 2017
Episode 82: Clyde Stubblefield, Improving the Double-Stroke Roll, Istanbul Mehmet X-Ray Series, and More
In this episode, Mike and Mike pay tribute to the late/great funk innovator Clyde Stubblefield. In the education segment, the hosts share some of their favorite exercises for improving the clarity and speed of the double-stroke roll. Up for review is the new X-Ray special effects series from Istanbul Mehmet. …
