
Gary Chester

Writing The History of Rock Drumming opened a Pandora’s Box. I knew it would. Researching the existing volumes of rock history made it clear that there was a shameful lack of recognition for the drummers’ contributions to this music.

Chris Adler, Billy Kilson, Dennis Chambers, James “The Rev” Sullivan, Gary Chester, Patrick Hallahan, Mike Wengren, Timmy Biery, Chuck Burgi, Lee Crystal, Steve Smith, Michael Novak Jr., Dave Weckl, Dave Mattacks, Dick Shanahan, Walter “Clyde” Orange, Neil Peart, Morgan Rose, Joey Baron

Zach Lind, Thomas Lang, Mickey Roker, Gary Chester, Steven Gillis, Mark Zonder, Jake Fowler, Ray Rizzo, Joe Lizama, Danny Frankel, Ray Herrera, Toomas Paiste, Richard “Pistol” Allen, Danny Craig, Larry Mullen Jr., Richie Hayward, Phil Collins

Tré Cool, Wuv, Nicko McBrain, Dave Krusen, Phil Ehart, Trey Gray, Steve Gadd, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Peter Erskine, Neil Peart, Mel Lewis, Roy Burns, Mark Parsons, Rick Van Horn, Tony Williams, Buddy Rich, John Bonham, Tito Puente, Alan Dawson, Gary Chester, Eric Carr, Larrie Londin, Art Blakey, Philly Joe …

Bernard Purdie, Bobby Chouinard, Ed Soph, Gary Chester, Nick Ceroli, Ron Krasinski, Henry Adler, Simon Phillips, Phil Collins, David Garibaldi

Jack DeJohnette, Artimus Pyle, Gary Chester, Joe Jackson, Simon Phillips, Carl Palmer, Bill Bruford, Russ Kunkel, Sheila Escovedo, Paul Humphrey
Posted: October 11, 2022

Blink 182 Is Back! After seven years since the original lineup Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker Reunite.
After a lengthy break with singer Tom DeLonge, the band is set on returning stronger than ever. With the launch of a new single titled “Edging” that will be released on October 14, the band will embark on a world tour. The tour is scheduled to begin in March 2023 and end …
Posted: October 27, 2021

Oct 27 is Gary Chester Day
Gary Chester spent his drumming career making other people look good. He was one of the hardest working, most reliable, and most accomplished studio drummers in history. As if that wasn’t enough, Gary became an educator and developed an incredible system of drumming that we all know now as The …
Posted: April 9, 2021

The Dave Weckl Band Live in St. Louis at the Chesterfield Jazz Festival 2019 – Album Review – April 9th, 2021
Review By Rob Coen St. Louis, home of great bar-b-que, the Gateway Arch, the Chesterfield Jazz and Wine Festival and drumming legend himself, Dave Weckl. Filmed and recorded at the 2019 Chesterfield Jazz and Wine Festival, this The Dave Weckl Band Live album is a triumph of musical mastery. Accompanying …
Posted: September 10, 2020

Drummers on Record: Danny Gottlieb, Pedrito Martinez, Linda Pitmon
Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb Electric Blue (Danny Gottlieb) Bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb, who share a nearly fifty-year working relationship, are releasing their first-ever duo recording, Electric Blue, featuring just drums and bass. Egan and Gottlieb spent years touring and recording together as members of the original …
Posted: April 26, 2017
Web Exclusive: Producer Russ Titelman on 10 of His Favorite Drummers
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 …
Posted: February 7, 2017
On Tour with Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes
This past September, Los Angeles–based indie folk-rock group Dawes released their fifth studio album, We’re All Going to Die, a record teeming with drummer and vocalist Griffin Goldsmith’s deep pocket and solid grooves.
Posted: November 2, 2015
Dom Famularo’s Teachers List
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, …
Posted: November 13, 2014
Drumset Supersets: A Combined Method for Quickly Developing Speed, Endurance, Control, Coordination, and Reading
Inspired by Gary Chester’s popular tutorial The New Breed, Blake Paulson’s method book Drumset Supersets quickly gets into the nitty-gritty by having students learn and memorize ostinatos for the hands and then tackle a series of bass drum reading exercises to be played in combination….
Posted: April 8, 2014
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Developing Independence
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.
Posted: June 17, 2013
Frankie Anthony of the Stick People
Hello, Modern Drummer readers, this is Frankie Anthony. I’m currently touring, writing, and rehearsing with my band mates in the Stick People….
Posted: April 26, 2013
25 Timeless Drum Books
What makes a great drum book? There’s no single answer, as different books have been written to address a wide variety of styles and techniques. But judging by a recent poll in which Modern Drummer readers were asked to name their favorite volumes, a few characteristics stand out….
Posted: April 19, 2013
Michael Spearman of Everything Everything
I’m in a band called Everything Everything, which is based in Manchester, England. We’ve been lucky enough to play all over the world, including the United States recently.
Posted: January 3, 2013
Mark Egan On…
The star bassist reflects on 15 world-class drummers
The February 2013 issue of Modern Drummer magazine features renowned bassist Mark Egan sharing some of the lessons he’s learned from working with drumming royalty. Here he focuses the discussion on the unique qualities and skills each of these players brings to the table….
Posted: March 15, 2012
Jeremy Taggart of Our Lady Peace
Hello, Jeremy Taggart from Our Lady Peace here. We’re releasing album number 8, Curve, in the U.S. on April 17. It’s been a great experience, and I can’t wait to play the songs on this year’s touring cycle. I couldn’t be more amped about it…
Posted: January 20, 2012
25 Great Double-Drumming Tracks
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 …
Posted: June 24, 2011
Greg Burrows
Hi, Greg Burrows here. I’m honored to write a blog for Modern Drummer magazine, a publication I’ve been reading since the very first issue, which came out when I was in my early teens. There have been hundreds of articles and exercises in MD that have influenced and shaped who …
Posted: June 17, 2011
Killswitch Engage’s Justin Foley Joins Unearth on Mayhem Fest and European Hell On Earth Tour
Massachusetts metal merchants UNEARTH today officially welcomes Killswitch Engage drummer Justin Foley to the fold for the band’s upcoming slot on this summer’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest and their European headlining tour (dubbed the Hell On Earth Tour) to follow.
Posted: August 12, 2010
Kevin Figueiredo of Extreme
Hey, everyone, my name in Kevin Figueiredo, and I am the drummer for Extreme. I’ve been playing drums professionally for the past fifteen years, and my main influences include John Henry Bonham, David Garibaldi, Dennis Chambers, and Dave Grohl, among many others. I never went to music school, but I’ve …
Posted: October 13, 2009
Gary Foster of The Sunstreak
What’s up, everyone! My name is Gary Foster and I play drums and percussion with the Sunstreak…
Posted: September 21, 2009
Brian Delaney: Guiding The New New York Dolls
His current gig may not call for much in the way of subtlety, but the well-rounded drummer knows how to tailor his touch to suit each project.
Posted: August 6, 2008
Robert Castelli
I've recently released a new CD, Robert Castelli/Boom Quartet, which is my first as a leader. (continue reading)
Posted: February 28, 2008
Paul Garisto and his days with the Psychedelic Furs, Iggy Pop, etc.
I was lucky enough to land a national tour at a young age about a year after I moved into New York City to pursue my drumming career. How excited I was to step onto that tour bus for my first time as we rolled out for a tour of …
Posted: March 5, 2007
Peter Wildoer of Darkane
When most folks think of extreme-metal drumming, they tend to picture a guy like Peter Wildoer, especially during his days with the progressive metal band Agretator….
Posted: July 24, 2005
Jason Bittner
Want to know the true meaning of a dedicated drummer? How about warming up your chops on practice pads in the back of a U-Haul trailer at 9:30 A.M. and in 95 degree weather, all in preparation for taking the stage at 10 A.M. on the grueling second stage at …
Posted: July 19, 2005
An Interview with Hal Blaine
Paving the way for some of the great studio musicians of our time, like Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Jeff Porcaro, and John JR Robinson, were Earl Palmer and Hal Blaine. MD recently sat down with the jovial drummer to walk a bit down memory lane.