Gavin Harrison
Who is busier than Gavin Harrison? He is tearing it up on two new records that are coming out and is touring with those two bands within the next year. Porcupine Tree’s new recording Closure/Continuation is a welcome surprise to Porcupine Tree fans and drummers everywhere, and their new music …
Gavin Harrison speaks with carefully chosen words and a deliberate flow, with no phrase out of place.
Still riding the massive spurt of creativity he uncovered on David Bowie’s Blackstar, the saxophonist channels
RECORDINGS Photo by John Dankwardt Dan Pugach Nonet Plus One Playful throwback jazz nudged beyond nostalgia by its drummer/leader. The primary factor that seems to separate the Dan Pugach Nonet (“nonet” in this context refers to a nine-piece collective) from so much contemporary jazz is Pugach’s grasp that jazz—and its …
MD goes deep inside the reinvention of a prog-rock institution, which stormed stages around the country last fall with a raging new three-drummer lineup. Retrofitting four decades of genre-defining music for the seven-piece band took a lot of careful planning, but once the parts were in place, vroom!
MD goes deep inside the reinvention of a prog-rock institution, which stormed stages around the country last fall with a raging new three-drummer lineup. Retrofitting four decades of genre-defining music for the seven-piece band took a lot of careful planning, but once the parts were in place, vroom!
Gavin Harrison, Gene Krupa, Billy Higgins, Jeremy Stacey, Aaron Gillespie, Pat Wilson, J. Mascis, D.H. Peligro, Sean Davidson, Chris Raines, Tim Callihan, Billy Martin, Brandon Barnes
Alex Van Halen, Alex González, John Humphrey, Marcus Gilmore, Brooks Wackerman, James “The Rev” Sullivan, Roger Taylor, Torry Castellano, Jim Bogios, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Carlos Vega, Steve Smith, James Gadson, Gavin Harrison, Carlos “Patato” Valdez
Mike Portnoy, Bill Bruford, Chris Pennie, Nick D’Virgilio, Phil Collins, Dan Weiss, Gavin Harrison, Virgil Donati, Mark Zonder, Ian Mosley, Dave King, Pat Mastelotto, Aynsley Dunbar, Joey Jordison, Dom Famularo, Scott Rockenfield
Glenn Kotche, Neil Peart, Jim Keltner, Greg Saunier, Kim Plainfield, Seven Antonopoulos, Robin Diaz, Sam Loeffler, Shawn Glyde, Christian Welter, Chris Pennie, Yogi Horton, Roy Mayorga, Jack DeJohnette, Gavin Harrison, Jeff Hamilton, Stanton Moore
Nikki Glaspie, Kim Thompson, Gavin Harrison, Rocky Gray, Sean Paddock, Dave McAfee, Fred Eltringham, John Blackwell, Pete Wilhoit, Evan Johns, Billy Ficca, Evan Stone, Billy Martin, Daniel Davison, Bill Stewart, Cozy Powell, Nate Morton, Todd Sucherman, Elvin Jones
Roy Hanes, Chris “Daddy” Dave, Kenny Garrett, Gene Hoglan, Trey Gray, Gavin Harrison, Todd Sucherman, Jason Sutter, Bill Stewart, Bobby Jarzombek, Travis Barker, Stephen Morris, Phil Jordan, Michael Wagener, Jim Capaldi, Bill Stevenson, Scott Rockenfield, Dom Famularo
Steve Smith, Terry Bozzio, Simon Phillips, Gregg Bissonette, Louie Bellson, Dave Weckl, John Dolmayan, Bill Bruford, Thomas Lang, Tommy Aldridge, Mike Mangini, Horacio Hernandez, David Garibaldi, Virgil Donati, Carl Palmer, Paul Doucette, Gavin Harrison, George Rebelo, Duduka Da Fonseca, Jim Keltner, Terry Santiel, Walfredo Reyes Jr.
Jose Pasillas, Scott Travis, Billy Kilson, Claudio Slon, Paul Bostaph, Robin Goodridge, Johnny Morgan, Denise Fraser, Steve French, Mike Luce, Steve Smith, Mike Cosgrove, Steve Jocz, Gregg Bissonette, Gregg Field, Denny Carmassi, Gavin Harrison
Joey Waronker, Sheila E, Greg Eklund, John Hollenbeck, Matt Laug, Raymond Herrera, Jeff Sipe, Shane Evans, Todd Sucherman, Drori Mondlak, Billy Cobham, Gavin Harrison, Neal Busby, Ron Spagnardi, Osami Mizuno, Jennie Hoeft, Billy Ward, Rick Mattingly, Curt Bisquera, Pat Mastelotto, Ian Paice
Mike Portnoy, Sonny Greer, Louie Benson, Sam Woodyard, Joe Sirois, Gavin Harrison, Bill Bruford, Hal Blaine, Safwan Javed, Joe Morello, Jim Chapin,
Posted: October 3, 2022
Porcupine Tree – Greek Theater
By Alex Kluft Porcupine Tree played the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA on Friday night as part of their Closure/Continuation Tour. This was the first Porcupine Tree tour in 12 years. The group was founded in 1987 by guitarist/vocalist Steven Wilson. In 1993, keyboardist Richard Barbieri joined, and in …
Posted: November 17, 2021
The Pineapple Thief (Gavin Harrison) Release Drum Playthrough for “Wretched Soul”
NEW LIVE ALBUM + BLU-RAY/DVD “NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH” OUT NOW ON KSCOPE British progressive-rock band THE PINEAPPLE THIEF has revealed a new playthrough video for “Wretched Soul,” featuring their critically-acclaimed and wildly revered luminary drummer Gavin Harrison (KING CRIMSON, PORCUPINE TREE). The live recording of “Wretched Soul” is found on the band’s newly released …
Posted: May 11, 2021
An “Evening with Baard Kolstad” Livestream Event Review – May 11th, 2021
by Josh Buchignani Baard Kolstad kicked off his “Evening with Baard Kolstad” livestream on Saturday May 8th with an explosive playthrough of “The Sky is Red” from Leprous, the progressive metal group that Baard has been the drummer for since 2013. This track consists of a wide dynamic range and …
Posted: December 17, 2020
Episode 12: Mike Dawson feature interview with Gavin Harrison + Dawson’s Shop Talk interview with Christoph Anlauf & review on two Solid Drums snares. In this episode, MD Managing Editor Mike Dawson interviews Gavin Harrison. Gavin discusses his improvisation practice routine process, recording ideas, micro-fills, integrating spontaneous rhythms into a …
Posted: December 11, 2020
Chemical Reactions – Album by Gavin Harrison & Antoine Fafard – Review – 12/11/20
Review by Rob Coen Chemical Reactions – Album by Gavin Harrison & Antoine Fafard Chemical Reactions – Released on Dec 11, 2020 – The latest Prog-Fusion meets orchestral music collaboration between Antoine Fafard and Gavin Harrison, UK virtuoso musicians. Add Jerry Goodman on acoustic and electric Violin, and the orchestral …
Posted: August 5, 2020
Drummers on Record: Current and Upcoming Releases of Note
Airto Seeds on the Ground Reissue (Airto) On July 31, Real Gone Records reissued legendary Brazilian percussionist Airto’s second album, 1971’s Seeds on the Ground. Airto brought back largely the same crew that appeared on his debut record, Natural Feelings (also reissued by Real Gone): vocalist (and wife) Flora Purim, …
Posted: February 21, 2020
Gavin Harrison Auctions Off a Sonor Kit for MS Charity
First off, I’m auctioning one of my beloved Sonor drumsets for the Multiple Sclerosis Society U.K.
Posted: June 13, 2019
Gregg Potter of the Buddy Rich Band
Cathy Rich and I brought Buddy’s band back as a touring, living, breathing sixteen-piece big band. The group features alumni who played with the BR Band at some time in their careers and who now travel the world to bring Buddy’s music back to the masses.
Posted: December 16, 2016
On the Beat with Josh Manuel of Issues: Talks Top Ten Most Influential Albums
Hey, guys! My name is Josh Manuel and I play drums in the band Issues. I’d like to talk about the ten albums that had the most influence on me as a drummer and musician. I’m going to list the albums in order of when they were released and briefly …
Posted: September 9, 2016
The October 2016 Modern Drummer Playlist
Listen to tracks from the October issue of Modern Drummer magazine, including cover star Shannon Forrest playing with the Dukes of September and Mindy Smith, New York hit maker Steven Wolf with Miley Cyrus
Posted: December 16, 2015
Fifteen DVDs Every Drummer Should Own
In this installment of our 2015 holiday gift guide, we’re taking a look at fifteen DVDs that every drummer should own. These are the videos that drummers are going back to time and time again for inspiration and edification. Whether you’re looking for new creative ideas behind the kit, technical …
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: May 7, 2015
Gavin Harrison on
Cheating the Polygraph
The Porcupine Tree drummer’s brand-new solo album is his personal take on the PT catalog. Here he delves deeper into his creative process.
Posted: March 26, 2015
News: Vic’s Drum Shop Wins 2014 Outstanding Retailer Award From Vic Firth Company
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….
Posted: February 12, 2015
News: Gavin Harrison Reworks Porcupine Tree Songs for a Big Band Format on Upcoming Solo Album, Cheating the Polygraph
Gavin Harrison, drummer for British prog band Porcupine Tree, has announced a new solo album of rearranges songs from the acclaimed Porcupine Tree repertoire, Cheating the Polygraph, due out in North America on April 14 via Kscope….
Posted: January 13, 2015
Listen to the Drumming on Spotify: Great Tracks From MD‘s February 2015 Issue
King Crimson hasn’t worked a deal with Spotify, so we took a different approach this month to sharing music by our cover stars. Check out tracks featuring mighty Crim drummers Pat Mastelotto with Steven Wilson, Gavin Harrison with Iggy Pop, and Bill Rieflin with Ministry. Also on tap: several classic …
Posted: January 13, 2015
LESSON! Rock & Jazz Clinic: Odd Groupings Over Samba (From the Feb. 2015 Issue)
This lesson by April 2014 cover artist, Mike Johnston, is all about mixing together two drumming ingredients, the samba foot ostinato and odd groupings, to create a special recipe for creative independence….
Posted: January 7, 2015
VIDEO! The Lindy Beat: The Grooviest of Early Rock Grooves (From the February 2015 Issue)
The Lindy drumbeat, one of the most common feels in early rock ’n’ roll, features strong snare accents on beat 2, the “&??? of 2, and beat 4. Check out a video demo of a few different Lindy variations here.
Posted: December 30, 2014
February 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring King Crimson’s Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, and Bill Rieflin
See what’s in the February 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring King Crimson’s Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, and Bill Rieflin.
Posted: October 14, 2014
The Essence of Progressive Drumming
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, …
Posted: September 30, 2014
Drummer Blog: Gabor “Gabs??? Dornyei on Touring and Being True to Yourself
Hi there, Modern Drummer readers, it’s Gabor ‘Gabs’ Dornyei here from London, UK, and it’s great to be given the opportunity by MD to share some insights of my career with you….
Posted: June 8, 2014
Sarah Hagan to Head Zildjian Artist Relations Worldwide
The Zildjian Company is proud to announce that Sarah Hagan has been promoted to director of artist relations–worldwide effective immediately. Sarah assumes responsibility for planning and executing Zildjian’s global artist relations program based out of its headquarters in Norwell, MA….
Posted: January 3, 2014
Colin Jones of Cage the Gods
Colin Jones here. I’m the drummer for the British rock band Cage the Gods. I started messing about on the school drumkit at the age of twelve, when I was playing guitar for the school band….
Posted: October 4, 2013
Thirteenth-Annual DrummerFest Taking Place October 19
Milwaukee music store Cascio Interstate Music, located at 13819 W. National Ave. in the Milwaukee suburb of New Berlin, will hold its thirteenth annual DrummerFest on Saturday, October 19, starting at 10 am and ending at 6 pm. This free event is open to the public….
Posted: September 26, 2013
King Crimson Confirms New Three-Drummer Lineup
The eighth incarnation of King Crimson will include three drummers—Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, and Bill Rieflin—in addition to bassist Tony Levin, horn player Mel Collins, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Jakko Jakszyk, and guitarist Robert Fripp….Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, and Bill Rieflin
Posted: August 1, 2013
Guitar Center Launches Its 25th Annual Drum-Off Competition
Guitar Center’s Drum-Off launches its 25th annual search for the next great undiscovered drummer.
Posted: January 28, 2013
NAMM 2013 in Photos
It’s that time of year again, when the makers of dreams—or at least the equipment that helps them come true—show off the latest and greatest gear that will be available in the upcoming months. What’s the catch? Not everyone is invited! Never fear, the Modern Drummer editors have it covered. …
Posted: August 17, 2012
Gregg Potter on the “You’re No Buddy??? Tour 2012
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.
Posted: May 11, 2012
Andy Geisel of Oceanics
Hey, everyone, my name is Andrew, and I play drums in an indie/pop/rock band called Oceanics. We’ve just released our second EP, Bright People. (continue reading)
Posted: March 21, 2012
Zildjian Launches Drummer Love Europe
On the heels of its highly successful US Drummer Love contest, Zildjian has decided to launch Drummer Love Europe, bringing the event to the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, and Russia. The contest runs from April 2 through July and includes video submission, voting, and tour components. Ultimately, six lucky …
Posted: February 22, 2012
Buddy Rich 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert
The Buddy Rich 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert takes place for the first time in the UK at the London Palladium on 2nd April 2012. The lineup is confirmed as Dave Weckl, John Blackwell and Gregg Potter from the USA and Ian Paice, Ginger Baker, Gavin Harrison and Elliott Henshaw from the UK. Singing supremo Tony Christie will also appear. One of Buddy Rich’s …
Posted: November 21, 2011
Neil Peart: Taking Center Stage
In a Web-exclusive addendum to MD’s December 2011 cover story, we continue our conversation with Rush’s Neil Peart, discussing, among other topics, “drum solo week??? on Letterman, Neil’s surprise appearance at the KoSA Drum Camp, and the new Taking Center Stage DVD.
Posted: September 10, 2011
Rhythmic Designs
by Gavin Harrison & Terry Branam
A rhythmic illusionist and musical mathematician reveals innovative concepts and melodic drumset creations.
Posted: August 1, 2011
Guitar Center’s Drum-Off, World’s Largest Drumming Competition, Kicks-Off
Guitar Center has announced the launch of the 23rd annual Guitar Center’s Drum-Off the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered drummer.
Posted: July 1, 2011
MD Readers Poll 2011 Results
Welcome once again to the MD Readers Poll, where the greatest drummers on the planet are honored by the most educated drum fans around. Let’s get right to it: the envelope, please….
Posted: November 9, 2010
Umar Fahim of The Binary Code
Photo by Aaron Pepelis I am Umar Fahim of the Binary Code, based out of New Jersey, USA. I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts on the right way and the wrong way to play the drums. First off, thank you to MD for giving me, for …
Posted: May 26, 2010
Ben Shanbrom of Bushwhack
Greetings, Modern Drummer faithful! My name is Ben Shanbrom, and I play drums and (yikes!) sing in the progressive alt-metal band Bushwhack. I started annihilating pots and pans at the ripe age of two and proved too bad-ass for pre-school when I was diagnosed by the idiot teachers there as …
Posted: April 23, 2009
Ryan Van Poederooyen: Developing A Terror Syndrome
For the last few years, Vancouver native Ryan Van Poederooyen has been making an increasingly loud noise with Canadian prog metal masters The Devin Townsend Band.
Posted: November 20, 2008
Gavin Harrison: The Rhythmic Illusionist Is Now Elevating Two Bands, Porcupine Tree And King Crimson
“I stopped focusing on the muscles in my arms and started focusing on the big fat muscle in my head. That’s where the good stuff comes from.???
Posted: January 16, 2008
Best Of ’07
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.
Posted: August 16, 2007
Mike Portnoy: In Constant “Progressive” Motion
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!
Posted: August 16, 2007
Gavin Harrison: Displacing Rhythms In Cyberspace
It’s not as if Gavin Harrison needs to lurk on the Internet. He’s popular. You like him! On the strength of his books, DVDs (including the recent Hudson release, Rhythmic Horizons) and performances with UK progressive band Porcupine Tree, you voted him number-1 prog drummer, a real coup. So what …
Posted: December 15, 2006
Gavin Harrison: Porcupine Tree’s Grand Illusionist
Mind-twisting rhythms meet super-fat grooves? Gavin Harrison is a rare artist who knows how to do both…
Posted: May 12, 2004
Gavin Harrison: Expanding Illusions
At thirty-nine, Gavin Harrison’s drumming career encompasses some sixty-five recordings and over thirty world tours with artists as varied as Iggy Pop, Lisa Stansfield, Level 42, and Italian pop superstar Claudio Baglioni. In early 2002, Gavin joined prog-influenced experimental rockers Porcupine Tree to record the British group’s seventh studio album, …
Posted: December 17, 2020
Episode 12: Mike Dawson feature interview with Gavin Harrison + Dawson’s Shop Talk interview with Christoph Anlauf & review on two Solid Drums snares. In this episode, MD Managing Editor Mike Dawson interviews Gavin Harrison. Gavin discusses his improvisation practice routine process, recording ideas, micro-fills, integrating spontaneous rhythms into a …
Posted: October 11, 2019
MD Podcast Episode 213: Gavin Harrison, Hand and Foot Rolls, Creative Percussion Accessories, and More
Mike and Mike discuss November 2019 featured artist Gavin Harrison, who has been one of three touring drummers in prog-rock legends King Crimson since 2014.
Posted: August 17, 2015
Episode 3: Independence, “Odd Groupings Over the Samba,??? Two-Mic Recording, Keller’s Magnum Series Maple Shells, and More
In this episode, Mike and Mike talk a ton about independence, including identifying some of their favorite drummers who display amazing independence and sharing specific exercises that they’ve used over the years to improve their own four-way coordination. Johnston then expands on the ideas he included in his article in …
