
Omar Hakim

To further celebrate the soulful, timekeeping majesty of this month’s cover artist Earl Young, we dove into the Modern Drummer archives to find ten other groove masters talking about how they make the music move. Greg Errico, October 2011 “Sly Stone had great producing chops, and the songs would morph …

From the MD Archives Modern Drummer has assembled tons of wisdom from incredible players throughout its 45 years, so it’s no surprise we have exhaustive data on how drummers approach their art in the recording studio. Here are ten quick session tips we’ve plucked from our archives that may inspire …

Electric Jazz: 1985 (co-winner) Don’t try putting a label on Omar Hakim. Warner Bros, tried it a couple of years ago: They wanted to promote Hakim as a multi-instrumentalist/singer, but before the album could be made, Omar accepted an offer to become Weather Report’s drummer. Okay, so that gig defined …

An Anniversary is typically a time to celebrate, but it can also be a time to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future. And so, when the editors got together to plan a special issue to mark the beginning of Modern Drummer’s tenth year, it was agreed …

WEATHER Report reaches the part in “D Waltz” where they bring it down real low. The drummer is smoothly and effortlessly executing a feather-light roll pattern between the hi-hat and snare, catching all the synth and sax accents with his kick. In the expectant hush, someone in the crowd yells, …

It makes perfect sense that he’s among the small group of key musicians Daft Punk called on to take the EDM duo’s already famous grooves to the next phase.

Dave Weckl Launches Online Drum School | Omar Hakim Named Chair of Percussion Department at Berklee College of Music | D’Addario Foundation Awards Grants to 116 National Music Education Organizations | Plus more!

The ’80s might not be anyone’s first reference point for the golden age of jazz, but a closer examination reveals wonders under the surface. Sure, traditional acoustic jazz was no longer in favor, though some of the established innovators of the ’60s and ’70s were still playing at a high …

Keith Harris, Jimmy Bralower, Omar Hakim, Zach Danziger, Mark Guiliana, Rod Morgenstein, Brendan Buckley, Justin Peroff, Dosh, Marvin “Bugalu” Smith, Tanner Wayne, Bun E. Carlos, David “Fingers” Haynes

Cindy Blackman, Paul Bostaph, Travis Barker, Chris Adler, Trevor Lawrence Jr., David Northrup, Steve Ferrone, Darren King, Billy Drummond, Gabriel Serbian, Wally Ingram, Atom Willard, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Randy Cooke, Omar Hakim, Carl Palmer

Jimmy Chamberlin, Stanton Moore, Rod Morgenstein, Mike Portnoy, Bashiri Johnson, Brian Blade, Trilok Gurtu, Joey Jordison, John “Bermuda” Schwartz, Devon Glenn, Aled Richards, Ted Kirkpatrick, Zac Hanson, Mike Portnoy, Danny Carey, Dave Weckl, Omar Hakim

Omar Hakim, Shawn Pelton, Evelyn Glennie, Rich Watson, Mike Sipple, Todd Nance, Domingo Ortiz, Wilson Laurencin, Sam Bryant, Aaron Comess, Chris Parker, Bill Bruford, Max Roach, Bobby Rondinelli, Michael Lauren, Lome Entress, Chet Doboe, Mike De Simone, Hal Howland, Robin Tolleson

Dennis Chambers, Tony Royster Jr., Matthew Cross, Jaki Liebezeit, Johnny Kelly, Chad Taylor, Martina Axen, Gregg Bissonette, Omar Hakim, Alan White, Shelly Manne, Peter Erskine, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Chick Webb, Steve Gadd, Ringo Starr, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, John Bonham

Carter Beauford, Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Elvin Jones, Omar Hakim, Tim Alexander, Trilok Gurtu, Dave Lombardo, Sheila E., Peter Michael Escovedo, Walfredo Reyes, Jr., Narada Michael Walden, Jonny Cragg, Eric Kamau Gravatt, Levon Helm, Ciarlante, Yuval Gabay, Billy Mintz, Chet McCracken, Eddie Bayers, Max Weinberg, Simon Phillips
In this Issue: Omar Hakim, Rob Hirst, Michael Blair

Louie Bellson, Alan Dawson, Sly Dunbar, Steve Gadd, David Garibaldi, Danny Gottlieb, Omar Hakim, Larrie Londin, Neil Peart, Buddy Rich, Andy Newmark, Jimmy Bralower, Jules Moss, Bill Bruford, Gil Moore, Carl Palmer, John Bonham, Karen Carpenter, Nick Ceroli, Papa Jo Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Knapp, Shelly Manne, Kenny Clare, …

Larry Mullen Jr., George Grantham, Frankie Dunlop, Chris Steffler, Roy Hanes, Herman Rarebell, Chuck Riggs, Bill Bruford, Omar Hakim, Nick Mason, Terry Bozzio

Terry Bozzio, Omar Hakim, Ian Paice, Buddy Rich, Tristan Fry, Rick Allen, Steve Smith, Gina Schock, Bobby Blotzer

Neil Peart, Ralph Cooper, Jon Hiseman, John Steel, Michael Carabello, Dave Weckl, Mark Herndon, Butch Miles, Myron Grombacher, Omar Hakim
Posted: September 28, 2022

Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert
By Alex Kluft Photo by Andreas Neumann On March 25, 2022, the world lost one the greatest drummers and member of one of the most important and biggest rock bands of all time, Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters. To honor Hawkins, Dave Grohl put together two of the biggest …
Posted: August 12, 2020

Upcoming Dire Straits Box Highlights Pick Withers, Omar Hakim, Jeff Porcaro, and Manu Katché
On October 9, Rhino Records will release box sets of all six of Dire Straits’ studio albums. The band’s first four albums, including the self-titled debut LP and its classic track “Sultans of Swing,” featured drummer Pick Withers; 1985’s Brothers in Arms, with the mega-hit “Money for Nothing,” featured Omar …
Posted: April 25, 2019

Bernard Fowler of the Rolling Stones
Talking About New Album, Percussionists/Drummers, and Gear Hello everyone in Modern Drummer land! Inside Out is the name of my new LP and it’s a reinterpretation of songs written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger for the Rolling Stones. As I was finishing up my last LP, The Bura, I …
Posted: October 24, 2017

On The Beat with Chris Ralles of Pat Benatar: An Invaluable Education
Greetings MD, my name is Chris Ralles and I am a drummer in the Los Angeles, CA area. Rather than bore you with a superfluous list of credentials, I thought it more pertinent to highlight the often-considered, not-so-glamorous experiences and lessons that helped make me the ever-grateful, working musician that …
Posted: August 21, 2017

Omar Hakim Named Chair of Percussion Department at Berklee College of Music
Omar Hakim, a master drummer who played on countless hits, from David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” to Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” has been named the new Chair of the Percussion Department at Berklee College of Music.
Posted: November 15, 2016

On the Beat with Rob Mitzner: Talks Jann Klose, Action Moves People United
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.
Posted: November 15, 2016
On the Beat with Rob Mitzner: Talks Jann Klose, Action Moves People United
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.
Posted: September 30, 2016
Roland Showcase Makes a Big Splash in the Big Apple
Roland US hosted an East Coast VIP Showcase on September 21 to highlight the many products that were unveiled at its twenty-four hour global online music festival “The Future. Redefined.”
Posted: February 26, 2016
Narada Michael Walden: Drummer, Singer, Songwriter, Educator, and Producer to the Stars
In this exclusive online article, he discusses working with a couple of his famous former drum students and comments on the individual tracks from Evolution.
Posted: January 11, 2016
David Bowie: A Different View
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, …
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: June 24, 2015
News: Journey, With Omar Hakim Coming in at the Eleventh Hour on Drums, Breaks Record at the Hollywood Bowl
The iconic concert venue the Hollywood Bowl launched its ninety-fourth season this past June 20 with an opening-night concert featuring classic-rock band Journey….
Posted: March 23, 2015
Omar Hakim Releases Video for “Walk the Walk???
Omar Hakim has released a video for the track “Walk the Walk??? from his recent solo album, We Are One.
Posted: July 8, 2014
Anup Sastry Videos:
“Ephemeral??? and “The Escape??? by Intervals
Intervals drummer Anup Sastry, who we profile in the July 2014 of Modern Drummer magazine—get it here—was kind enough to share two exclusive play-along tracks with us….
Posted: June 23, 2014
Omar Hakim Video:
Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky???
Omar Hakim and John “JR??? Robinson were the two drummers who played on Grammy-winning EDM duo Daft Punk’s album Random Access Memories. Here Omar gives us the inside scoop and a rare up-close demonstration of the groove to the album’s big hit song “Get Lucky.??? Note how Omar approaches the …
Posted: June 23, 2014
Omar Hakim Video:
“Molasses Run???
Omar Hakim’s composition “Molasses Run??? first appeared on record when he joined the legendary fusion band Weather Report for its 1983 album, Procession. Thirty years later, he revisited the song for his new solo album, We Are One. Here Omar plays it at speed, and then slows it down so …
Posted: June 20, 2014
Omar Hakim Video
“Walk the Walk??? Drum Part Demonstration
Watch Omar Hakim demonstrate his drum part for the song Walk the Walk??? from his new solo album, We Are One in the video….
Posted: June 12, 2014
Steve Smith and Zakir Hussain Path of Rhythm Drum Camp
Steve Smith and Zakir Hussain are inviting drummers of all kinds to take part in a unique drum camp experience….
Posted: June 11, 2014
Omar Hakim Video
Fluid Time, Groove, and Listener Anticipation
The MD offices happen to be a hop, skip, and jump from Hakim’s northern New Jersey home studio, so one afternoon we took full advantage and stopped by, with cameras and questions in tow. In this exclusive clip (one of several we’ve got for you—watch this space), Omar, whose drumming …
Posted: May 30, 2014
July 2014 Spotify Playlist
Want to hear music from the artists featured in the July 2014 issue of Modern Drummer? We’ve got you covered. Our July 2014 Spotify Playlist includes some fantastic tracks, including several cool covers….
Posted: May 28, 2014
July 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Omar Hakim
See what’s in the July 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Omar Hakim…
Posted: May 28, 2014
Product Close-Up: Grover Pro Custom Snare Drums (From the July 2014 Issue)
Check out Grover’s new custom snare drums, which are reviewed in the July 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
Posted: November 25, 2013
Rosie Slater of New Myths
I started playing the drums when I was nine years old and have been playing with 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love, New Myths, Supercute!, Lesley Gore, and others….
Posted: November 12, 2013
WINNERS: Blend.io + The Loop Loft Contest
Over the past month, members of the Modern Drummer and Blend.io communities were able to showcase their musical talents in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from the Loop Loft and Blend.io….
Posted: September 4, 2013
Midas Fate’s Drummer to Perform on London Drum Show
Aquiles Priester, who recently was announced as Midas Fate’s drummer, will be performing at London Drum Show on October 13….
Posted: August 12, 2013
Montreal Drum Fest October 26-27, 2013
Line Up for Montreal Drum Festival Announced
Posted: December 19, 2012
Keith Harrison of the Pineapple Thief
Question: What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians? Answer: A drummer! With the prospect of being the butt of such drummer jokes, I have to ask myself the question, “Why did I choose to play drums????
Posted: November 29, 2012
Pearl Launches Project 108
Pearl is asking drummers and percussionists from around the world to send in videos of themselves playing 4 bars at 108 beats per minute.
Posted: December 19, 2011
Dec Web Update News
Drumming news from around the web for December 2011.
Posted: December 22, 2010

Gorden Campbell
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 …
Posted: September 29, 2010
Narada Michael Walden: Web Exclusive
by Billy Amendola More—way more—with the fusion and pop maestro. In a continuation of our interview with Narada Michael Walden from the November 2010 issue of Modern Drummer, the fusion and pop drumming/producing maestro reflects on his early days, teaching, spirituality, playing in odd time signatures, and coming full circle …
Posted: February 3, 2009
Roger Taylor of Duran Duran Drummer Blog
Roger Taylor here (no, not the one from Queen, the other one!). Duran Duran recently completed filming a documentary about the making of the Rio album….
Posted: July 20, 2005
Tony Thompson
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.
Posted: May 19, 2005
Billy Ashbaugh
‘N Sync, a pop band backed by live musicians, have gained a reputation of spectacle and not-to-be-missed precision. MD Online recently caught up with rising drum star Billy Ashbaugh, the man who keeps it all together….
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 …