
Tim Alexander

We chat about some big topics in the life of Primus drummer, Tim Alexander.

Brann Dailor, Ray Luzier, Eric Harland, Jimmy Paxson, Nicko McBrain, Dennis Diken, Tim Alexander, Matt Wilson, Ryan Hoyle, Karl Latham, Corey Pierce, Brian Delaney, Steve Smith, Zakir Hussain, Neil Peart, Rashied Ali

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

Vinnie Colaiuta, Abe Cunningham, Nigel Olsson, John Mahon, Dave Buckner, Dominic Howard, Jim Brock, Steve Asheim, Raymond Pounds, Nate Morton, Marcus Randolph, Tim Alexander, Jack Irons, John Blackwell, Danny Carey, Louie Bellson

John Otto, Ron Spagnardi, Terry Bozzio, Bill Bruford, Simon Phillips, Carter Beauford, Chad Cromwell, Tim Alexander, Josh Freese, Steve Smith, Stephen Perkins, Gary Husband, Gordon Heckaman, Jason Bittner, Martin Atkins, Tony Thompson, Thomas Lang, Matt Sorum, Abe Laboriel Jr.

Wuv, Joe Morello, Tim Alexander, Scott F. Crago, Steve Jocz, Cyrus Bolooki, Bun E. Carlos, Philip Peeples, Bobby Caldwell, Brain St. Clair, Rikki Rockett, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Papa Jo Jones, Pat Wilson, Bill Stewart, Danny Gottlieb, Mike Bordin

Danny Carey, Curt Bisquera, Elvin Jones, Matt Sorum, Charlie Grover, Victor Lewis, Tim “Herb” Alexander, Travis McNabb, Jay Dee Daugherty, Paul Leim, Joel Rosenblatt, Carl Palmer

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: Stephen Perkins, Shane Evans, Zach Danziger, Jason Finn, Chad Gracey, Milton Cardona, Butch Vig, Willie Ornelas, Billy Exiner, Dave Mattacks, Rick Allen, Charlie Watts, Adrian Young, Herman Matthews, Tim “Herb” Alexander, Steve Smith,
Posted: March 7, 2021

The Repercussions of Percussion – Don Mathew, MD FAAPMR – 3/7/21
To my fellow drummers, I feel your pain…literally. I am a practicing physician that completed medical school about ten years ago and subsequently trained at Northwestern Medicine into a specialty called physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as physiatry, with a background in kinesiology and sports medicine. That’s right! …
Posted: September 3, 2020

Ofri Nehemya on Omer Avital and Qantar’s New York Paradox
Bassist Omer Avital’s group, Qantar, offers a wealth of chops, but the premium is on soul and excitement. The Brooklyn quintet—including pianist Eden Ladin, drummer Ofri Nehemya, and dual saxophonists Alexander Levin and Asaf Yuria—are all Israeli expatriates wholly in tune with Avital’s global concept. Nehemya utterly owns this throne. …
Posted: August 2, 2019

Brie Darling of Cherie Currie, Fanny, and Boxing Gandhis
Los Angeles-based, female rock icons Cherie Currie and Brie Darling have joined together to record their debut album, The Motivator.
Posted: July 5, 2017

On the Beat with Chico Diaz from the Black Moods: Talks New Album, Gear, and Influences
Hello Modern Drummer readers! Chico Diaz from the Black Moods here. For those that have not heard of us yet, we are a three-piece rock ’n’ roll band that smashes ’70s and ’90s together like two high-speed trains—it’s straight up rawk.
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: September 1, 2016
On the Beat With Alex Alexander: Talks Rocktopia Show
Hi everyone, it’s turning out to be a very busy year so far! Besides doing lots of session work and performances in NYC, I’m also taking some time out to tour internationally with Willie Nile, Kirsten Thien, and Eljuri. I also fill in for Steve Holley in Jeff Slate’s band …
Posted: August 18, 2016
On the Beat With Ralph Alexander of The Dose: The One Man Rhythm Section Experiment
Hello MD and greetings to all my fellow drummers! My name is Ralph Alexander and I play drums and bass in a rock duo called The Dose. My buddy Indio (guitar/vocals) and I wanted to form a two-piece band that could sonically fill a room without sacrificing any of the …
Posted: August 1, 2016
Evan Chapman of Square Peg Round Hole: Juniper Album, “Name Not One Man??? Video World Premiere
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….
Posted: July 1, 2016
Stephen Perkins on Jane’s Addiction’s Twenty-Fifth-Anniversary Ritual De Lo Habitual Shows
Modern Drummer Online caught up with Stephen Perkins while he was prepping for a clinic tour and some dates with Jane’s Addiction, commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the group’s watershed album Ritual De Lo Habitual.
Posted: January 29, 2016
Jeff Hamilton: Swinging Support
Here the on-the-move drummer talks with MD Online about his new record and shares his wisdom on swing mastery….
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: April 20, 2015
Drummer Blog: Drummer Reflections from Rick Hall of Muscle Shoals/Fame Studios
When Jerry Carrigan played drums on “You Better Move On,??? I close-miked the kick drum and suggested the bass play along with the kick drum, and that was the birth of the Muscle Shoals sound.
Posted: March 6, 2015
Drummer Blog: Gabor “Gabs??? Dornyei on Being Anything but Average
Some great things have happened in my career, but being featured in the current (April 2015) issue of Modern Drummer is a dream come true, especially as I’ve also just discovered that both MD and I were born in 1977….
Posted: February 16, 2015
On the Beat: Stroamata’s Alexander Markowitz on Approaching Music From Multiple Directions
One of the greatest influences on my style of drumming is that I am also a committed songwriter and a producer. I write for my band, Stroamata, and I have produced albums for Stroamata, Pause and Flight, Sioux City Kid, and the Revolutionary Ramblers….
Posted: February 5, 2015
Showroom: Vater Marching Double Quiver Stick Holder, New Player’s Design Models, and Buzz Kill Dampeners
Vater’s Marching Double Quiver attaches to snare drums with adjustable hook-and-loop straps. Made from tough nylon, the Quiver provides easy access for quick stick changes. It is also ideal for use on traditional drumsets. List price is $17.99….
Posted: December 10, 2014
News: Guitar Center’s 26th-Annual Drum-Off Finals Brings Together Legendary Drummers to Celebrate the Nation’s Best Undiscovered Talent
Five talented drummers from across the country have been chosen from over 5,000 drummers entered in more than 1,000 local competitions nationwide to compete as finalists in Guitar Center’s 26th Annual Drum-Off, the world’s premier drum competition….
Posted: December 3, 2014
Jojo Mayer DVD Release Party Live Stream!
On December 3, 2014, drumming great Jojo Mayer will present a clinic and performance to celebrate the release of his new DVD set, Secret Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Part 2: Foot Techniques, at the Cutting Room in New York City. A free live stream of the event, starting at …
Posted: November 19, 2014
Event: Jojo Mayer DVD Release Party!
On December 3, 2014, drumming great Jojo Mayer will present a clinic and performance to celebrate the release of his new DVD set, Secret Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Part 2: Foot Techniques, at the Cutting Room in New York City….
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: April 16, 2014
KoSA Cuba’s 2014 Percussion Workshop & Havana’s Drum Festival ‘Fiesta del Tambor’
KoSA Cuba held the 12th edition of its annual Cuban workshop and festival this past March 9-16….
Posted: March 17, 2014
Stooges Drummer Scott Asheton Passes
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 …
Posted: January 13, 2014
Jeff Tortora of Blue Man Group
Hey all! My name is Jeff Tortora. I’ve been one of the drummers in Blue Man Group, Las Vegas, for the past fourteen years….
Posted: September 26, 2013
Tim Alexander to Rejoin Primus
Primus is set to welcome the legendary drummer Tim “Herb??? Alexander back into the band following the departure of Jay Lane. Bassist/singer Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde, and Alexander plant to head into the studio this November to begin work on the follow up to 2011’s ‘Green Naugahyde’….
Posted: March 22, 2013
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Ergonomics
Click here to check out what the MD Education Team members have to say about setting up your drumset for maximum results….
Posted: December 28, 2012

MD Contributor Stephen Bidwell Tackles Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas
We’re quite spoiled as music lovers in Austin, Texas. Touring bands don’t really skip our city, and we’re treated to several major festivals a year. While I enjoy all of them, Fun Fun Fun Fest has become one of my favorites.
Posted: December 28, 2012
MD Contributor Stephen Bidwell Tackles Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas
We’re quite spoiled as music lovers in Austin, Texas. Touring bands don’t really skip our city, and we’re treated to several major festivals a year. While I enjoy all of them, Fun Fun Fun Fest has become one of my favorites.
Posted: August 16, 2012
Tim Alexander Performs at the Musical Instrument Museum
On Sunday, August 12, Tim Alexander, whose kit is on loan and is featured at the Musical Instrument Museum’s new drumset exhibit, stopped by to give a rare performance….
Posted: August 30, 2011
Shakerleg of the Kin
I hate drumsticks. Well, that certainly came out wrong. I love the way they sound, but not when I operate them, or rather, the way I am unable to operate them…
Posted: July 5, 2011
Joao Lencastre
My name is Joao Lencastre and I was born in Lisbon, Portugal. I started to play the drums at the age of thirteen. Since I started playing I’ve been collaborating with many different groups in all styles of music, including metal, reggae, Afrobeat, electronic, big band, alternative rock, and all …
Posted: October 21, 2010
College Bound!
Sample audition requirements from a trio of top schools. Planning on attending a music school? In the College Bound! feature in the December 2010 issue of Modern Drummer, you’ll learn many of the steps to take in order to apply and audition with success. Here we present sample audition requirements …
Posted: October 5, 2010
Ed Thigpen: “Mr. Taste”
Ed Thigpen, an important element in the music of jazz luminaries including Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald, was known as “Mr. Taste.” Thigpen was most noted for his brush technique and articulate sense of pulse and swing. Thigpen was born in Chicago in 1930, the son of jazz drummer Ben …
Posted: March 19, 2010
Honor Society’s Alexander Noyes
My band Honor Society is headed back out on tour, which starts March 19 in Tampa, Florida…
Posted: March 19, 2010

Honor Society's Alexander Noyes
My band Honor Society is headed back out on tour, which starts March 19 in Tampa, Florida…
Posted: January 12, 2010
Jojo Mayer: Electro Shaman With Masterful Technique
For years, Jojo Mayer has been regarded as a drumming shaman, a man of mystery, a technical guru existing on the outer reaches of traditional drumming logic. Perhaps best known for his work with Screaming Headless Torsos and as a member of the Prohibited Beatz clique, which existed in New …
Posted: January 12, 2009
Great Drum Parts = GENIUS
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 …
Posted: September 27, 2008
Jarrod Montague of Taproot
Taproot's new album, Our Long Road Home, came out this past September 16. This is our fourth studio release.
Posted: May 15, 2008
Graeme Ramsay of The Wedding Present
How did I, a young lad from Fife, end up in The Wedding Present? (continue reading)
Posted: November 15, 2007
Jojo Mayer: Revealing the Secret
For years, Jojo Mayer has been regarded as a drumming shaman, a man of mystery, a technical guru existing on the outer reaches of traditional drumming logic….
Posted: October 15, 2006
Jeff Hamilton: Swinging to Success
Few jazz drummers have had careers as rewarding and successful as Jeff Hamilton’s. And with several new releases and projects in the works–and an MD Readers Poll win–2006 may be one of his finest years yet.
Posted: September 24, 2005
Tim Alexander – Back To Primus
After leaving Primus in 1996, Tim (don’t call him “Herb”) Alexander has reunited with bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Larry LaLonde to resurrect one of the most popular and cutting-edge rock acts of the ’90s….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Tim Alexander
When Tim Alexander left Primus in 1996, he was ready to move from the wacky, experimental frenzy of rhythms that had made the band a household name to a more structured rock format. He started his band Laundry to be able to do just that. Little did Alexander realize that …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Ralph MacDonald: Living The Island Life
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.”
Posted: March 23, 2018

Episode 135: Primus's Tim Alexander, How to Compose a Drum Solo, Doc Sweeney Ash Drumset, and More
In this episode Mike and Mike discuss April 2018 featured artist Tim Alexander of alt-rock greats Primus.