
Tony Royster Jr
Posted: April 6, 2021

Yoyoka Soma – Hit Like A Girl Spotlight – HLAG 2018 Contestant & 2021 Jr Global Ambassador – 4/4/21
Yoyoka Soma is an 11 year old powerhouse of a drummer from Japan. She started playing drums at the age of two, played live at four, and formed her family band “Kaneaiyoyoka” at five. At 6 years old, she even released her first CD while in kindergarten. In addition …
Posted: November 26, 2019

Frederik De Wilde of Fragmentum
Hi there, MD fans and fellow drum enthusiasts! My name is Frederik De Wilde and I’m currently living in Ghent, Belgium. Drumming has been the biggest passion in my life since I was nine years old.
Posted: December 27, 2016
On the Beat with Tom Ogden of Deaf Havana: Talks Influences, Setup, and New Record
Hi, Modern Drummer readers. Let me start by saying how thankful and honored I am to be writing an article for such a great magazine and online community. So many drummers from so many styles have influenced me—I’m a massive Travis Barker fan since the age of twelve, and that’s …
Posted: August 1, 2016
Alex Shelnutt of A Day to Remember on Bad Vibrations
Metal and pop-punk mainstays A Day to Remember are getting set to release their sixth studio album, Bad Vibrations, in early September. MD Online asked drummer Alex Shelnutt, the band’s powerful backbone, about the influences and techniques he calls on to propel the band.
Posted: April 25, 2016
Thomas Lang Presents Fifth Annual Big Drum Bonanza
Drummer/producer Thomas Lang (stOrk/Paul Gilbert) has announced that Big Drum Bonanza 2016 (BDB2016) will take place June 28 to July 2 at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks, California. Drummers of all ages, levels, and styles are invited to join Thomas Lang and his special guest instructors, including world-renowned …
Posted: February 26, 2016
On the Beat With Ray Marte of Moon Tooth: Talks Influences, Improving, and Learning New Styles
Hello! There is not much that makes me happier than playing the drums. I started playing and taking lessons from Mark Edwards at South Shore Music in Massapequa, NY before I even knew how to write in cursive, or even print legibly. I still cannot do either of those things, …
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: August 14, 2014
Guitar Center’s 26th Annual Drum-Off Searches for the Nation’s Best Drummers
Guitar Center recently launched its 26th annual search for the next great drummer. Developed to inspire and support on-the-rise musicians, the Drum-Off has proven to be a launching pad for a flourishing professional career as a drummer. Past Drum-Off winners have gone on to play with Prince and Beyoncé (Cora …
Posted: June 28, 2013
Modern Drummer’s 2013 Readers Poll Winners
The results are in for the longest-running, most prestigious drummer poll in the world. Without further ado, here are your winners for 2013….
Posted: June 5, 2013
Jesse Marquardt of Winslow
My name is Jesse Marquardt, and I am the drummer for the soul-rock band Winslow….
Posted: May 2, 2013
Free Online Drum Lesson With Tony Royster Jr.
Known for his speed around the kit, Tony Royster Jr. will be teaching a free online drum lesson on building hand speed at Drumeo.com on Sunday, May 12, starting at 1 pm EDT. Drummers can sign up at drumeo.com….
Posted: April 23, 2013
Brandon Richter of Motionless In White
What’s up MD? My name is Brandon Richter. I am a straightedge twenty-three-year-old from Orange County, California. I play for the band Motionless In White.
Posted: December 18, 2012
Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Finals To Feature Live Performances By Gadd, Blackwell, Carlock, Heyward, King and More!
Guitar Center’s nationwide search for the next great undiscovered drummer has chosen the 2012 grand finalists.
Posted: September 11, 2012
Sabian “Cymbal Vote” Back For 2013!
Throughout September and October, drummers around the world will get to decide which new cymbals Sabian will release in 2013 – but this time around, many of you will be able to play them in person before you vote!
Posted: July 24, 2012
Carlos Rueda of Thick as Blood
My name is Carlos Rueda, and I play drums for Thick as Blood, from Miami, Florida. We’re currently doing a full U.S. and Canada tour with Lionheart and Dead Icons.
Posted: May 7, 2012
Steve Johnson of Alabama Shakes
I play drums in a band from Athens, Alabama, called Alabama Shakes. I was first introduced to Modern Drummer when I was thirteen by my father, who is also a drummer. (continue reading)
Posted: December 1, 2011
Drummer Blog: Tony Royster Jr.
Wassup, everyone, this is Tony Royster Jr. signing in to the blog spot. First of all, I would like to send a thank you shout-out to all of my fans for your continued love and support. I really appreciate it, and don’t take it for granted. I am currently touring …
Posted: November 17, 2011
AWOLNATION’s Hayden Scott
Hello to the Modern Drummer world! This is my first time contributing to the drum community with a blog. My name is Hayden Scott. I’m tall, Australian, and friends sometimes call me The Shark. I like to play drums, a lot.
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: March 29, 2010
Daughters’ Jonathan Syverson
Hello, humans. My name is Jonathan Syverson, and I’ve never actually written any sort of blog. But as anyone who knows me would tell you, I absolutely LOVE talking about myself, and since Modern Drummer was kind enough to come asking, it would be my pleasure to oblige. Back in …
Posted: March 22, 2010
Eric Singer: Just Being Himself
For eighteen years, Kiss’s drummer has helped his world-famous band stay in our hearts and on the radio by doing what he does best—being himself. In this special online extra from his May 2010 MD cover story, we begin by asking Eric about…The Band’s Younger Fans. In 2004 we did …
Posted: November 5, 2006
Thomas Pridgen
At just twenty-two, Pridgen has more drumming experience than most. Growing up in California, he began drumming at the age of three, made his first recording at eight, and won the Guitar Center DrumOff at nine.
Posted: July 25, 2006
Tony Royster Jr.
Tony Royster Jr. has been busy. We caught up with him while he was home for a couple of days from globetrotting with En Vogue.
Posted: May 12, 2004
Andy Granelli of The Distillers
Punk-rock revivalists The Distillers have hit on a musical formula that could spell big success for their much buzzed-about major-label debut. Coral Fang infuses the old-school passion and lyrical relevance of hardcore punk legends like LA’s Germs and Black Flag with melodic, radio-friendly pop appeal….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Lil’ John Roberts
Lil’ John Roberts’s name has been popping up more and more here at MD – in interviews with other artists, in conversations with people in the drum industry – and, most importantly, in mail from fans. It seems everyone is talking about Lil’ John. And after seeing him play, you’d …
Posted: March 9, 2018

Modern Drummer Podcast Episode 133: Tony Royster Jr, Organic Odd-Time Patterns, Sabian FRX Series, and More
In this episode Mike and Mike discuss April 2018 cover artist Tony Royster Jr, who is currently the touring drummer for pop star Katy Perry.