
Tré Cool

The 2021 Hella Mega Tour Revived Stadium Shows A stadium tour during a global pandemic could have been a disaster of epic proportions. But thanks to vaccinations being finally available, as well as stringent COVID-crowd controls, open-air venues, and a mammoth dose of good fortune, the Hella Mega Tour’s crucible …

Tré Cool’s Burnt Slingerland Kit Tré Cool is one of my favorite drummers. He is also one of the most interesting people I’ve worked with. He’s certainly one of few drummers who can ride the razor-thin line between control and chaos without ever actually falling into chaos. The excitement and …

Green Day’s Gear Geek Tré Cool has a drum warehouse. Few people outside of the Green Day family likely know exactly how many drums are in there, but after talking to Cool about his collection, I’m kind of thinking it looks like the vast “Hangar 51” at the end of …

Tré Cool’s Explosive Drumming One day back in 1994, I went to the music store to pick up this album hilariously titled Dookie. I went home as fast as I could, put it in my CD player, and my life proceeded to change. “Burnout,” the opening track, tore through my …

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 …

After millions of albums sold and decades at the top of the pop-punk pile, the drummer and his band are as vital as ever.

How’s everyone doing? Hopefully life isn’t being too hard on you. Spending time on social media, as so many of us do these days, we become more and more aware of what’s happening in people’s lives—and we communicate the general vibe of our own lives on a daily basis.

Tré Cool, Aaron Harris, Uriel Jones, Benjamin Corbett, Butch Trucks, Stephen Perkins, Jojo Mayer, Trivett Wingo, Jerry Shirley, Scott Johnson, Larry Herweg, John Moen, Chris Vatalaro, Jeff Friedl, Roy Hanes, Bernard Purdie

Danny Carey, sPaG, Grady Tate, James Bradley Jr., Mario Rubalcaba, Pierre Favre, Fredy Studer, Jeff Kathan, Oscar Seaton, Allison Miller, Michael McDonald, Vinnie Colaiuta, Tré Cool, Steve Gadd

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 …
Tre Cool, Pete Laroca Sims, Gene Krupa, Ashwin Sood, Steve Reid, Mike Mangini, Jerry Augustyniak, Bill Goodwin, Bob Siebenberg , Jesse Siebenberg, Sylvia Cuenca, Luther Rix, Kenny Aronoff
Posted: July 24, 2021

Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp Announces The First EVER Women Only Camp
Female Drummers wanted! Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp unveils its first ever WOMEN ONLY Rock Camp! This ground-breaking camp will take place in Los Angeles, CA over the Grammy® weekend, January 27-30, 2022 with special headlining mentors including Melissa Etheridge, Nancy Wilson, Kathy Valentine, Orianthi and even more to be announced in the coming weeks. …
Posted: April 7, 2021

Brian Tichy – Interview +“I’m the One” by Van Halen – Play Along & Lesson Video!
Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne and more) recently recorded a play along and lesson video for Modern Drummer as a tribute to the great Alex Van Halen and the Modern Drummer Legends Vol 2 featuring AVH. Modern Drummer caught up with Brian for a brief Q …
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 18, 2020

In Tribute to a Tribute: Reflections on the Modern Drummer Festival 2020
by Fred W. Gretsch This past Saturday, September 12 saw the return of one of drumming’s great events: The Modern Drummer Festival. Not held since 2011, this year’s Festival marked the 20th in its iconic history. Of course, given the nature of the times, the 2020 Festival couldn’t be held …
Posted: February 20, 2020

Joey Aguirre of Sifting
Hi MD readers, Joey Aguirre here and I play drums in a progressive metal band called Sifting. It’s an honor to be featured here “On The Beat!”
Posted: December 3, 2019

Morgan Bauer of A Killer’s Confession
My name is Morgan Bauer and I’m the drummer in A Killer’s Confession (AKC). We released our single “Numb” on September 20, 2019 and our second album, The Indifference of Good Men, on October 18.
Posted: September 12, 2019

Terry Rae of the Hollywood Stars
Hello MD readers! I’m the drummer for the reunited band Hollywood Stars. We are a Los Angeles band originally assembled in 1973 by legendary rock ’n’ roll artist/manager/songwriter Kim Fowley.
Posted: September 10, 2019

Silverthorne’s Brian Tichy
Hello Modern Drummer readers! Having been a subscriber since the ninth grade, it’s always an honor to be somewhere within the world of MD. A big thanks to Billy Amendola for all his support since we met so many years ago.
Posted: September 3, 2019

Vince Wilburn Jr. from Miles Electric Band
Hey MD! Vince Wilburn Jr. from Miles Electric Band here. This has been a huge year for recording, album releases, and the new Miles documentary Birth Of The Cool, directed by Stanley Nelson.
Posted: July 16, 2019

David Uosikkinen of the Hooters
Hello, my fellow drummers! When I’m not playing with the Hooters (next year will be our fortieth anniversary), I have my own band called David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket.
Posted: February 12, 2019

Joey Armstrong of SWMRS in On The Beat
The son of Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer and guitarist of Green Day, checks in about his latest recording sessions.
Posted: November 1, 2018

On The Beat with Rich Pagano of the Fab Faux: Talks Recent Projects and Upcoming Shows
Hello Modern Drummer magazine voyeurs. Rich Pagano here to talk briefly about what has been happening and a couple of nice events that I am honored to be a part of in the near future.
Posted: September 25, 2018

On The Beat with Corky Laing of Mountain: Talks “Secret Album” Pompeii
Hello Modern Drummer readers, it’s Corky Laing here again. This time I would like to tell you a story about an album that almost didn’t happen.
Posted: September 5, 2018

On The Beat with Chris McNeill of Glass Tiger: Talks New Album, Multiple Projects, and Gear
Hey there MD! Just touching base with a quick update on some fun stuff that’s been going on. Holy cow, does time ever fly! I’ll soon be going into my twentieth year playing with Glass Tiger, the Canadian rock band known for “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).”
Posted: May 15, 2018

On The Beat with Adrian Varady of Guitarist and Composer Andreas Varady: Talks Gear, Influences, and New Album
Hello MD! My name is Adrian Varady and I play with my dad and brother. I’m fifteen years old.
Posted: April 19, 2018

On The Beat with Manny Elias of Tears for Fears and Gregory Darling: Talks New Albums
A massive hello to all you MD readers, Manny Elias here and it’s great to chat with you again! As some of you may remember I’m the original drummer from Tears For Fears (The Hurting and Songs From The Big Chair).
Posted: February 6, 2018

On The Beat with Tyler Ritter of Moon Taxi: Talks New Album
What’s up everyone! Tyler Ritter here from the Nashville-based band Moon Taxi. I’m super pumped to be here discussing a few things for “On The Beat” and would like to deeply thank Modern Drummer for having me.
Posted: November 30, 2017

On The Beat with UK Drummer Mark Heaney: Talks Solo Record Fortunes
Hello MD! Fortunes is an album I’d been wanting to make for a long time. My last solo drum album, Origins, was released back in 2014, so it’s been a while.
Posted: September 21, 2017

On The Beat with Nigel Dupree of Wayland: Shares Influences, Gear, and Memorable Moments
Hello my fellow Modern Drummer’s! My name is Nigel Dupree and I play drums for the rock band Wayland.
Posted: September 7, 2017

On The Beat with Steph Barker of Coast Modern: Pursuing the Dream
Hey MD Readers! This is Steph Barker, drummer for the Los Angeles indie pop duo Coast Modern. I have been a huge fan of Modern Drummer since I started drumming back in sixth grade, so I am over the moon and absolutely honored to contribute to “On The Beat.”
Posted: July 6, 2017

On the Beat with Fred Eltringham of Sheryl Crow: Talks Latest Shows and Upcoming Tour
Hey, Modern Drummer readers! Fred Eltringham here. I recently played some special shows that I think quite a few of you will enjoy, especially if you are a ZZ Top fan.
Posted: May 3, 2017
On the Beat and Track by Track with Cyrus Bolooki of New Found Glory
Hello MD readers! I’m Cyrus Bolooki, drummer for the band New Found Glory, and I’m writing this while in the middle of our Twenty Years of Pop Punk anniversary tour.
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: April 11, 2017
On the Beat with Jamie Perkins of the Pretty Reckless: Talks New Album, TV, and Tours
Hey there, Modern Drummer readers! I’m Jamie Perkins, the drummer for the Pretty Reckless. We’re a rock ’n’ roll band that has been steadfastly irritating the online hipster community since about 2009.
Posted: March 30, 2017
On the Beat with Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz of “Weird Al” Yankovic: Talks Longevity, Hit Albums, and Future Tour
Hello MD readers! I’ve been drumming with “Weird Al” Yankovic since late-1980, and if you’d told me I’d still be doing that thirty-seven years later, I would have said you were crazy! And when I tell someone that I play drums for Weird Al, the response is often, “is he …
Posted: March 8, 2017
On the Beat With Kim Kicks of Satellite Sky
When I was a kid, I decided to stop hitting my brother and start hitting the drums. Now we’re kicking ass and taking numbers together.
Posted: February 21, 2017
Givin’ the Funky Drummer Some
Modern Drummer magazine’s September 1999 issue featured famed James Brown drummers Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks on the cover in a dual interview. We’ll be presenting Clyde’s half of the piece in an upcoming post; here we share quotes from three prominent drummers who went on record in that …
Posted: February 8, 2017
Legendary Bassist Nathan East on His New Album Reverence
On Nathan East’s second solo album, Reverence, he once again steps into the spotlight as bandleader. Produced by East and Yamaha Entertainment Group of America founder Chris Gero, it’s no surprise that shortly after its debut (less than one month ago), the album hit the number-one spot on both the …
Posted: February 3, 2017
On the Beat with Adam Chase of Jazz Is Phsh and More
Hello Modern Drummer world. My name is Adam Chase and I’m the drummer and bandleader for the Chase Brothers, Jazz Is Phsh, and the James Brown Dance Party, as well as a studio drummer and multi-instrumentalist. As a long-time touring drummer, I’ve had the good fortune to share the stage …
Posted: February 2, 2017
Adam Carson on AFI’s The Blood Album
This past January 20, the anthemic emo-punk band AFI released its self-titled album, aka The Blood Album, the group’s tenth record over the course of its twenty-five-year history. Along with searing hooks from vocalist Davey Havok, brilliant production and riffs from guitarist and keyboardist Jade Puget, and bassist Hunter Burgan’s …
Posted: January 20, 2017
Bill Stevenson, Part 2: Road-Warrior Drumkits and the Influence of Coltrane and Afro-Cuban
In Part 1 of our new interview with the iconic drummer Bill Stevenson, we discussed the latest Descendents album, the major lifestyle changes he’s made, and solving the drummer/producer dichotomy. Here we trace the early developments of his long and illustrious playing career, and learn about the broad range of …
Posted: January 9, 2017
Kris Myers and Mike Mirro
More than a decade after taking over kit duties in the progressive jam band Umphrey’s McGee, the group’s current drummer sings the praises of recently released work by the man who came before him, a gifted player who died way too young.
Posted: October 31, 2016
Matt Mingus on Dance Gavin Dance’s Mothership
This past October 7, post-hardcore group Dance Gavin Dance released its seventh full-length studio album, “Mothership”. Throughout the record’s thirteen cuts, founding drummer Matt Mingus weaves a unique, genre-defying sense of feel between intricate breakdowns and pounding unison guitar riffs.
Posted: October 27, 2016
On the Beat with Ernie Durawa of the Texas Tornados: Talks Projects and Performances
Well, 2017 seems to be approaching fast! There are a lot of great music performances and some tours and recordings to talk about.
Posted: October 7, 2016
Fuse.tv Documentary Series “Clash Of the Corps” Features DCI Corps Blue Devils and Cadets on the Way to the 2016 Finals
In this Modern Drummer exclusive, Blue Devils snare drummer Brandon Olander talks practice, preparation, and dealing with a camera crew.
Posted: September 29, 2016
On Tour: Tony Leone With the Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Longtime New York City drummer Tony Leone is currently on the road with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood.
Posted: September 19, 2016
Exclusive Video Premiere! Tomas Haake Plays “Nostrum” From Meshuggah’s Upcoming Album, The Violent Sleep of Reason
There’s a lot of anticipation surrounding the October release of Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah’s eighth full-length album, The Violent Sleep of Reason.
Posted: August 30, 2016
Drummer/Programmer/Producer Steven Wolf
Steven Wolf is, without doubt, truly one of today’s modern day drummers. He has all the technique and chops, he can groove like a feel-good metronome, and his programmed drum parts make you think, are these real drums or not?
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: July 5, 2016
On the Beat With Lynn Coulter of Rita Coolidge: On the Road With the Delta Lady
Hello “On the Beat??? readers, Lynn Coulter here. I just got back from two weeks out with the fabulous Rita Coolidge doing dates in the New England area. Rita just released her memoir, Delta Lady.
Posted: July 1, 2016
The Damned’s Pinch
When you follow a drummer like Rat Scabies into a band, as Andrew “Pinch??? Pinching of British punk institution the Damned did, it’s easy to figure that to some extent, you’re always going to be viewed as “the new guy.???
Posted: July 1, 2016
Dan Pawlovich on Touring With Panic! at the Disco
Dan Pawlovich is currently on the road with pop-rock group Panic! at the Disco in support of its latest album, Death of a Bachelor. Here Modern Drummer Online asks Pawlovich about backing a band that seamlessly sifts through multiple sonic landscapes while still staying on top.
Posted: June 14, 2016
Tony Thaxton Returns to the Road with Motion City Soundtrack…One Last Time
It’s not a stretch to say Tony Thaxton’s drumming is just as vital to Motion City Soundtrack’s DNA as frontman Justin Pierre’s infectious melodies and neurotic internal monologue. Trust me—my band shared a Minneapolis practice space with Motion City in the early aughts, when they cycled though timekeepers at a …
Posted: May 31, 2016
Keith Carne on We Are Scientists’ Helter Seltzer
Brooklyn-based indie-rock band We Are Scientists’ fifth album, Helter Seltzer, released digitally this past April 22 and physically on June 3, is an advanced-level course in hook-ology.
Posted: April 8, 2016
On the Beat With Matthew Parkitny of Hands Like Houses: Talks Touring and Recording
Hey guys and girls! My name is Matthew Parkitny and I play drums in the band Hands Like Houses. I’m super stoked to be writing a little number here on the Modern Drummer “On the Beat??? feature, so here we go!
Posted: March 25, 2016
On the Beat With Elton John Percussionist John Mahon: Recording Wonderful Crazy Night
Hi MD! I’ve been meaning to send you a little blurb about Elton John’s latest record and what we’ve been doing. The album Wonderful Crazy Night was released February 2016 and we have been playing promotional concerts starting in Los Angeles, then over to London and Paris….
Posted: March 2, 2016
On the Beat With Joey Sulkowski of Mainland: Getting Educated On and Off the Road
Hey-o, Modern Drummers! My name is Joey Sulkowski and I play drums for Mainland, a Brooklyn based rock band that just finished a tour with Canadian superheroes Marianas Trench. A large part of my life has been spent with various bands in vans, buses, and planes, traveling around the world …
Posted: February 19, 2016
A Different View: Gary Clark Jr.
Gary Clark Jr. By Frank Maddocks by Will Romano The last time I talked with Gary Clark Jr., it was over a decade ago and he was fitting a harp into a harmonica rack at Antone’s blues club, in Austin, Texas, where I was doing research. Gary was quiet …
Posted: January 29, 2016
Brit Turner on Blackberry Smoke’s Holding All the Roses
Blackberry Smoke provided one of the year’s crossover album hits, topping country and rock charts with the Brendan O’Brien–produced Holding All the Roses. And once again, the Turner brothers, bassist Richard and drummer Brit, locked it all down with a sultry Southern swagger. MD caught up with Brit before a …
Posted: January 29, 2016
The Future’s Perfect: Deantoni Parks on His Solo Album, Technoself
MD Online caught up with Parks before his New York City Technoself debut at Rough Trade to learn about the exciting new project.
Posted: January 7, 2016
Bobby Rondinelli
With a résumé that includes Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, and more recently, Mountain guitarist Leslie West and the Axel Rudi Pell Band, Bobby Rondinelli remains a mega-force in heavy-rock drumming….
Posted: December 30, 2015
On the Beat With Chris Reeve of Filter
Hi Modern Drummer readers! 2015 has been a huge year full of opportunity and struggle—but you think we musicians have it tough? Let me tell you about a group of kids I was honored to meet this year when I thought I was having a hard time
Posted: December 4, 2015
Ben Koller on His Action-Packed Year With Converge and Beyond
Ben Koller has had his busiest gigging year in 2015, logging miles with Mutoid Man—which also released its Bleeder LP in June—as well as with Killer Be Killed and All Pigs Must Die. He’s also done two tours with the group he’s best known for, Converge. Writer Stephen Bidwell caught …
Posted: December 1, 2015
Twenty Drum Gifts for Under $20
With the holiday season upon us, there’s no better time to step back and look at all the different gift options that are available. In this first installment of our 2015 holiday buyer’s guide, we specifically want to focus on drummer gifts that are under $20. These items are perfect …
Posted: November 9, 2015
On the Beat With Damon Wilson of the Temperance Movement: Opening For the Rolling Stones
Hi MD! For the past months we’ve played shows in all sorts of places across America. Large theatres. Small clubs. Sports bars. Board rooms. Radio stations. You name it, we’ve played it. But nothing beats Friday June 12, 2015 in Orlando, FL opening for the biggest rock ’n’ roll band …
Posted: October 1, 2015
Exclusive! Mike Portnoy Drum Cam Video for New Winery Dogs Track
The Winery Dogs, featuring drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Billy Sheehan, and guitarist Richie Kotzen, will be releasing their new album, Hot Streak, this coming October 2. Check out this drum cam video of Portnoy recording the album’s title track….
Posted: September 22, 2015
Faith No More’s Mike Bordin Discusses Sol Invictus and His Hard-Hitting Playing Style
During an all too brief tour break, Bordin took a moment to talk to Modern Drummer about why Faith No More got back together, the DIY ethos that drove the making of Sol Invictus, how he manages to deliver such a physical set every night, and much more….
Posted: September 15, 2015
Web Exclusive! Joe Walsh’s Joe Vitale: Practice Tips and Influences
Joe Vitale is currently touring with Joe Walsh as well as starring in the movie Ricki and the Flash, featuring Meryl Streep. We continue talking with Joe about a few practice tips as well as some of his influences….
Posted: June 12, 2015
On the Beat With Turbowolf’s Blake Davies: Drawing Inspiration
Hello! I’m Blake Davies and I play drums in Turbowolf. As I write this, I’m cleaning my Yamaha Maple Custom kit for another summer of shows and remembering festivals gone by. It got me thinking about inspiration and from where we draw it….
Posted: June 9, 2015
Dave Elitch
Antemasque’s Drummer on Education, Listening Skills, and Knowing Who You Are.
Posted: June 8, 2015
On the Beat With Nelson’s Gunnar Nelson: A Drummer Who Happens to Sing and Play Guitar
Hello, Modern Drummers! I’m a drummer who happens to play guitar and sing. It has been said that drumming may be the first music man ever made. In my case it has been a source of who I am. I was born in the “summer of love” on September 20, …
Posted: June 3, 2015
On the Beat With Nate Arling of the Last Vegas and Urge Overkill: Top Ten Touring and Gigging Tips
Hi MD readers! My name is Nate Arling, and I live in Chicago, Illinois. I play drums in the Last Vegas and Urge Overkill. I also do studio work and have played 1,000-plus shows in fifteen-plus countries at clubs, garages, arenas, festivals, strip clubs, barns, basements, and theatres….
Posted: May 18, 2015
The Aristocrats Culture Clash Live!
Proggy fusion that’s light on seriousness but heavy on the musicianship of Marco Minnemann and company.
Posted: February 4, 2015
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Other Styles
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team if they felt that it’s important for all drummers to study Latin music and other musical genres, even if they don’t intend to ever perform those styles. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: January 9, 2015
Drummer Blog: Tera Melos’ John Clardy on Touring Drummer Tips, Part 2
Hello again, fellow MD fans! In my last entry to this page, I wrote about some of the less obvious things I’ve found to be useful (and easy to carry) on the road. I got a good response about the things and tips I shared last time, and I wanted …
Posted: December 15, 2014
Supertramp’s Bob Siebenberg
Supertramp has always been tough to categorize. Is it a pop band with a fondness for complex arrangements, a progressive-rock band with impeccable pop smarts, or something else entirely? One thing’s for sure: Difficulties categorizing the group seemed not to hurt its popularity, as a string of hit albums, including …
Posted: December 8, 2014
What You Need to Know About…Snare Drums
Snare drums are easily the most recognizable voice in the drumkit. The practice of studio drummers using a different snare for every song, in order to change the overall voice of the kit, shows this theory in action. Some players have signature snare sounds that identify them immediately, where others …
Posted: October 3, 2014
Brad Wilk Dashes Expectations With the Last Internationale
Recording with Black Sabbath was the first surprise; now the ex-Rage/Audioslave drummer dashes expectations again with the Last Internationale….
Posted: October 2, 2014
Drummer Blog: District 97’s Jonathan Schang on Mini-Rock Opera, Tours, and Upcoming Album
I’m the drummer and primary composer of the Chicago-based progressive rock band District 97 featuring 2007 American Idol female finalist, Leslie Hunt. You may remember me from the 2012 Modern Drummer Readers Poll, when I placed in the Best Up and Coming drummer’s category….
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: September 29, 2014
Influences: Bill Stevenson
Drummer Bill Stevenson is among the most influential musicians associated with West Coast punk rock, on any instrument. After making his name with seminal hard-core band Black Flag in the ’80s, Stevenson proceeded to set a standard for punk drumming with the Descendants and All, later spreading his reputation even …
Posted: August 27, 2014
Karl Latham
Hello, Modern Drummer readers! It’s been a while since I last checked in from “the North Woods.??? I see all is great in drum land—so many amazing new talents every day!
Posted: August 19, 2014
Influences: Harvey Mason
Here, as a companion to our August 2014 Influences piece on Mason, we speak with the drummer about his new album, his early days, the drummers who inspired him, and more….
Posted: July 28, 2014

Tim Kane The Lesson of a Lifetime: Inside a Live Tutorial with Famed Drummer/Composer Stewart Copeland (VIDEO)
Following a two-hour private drum lesson awarded by composer and multi-instrumentalist Stewart Copeland to one very lucky local high school student, the founder of world famous rock band the Police openly wondered why his celebrity status keeps growing. The sixty-two year old Copeland, whose Facebook fan base tops 76,000, continues …
Posted: July 28, 2014
Tim Kane
The Lesson of a Lifetime: Inside a Live Tutorial with Famed Drummer/Composer Stewart Copeland (VIDEO)
Following a two-hour private drum lesson awarded by composer and multi-instrumentalist Stewart Copeland to one very lucky local high school student, the founder of world famous rock band the Police openly wondered why his celebrity status keeps growing. The sixty-two year old Copeland, whose Facebook fan base tops 76,000, continues …
Posted: July 17, 2014
Rob Rufus of Blacklist Royals
My relationship with the drumkit and all it represents is different than most drummers I know. For me, there is a before, and there is an after.
Posted: June 11, 2014
Elliot Jacobson of Ingrid Michaelson
Hey MD drummers! I’m writing this from our tour bus. We recently finished up on the North American leg of the Ingrid Michaelson Lights Out tour. It’s hard to believe it’s my eleventh year as Ingrid’s drummer and live programmer….
Posted: June 5, 2014
SJC Custom Zombie-Theme Kit
This cool new kit from SJC features a custom zombie theme. The kit features 8×12, 13×15, and 14×16 toms, and a 16×24 kick. All of the drums are built using smoked-black acrylic shells and have a custom blood splatter and distressed finish and programmable LED lights. There are die-cast …
Posted: April 30, 2014

Rachel Trachtenburg of the Prettiots and Larry & the Babes
The two bands I’m currently in are very different from each other. One is an all-girl indie-pop band called the Prettiots. The second band is Larry & the Babes. It’s a garage rock band—very raw and rocking….
Posted: April 30, 2014
Rachel Trachtenburg of the Prettiots and Larry & the Babes
The two bands I’m currently in are very different from each other. One is an all-girl indie-pop band called the Prettiots. The second band is Larry & the Babes. It’s a garage rock band—very raw and rocking….
Posted: March 24, 2014
JR Kurtz of CSS
2014 began as an amazing journey in New Zealand and Australia for the Big Day Out festival. Throughout the three weeks spent on the road there, I not only became more confident as a drummer but also as a human….
Posted: March 3, 2014
VIDEO – Trey Anastasio Band Drummer Russ Lawton
Check out this video clip of the band Soule Monde, featuring drummer Russ Lawton and keyboardist Ray Paczkowski, both members of the solo group led by Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio. The clip was filmed in July 2013 at the Slide Brook Lodge & Tavern in Warren, Vermont, a favorite haunt …
Posted: December 23, 2013

MD Contributor Stephen Bidwell on Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas
Fun Fun Fun Fest had its eighth go-round this past November 8–10, and it was three days of great music for fans of metal, indie, hardcore, electro, and hip-hop, as well as wrestling, comedy, skateboarding, and BMX….
Posted: December 23, 2013
MD Contributor Stephen Bidwell on Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas
Fun Fun Fun Fest had its eighth go-round this past November 8–10, and it was three days of great music for fans of metal, indie, hardcore, electro, and hip-hop, as well as wrestling, comedy, skateboarding, and BMX….
Posted: November 27, 2013
Chico Hamilton: 1921–2013
Jazz drummer Foreststorn “Chico??? Hamilton died this past Monday at the age of ninety-two. Hamilton was notable for his refined approach to the drumset, which leaned more heavily on creative orchestrations than on flash, an approach that in the 1950s inspired the movements of cool and chamber jazz. Notably, Hamilton …
Posted: October 1, 2013
Gene Hoglan To Release New DVD
Thirty years into a career of trailblazing thrash drumming, Gene “The Atomic Clock??? Hoglan shows no signs of slowing down. Between touring and/or recording with Testament, Dethklok, and Meldrum, conducting drum clinics, and filming an instructional video, he’s as busy as ever….
Posted: October 1, 2013
Hidden Gems
Great Drum Performances Uncovered
The October 2013 issue of Modern Drummer magazine features an article in which seven MD Pro Panelists share some of their favorite “hidden gems.??? Here MD’s editorial staff weighs in on their personal favorites….
Posted: September 17, 2013
Eve to Adam’s Alex Sassaris
I’m Alex Sassaris from the NYC rock band Eve to Adam. We are gearing up for the release of our fourth studio album, Locked and Loaded, which comes out September 17 through our label 3 for 5 Records/MRI/Sony RED….
Posted: August 26, 2013
Will Hunt of Soil and Device
I wanted to share a bit of what’s been happening with me as of late. 2010 found me recording We All Bleed with Crossfade and Order of the Black with my buds in Black Label Society. I also got the opportunity to tour with BLS for a bit before getting …
Posted: July 18, 2013
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Tuning (UPDATED)
We asked the members of the MD Education Team to share their thoughts on how they prefer to tune their drums. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: June 13, 2013
Web Exclusive! GMS Drums: Looking Back and Stepping Forward With New York’s Original Boutique
Just great-sounding and great-looking drums. That’s been the GMS way since the Long Island company began building custom drums twenty-six years ago. Click here to read more.
Posted: May 10, 2013
Dwayne Scott of Alabaster
Hi, MD readers! I have had many firsts in the past year as the drummer for Alabaster….
Posted: April 30, 2013
June 2013 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Joey Waronker
See what’s in the June 2013 Issue of Modern Drummer Magazine! Featuring Joey Waronker.
Posted: April 29, 2013
Andrew Tkaczyk of the Ghost Inside
Hey, everyone! Andrew Tkaczyk from the Ghost Inside here. Just checking in after a long three-month tour through Europe and the U.S. Feels good to be home and relax for a while!
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: April 15, 2013
Chris Prescott of Pinback
Pinback has been traveling constantly this past year in support of the new album, Information Retrieved. We were planning the final leg of our US tour when the opportunity came up to play on Jimmy Fallon’s show in New York. The tour had been planned originally as a mostly southern …
Posted: April 8, 2013
Owl’s Dan Dinsmore
I last wrote a blog for moderndrummer.com in 2009, when Owl’s debut album came out, and I wanted to share a little about our latest recording, The Right Thing, due out April 9.
Posted: April 1, 2013
Brian Tichy
How did I get asked to be the drummer to play with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry at the John Varvatos–hosted 10th Annual Stuart House Benefit show? Well, I’ll tell you.
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: March 20, 2013
Electronic Insights: Minimal Miking Techniques
Click here to check out an article on minimal miking techniques for achieving a natural drum sound.
Posted: February 5, 2013
Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots
Hi! I’m Josh, and I play drums in a band called Twenty One Pilots. It’s the most fun thing I’ve ever done in my life—except for maybe swimming in the ocean once with dolphins in sight….
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: January 18, 2013
Ernie Durawa of Texas Tornados
Well, it’s 2013. I will say that 2012 was a good year full of music for me. I spent most of the year touring with the Texas Tornados….
Posted: January 7, 2013
Brendan Yates of Diamond Youth
My names Brendan and I play drums for the band Diamond Youth.
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: December 4, 2012
Dave King of the Bad Plus: Web-Exclusive Interview
An exclusive web-interview with Dave King of the Bad Plus.
Posted: December 3, 2012
Drum Doctors’ Ross Garfield
Hi MD readers! This is my first ever blog, and I wanted to tell you how I got to work on the upcoming Superman soundtrack.
Posted: November 19, 2012
Brit Turner of Blackberry Smoke
My name is Brit Turner, and I live in Atlanta, Georgia, with my wife, daughter, dog, two cats, one fish, and a snail. Great things have been happening for me lately.
Posted: November 12, 2012
Dave Sundberg of Sister Sin
Hey, hey drum lovers and random readers! My name is Dave and I play drums in Sister Sin, a heavy metal band all the way from Gothenborg, Sweden.
Posted: November 5, 2012
Weasel Walter of Behold the Arctopus
For the past three years I’ve played drums in the instrumental metal band Behold the Arctopus. Some people like to lump us into the vague category of “technical metal,??? but I’m not sure we really fit there.
Posted: October 8, 2012
Logan Baldwin of the Stationary Set
This has proved to be an exciting year for the Stationary Set and for me as a drummer. We just released our third studio album, Haunt On, and have a busy fall/spring schedule lined up in support of the new record.
Posted: September 21, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Traditional Grip
Is traditional grip a useful technique that drum students should learn? We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think traditional grip is relevant in today’s teachings. Here’s what they had to say.
Posted: September 19, 2012
L.A. Drummer John Montgomery
Hello, MD readers! My name is John Montgomery, I’m a drummer living in Los Angeles…and I love it.
Posted: September 4, 2012
Evan Jenkins of The Neil Cowley Trio
I play drums with the Neil Cowley trio, from London, England. We released our fourth album this year, The Face of Mount Molehill, and things have been rocking along nicely….
Posted: August 3, 2012
The Cult’s John Tempesta
The September issue of Modern Drummer magazine features Cult drummer John Tempesta offering ten tips on navigating a journeyman career and growing as a drummer. Here he elaborates on those topics and talks about his most recent projects, including the Cult’s new album, Choice of Weapon….
Posted: August 2, 2012
Richard Wouters of Civil Twilight
My name is Richard Wouters, and I play drums for a band called Civil Twilight. We’re a four-piece originally from Cape Town, South Africa, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee….
Posted: July 5, 2012
Jordan Plosky of Big Time Rush
Hi there! My name is Jordan Plosky, and I play drums for Big Time Rush. We’re embarking on a two-and-a-half-month headlining summer tour across the U.S. and Canada.
Posted: May 16, 2012
Influences: Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins
As Jane’s Addiction continues its successful Theatre of the Escapists tour, a new generation of fans is being hipped to the ecstatic tribal glam event that is a Jane’s show—and to the uniquely galloping drumming approach of Stephen Perkins. In the latest installment of Modern Drummer magazine’s Influences series, we …
Posted: May 3, 2012
New Gear For 2012! Highlights From Winter NAMM (S–Z)
Here are some of the coolest new products coming down the pipeline for 2012, all of which were on display at the annual Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, this past January (Part 4).
Posted: May 2, 2012
Joe Bergamini on Subbing With Jesus Christ Superstar
On March 30, I did my first show at Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway. The current revival opened in New York on March 22, with New York/Broadway veteran Clint DeGanon on drums.
Posted: April 10, 2012
New Gear For 2012! Highlights From Winter NAMM (E–M)
Here are some of the coolest new products coming down the pipeline for 2012, all of which were on display at the annual Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, this past January (Part 2).
Posted: March 30, 2012
New Gear For 2012! Highlights From Winter NAMM (A–D)
New Gear For 2012! Highlights From Winter NAMM (A–D) Here are some of the coolest new products coming down the pipeline for 2012, all of which were on display at the annual Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, this past January.
Posted: March 21, 2012
Eric Boudreault
My name is Eric Boudreault, and I am a drummer from Montreal, Canada. I’ve had a chance to play with many incredible musicians—John Patitucci, Alex Acuña, John Beasley, Michel Cusson, Ron Di Lauro, and many more—and it helped me to become a better musician.
Posted: March 13, 2012
12 Drumming Myths: Debunking Drum Gospel
Despite the prevalence of educational books, DVDs, and online lessons, most drumming information is still passed down the old-fashioned way: from one player to another, while shooting the breeze at the drum shop. A lot of what we hear, we take at face value, and we repeat these drumming “absolutes??? …
Posted: February 27, 2012
In the Studio: Making inFAMOUS
Talking with Jonathan Mayer, longtime drummer and music manager at Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., about the eccentric drum-centered score for the PlayStation 3 exclusive inFAMOUS, we were surprised to learn how much emphasis SCEA placed on ensuring that the soundtrack was as interesting and unusual as the game itself…
Posted: February 3, 2012
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Van
As I flailed away behind my drums that chilly London evening in the early spring of 1996, I tried to put the events of the previous month in perspective. The club was packed and the crowd was rocking; it was a nice way for Superchunk to end a grueling six-week …
Posted: January 27, 2012
Mind Matters: The Drummer as Performer/Entertainer
I’ve been drumming with a band for the past five months, and the bandleader recently said I wasn’t performing enough on stage. When I asked what she meant, she said my drumming was fine but I had no personality on stage…
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: January 19, 2012
Mastodon’s Brann Dailor on The Hunter: Change Is Good
Perhaps the Mayans were right after all. The End of Days must be upon us when we live in a world that finds the Atlanta-based metal band Mastodon’s latest album, The Hunter, debuting on Billboard’s top ten and the single “Curl of the Burl??? being nominated for a Grammy. Drummer …
Posted: January 17, 2012
Back Through The Stack
Teddy Campbell
This article originally ran in the September 2005 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
Posted: January 12, 2012
Jason Holmes of Black Taxi
Hello to the Modern Drummer blogosphere! This is my first blog here, with hopefully many more to come. My name is Jason Holmes, and I play drums in a band called Black Taxi. We all live, work, and rehearse in Brooklyn, New York, but go out on tour as often …
Posted: January 4, 2012
Gregg Potter with the Buddy Rich Big Band
Hello, Modern Drummer readers, this is Gregg Potter. It’s been a while since I’ve graced the pages or computer screens of MD. This is definitely a high point of any drummer’s existence, being allowed to communicate with the coolest, most up-to-date drumming community on the planet!
Posted: January 3, 2012
13 Tons Of Heavy
A baker’s dozen of the best hard rock albums released over the past year.
Posted: December 19, 2011
Queen Extravaganza Finalist Zach Mullings
Hey, everyone! My name is Zach Mullings, and I’m from Miramar, Florida. I’m one of the four drummers who were picked to audition for the Queen Extravaganza in L.A. First off, let me say how thrilled I am to be featured on Modern Drummer’s website. I have been a big …
Posted: December 13, 2011
Queen Extravaganza Winner Tyler Warren
It’s more than a thrill to be announced as the drummer for Queen Extravaganza! Roger Taylor, one of my favorite and most inspirational musicians, picked me as their new drummer! It’s insane. And I found out while I was on a roof, no less!
Posted: December 6, 2011
Lev Weinstein of Bloody Panda and Krallice
My name is Lev Weinstein. Growing up, I was an avid reader of Modern Drummer, and it was a feature on Morbid Angel’s Pete Sandoval that pushed me from thrash (which I’d been devouring since I stole my brother’s copy of …And Justice For All when I was eight) into …
Posted: December 6, 2011
Updated! Matt Chamberlain on the Making of a Career in the Studio
In his January 2012 Modern Drummer cover story, we dig deep with the drummer into the mentality of what it takes to be one of the most in-demand session players of the past twenty years.
Posted: November 30, 2011
Ben Riley: Power of the Lion, Patience of the Ages
Ben Riley commands respect from the moment he hits the bandstand. While he is best known (and beloved) for his years spent in Thelonious Monk’s quartet at the peak of that master’s powers, Riley has also recorded and performed with many other jazz greats.This article orginally ran in the February …
Posted: November 22, 2011
Grant Hart
Hüsker Dü’s drummer/singer created a template—and quickly broke it—for a generation of alternative rockers.
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: October 18, 2011
Ian Paice: Influence
MD Pro Panelist Daniel Glass on the magic of Deep Purple’s Ian Paice.
Posted: October 8, 2011
On the Beaten Path: Beginning Drumset Course, Levels 1, 2, and 3
by Rich Lackowski
Learn the drums by copping beats that are part of the everyday musical landscape.
Posted: September 20, 2011
Jimmy Chamberlin: The Ex-Smashing Pumpkins Drummer Takes a New Direction with Skysaw
Chamberlin is focusing on a new band, Skysaw, with whom he gets to revisit drumming concepts he’s long been interested in—but in a distinctly new format. In the November 2011 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, we honor Jimmy’s career accomplishments in the second installment of our Influences feature series. Here …
Posted: September 15, 2011
Nick Brennan of the Static Jacks
I’m Nick Brennan from the Static Jacks and I’m twenty-one years old. I feel honored to be sharing my drumming experience with you! I started playing the drums in third grade at Wilson Elementary, when the music teacher asked me if I had any musical talent. I told him I …
Posted: August 18, 2011
Tony Williams:
The Game Changer
Living Colour’s drummer reminisces about his hero Tony Williams, the jazz and fusion great whose story kicks off Modern Drummer magazine’s brand-new Influences feature series.
Posted: August 17, 2011
RHCP’s Chad Smith
’Tis the season for Chad Smith followers, with new Chili Peppers and Chickenfoot music blowing up all over the place. MD and the Bombastic One recently grabbed some grub and talked about some of his favorite classic-rock albums.
Posted: July 28, 2011
A Different View with Danny Kortchmar
More with the world-renowned right-hand man to rock’s singer-songwriter royalty, who is featured in the Different View column of this month’s issue of MD.
Posted: July 21, 2011
Jerry Shirley
Read an excerpt from Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley’s brand-new book, Best Seat in the House: Drumming in the ’70s With Marriott, Frampton and Humble Pie.
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: June 29, 2011
Daniel Bédard of Sharcüt
Hi, drummers! My name is Daniel Bédard, and I’m a drummer from Montreal. I’ve been drumming now for around sixteen years, and I’ve played with a lot of different artists here in Québec. I’m writing to talk to you about my band Sharcüt, a trio composed of guitar, bass, and …
Posted: June 28, 2011

Ezra Oklan with Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea
Hello, moderndrummer.com readers! My name is Ezra Oklan, and I’m a thirty-three-year-old drummer based out of Brooklyn, New York. I’ve been writing music, recording, and playing since I was eight years old. I studied at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC. I’m versed in many different …
Posted: June 28, 2011
Ezra Oklan with Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea
Hello, moderndrummer.com readers! My name is Ezra Oklan, and I’m a thirty-three-year-old drummer based out of Brooklyn, New York. I’ve been writing music, recording, and playing since I was eight years old. I studied at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC. I’m versed in many different …
Posted: June 24, 2011
Deftones’ Abe Cunningham
From the pages of the July 2011 Issue…It took a tragedy to make the members of Deftones stop their bickering and get back to the business of making music. Still, the band’s drummer reveals that some things—good and bad—never change….
Posted: June 10, 2011
Origin’s John Longstreth
Hi! My name is John Longstreth. I play drums for Origin, Gorguts, and Dim Mak. I can say a few things about myself, and I will, but what I would really like to do is talk about a lot of the myths and truths, the good and bad of what …
Posted: June 1, 2011

Mark Stepro: Ben Kweller, Bobby Long, & Tim Easton
Greetings, Modern Drummer Online readers! My name is Mark Stepro, and I’m a twenty-nine-year-old musician. I split time between New York and Los Angeles, touring and recording with Ben Kweller, Bobby Long, Tim Easton, the Madison Square Gardeners, and Taurus. Playing the “Big Time Late Night Talk Show” gig is …
Posted: June 1, 2011
Mark Stepro: Ben Kweller, Bobby Long, & Tim Easton
Greetings, Modern Drummer Online readers! My name is Mark Stepro, and I’m a twenty-nine-year-old musician. I split time between New York and Los Angeles, touring and recording with Ben Kweller, Bobby Long, Tim Easton, the Madison Square Gardeners, and Taurus. Playing the “Big Time Late Night Talk Show” gig is …
Posted: May 18, 2011
Adam Gray of Texas in July
My name is Adam Gray, and I play drums for a band called Texas in July. I started playing at a very young age, using pots, pans, and sticks from the woods. At age four I received my first drumkit, then another at age six. Since then it’s been a …
Posted: May 2, 2011
Danny Seraphine: Update
by Bob GirouardIt seems that since Danny Seraphine made a comeback of sorts of the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival, he’s kicked the current phase of his drumming career into high gear, appearing at events like Drummers for Jesus, the 2009 Chicago Drum Show, and a Terry Kath tribute, and making …
Posted: April 14, 2011
Dawn Richardson of Mental 99
Hey there, everyone! I’m very excited to be included here on the MD Blog. I’m a long-time reader of Modern Drummer magazine and love most things that are related to drums and drumming. I’ve been playing for quite a while now, and you may have heard my drumming with the rock …
Posted: April 7, 2011
Ryan Cooney of the Gallery
Hey, MD readers! My name is Ryan Cooney and I play drums in a band called the Gallery. We’re from Massachusetts, but have been touring the U.S. and spending extended periods of time in Florida and California the last few years. We recently recorded our new EP, Come Alive, at Swinghouse studios in …
Posted: February 16, 2011
Chris Coleman: Amazing Journey
More with the phenomenal drummer/educator, who was featured in the January 2011 issue of MD. His is one of the most closely observed careers in R&B, fusion, gospel, and pop drumming, with acts like Israel Houghton & New Breed, Chaka Khan, Christina Aguilera, Babyface, Patti LaBelle, Randy Brecker, and New …
Posted: February 14, 2011
David Moore Fulfills Dream Of A Lifetime
Hello, fellow drummers, I’m David Moore of Charlotte Harbor, Florida, a drummer/vocalist/guitarist who you can find in the Modern Drummer archives in the June 1992 issue. I’m flying home from my tenth NAMM trade show and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be in a recording studio with rock legend Todd Rundgren….
Posted: January 9, 2011
Ty Dennis of The Doors
It is my privilege to be invited to contribute here at moderndrummer.com, as I’ve looked forward to each new issue of the magazine for over twenty years! A little update: This past summer was pretty cool. May through August found me once again on the road with Ray Manzarek and …
Posted: November 26, 2010
Ryan “Legs??? Leger of Every Time I Die
Hey Modern Drummer, Ryan “Legs” Leger here from Buffalo, New York, hardcore band Every Time I Die. I was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, but currently reside and spend my off time doing session/studio work in Toronto. Rather than give you guys my life story or rack tom …
Posted: November 23, 2010
Richie Hayward: The MD Interviews, Part 2
Interview by Robyn FlansRead the Little Feat drummer’s cover feature from October 1995. MD: You have a unique playing style with Little Feat. Can you describe that style and where it came from? Richie: My style has grown with the band. It started out heavily influenced by blues, rock ’n’ …
Posted: November 23, 2010
Jean-Paul Gaster: Web Exclusive: Plenty more with the Clutch powerhouse
by Billy Brennan In the January issue of MD, Clutch drummer Jean-Paul Gaster reflects on the band’s reissues of its three DRT Entertainment releases—From Beale Street To Oblivion (2007), Robot Hive/Exodus (2005), and Blast Tyrant (2004)—and the foursome’s current status with its own Weathermaker label. In this exclusive online interview, …
Posted: November 12, 2010

Toph-E & the Pussycats’ Chris Parker
Hi, MD readers! The making of Toph-E & the Pussycats’ new CD, No Ordinary Day, featuring Clifford Carter on piano, Will Lee on bass, Ralph MacDonald on percussion, David Mann on tenor and soprano saxes, and me on drums, was a long project, stretching over a year and a half. …
Posted: November 12, 2010
Toph-E & the Pussycats’ Chris Parker
Hi, MD readers! The making of Toph-E & the Pussycats’ new CD, No Ordinary Day, featuring Clifford Carter on piano, Will Lee on bass, Ralph MacDonald on percussion, David Mann on tenor and soprano saxes, and me on drums, was a long project, stretching over a year and a half. …
Posted: November 3, 2010
Jamie Miller of Night Horse
Hello, my name is Jamie Miller. Like the rest of the entries on the site, I will begin by saying I have been a huge fan of Modern Drummer magazine for a very long time and am pretty stoked to be writing this! With that said, I will give a …
Posted: September 10, 2010
Paul Wandtke with Kill Hannah
Hey, MD world, I’m Paul Wandtke, and I’m here to tell you what I’ve been up to, as it’s been a while since I’ve spoken to my MD friends….
Posted: September 8, 2010
Pat Gesualdo: Drum Therapy Zone: Warped Tour Review
This year I decided to promote the DAD Program and my Modern Drummer Drum Therapy Column on the 2010 Warped Tour. We couldn’t have done it without the help from Modern Drummer, Pro-Mark, Paiste, and Sony Music/Mustache Mania. All of them went above and beyond to help bring the DAD …
Posted: August 26, 2010
What We’re Listening To 8/10
Associate Editor Michael Parillo Ah, Gong. For me there are times when nothing else will do. Some days I just need to hear a lot of notes — a lot of well-played, precisely ordered, yet totally rocking notes. I have only two of the European prog/fusion band’s many albums, 1975’s …
Posted: August 25, 2010
Steve Jordan: Web Exclusive
If you ask Steve Jordan who his favorite drummer is, be prepared to get hit with a never-ending list of influences, ranging from the obvious—like jazz greats Kenny Clarke and Philly Joe Jones and funk innovators David Garibaldi and Stephen Ferrone—to the more obscure, like Motown/disco session drummer Andrew Smith, …
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: August 3, 2010
Mayhem Week! Art Cruz of Winds Of Plague
Week two of Mayhem is in the books. Last week we were on our way to Las Vegas, Nevada, to play an off-date show with our bus mates, Shadows Fall, when Jeff the bus driver had to pull over because our Star Trek doors stopped working and John from SF …
Posted: August 1, 2010
Mayhem Week! Jeff Fabb of In This Moment
It’s fun being on a metal tour—most of the bands on Mayhem this year we’ve toured with in the past, and it’s great to see them again. The heat early in the tour was brutal—the sunscreen I put on my face was getting in my eyes and burning like I …
Posted: July 29, 2010
Mayhem Week! Chris Raines of Norma Jean
Hey, everyone! The 2010 Mayhem Festival is going by way too fast. We’re playing the Silver Star Stage with Atreyu, In This Moment, Winds Of Plague, and 3 Inches Of Blood. Everyone is super cool, and we’ve had amazing shows and crowds to start the tour. We’re playing a very …
Posted: July 28, 2010
Mayhem Week! Brandon Saller of Atreyu
By the looks of the divots in my drumheads after the first day of Mayhem, the energy will be raging this summer. After a month in Europe on my scaled-down kit, it’s nice to get back to the big dog. This tour is definitely a tour of massive drumkits. I …
Posted: July 22, 2010
Elaine Bradley of Neon Trees
I am elaine bradley (I don’t like capitalizing my name because I love lowercase e’s). I drum and sing backup vocals for Neon Trees, and we have been on tour with 30 Seconds To Mars and Mute Math. Basically, what that means is that I get to be around really, …
Posted: July 6, 2010
Enrico Calvano of At The Soundawn
Ciao, MD readers! Let me just savor this moment…. Wow! I could never imagine, not even in my wildest dreams of glory as a teenage drummer, that one day I’d have been given the chance to write a blog for Modern Drummer! Okay, what can I tell you? My name’s …
Posted: July 5, 2010
Rat Scabies: The Damned’s Explosive Drummer
When it comes to punk bands, the Damned may be the most influential of them all, and their original drummer Rat Scabies among the most stylishly destructive sticksmen ever. Formed in 1976 in the U.K., the Damned is credited as the first punk band to release a single (“New Rose”) …
Posted: June 30, 2010
Chris Adler : Rock Perspectives
(August 2010 Issue) Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler, who answers more reader emails in the August 2010 issue of Modern Drummer, recently produced the searing new album by This Or The Apocalypse. In this MD Online exclusive, read what Chris has to say about working with drummer Grant McFarland, …
Posted: June 24, 2010
Roger Earl of Foghat
Photo by Robert Alford Hello, fellow noise-makers! Well, we’ve just finished a new album that’s particularly close to my heart, Last Train Home. We had a couple of extra musos giving us a helping hand on this one. My older brother Colin is playing piano, and we don’t always get …
Posted: June 22, 2010
John Densmore: When You’re Strange
The cleverly inventive timekeeper for the Doors discusses the documentary When You’re Strange and the inner workings of his legendary band.
Posted: May 25, 2010
Laura Petracca of Hunter Valentine
Hello, Modern Drummer readers, this is Laura Petracca, the drummer from Hunter Valentine. Our new album, Lessons From The Late Night, was just released on May 11, and I’m itching to get back on the road and finally get a chance to kick up dirt trekking across America in Vanna …
Posted: May 11, 2010
Darren King of MUTEMATH: YouTube Favorites
I don’t care so much about difficulty or technicality. I like style, passion, creativity, and all that kind of stuff. Here are some videos that always challenge and inspire me no matter how many times I watch them….
Posted: April 13, 2010
Jucifer’s Edgar Livengood
As a drummer I think playing all the time is crucial. And not just rehearsing, but playing for an audience…
Posted: April 13, 2010

Jucifer's Edgar Livengood
As a drummer I think playing all the time is crucial. And not just rehearsing, but playing for an audience…
Posted: April 7, 2010
Bigger Lights’s Ryan Seaman
I started playing drums at the age of eight, when my father introduced me to the Beatles.
Posted: April 7, 2010

Bigger Lights's Ryan Seaman
I started playing drums at the age of eight, when my father introduced me to the Beatles.
Posted: April 5, 2010
Ekotren’s Frank Jargiello
What’s up, Modern Drummer readers. I would first like to thank Modern Drummer for giving me the opportunity to write this blog. My name is Frank Jargiello, I’m from Scranton, Pennsylvania, I’m twenty-one, and I’ve been playing drums since I was fourteen. My first band was called Hope Fails You. …
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: February 22, 2010
Steven Drozd: Songwriting From A Drummer’s Perspective
Even though Steven Drozd originally joined the Flaming Lips in 1991 strictly to man the skins, it wasn’t long before the multi-talented musician’s “try anything??? twist on songwriting and arranging became as crucial to the band’s successes as his bombastic drumbeats. In addition to the various topics we covered with …
Posted: February 18, 2010
The Naked Heroes’ Merica Lee
h, hey ya’ll, it’s Merica Lee from the Naked Heroes—a foot-stompin’, ass-shakin’, rawkus rock ’n’ roll band from Brooklyn, New York. We recorded our album 99 Diamond at Deadverse Studios in Union City, New Jersey, and it was produced by the mighty Dean Rispler and engineered by Alap Momin…
Posted: February 18, 2010

The Naked Heroes' Merica Lee
h, hey ya’ll, it’s Merica Lee from the Naked Heroes—a foot-stompin’, ass-shakin’, rawkus rock ’n’ roll band from Brooklyn, New York. We recorded our album 99 Diamond at Deadverse Studios in Union City, New Jersey, and it was produced by the mighty Dean Rispler and engineered by Alap Momin…
Posted: February 16, 2010
Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy is considered one of the finest prog-rock drummers in the history of the genre…
Posted: January 5, 2010
AM Taxi’s Chris Smith
I’m Christopher Smith, drummer/backup vocalist for Chicago punk/rock band AM Taxi…
Posted: December 1, 2009
James “The Rev” Sullivan
The supercharged Avenged Sevenfold timekeeper keeps old-school metal alive with brute force, machine-like precision, and a flair for the dramatic…
Posted: November 19, 2009
Rymo of Slightly Stoopid
Slightly Stoopid is proof that if a band works hard and performs consistently, audiences will continue to grow…
Posted: October 7, 2009
Adam Romanowski of Gwynbleidd
Hi to all in MD world. This is my first blog ever, and what an honor to share it with my fellow drumheads on the Web page of the best drum magazine in the world.I have been a diehard fan of Modern Drummer magazine since I came to New York …
Posted: September 18, 2009
Tim Meehan of the_Network
A hell of a lot has been going on for me and the_Network in the past year.
Posted: August 9, 2009
Street Drum Corps’ Frank Zummo
I’m sitting at Tommy Lee’s Atrium Studio in Calabasas, CA, where Street Drum Corps is doing preproduction for our Interscope Records debut double album, due out in early 2010.
Posted: August 9, 2009

Street Drum Corps' Frank Zummo
I’m sitting at Tommy Lee’s Atrium Studio in Calabasas, CA, where Street Drum Corps is doing preproduction for our Interscope Records debut double album, due out in early 2010.
Posted: August 1, 2009
Dave McAfee with Toby Keith
Things haven’t changed much for Dave McAfee. He played the drums as a kid, and he plays the drums as an adult. He moved around a lot as a kid, and he moves around a lot now. Really, the only difference is that he just happens to be drumming with …
Posted: July 7, 2009
Fall of Envy’s Brandt Frenchman
I am Brandt Frenchman, and I’ve been a drummer for most of my life. I love all types and styles of music, although I’ve always gravitated toward the heavier rock side of things.
Posted: June 18, 2009
Stephen Perkins: Jane’s Addiction
Talking with Perkins, you get the vibe that the L.A.–based rocker’s life is way more than hitting the skins for the duration of a show or recording session….
Posted: June 1, 2009

T.S.O.L.'s Anthony "Tiny" Biuso
It’s Anthony Biuso here, checking in with a blog to let you know what’s been going on in my world. I left (hed) p.e. in August of 2008 to devote more time to my previous band, T.S.O.L. I had a great time touring and playing with (hed) p.e., and it …
Posted: June 1, 2009
T.S.O.L.’s Anthony “Tiny” Biuso
It’s Anthony Biuso here, checking in with a blog to let you know what’s been going on in my world. I left (hed) p.e. in August of 2008 to devote more time to my previous band, T.S.O.L. I had a great time touring and playing with (hed) p.e., and it …
Posted: May 19, 2009

Jeremy Enigk's Victor Garcia
Greetings! The first time I sat in front of drums was the day of my thirteenth birthday, when my brother came home at night and surprised me with a fourth-hand drumkit. It was an old black Pearl Forum Series. On this I learned to play, and every day I spent …
Posted: May 19, 2009
Jeremy Enigk’s Victor Garcia
Greetings! The first time I sat in front of drums was the day of my thirteenth birthday, when my brother came home at night and surprised me with a fourth-hand drumkit. It was an old black Pearl Forum Series. On this I learned to play, and every day I spent …
Posted: May 18, 2009
Fantastic Four: From The Church To The Shed
In this online exclusive, we continue our conversation with Gerald Heyward, Aaron Spears, Cora Coleman-Dunham, and Nisan Stewart.
Posted: April 26, 2009
Josh Trager of The Sam Roberts Band
I'm Josh Trager from Montreal, and I play drums in the Sam Roberts Band. We just came off a pretty solid eight months of touring our new record, “Love At The End Of The World.”
Posted: April 9, 2009
Papa Roach’s Tony Palermo
Tony gives Modern Drummer associate editor Billy Amendola a drum-centric, song-by-song breakdown of Papa Roach’s new album, Metamorphosis.
Posted: March 1, 2009
Web Exclusive Interview: Britney Spears’ Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey was born in Sheffield, England, on January 5, 1974, and has been surrounded by music his whole life. His dad played guitar and his mom sang, and early on Chris discovered he had an uncanny talent for the drums. At age eight he was already playing in his …
Posted: January 30, 2009
Jason Graham of Taxi Doll
It’s Jason Graham writing from Los Angeles, and I’m excited to let you know about a couple of electronic rock projects I’ve been working with. My main group, Taxi Doll, has a new album, Here And Now, out February 23.
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: November 20, 2008
Underoath’s Aaron Gillespie
Spend just a few minutes watching Aaron Gillespie perform Underoath songs on stage from the comfort of your home computer via live footage posted on YouTube.
Posted: October 20, 2008
Lars Ulrich: For The Greater Good
“Metallica is a bunch of guys having the time of their lives,??? Lars Ulrich proclaims…
Posted: August 21, 2008
Jay Nazz of Reckless Kelly
I'm Jay Nazz and I've been playing drums in Reckless Kelly for over twelve years. I'm fortunate enough to play with incredible musicians who I also love to hang out with.
Posted: August 18, 2008
Anthony Zimmitti of The 88
My name is Anthony Zimmitti and I am the drummer in The 88. I was born and raised in Van Nuys, California. Drums have been a part of my life from the time I was about two years old….
Posted: August 1, 2008
Adam Phillips and the 10 Commandments of Modern Drumming
Adam Phillips of the Architects lays down the 10 Commandments of Modern Drumming.
Posted: July 30, 2008
Donnie Yal of the Sammies
I, as you can read above, am Donnie Yale. I play drums in the NC band The Sammies. (NC is better b/c we are on top for all of you reading this in SC). Our sophomore album, Sandwich, is set for release on September 23….
Posted: July 23, 2008
Aaron R. Gillespie of Underoath
Drummer and tour blog of Aaron R. Gillespie of Underoath.
Posted: July 22, 2008
Dave McClain with Machine Head
Well, here we are again: Machine Head is out on the road and trekking across the US. We’re on about month 19 of the tour cycle for our new(est) album, The Blackening, with no end in sight. So that means things are pretty damn good in Machine Head-land these days….
Posted: July 18, 2008
Thomas Pridgen: Turning Bedlam Into Beats
Twenty-four year old Thomas Pridgen unleashes the most rabid drumming in recent memory on The Mars Volta’s The Bedlam In Goliath. Of course, the band’s fans have come to expect madness and mastery from the innovative Long Beach, California group…
Posted: June 28, 2008

Pat Petrillo: Smooth, Groovin'-And Proud Of It
Just returned from a clinic tour of the UK, my second in four months, and it went real well.
Posted: June 23, 2008
Aaron Pritchett’s Jayson Brinkworth
Hey everyone, Jayson Brinkworth here writing from Canada. If this magazine doesn't get you fired up about playing drums, you must not have a pulse!
Posted: June 23, 2008

Aaron Pritchett's Jayson Brinkworth
Hey everyone, Jayson Brinkworth here writing from Canada. If this magazine doesn't get you fired up about playing drums, you must not have a pulse!
Posted: June 20, 2008
Gene Hoglan
Drummer Gene Hoglan didn’t have much downtime after guitarist Devin Townsend put Strapping Young Lad on hiatus in early 2007. (continue reading)
Posted: June 19, 2008
Ed Toth on Tour with The Doobie Brothers
Hello, everyone, Ed Toth here, with the inside scoop on The Doobie Brothers' tour with Chicago. It's very exciting in that, for the encore, both bands will be on stage together playing each other's songs….
Posted: June 19, 2008
Paul Rucker of Street Dogs
So in case you just got here, here's the story so far. Started on a practice pad at ten learning Haskell W. Harr and Stick Control from Stan Pappas at the mall music store….
Posted: June 17, 2008
Steve Bolognese with Into Eternity
Hey, everybody! My name is Steve Bolognese, and I play drums with Into Eternity….
Posted: June 4, 2008
Jeremy Spencer of Five Finger Death Punch
We just finished our tour and we're back home for a few weeks before embarking on the Mayhem tour with Slipknot….
Posted: June 3, 2008
An Interview with Brian Reitzell
Though Brian Reitzell is known in some circles as a drummer first, he maintains a “second??? career as a film music producer, choosing and in many cases composing and recording soundtrack music to many of the most highly regarded films of the past several years, including Friday Night Lights, Stranger …
Posted: May 30, 2008
Aaron Solowoniuk of Billy Talent Tour Blog
It was the beginning of February, and I'd just shoveled my driveway for the second time when I got the message about a tour offer in April. “My Chemical Romance would like you to be main support during their final tour for The Black Parade.”
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: May 13, 2008
Wayne Proctor
Hi to all you Modern Drummer cyberspace visitors. My name is Wayne Proctor and I am from the U.K….
Posted: May 1, 2008
Chad Smith: Web Exclusive Interview
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith takes a much-needed rest—for a minute—and fills MD in on the many cool side projects he’s involved in…
Posted: April 22, 2008
Josh Dion of Lady Clown
If you've discovered Lady Clown, and their debut record First Lady Clown, you've discovered well-crafted songs, mind-racking yet flowing lyrics, screaming guitars, system-exploding bass noise, sensitive ballads, and a whole new edition to the New York indie scene that hopefully creates another brand of cool….
Posted: April 16, 2008
Mal Taylor of Your Vegas
‘Sup, guys! This is my very first blog for the Modern Drummer page but fingers crossed it won't be my last, so here goes….
Posted: March 4, 2008
Ryan Yerdon – Life On The Road With Puddle Of Mudd
My name is Ryan Yerdon, and I play with Puddle of Mudd. It’s been a crazy year for us Mudd kids. We’ve been touring since April ’07.
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: February 1, 2008
Ira Elliot: Caught in the Web
Nada Surf is one of the smartest, freshest-sounding rock bands of the past ten/fifteen years. And like they say, behind every brilliant band is an equally crafty drummer. Kit man Ira Elliot is as sharp as they get.
Posted: February 1, 2008
Frank Funaro Tour Blog
Happy New Year, fellow MD readers. I’m honored to have been asked to do a blog for MD Online, and I decided to go with a road-blog. I’m currently in rehearsals and pre-production for the next Cracker record….
Posted: January 30, 2008
Dylan Wissing
2007 was an extremely busy year for me. I played eighty-four shows in the Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New Orleans, with several recording projects and a zillion songwriting sessions and rehearsals….
Posted: December 1, 2007
Update: Roger Taylor
It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Nate “Danja??? Hills signed on to co-produce Duran Duran’s latest CD, Red Carpet Massacre. After all, the band—keyboardist Nick Rhodes, singer Simon Le Bon, bassist John Taylor, and drummer Roger Taylor (guitarist Andy Taylor decided to bow out …
Posted: November 10, 2007
LA Drummer/Instructor Pamela Manganaro
In 1989 Drum Workshop vice-president John Good asked me if I could throw a curve ball. “You bet,” I said. And that was my welcome into the DW family. I was now an official Drum Workshop artist, the quintessential symbol of a professional drummer who made it…
Posted: October 19, 2007
Reviews from MD Managing Editor Adam Budofsky
MD managing editor Adam B here again, sharing some of releases on high-rotation in the Budofsky home—and car—and office—and gym. That’s right, the music never stops, and this week I’ve been obsessing on some old-school and old-world sounds….
Posted: October 1, 2007
The Return of Double Drumming’s Greatest Hits
In the February 2007 issue of Modern Drummer, we ran a feature called “Double Drumming’s 25 Greatest Hits.??? At the time we asked MD readers to submit their own favorite double-drum performances, which we’d post online at a later date. Well, the time has arrived, double-drum fans—the floor is yours!
Posted: September 19, 2007
Carl Allen: Embracing the Journey
Soon after moving to the New York area in the early ’80s, Carl Allen landed a dream gig with post bop trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. That gig established the then nineteen-year-old drummer as a leading light among a select group of eager young musicians who were looking to breath new life …
Posted: July 1, 2007
Erin Tate: Web Exclusive Interview
Since their debut album in 2002, Minus The Bear have staked an undeniably unique place on the music map. The band’s brand-new third studio album, Planet Of Ice, sees their formidable mix of imaginative odd-time manipulation and mega-precise performances scaling even further heights….
Posted: June 15, 2007
Greg Saunier of Deerhoof
Deerhoof may be flirting more than ever with mainstream success, but its loose-limbed timekeeper isn’t about to start planning things now….
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: December 1, 2006
Athena Kottak
Kottak’s Athena is a very funny, tell-it-like-it-is, beautiful woman who kicks ass behind the drumkit. Born a few years after her famous sibling—Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee—Athena is a cancer survivor, a mom, and the wife of Jimmy Ratchitt. Athena says she knew she would marry Ratchitt—aka James Kottak, former Kingdom …
Posted: November 1, 2006
Xavier Muriel
MD Online spoke with the busy drummer mid-tour about what it’s been like going from rebuilding motorcycles to playing on hit records and sold out shows around the world….
Posted: September 5, 2006
Lee Crystal
Lee Crystal, drummer for Joan Jett & The Blackhearts from 1981 to 1986, is just a regular guy from Brooklyn–except that he’s so much cooler than the rest of us….
Posted: March 1, 2006
A Few Minutes With Rick Marotta
Rick Marotta is no stranger to MD readers. And he’s certainly familiar to anyone who’s had the pleasure to see him play or crack jokes while hosting Yamaha’s Groove All Star show….
Posted: February 1, 2006
Aaron Comess: On the Re-Formed Spin Doctors, His Early Influences, and His Many Outside Projects
In the early ’90s, The Spin Doctors burst onto the music scene with a fresh, funky rock sound that generated several hits and millions of record sales. The band graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and drummer Aaron Comess became one of the most talked-about drummers of the time, …
Posted: October 19, 2005
Mickey Curry
Not many people get to do exactly what they love and get paid for it – much less with two of the biggest artists in the world. Mickey Curry toured and recorded with Hall & Oates at the peak of their career, laying down a solid backbeat with perfect feel …
Posted: September 19, 2005
Mark Hudson
Mark Hudson has the coolest job in the world right now, because he gets to be in a band with a Beatle. The reason Mark became a musician [he started on drums] was because he wanted to be like his hero, Ringo Starr.
Posted: July 19, 2005
David Northrup
Growing up on a mix of R&B, pop, rock, and country, David Northrup, originally from Syracuse New York, moved south in the early ’90s playing sessions and gigging the Florida club scene. One of those gigs led him to meeting and working with ace session guitarist Les Dudek…
Posted: July 19, 2005
Steve Jordan Interview
Steve Jordan has accomplished more in his drumming career than he ever could have imagined. Of the big names he played with, a short list would include Ashford & Simpson, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, The Pretenders, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, David Sanborn, Tom Scott, …
Posted: July 19, 2005
Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee is in a great mood, and he has every reason to be. His new CD, appropriately titled Never A Dull Moment, has just been released, and it’s off the hook! We recently caught up with Tommy while preparing for his upcoming tour.
Posted: July 19, 2005
Trey Anastasio
MD Online caught up with Trey to get his thoughts on his new band, Oysterhead, and to gain some insight to the singular Stewart Copeland….
Posted: July 19, 2005
Zac Hanson
Storming out of Tulsa, Oklahoma with their major-label debut, Middle Of Nowhere, featuring the “Can’t get it out of my head” hit “MMMBop,” drummer Zac Hanson and his brothers Isaac and Taylor became the biggest-selling teen idols of 1997. Zac, only eleven years old at the time, found himself a …
Posted: May 19, 2005
Ned Brower of Rooney
I saw the California-based pop band Rooney perform live before I was familiar with their music. Besides featuring some very powerful, tasteful drumming, I found them to be extremely melodic, with hooks that stuck in my head for days after the show….
Posted: May 19, 2005
Tico Torres of Bon Jovi
The last time we spoke to Tico Torres (November 2000), Bon Jovi had just made a triumphant return to the limelight with its eighth album, Crush. That CD’s success brought their total album sales to over 90 million. In 2003, Bon Jovi will celebrate its twentieth year in the music …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Paul Allen
Paul Allen is very busy these days. The drummer began last year touring with first-season American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini and winner Kelly Clarkson, who went on to become one of the biggest stars of the year….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Brann Dailor of Mastodon
For Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor, playing in a band named after a huge prehistoric beast makes perfect sense. “When I’m performing or writing,” Dailor says, “I sometimes think, That definitely sounds like a Mastodon part.”
Posted: May 12, 2004
In The Loop With The Pros
With all of the samplers, prerecorded loops, and programmers in the studio, how much of what we hear today from a drummer is actual acoustic drums or electronics? MD asked some of the best “hired guns” in the business to comment on their current role and gear requirements in the …
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
Zach Lind of Jimmy Eat World
It’s ironic that Jimmy Eat World, one of indie rock’s front-runners (alongside peers like The Promise Ring and The Get Up Kids), a band that’s seen their fan base swell in exponential proportions in the past year, have never released a full-length album on an independent label. Unlike their contemporaries …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Chuck Comeau of Simple Plan
“I don’t want to let anyone down at the magazine, but I’m not a very technical drummer,” Chuck Comeau explains, while chatting it up with Modern Drummer in the posh lobby of the Westin New York hotel in Midtown Manhattan….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Paul Crosby of Saliva
Two-thousand-two was a wild ride for Memphis rockers Saliva-world tours, Grammy nomination, platinum sales of their 2001 debut Every Six Seconds, and vocalist Josey Scott singing co-lead with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger on “Hero,” the massive hit from Spiderman. When it rains, it pours….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Teddy Campbell
After working as drummer and musical director for 98′, Teddy Campbell was asked to join The Backstreet Boys band by Ricky Miner, who put both bands together.
Posted: May 12, 2004
Tom Hambridge
Tom Hambridge’s life has changed quite a bit over the last two years, since artist Susan Tedeschi asked the drummer to produce and play on her first record….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Billy Kilson
At a 1999 Birdland performance with The Dave Holland Quintet, Billy Kilson led band and audience in a rousing chorus of drum worship. Holland, one of jazz’s most celebrated bassists and composers, has played with all the innovators, from Tony and Elvin to Jack DeJohnette and Billy Higgins. So you …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Tre Cool: Update
By just looking at Tre Cool you can tell there’s a touch of the devil in him. Listening to Warning, the latest collection of tunes he and his Green Day cohorts put out in October, it’s obvious Beelzebub rears his horns once Cool gets behind the kit and the adrenaline …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Stewart Copeland: An Interview
A case can be made that Stewart Copeland is the single most influential drummer of the last twenty-plus years. A good case….
Posted: May 12, 2004
John Otto
Four years ago, when John Otto was first featured in Modern Drummer, the then twenty-three-year-old spoke with a wisdom and knowledge that belied his age….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Ryan Pope:
Gettin’ Down With The Get Up Kids
One of the factors that distinguishes this Kansas City quartet is its powerful but nimble drummer, Ryan Pope
Posted: May 12, 2004
Fabrizio Moretti of The Strokes
Watch twenty-three-year-old Fabrizio Moretti in action with The Strokes, and you’ll see an elegant simplicity, an economy of motion, and an almost machine-like precision. Read more…
Posted: May 12, 2004
Jeff Porcaro: A Tribute
Ten years after his passing, the drumming and music community still feels the loss of the studio giant.
Posted: May 12, 2004
Steven Drozd Interview
Like all the masters of psychedelic pop, The Flaming Lips blow your mind with the most ordinary of devices. These seem-to-be eccentrics, who’ve recently won a Grammy for the instrumental “Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon (Utopia Planitia),” are really just a bunch of hard-working regular guys, using modest tools: a …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Daniel Glass: Royal Crown Revue – Playing With Fire
Daniel Glass says leaving a major record label has had a lot of ramifications for Royal Crown Revue…
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: May 10, 2019

MD Podcast Episode 191: Marcus Gilmore, Moving Around the Kit With Jost Nickel, INDe Snare, and More
In this episode Mike and Mike discuss June 2019 cover artist Marcus Gilmore, who’s worked with many top jazz artists, including Chick Corea, Chris Potter, and Steve Coleman.
Posted: May 3, 2019

MD Podcast Episode 190: Louis Cole, the Pu-Du-Du Pattern, Barton Vintage Beech Drumset, and More
Mike and Mike crack open the June 2019 issue and discuss featured artist Louis Cole of the electro-funk band Knower and more!
Posted: October 6, 2017

Modern Drummer Podcast Episode 112: Green Day’s Tré Cool, Drum Hoops, Roland GO:MIXER, and More
In this episode, Mike and Mike discuss November 2017 cover artist Tré Cool of the pop-punk band Green Day.