
Virgil Donati

RECORDINGS Between the Buried and Me Automata Part I The progressive metal veterans release their highly anticipated eighth full-length album. Drummer BLAKE RICHARDSON somehow takes it up a notch. Once again Blake Richardson’s fluent, musical playing is rendered brilliantly by producer Jamie King, a mainstay since Between the Buried and Me’s …

Drum enthusiasts from around the globe convened at the Glendale Civic Auditorium in Glendale, California, this past October 7 to check out informative clinics and a plethora of new and vintage drumming gear. The stellar performance lineup included Jason McGerr (Death Cab for Cutie), Jason Sutter (Cher, Dee Snider), Clayton …

Mitch Mitchell, J.J. Johnson, Shannon Forrest, Blake Richardson, David Garibaldi, Morgan Ågren, Abe Cunningham, Richard Stuverud, William F. Miller, Josh Garza, Virgil Donati, Rick Latham, Tucker Rule, Nir Z

Mike Portnoy, Bill Bruford, Chris Pennie, Nick D’Virgilio, Phil Collins, Dan Weiss, Gavin Harrison, Virgil Donati, Mark Zonder, Ian Mosley, Dave King, Pat Mastelotto, Aynsley Dunbar, Joey Jordison, Dom Famularo, Scott Rockenfield

Jeff Ballard, Rob Bourdon, Mitch Mitchell, Darren Pujalet, Clyde Stubblefield, Nathan Followill, Derek O’Brien, Ian Matthews, Chuck Tilley, Peter Erskine, Virgil Donati, Adam Topol, Tim Alexander

Steve Smith, Terry Bozzio, Simon Phillips, Gregg Bissonette, Louie Bellson, Dave Weckl, John Dolmayan, Bill Bruford, Thomas Lang, Tommy Aldridge, Mike Mangini, Horacio Hernandez, David Garibaldi, Virgil Donati, Carl Palmer, Paul Doucette, Gavin Harrison, George Rebelo, Duduka Da Fonseca, Jim Keltner, Terry Santiel, Walfredo Reyes Jr.

Spüg, Carlos Vega, Rodney Green, Daniel Freedman, Karriem Riggins, Ali Jackson, Carter Beauford, Tico Torres, Patty Schemel, Derek Roddy, Tris Imboden, Darren Lyons, J.D. Blair, Vinnie Colaiuta, Virgil Donati, Scott Rockenfield

Scott Phillips, Virgil Donati, Simon Phillips, Leon Parker, Danny Carey, Ryan Vikedal, Billy Ashbaugh, Dave Dunseath, Brian Tichy, Adam Pedretti, Matt Abts, Karsh Kale, Jon Wysocki, Gary Novak, John Blackwell, Bobby Rondinelli

Dave Weckl, Ginger Fish, Max Roach, Virgil Donati, Han Bennink, Zakir Hussain, Jack Gavin, Kevin Miller, Scott Rockenfield, Jon Christensen, Mark Zonder, Carlomango Araya, Paul Clarvis, Ron Spagnardi, Ed Breckenfeld, John Riley, Jennie Hoeft, Michael Miller, T. Bruce Wittet, Jeff Hamilton, Alan White, Zach Danziger

Adrian Young, Chad Sexton, Billy Cobham, Chet Doboe, Donny Brown, Phil Collins, Marc Quinones, Mike Portnoy, Travis Barker, J.D. Blair, TS Monk, Kenny Wolleson, Will Calhoun, Rod Morgenstein, Virgil Donati, John Tempesta, Narada Michael Walden

Virgil Donati, Ron Welty, Clem Burke, Ed Uribe, Rene Creemers, Matt Johnson, Nate Brown, Hamid Drake, Paul Culligan, Mel Brown, Rod Morgenstein, Chet Doboe, John Ramsay, Alan Dawson, Ted Bonar, Russ McKinnon, Lee Rudnicki, Ron Hefner, Roger Cohen, John “JR” Robinson, Bill Stewart, Ricky Lawson
Chad Sexton, Don Lombardi, Herb Brochstein, Roy Burns, Vic Firth, Ron Spagnardi, Virgil Donati, John Tempesta, Charlie Benante, Steve Gadd, Giovanni Hidalgo, Bill Stewart, Tony Royster Jr. , Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Paul Wertico, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Ferrone, Papa Jo Jones, Chad Smith, Mario Calire, Jeff Porcaro, Jason Bonham, Bun …

In this Issue: Phil Rudd, Alan White, Dave Rowntree, Phil Selway, Virgil Donati, Cesar Zuiderwijk, Rene Creemers, Mark Mondesir, Paul Lytton, Fredy Studer, Allan Holdsworth, Paco Sery, Reinhard Flatischler, Nelson Miller, Atsuko Yamano, Pierre Favre, Peter Erskine, Dave Abbruzzese
Posted: July 29, 2016

September 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Snarky Puppy’s Robert “Sput" Searight, Larnell Lewis, and Jason "JT" Thomas
See what’s in, and where to order, the September 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Snarky Puppy’s Robert “Sput??? Searight, Larnell Lewis, and Jason “JT??? Thomas
Posted: July 29, 2016
September 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Snarky Puppy’s Robert “Sput” Searight, Larnell Lewis, and Jason “JT” Thomas
See what’s in, and where to order, the September 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Snarky Puppy’s Robert “Sput??? Searight, Larnell Lewis, and Jason “JT??? Thomas
Posted: July 15, 2016
On the Beat With Mickael Walle Wahlgren of Cam: Putting In the Time
Hi MD readers! It is such a privilege to be writing for On the Beat. My name is Mickael Walle Wahlgren and I’m a drummer from Sweden. I moved to Los Angeles from Stockholm a year ago. In that time I’ve had the pleasure to play behind the artist Cam …
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: November 2, 2015
Dom Famularo’s Teachers List
Over the course of his forty-year career traveling the globe to teach, perform, and conduct clinics, Dom Famularo has interacted with some of the finest drummers and drum instructors in the world. The following list contains many of those names, organized by country/continent. If you’re looking for top-notch drum instruction, …
Posted: May 4, 2015
Thomas Lang Announces Big Drum Bonanza 2015
Drummer/producer Thomas Lang (stOrk/Paul Gilbert), has announced the Big Drum Bonanza 2015 (#BDB2015), which will take place July 1 through 5 at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks, California.
Posted: June 17, 2014
Virgil Donati Announces “In This Life??? US Tour
Renowned drummer and Pearl artist Virgil Donati recently announced the “In This Life??? US tour. The twelve-date event kicks off on July 12 at the legendary Baked Potato in Los Angeles, CA, and will make its way around the US for the following two weeks before coming to a close …
Posted: April 23, 2014
Thomas Lang Announces Big Drum Bonanza 2014
Drummer/producer Thomas Lang (stOrk/Paul Gilbert) has announced that the Big Drum Bonanza 2014 will take place July 2–6 at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks, California. Drummers of all ages, levels, and styles are invited to join Lang and other special guest instructors, including Chris Coleman (Stevie Wonder), Matt …
Posted: April 3, 2014
May 2014 Spotify Playlist
Welcome to the Spotify Playlist for the May 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine….
Posted: August 28, 2013
Andre Jevnik of the All Ways
I’m Andre Jevnik, and I am a twenty-year-old drummer from New York. I was the runner up in the Thomas Lang Big Drum Bonanza contest….
Posted: March 28, 2013
Second Annual Big Drum Bonanza
Drummer/producer Thomas Lang (stOrk, Paul Gilbert, John Wetton) has announced that the Big Drum Bonanza 2013 is scheduled for July 3 through 7 at the Drum Channel studios in Oxnard, CA and at the nearby Courtyard Marriot in Camarillo, CA….
Posted: June 15, 2012
2012 Croatia International Drum Camp
The sixth annual Croatia Drum Camp will be held this August 5-12 at the Jeunesses Musicales International World Meeting Centre in Groznjan, Croatia. The picturesque backdrop of this 14th-century Mediterranean hilltop village overlooks sprawling vineyards surrounding the Adriatic Sea, making the camp one of the most unusual and geographically attractive …
Posted: May 8, 2012
D’Arcus Curry, Angieszka Matusczak, and Karmi Santiago Announced as Winners of Hit Like A Girl 2012
The sponsors and supporters of “Hit Like A Girl 2012??? are proud to announce the winners of the first ever drumming contest for girls and women. (read more)
Posted: March 6, 2012
Back Through The Stack:
Simon Phillips, December 1986
This is an excerpt of an article that originally ran in the December1986 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
Posted: January 23, 2012
THOMAS LANG DEBUTS FIRST ANNUAL ‘BIG DRUM BONANZA’
JUNE 25TH – 29TH Unique 5-Day Music Education Camp Features Special Guest Instructors Including World Renowned Drummer Virgil Donati Acclaimed drummer Thomas Lang (stOrk/Asia/John Wetton), has announced the first annual Thomas Lang’s Big Drum Bonanza, scheduled for June 25th -29th at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. Drummers of …
Posted: October 14, 2011
Rick Steel
Hello, MD readers! It’s BooM (Rick Steel). I still remember the last time I spoke with Modern Drummer founder Ron Spagnardi. After receiving a copy of his latest drum book at the time, I called to thank him.
Posted: September 2, 2011
Double Bass Drum Freddom
by Virgil Donati
Donati’s advanced concepts open the rhythmic palette to an endless world of possibilities for the inspired student.
Posted: May 4, 2011
Mike Mangini of Dream Theater
by Mike HaidThe announcement that Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Mike Portnoy had left his longstanding position as the reigning king of prog-metal drumming with Dream Theater sent shockwaves through the drumming community. Who could replace such an iconic figure in such a legendary band? Could this be the end …
Posted: July 22, 2010
Giuseppe “Gypsy??? Capolupo of Haste The Day
My name is Giuseppe “Gypsy??? Capolupo, and I play for Indianapolis, Indiana–based metal-core band Haste The Day. What an honor it is to be featured on such a well-known website!
Posted: July 8, 2010
Andrea Vadrucci: Super Mario Bros. YouTube Video
Hey, what’s up, MD world! What a great honor to be here today! My name is Andrea Vadrucci (aka Vadrum), from Italy. Some of you might know me for my drumming videos on YouTube—the Super Mario Bros. theme, and classical-music drum arrangements. I would like to take this opportunity to …
Posted: February 19, 2009
Virgil Donati: Hellacious Drumming With Devil’s Slingshot And Beyond
When guitar god Tony MacAlpine was asked to tour Europe in 2007, he called on two of his former band mates from Steve Vai’s touring group, bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan and drumming superstar Virgil Donati.
Posted: December 18, 2008
Daniel Adair: Truth Or Dair
Nickelback owns rock radio. Over the past five years the band has sold more than twenty-six million records while garnering awards and top-ten singles faster then you can say “Oh Canada.???
Posted: January 16, 2008
Best Of ’07
I’m convinced that, ten years from now, we’re going to look back at 2007 as an unusually fertile time in music and in drumming.
Posted: November 4, 2007
Drummer/Leader Gunnar Waage
I started studying drums at the age of twelve, when my parents gave me permission to switch from the piano over to classical percussion at the conservatory….
Posted: August 16, 2007
Bill Bruford: Our Prog Forefather
Progressive rock’s evolution from its nascent days in London’s university halls and local clubs to stadium-filling global phenomenon has its roots in the tumultuous melting pot of 1960s rock and psychedelia.
Posted: August 16, 2007
Virgil Donati
MD recently connected with drumming great Virgil Donati to catch up on his slew of current activities, including new CD and DVD releases, international touring, and his recent MD readers poll award for best clinician….
Posted: April 17, 2007
Marco Minnemann: Beyond Chops
A new breed of drummer has emerged over the past decade. This elite group of international super-drummers has changed the face of drumming and raised the bar on speed, ambidextrous technique, soloing, stick tricks, multi-pedal coordination, and independence to levels that seem unimaginable to most drummers….
Posted: May 12, 2004
Thomas Lang
Thomas Lang was standing at the door of his dressing room, waiting to take his spot at the last Modern Drummer Festival Weekend. The thirty-four-year-old, Austrian-born drummer, now a resident of England, was an unknown quantity to this discriminating crowd. By rights, he ought to have been quaking in his …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Simon Phillips & Virgil Donati
Who better to produce and record the current king of progressive fusion drumming than one of the greatest double bass fusion drummers in history, someone who is also an experienced and proven recording engineer and producer? The idea made so much sense it was scary. So the date was set. …
Posted: April 10, 2020

MD Podcast Episode 238: Bottom Head Tuning, More Current Influences, Doc Sweeney Classic Series snares, and More
Mike and Mike dive deep into the extensive discography of modern prog-fusion master Virgil Donati. The education segment focuses on comparing real versus sampled drum tracks in pop music.
Posted: April 3, 2020

MD Podcast Episode 237: Live-Streaming Setups, Current Influences, Bucks County Prime Oak snares, and More
Mike and Mike dive deep into the extensive discography of modern prog-fusion master Virgil Donati. The education segment focuses on comparing real versus sampled drum tracks in pop music.
Posted: March 27, 2020

MD Podcast Episode 236: Tommy Harden, What is a Shuffle?, Online Teaching Basics, and More
Mike and Mike dive deep into the extensive discography of modern prog-fusion master Virgil Donati. The education segment focuses on comparing real versus sampled drum tracks in pop music.
Posted: March 20, 2020

MD Podcast Episode 235: Four-Stage Practice Method, Sugar Percussion Snare Comparison, and More
Mike and Mike dive deep into the extensive discography of modern prog-fusion master Virgil Donati. The education segment focuses on comparing real versus sampled drum tracks in pop music.
Posted: March 13, 2020

MD Podcast Episode 234: Virgil Donati, Real Vs. Sampled Tracks, Dream Earz DB-10X IEMs, and More
Mike and Mike dive deep into the extensive discography of modern prog-fusion master Virgil Donati. The education segment focuses on comparing real versus sampled drum tracks in pop music.