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Virgil Donati : Modern Drummer

Virgil Donati






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Note: Some MD articles are only available in pdf format. Those articles do not appear in this list. Subscribers to Digital and All-Access can view every Modern Drummer issue in their available formats. Browse all MD issues from our archive here.
May 2018:
Terri Lyne Carrington with Lewis Porter, Blake Richardson with Between the Buried and Me, Virgil Donati with IceFish, and More!

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 …


March 2018:
The 2017 Hollywood Custom and Vintage Drum Show

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 …


April 2009:
April 2009 – Volume 33 • Number 4

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


October 2007:
October 2007 – Volume 31 • Number 10

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


July 2007:
July 2007 – Volume 31 • Number 7

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


May 2003:
May 2003 – Volume 27 • Number 5

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.


February 2003:
February 2003 – Volume 27 • Number 2

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


March 2002:
March 2002 – Volume 26 • Number 3

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


March 2001:
March 2001 – Volume 25 • Number 3

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


December 1999:
December 1999 – Volume 23 • Number 12

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


June 1999:
June 1999 – Volume 23 • Number 6

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


October 1997:
October 1997 – Volume 21 • Number 10

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 …


August 1996:
August 1996 – Volume 20 • Number 8

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
Category: Drummers, Featured, Issues, News, News and Events
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

Category: Drummers, Featured, Issues, News, News and Events
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

Category: Drummers, On the Beat
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

Category: Clinics and Events, Drummers, News, News and Events
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

Category: Feature Stories
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

Category: News, News and Events
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

Category: Clinics and Events, Drummers, News, News and Events
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

Category: Clinics and Events, Drummers, News, News and Events
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

Category: Feature Stories, Multimedia, Spotify Playlists
May 2014 Spotify Playlist

Welcome to the Spotify Playlist for the May 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine….


Posted: August 28, 2013

Category: Drummers, On the Beat
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

Category: Clinics and Events, News, News and Events
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

Category: Feature Stories
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

Category: News, News and Events
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

Category: Back Through the Stack, Drummers, Feature Stories
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

Category: Clinics and Events, Drummers, News and Events
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

Category: Drummers, On the Beat
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

Category: Book Review, Drummers, Reviews
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

Category: Drummers, On the Beat
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

Category: Drummers, On the Beat
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

Category: Drummers, On the Beat
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

Category: Drummers, Feature Stories, Update
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

Category: Drummers, Feature Stories, Update
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

Category: Feature Stories
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

Category: Drummers, On the Beat
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

Category: Drummers, Feature Stories
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

Category: Drummers, Feature Stories, Update
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

Category: Drummers, Feature Stories
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

Category: Drummers, Feature Stories, Update
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

Category: Drummers, Feature Stories
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

Modern Drummer Podcast
Category: Mike and Mike Podcast, Multimedia, Podcasts
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

Modern Drummer Podcast
Category: Mike and Mike Podcast, Multimedia, Podcasts
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

Modern Drummer Podcast
Category: Mike and Mike Podcast, Multimedia, Podcasts
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

Modern Drummer Podcast
Category: Mike and Mike Podcast, Multimedia, Podcasts
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

Modern Drummer Podcast
Category: Mike and Mike Podcast, Multimedia, Podcasts
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.