April 2022 – Volume 46 • Number 4

Going to the Movies, with Peter Erskine

Scene 1: Jam session, rehearsal, or a gig. Bandleader’s Line: Let’s play “Green Dolphin Street” … and… Drums, how about you play an intro? Spot Quiz: A.) Do you ask, “How long?”B.) Do you ask, “What tempo?”C.) Do you ask,…

Martin Bulloch of Mogwai

As musicians, we’re all familiar with the expression “music is math.” This definitely rings true with the ever so calculated and melodically powerful Martin Bulloch, drummer for the much accoladed Glasgow based band, Mogwai. Martin’s precision to detail and musically…

SABIAN Introduces HHX Anthology

Sabian has announced a new collection of cymbal designs to be added to their world famous HHX series of professional cymbals. Introducing HHX Anthology, a collaboration between the Master Artisans at Sabian and world-renowned musician Jojo Mayer. Developed over 3…

UNLIMITED CHAD

It’s becoming an annual event on my calendar. Chad Smith and I seem to talk every February. And since we talked last, Chad has been very busy. He has just recently completed another Ozzy Osbourne record, a new Eddie Vedder…

Majestic Percussion Releases Highly Anticipated Opus One Orchestral Snare Drum Series

Majestic Percussion announces the launch of the Opus One Orchestral Snare Drum series. Featuring the most desirable attributes of coveted vintage snare drums combined with modern design advancements, the new series was created over several years in collaboration with some…

Past Masters of Rock... Absorb, Adapt & Adopt!

I have the incredible honor of interviewing some of the greatest musicians in the world on the YouTube channel, “The Sessions Panel.” The purpose is to capture the story of these great artists for future generations to learn and be…

Mapex Re-introduces the Venus Series Complete All-Inclusive Setup

The all-new Mapex Venus Series complete drum kit presents an all-inclusive setup for the first-time player ready to start the “Drummer for Life” adventure. As a global drum company with a 30 plus year reputation for manufacturing excellence and a…

Introducing...

My name is Mark Griffith, I am a professional musician who happens to play drums. I tour, play locally, record, do clinics, masterclasses, teach, and I write. I started writing for Modern Drummer under Ron Spagnardi’s leadership 25 years ago,…

Rick Rubin

The Legendary producer talks about Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Unlimited Love. Producer Rick Rubin is a modern music legend. He has produced the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Weezer, Metallica, Johnny Cash, The Dixie Chicks, The…

Bob Moses Drum Wisdom: The 8/8 Concept

This month we will be begin exploring Bob Moses’ classic book called Drum Wisdom. In this book Bob explores the organic side of drumming with wonderful explanations of some of the most important ideas in playing music. We will begin…

“Essential Dialog” for Creative Percussion Controllers

This is where the journey begins… This is the first in a new series of articles exploring the creative use of percussion midi controllers. I was recently watching YouTube videos covering the history of electronic drumming. It’s amazing to see…

April 2022 - Volume 46 • Number 4

Sarah Thawer: Developing, Evolving

Sarah Thawer is not your typical drummer. Starting her unconventional music education at a very young age of two, she shaped her musical identity by combining her cultural roots with her extensive experience absorbing all the music around her—from Jazz…

Concepts for Beginners

This month’s article will focus on some monumental ideas that will help you quicken your growth as a drummer when first starting out. Some of these concepts were taught to me by my drum instructors when I was younger, and…

The Muscle-Bound Myth and Weight Training for Drummers

If someone asked me to put together a list of non-negotiables – things I need to prioritize for my own well being - two activities would immediately come to mind: Drumming (obviously) and weight training. Drumming and training are a…

Sonor’s Steve Smith 30th Anniversary drumset

In 2007 Sonor drums created a limited-edition drumset to honor Steve Smith’s 30th anniversary as a Sonor artist. Steve has two such kits, one is stored in New Jersey for use on the East Coast, and one is stored at…

Donn Bennett’s Drum Vault

“If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It” By 1979, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were starting to get somewhere. Their second album You’re Gonna Get It had earned the band a gold record and the band was preparing to record…

Behind the Legends

Modern Drummer’s new series of LEGENDS books are a labor of love. They feature brand new interviews. Brand new transcriptions. Never before seen pictures. Digital downloads of rare recordings. Deep dives into equipment. And more… When else does a reader…

Carter Beauford Replica Kit

April’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Hampton, Arkansas. It is Adam Parker’s Carter Beauford replica kit. Adam explains, “I have followed Carter’s kit every year since I was 14. Eventually I started replicating it because I loved…

Chad Smith’s Red Hot Chili Peppers Audition

I grew up in Detroit and moved out to California in August of 1988. Through a friend of a friend, I got the audition with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. My friend knew a girl who was dating John Frusciante.…