February 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 2

Tony Newman

A true survivor, this swashbuckling British drummer brings tales from the golden age of rock ’n’ roll excess—and some of the heaviest performances of the era.

The Fundamentals of 3/4 Rock

Where to Play the Backbeat

Moeller Through the Chapin Lens

Examining Upstroke and Downstroke Mechanics

Dare to Drum

A recently released documentary shows what happens when an esteemed percussion ensemble, a famous rock drummer, a world-class symphony orchestra, and a somewhat cranky Mother Nature come together for a unique musical event.

Vater - Acorn Tip and Player’s Design Drumstick Additions

Uniquely shaped signature models and a classic-shaped bead for the most popular sizes.

Steve Nisbett of the Iconic Reggae Band Steel Pulse

Steel Pulse, featuring Steve “Grizzly” Nisbett, second from right   This story originally ran in the August 2012 issue of Modern Drummer.   He barely knew what to do with a reggae groove when he started his climb to the…

Exploring Five-Over-Three

Mastering a Difficult Grouping, Step by Step

Jim Eno of Spoon

For three consecutive nights during the 2017 South by Southwest conference, the Austin punk rock mecca Emo’s was temporarily christened Eno’s in honor of the headlining band’s drummer.

Led Zeppelin Experience’s Jason Bonham

Jason Bonham and his Led Zeppelin Experience band have been touring for the past year to celebrate an important anniversary. “It was forty years ago when Led Zeppelin toured the USA ,” says Jason, with a big smile. Jason has…

Two-Limb Patterns

Grooving Over Linear Ostinatos

Booker Stardrum

The drummer, who grew up in a household steeped in top-level twentieth-century classical music performance, has built up an impressive résumé featuring some of the most compelling experimental pop and rock groups of the past decade. He’s also released an…

James Cassells on Asking Alexandria’s Asking Alexandria

A little more than a year after reuniting with original lead singer Danny Worsnop, the genre-straddling heavy rock group Asking Alexandria released its fifth studio album this past December 15. Partly inspired by the reunion with Worsnop, the rested and…

Tailor-Made Top Hat

Chuck Riebling of Ellicott City, Maryland, started putting this kit together in 2004 after purchasing four blank maple Keller shells. He then brought the drums—a 10-ply 7x13 snare, 6-ply 8x12 and 14x14 toms, and a 10-ply 14x20 bass drum—to vintage…

Around and Around We Go

It’s hard to believe that we’ve already turned the corner toward another year, and Modern Drummer is celebrating forty-two years of publishing in 2018. While that pales in comparison to the 4.54 billion times this rock we live on has…

Led Zeppelin book, Carl Palmer DVD, Peter Erskine, Todd Sucherman, and more!

MULTIMEDIA Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs by Martin Popoff This survey of the legendary rock band’s studio albums falls short of getting to the heart of drummer John Bonham’s gifts, so let’s take the opportunity to paint…

DW - 5000 Series Lowboy Hi-Hat

A modernized throwback to the original sock cymbal.

Hendrix - Perfect Ply Series Drumset

A warmer and rounder-sounding 4-ply counterpart to the company’s hi-fi, snappy stave setups.

February 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 2

PROGPOWER USA XVIII

The Progressive-Metal Festival Heats Up in the Heart of Atlanta

Can Feel Be Taught, or Is It a Gift?

Can Feel Be Taught, or Is It a Gift? Unlike certain aspects of drumming, suchas timing, technique, and dynamics, developing a drummer’s sense of groove or feel can be somewhat of an ambiguous task. Even more obscuring is the debate…