February 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 2
Articles in February 2018
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…
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.
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…
Paul Wertico’s Turn the Beat Around
Paul Wertico long ago established himself as a creative force. He’s a drummer with excellent technique, great feel, and a strong sense of texture and color. But he also constantly makes observations, asks questions, and comes up with unique approaches…
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…
New Gear from SJC, OCDP, Protection Racket, Rhythm House Drums, DrumLite, and Black Swamp!
SJC Custom Drums Foundation Series Hardware The Foundation series of hardware offers professional-quality, heavy-duty stands and pedals. The X line features double-braced legs, gearless cymbal tilters, and hinged memory locks. The Flatline series includes double-braced flat-base cymbal stands. The six-piece,…
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.
Hendrix - Perfect Ply Series Drumset
A warmer and rounder-sounding 4-ply counterpart to the company’s hi-fi, snappy stave setups.
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…
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…
Elizabeth Goodfellow With Iron & Wine
The drummer, percussionist, and vocalist invigorates a seasoned indie artist’s new album and extensive back catalog.
Pearl Jam/Soundgarden Drummer Matt Cameron Enlists David Bowie’s Blackstar Drummer, Mark Guiliana, for His Latest Solo Album
Photo by Danny Clinch Matt Cameron may be widely known as the drummer with two iconic bands, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, but those who’ve followed his career closely know he’s also a multi-instrumentalist who occasionally releases music as a leader.…
JD McPherson’s Jason Smay
He might’ve had his sights set on a different musical path, but the skills he honed sure come in handy today, driving the tunes of one of the coolest roots rockers on the scene.
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…