February 2022 – Volume 46 • Number 2

Reissue of Keith Moon’s “Pictures of Lily” Drum Set

Keith Moon’s original 1967 “Pictures of Lily” Premier drum set was not only visually stunning, it was also likely the first customized-graphic kit put into use by a major rock act. Premier’s in-house publication, Talking Drums, states that Moon approached…

Concentration

There is no way around it. If you want to succeed as a musician, you have to practice. It requires focus, drive, and concentration to turn your skill set from outstanding to legendary. That means removing distractions—all distractions—when you are…

Breaking Down “Lightning in a Bottle”

When I start the Summer Set’s “Lightning in a Bottle,” I like using the rim. In the recording, it sounds like there’s a hi-hat, but when I play it live, I change it up. I like to add ghost notes…

In the Pocket

Pocket Percussion Expands Its Groove At a time when many retailers are facing difficulties maintaining their businesses, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania’s Pocket Percussion is not simply surviving, but thriving in the challenging and crowed space of retail-drum shops. n 2019, owner/operator…

The Romantics Go Pink!

In 1980, the Romantics were riding a wave of success following the release of their smash hit, “What I Like About You.” The band was formed in 1977 in Detroit, and built a national following slugging it out in bars…

Protocol's Simon Phillips

While in Los Angeles, Simon Phillips uses this Tama Star kit, which is one of three setups he keeps in rotation.

Words Versus Nuts and Bolts

I’m literally happy to be sitting in the jazz-drumming-column chair for Modern Drummer. It’s a well-worn seat that I’ve occupied from time to time over the years. If I stand accused of being too wordy, well, then I plead “guilty…

Daniel Gollin’s Hodgepodge with History

Daniel Gollin has played in a lot of bands—Halfway to Gone, A Thousand Knives of Fire, 40 Pound Hound, and many more—and his kit salutes its owner’s musical mishmash by being comprised of bits and pieces. Some of those pieces…

A Bigger Boom

Producer Jacquire King on Reamping Drums Producer, audio engineer, and mixer Jacquire King is a multiple Grammy winner who has worked with Tom Waits, Buddy Guy, Kings of Leon, and many others. His commitment to crafting distinctive and idiosyncratic sounds…

A Salute to Modern Drummer Festival 2021

The year 2021 is behind us, and 2022 arrives with many hopeful wishes—as well as the second virtual festival in Modern Drummer’s history. We put together the 20th edition of the Modern Drummer Festival—albeit virtually for the first time—on September…

Ready for Our Close-Up!

Kits & Cymbals on Camera at the MD Festival So many amazing drummers contributed to our 21st Modern Drummer Festival. But they were not alone. The co-stars of the big show were the kits and cymbals used by the performers…

Kenny Aronoff

Excerpted from Modern Drummer Legends Vol. 5: Kenny Aronoff “Paper in Fire” John Cougar Mellencamp, The Lonesome Jubilee I always tried to come up with new innovative and creative drum parts for all of John’s songs. After the success of…

A Message of Hope

Ricky Byrd and Bob Stander Look Back at Creating Soundscapes for Sobering Times When Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Ricky Byrd released Sobering Times in 2020, it celebrated his own 30+ years of being clean and sober, while…

BONE Custom Drums

8.5x14 Carbcutter Snare BONE Custom Drums was founded by drummer Nejc Boskovic in 2005 after earning a degree in Composite Drum Shell Analysis from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering University in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Boskovic’s primary focus for research and development…

February 2022 - Volume 46 • Number 2

On the Road Roundtable

How Collective Soul’s Johnny Rabb, Better Than Ezra’s Michael Jerome, and Rich Scannella Approached Touring in the COVID Era This past summer, I played drums with Tonic, who were special guests on the Just Looking Around Tour with Collective Soul…

Gallery of Groove

Photos from the 2021 Modern Drummer Festival For the second year in a row, the global pandemic chased the Modern Drummer Festival to an online venue. But we were unbowed. Presented by the MD team and produced by Thom Mozloom’s…