May 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 5
Articles in May 2018
101 Drums - 5.5x14 Woodfiber Snare
Lightweight and weather-resistant shell with a big, robust sound.
Finding a Balance
Drummers often grapple with certain questions or problems that could be answered by simply finding the right balance between two choices. For example, a popular debate among drummers is the choice between using traditional or matched grip. Or some players…
Tune-Bot - Studio Digital Tuner
A more accurate, user-friendly, and feature-laden version of the groundbreaking digital drum tuner.
Yamaha - Tour Custom Drumset
An aptly named series designed to bring full, versatile tones to any stage and at an economical price.
The Elf’s Giant
For Eddie “the Elf” Piotrowski of Edison, New Jersey, it took more than ten years of collecting and assembling to build this month’s monster setup. Piotrowski explains that his extensive collection of individual drums and reclaimed sets, which includes a…
Bopworks - Drumsticks and Brushes
Faithful reproductions of classic models as well as contemporary designs with a vintage twist.
Ray Lucas and Frank Capp Remembered
Ray Lucas: 1939-2017 The loyal NYC drummer had the music in him. Ray Lucas was an unsung hero of the dynamic New York City R&B/soul scene of the ’60s and ’70s, recording with Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, George Benson, and…
Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III on the Sword’s Used Future
Monstrous grooves underlie heavy riffs and Black Sabbath–inspired melodies on the group’s latest release.
New Drum Gear from Tama, Remo, Rogers, Etymotic Research, Vic Firth and Ahead!
Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo Drumkit Tama’s new Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo features maple shells with black nickel hardware, die-cast hoops, and the aluminum Star-Cast mounting system. The 10x14 Duo snare drum doubles as a floor tom and an extra-deep snare. The…
Next to None’s Max Portnoy
Within the international drumming community, the name Portnoy is synonymous with progressive metal. Through his work with Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Flying Colors, Transatlantic, and, most recently, Sons of Apollo, Mike Portnoy has garnered every award and accolade imaginable…
Rod Morgenstein with the Dixie Dregs
The prog-rock flag bearers reunite their classic 1970s Free Fall lineup for a spring U.S. tour.
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…
What’s Your Favorite 1980s Metal or Hard Rock Drumming Album?
This month we dive into the third installment of our series on great ’80s drumming performances with a focus on metal and hard rock tracks. As usual we asked MD readers and social media followers for their take on the…
Travis Orbin on Silly String II
Exploring the Session Guru’s Latest Chop-Infused Labyrinth
Eric Clapton's Jamie Oldaker
After forty years, the famed Eric Clapton cohort’s career is coming full circle.
Smashing Pumpkins’ Jimmy Chamberlin
For the second incarnation of the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, as heard on its new album, The Parable, the mighty drummer, who came to prominence in the ’90s with the Smashing Pumpkins, gathered players from East and West Coasts to create…