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October 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 10

On May 12, 1963, Ringo Starr received a 5.5×14 oyster black pearl Ludwig Jazz Festival snare. This drum was seen and heard by millions of Beatles fans, and it became an object of obsession for many generations of drummers that followed. One of those drummers is historian Gary Astridge. Astridge—who wrote the piece on Ringo’s late-’60s maple five-piece kit on page 44 of this issue—idolized him in every way, from his playing style to the gear he used. Over the years, Gary has meticulously researched Ringo’s drumkits and assembled exact replicas of the ones used with the Beatles. He became a de facto expert. Gary said, “I realized that I had accumulated a lot of information that people didn’t know about, and I wanted to share it, so I created a website, RingosBeatleKits.com, in 2006. It became a blueprint for each of Ringo’s kits.” In 2012, Gary got a surprise […]
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Articles in October 2019

Rhythm! Discovery Center Ten-Year Anniversary

The Rhythm! Discovery Center, a gem of the drum and percussion world.

Story by Bob Campbell
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New Gear From 64 Audio, LP, Schagerl Drums, Tama, and More!

New Product Releases from 64 Audio, LP, Schagerl Drums, Tama, Air Throne, and Canopus

Modern Drummer
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Mastodon’s Brann Dailor on the Band’s Heavenly “Stairway to Nick John”

The drummer recently talked to MD to discuss the band’s heartfelt tribute to their longtime friend and manager.

by David Ciauro
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Ringo Starr's Maple Ludwig Hollywood Drumkit

As an iconic piece of rock ’n’ roll history, this kit has since been archived, documented, and refurbished, and it currently resides in custom road cases.

by Gary Astridge
Aug 26, 2019

Remembering Hal Blaine

He helped pave the way for every great studio musician who came out of L.A., and his influence extends to this very day.

Modern Drummer
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Louson Drums

The CajonTab is a small, flat, lightweight cajon you wear on a strap.

by Mark Parsons
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Theme for an “Imaginary” Drummer

To most, Corky Laing’s drumming is synonymous with the great heavy-rock band Mountain, and vice versa.

by Bob Girouard
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Woodland Percussion

Woodland Percussion originated as a summer project for company founder and mechanical engineer Allan Fausnaught. The goal was to build a snare entirely from scratch.

by Michael Dawson
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The 5/4 Half-Time Shuffle

For those of you who’ve never heard the coveted half-time shuffle, which is also commonly referred to as the Purdie shuffle,...

by Daniel Bédard
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Septuplet Linear Patterns

The most fun thing about linear concepts is that almost any pattern you play can be modified in multiple ways.

by Aaron Edgar
Aug 26, 2019

Inverted Paradiddle-Diddles

Rudiments can essentially be described as groupings of single and double strokes in different configurations and rhythms.

by Kristen Gleeson-Prata
Aug 26, 2019

Paiste 2002

Paiste’s 2002 series was introduced as a solution for heavy-hitting drummers on the burgeoning hard rock scene who demanded sturdier instruments with more powerful tones.

by Michael Dawson
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What's Your Favorite Hal Blaine Track?

Readers weigh on their favorite Hal Blaine tracks.

Modern Drummer
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Bruce Rowland

Bruce Rowland racked up numerous recording and touring credits through his extensive work in the pop, folk, blues-rock, and rock worlds.

by Will Romano
Aug 26, 2019

George Way Drums

Ronn Dunnett acquired the rights to the brand and set out to revive the company by building and expanding upon the innovations that Way created many years ago.

Michael Dawson
Aug 26, 2019

Zimbabwean “Tuku” Music

Combining the traditional Jit, Tsotsa, and other rhythms of Zimbabwe, the late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s style could only be defined as distinctly his own.

by Mark Powers
Aug 26, 2019

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin II was released on October 22, 1969. Although initially panned by some critics, the album became the band’s first number-one album.

by David Ciauro
Aug 26, 2019

Tony Williams at a Jazz Crossroads

During his years with Miles Davis, beginning in 1963 at age seventeen, Tony Williams radically changed jazz drumming.

by Jeff Potter
Aug 26, 2019
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Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters’ John Blease: Fearless with Intention

He’s played with likes of Seal, Ben Folds, the BBC Big Band, Sheryl Crow, and Ellie Goulding. But landing a gig with rock ’n’ roll legend Robert Plant nearly says it all.

by David Ciauro
Aug 26, 2019

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