News
Keep up to date with the drum world via news items, interviews, lists, and more
VAN HALEN’S ‘BALANCE’ EXPANDED EDITION CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH UNRELEASED TRACKS WITH MODERN DRUMMER LEGEND ALEX VAN HALEN
Rock fans and drummers alike have reason to celebrate this summer as Rhino Records announces the arrival of Van Halen’s “Balance (Expanded Edition)”—a deluxe reissue of the band’s multi-platinum 1995 classic. Landing August 15 on 2LP, 2CD, and Blu-ray, the…
Steve Smith & Vital Information NEW PERSPECTIVE 2025 East Coast Tour
Steve Smith & Vital Information featuring Steve Smith on drums, Manuel Valera on keyboards and Janek Gwizdala on bass, embark on an East Coast Tour starting Thursday, June 19 at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in Portsmouth, NH followed by…
German Jazz Prize 2025
The German Jazz Prize 2025 delivered more than a celebration of sonic artistry—it became a powerful reminder of the transformative role drummers play in pushing jazz forward. This year’s winners include two artists who have not only redefined the contours…
José Luis “Changuito” Quintana: The Eternal Pulse of Cuban Drumming
On June 6th, the world of music lost one of its most powerful voices. José Luis “Changuito” Quintana wasn’t just a master percussionist—he was the heartbeat of a generation, the visionary who reimagined how rhythm could tell stories, move bodies,…
Mike Portnoy Challenges Son Max to Learn Dream Theater’s “Honor Thy Father” on the Spot: Watch
Legendary drummer Mike Portnoy surprised his son Max by challenging him to learn and perform the Dream Theater song “Honor Thy Father” on the spot in a new Father’s Day video from the folks at Drumeo. Mike, who founded Dream…
Shane Hawkins Performs Taylor Hawkins’ Real Favorite Foo Fighters Song to Play: Watch
At a drum clinic in England, Shane Hawkins, the son of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, revealed that his dad’s favorite Foos song to play was actually the track “Low,” not the tune “Aurora,” as commonly suggested. Shane took…
Drummer Nic Collins (Phil Collins’ Son) Learns and Performs RUSH’s Epic “2112” Suite in One Sitting: Watch
The folks at Drumeo are putting Nic Collins through the wringer. First, they challenged him to play Opeth’s mammoth “Ghost of Perdition” as he heard it for the first time, and now they’ve made him learn and play RUSH’s absolutely…
EDDIE VEDDER AND EARTHLINGS, GREEN DAY AND HOZIER LEAD OHANA FESTIVAL 2025
ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES BY KINGS OF LEON, CAGE THE ELEPHANT, LEON BRIDGES, RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE, GARBAGE, WET LEG, AND MORE! SEPTEMBER 26 – SEPTEMBER 28 DOHENY STATE BEACH, DANA POINT, CA TEN CLUB PRESALE TUESDAY, APRIL 29 AT 10AM PT GENERAL…
Wolfgang Van Halen Breaks Down His Uncle Alex’s Drumming, Plays Van Halen Songs: Watch
Wolfgang Van Halen stopped by the Drumeo studio for a new video feature about his uncle, Alex, the drummer of Van Halen. In the 20-minute clip, Wolfgang opens up about his uncle’s legacy as a somewhat underrated facet of Van…
Foo Fighters Fire Drummer Josh Freese
Two years after tapping Josh Freese to replace the late Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters have parted ways with the veteran drummer. The news was broken by Freese himself on his social media accounts. Freese wrote the following on his Instagram…
Nic Collins (Phil Collins’ Son) Performs Opeth Song on Drums as He Hears It for First Time: Watch
Nic Collins, the son of the legendary Phil Collins and a very talented drummer in his own right, is the latest musician to be challenged by Drumeo to perform a song as he hears it for the first time. In…
SF Jazz
SF Jazz’s annual “Give the Drummer Some” took place April 10-13th. This four-day event was hosted by pianist Joe Warner, and took place in SF Jazz’s Joe Henderson Lab. Each night Warner and bassist Taurus Mateen played two sets of…
John Stamos Plays Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” on Drums as He Hears It for First Time: Watch
Actor John Stamos was challenged with playing Papa Roach’s signature song “Last Resort” on drums as he heard it for the first time, and the Full House star earned high praise for his efforts. Stamos took part in the latest…
Zak Starkey Reflects on Departure From The Who After Nearly 30 Years Behind the Kit
In a heartfelt message shared this week, longtime Who drummer Zak Starkey addressed his unexpected departure from the legendary rock band—a group he’s been associated with since the mid-1990s. The news comes as a shock to many fans, especially considering…
