blogs
Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Just Kait — Multi-instrumentalist/songwriter
Multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Just Kait was discovered by MTV after winning a contest for creating a new theme song for the hit reality show Parental Control. Though Kait performs out front with her band, which is currently on tour, the eighteen-year-old Kait…
Adam O’Rourke of 2cents
Hello, MD! I knew I first wanted to play drums when I saw Animal from the Muppets. He knew what it was all about—crush, kill, and destroy. My first drumkit was a Muppet Babies set. I was four and my…
Josh Hetrick of Candlelight Red
Hi MD! This past July 29, at the First Niagra Pavilion in Burgettstown, PA, Candlelight Red had the opportunity to open for Kiss. All I can say is, opening up for Kiss and sharing the same stage on was exhilarating,…
Kevin Figueiredo of Extreme
Hey, everyone, my name in Kevin Figueiredo, and I am the drummer for Extreme. I’ve been playing drums professionally for the past fifteen years, and my main influences include John Henry Bonham, David Garibaldi, Dennis Chambers, and Dave Grohl, among…
Bell Gardens’ Charlie Woodburn
Hello, Modern Drummer readers! I’m Charlie Woodburn, and I am a session drummer in Los Angeles, California. First, I would like to say thank you to Modern Drummer for letting me add to the blog because I have been reading…
Allison Miller: Shape-Shifter, Bridge-Builder
Allison Miller began her drumming journey early, studying with top Washington D.C. teacher Walter Salb as a youngster and being featured in Downbeat magazine’s Up And Coming section in 1991 as a teenager. After graduating from West Virginia University with…
Daniel Crean of Semi Precious Weapons
My name is Daniel Crean. I was born beside a train station. All my clothes are stolen. These truths factor in to why I play really loud. To get ready for my shows, I drink and pretend Danny Richmond just…
Derek Roddy: Blast Beat Master
Many metal drummers are known for having wicked double bass technique and lightning-fast hands. A quick scan of Derek Roddy’s videos on YouTube reveals a drummer whose technical mastery and creativity transcend metal stereotypes. Roddy makes ridiculously complex patterns look…
Justin Salinas of the Word Alive
Hey, MD readers, Justin Salinas from the Word Alive here! I’m currently secluded in my bunk in the back of our bus, writing up a blog while on one of the many long drives on the Vans Warped Tour. We…
Sterling Campbell: Covering It All, From The B-52’s To Bowie
Sterling Campbell has been playing drums since he was eleven, the youngest of six boys in a household where everything from Stevie Wonder and Chicago to Elton John and Led Zeppelin could be heard—and appreciated—at any time. He graduated from…
Mayhem Week! Art Cruz of Winds Of Plague
Week two of Mayhem is in the books. Last week we were on our way to Las Vegas, Nevada, to play an off-date show with our bus mates, Shadows Fall, when Jeff the bus driver had to pull over because…
Mayhem Week! Jeff Fabb of In This Moment
It’s fun being on a metal tour—most of the bands on Mayhem this year we’ve toured with in the past, and it’s great to see them again. The heat early in the tour was brutal—the sunscreen I put on my…
Richard Chadwick of Hawkwind
Hi pot-patters, I am Richard Chadwick, Hawkwind’s drummer for the past twenty-odd years, putting these words into your eyes. We’ve just gotten back from playing two festivals, one in Germany—Burg Hertzberg—and one in England—GuilFest. I love festivals. They’re the reason…
Mayhem Week! Chris Raines of Norma Jean
Hey, everyone! The 2010 Mayhem Festival is going by way too fast. We’re playing the Silver Star Stage with Atreyu, In This Moment, Winds Of Plague, and 3 Inches Of Blood. Everyone is super cool, and we’ve had amazing shows…
