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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.
Session Percussionist Joe Lala Passes
Joe Lala, a busy session percussionist credited with having played on dozens of gold and platinum records, died on March 18 after a battle with cancer. Lala was born on November 3, 1947, in Florida, where he co-founded the band…
Chico Hamilton: 1921–2013
Jazz drummer Foreststorn “Chico” Hamilton died this past Monday at the age of ninety-two. Hamilton was notable for his refined approach to the drumset, which leaned more heavily on creative orchestrations than on flash, an approach that in the 1950s…
Jerry Gaskill of King’s X
Hey, Modern Drummer readers. It’s been a while. 2013 continues to be the light at the end of the tunnel year for me. 2013 also had me doing my first full King’s X shows since I died. In my last…
Renowned Fusion Drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson Passes
Ronald Shannon Jackson died at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, this past October 19. Jackson was a renowned drummer, composer, and bandleader who supported some of the giants of avant-garde jazz, including Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, and Albert Ayler.…
Former Twisted Sister/Dictators Drummer Rich Teeter Passes
Rich Teeter, who served in two New York hard rock institutions—Twisted Sister and the Dictators—passed away on April 10 following a battle with esophageal cancer. He was sixty-one. Teeter, who was also a twenty-plus-year employee at music retailer Sam…
