interview
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.
Pete Lockett: The “Long-Term Student??? Clears Pathways to a Credible East-West Percussive Combination
Pete Lockett By Claudia Hansen by Mike Haid From Britain to Bombay, Pete Lockett is recognized as an international ambassador of world percussion. Lockett’s mastery of North and South Indian styles has earned him accolades and respect from…
Bobby Rondinelli
by Robert Girouard With a résumé that includes Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, and more recently, Mountain guitarist Leslie West and the Axel Rudi Pell Band, Bobby Rondinelli remains a mega-force in heavy-rock drumming. Bobby just…
John Demeski on Speed the Plough’s New Album, Now
by Adam Budofsky New Jersey indie group Speed the Plough’s first album in four years, Now, features the kit work of John Demeski. John is the son of one-time STP drummer Stanley Demeski, who some readers will recognize as…
El Ten Eleven’s Tim Fogarty
Tim Fogarty by Rozette Rago Drums, bass, or keys? Why not play all three at once? On post-rock instrumental duo El Ten Eleven’s newest record, Fast Forward, rhythmic backbone Tim Fogarty pushes the role of a drummer into uncharted territories…
Ben Koller on His Action-Packed Year With Converge and Beyond
Ben Koller has had his busiest gigging year in 2015, logging miles with Mutoid Man—which also released its Bleeder LP in June—as well as with Killer Be Killed and All Pigs Must Die. He’s also done two tours with the…
Drummer Stephen Chopek Discusses His New Solo Album, Things Moving on Their Own Together
Stephen Chopek (John Mayer, Charlie Hunter) recently released a solo album, Things Moving on Their Own Together. Modern Drummer caught up with the him to get the details. MD: The drumming, guitar, and vocals on Things Moving on Their…
Max and Mike Portnoy on the Making of Next to None’s A Light in the Dark
Progressive metal band Next to None’s debut album, A Light in the Dark, features Mike Portnoy’s son, Max, on drums. Here, father and son share their thoughts on the making of the album. MD: Max, surely there was…
Count Basie/Tony Bennett Drummer Harold Jones
by Robert Girouard Harold Jones is a marvel. While some people his age are already living in retirement homes, the seventy-five-year-old drummer is busy globe-hopping with another over-achieving American musical icon, Tony Bennett. Jones began his career in the early…
Evan Burrows of Wand on 1,000 Days
by Adam Budofsky A number of bands today are successfully exploring the intersection of psychedelic, pop, and garage-rock music. Australia’s Tame Impala and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Britain’s Wytches and Syd Arthur, and America’s Ty Segall…
Shaun Foist of Breaking Benjamin: Failure Was Never an Option
Prior to joining the revamped lineup of the hit alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin, Shaun Foist spent thirteen years immersing himself in all things drumming, including playing with Picture Me Broken, a band fronted by Gregg Allman’s daughter, Brooklyn Allman.…
Faith No More’s Mike Bordin Discusses Sol Invictus and His Hard-Hitting Playing Style
Photo: Ross Halfin by David Jarnstrom Any respectable list of the hardest-hitting drummers of all time simply must place Mike Bordin at or near the very top. Even at fifty-two years of age, the dude is an absolute warrior—an imposing…
On the Beat With Robert Garza of Shattered Sun: Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival Spotlight
How’s it going, Modern Drummer reader? My name is Robert Garza, and I play drums for a band called Shattered Sun out of Texas. We are a melodic metal band with thrash influences, as well as uplifting chorus, riffy guitars,…
Dave Elitch
Dave Elitch. Photo by Alex Solca. by Adam Budofsky The July issue of Modern Drummer magazine contains a feature on Antemasque’s heavyweight drummer, Dave Elitch. In this MD Online exclusive interview, Elitch elaborates on a number of topics covered…
Paul Weller’s Dynamic Drum Duo: Ben Gordelier and Steve Pilgrim
by David Jarnstrom British national treasure Paul Weller—front man of seminal mod-punkers the Jam and soul-infused new wavers the Style Council—is well into his fourth decade of making vital rock ’n’ roll records. And though he may be…
