On the beat
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.
On the Beat With Brandon Olander of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps: Worth the Hard Work
Hi, I’m Brandon Olander and a snare drummer for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. My passion for drum corps started when I was ten and happened upon a YouTube video of the BD drumline. I begged my parents…
On the Beat With Katie Herron of StarBenders: Reckless Punk and Classic Rock ’n’ Roll
Hi! My name is Katie Herron and I am the drummer in the glam punk ’n’ roll band, StarBenders. I was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama, affectionately known as the River City. The conservative nature of the South birthed…
On the Beat With Kurt Wubbenhorst of One Hundred Thousand: Breaking Through With Cohesiveness
Hi MD, I was fourteen when I sat behind a drumkit for the first time, and I had a mission. It wasn’t to play like my drum heroes—frankly, I didn’t have any yet. But I had songs, and I was…
On the Beat With Damon Grant: Fifteen Tips I Learned After Music School
This list is in no particular order, and they all should be number one because they are all important. Have fun and smile! People will hire you more if they like to be around you. Remember people’s names, because everyone…
On the Beat With Tamara Tadic of Conquer Divide: A One of a Kind Journey
Hi, I’m Tamara and I’ve been stuck to my drums for the past nine to ten years. Let me tell you how it all started; my journey to becoming a drummer is one of a kind. My story is actually…
On the Beat With Josh Eppard of Coheed and Cambria: When Did You Really Start Playing?
Hello Modern Drummer readers. Josh Eppard here. I thought I would touch upon a question we’ve all been asked a million times: “When did you start playing”? I would assume we all answer this with the age that we picked…
On the Beat With Jeff Mozingo and the Awaken Project: Saving Lives
Wow, what an honor to connect with the MD family and share what playing drums is allowing us to do to save lives. I’ve lived in the St. Louis area my entire life (go Cardinals!), and I’ve played drums since…
On the Beat With Frankie Valli’s Craig Pilo: Getting and Keeping the Gig
Hi, it’s been a few years since I checked in with Modern Drummer, so it’s really great to be back and punch in with fellow drummers and like-minded individuals to share a few ideas! I teach part time at the…
On the Beat With Sam Doyle of the Maccabees: Make It Your Own
Hi, Modern Drummer readers, Sam from the Maccabees here. I’m writing this from our studio as our fourth album, Marks To Prove It, is about to be released. While that brings a sense of trepidation about how it’s going to…
On the Beat With Rickie Mazzotta of mewithoutYou: Wisdom and Inspiration
Photo by Carly Hoskins Peaceful greetings to Modern Drummer and its readers, my name is Rickie Mazzotta and in case you don’t know who I am, here is a little bit about myself: I am a current and founding member…
On the Beat With Adam Argullin: Mallets and Motivating With Drums
Hey, Modern Drummer! This is Adam Argullin. It’s pretty surreal, but a great honor, to be writing for the MD website as I’m a longtime fan! I grew up in southwestern Kentucky, not far from Nashville. My first job as…
On the Beat With Ryan Meyer of Highly Suspect: Keep Your Buckets Full
Hi MD! I was born and raised on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and I grew up the youngest of three boys (my twin brother Rich, who plays bass is in the band, has me by eighteen minutes). Since I can remember,…
On the Beat With Les DeMerle: 2015 Amelia Island Jazz Festival
Hi, MD readers, drummer and Amelia Island Artistic Director Les DeMerle here and I’m excited to share all the information about the upcoming 2015 Amelia Island Jazz Festival (AIJF) that will be held October 4-11. Jazz guitar pioneer, Larry Coryell,…
On the Beat With Burn Halo’s John “Bad Bones??? Duarte: Talking Influences and New Album
Hey Modern Drummer readers! JD “Bad Bones” here, and it’s an honor to be a part of Modern Drummer magazine. It is true what they say—hard work and determination do pay off. As a young boy, drumming just came naturally…
