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.
John Convertino on Calexico’s The Thread That Keeps Us
A presidential election, a trip west to the coast, and an immersion in nature invigorate the indie mainstay’s latest foray into Tex-Mex-infused Americana bliss.
Marty Beller With They Might Be Giants
The drummer and composer stokes an already roaring blaze underneath a raucous group’s latest worldwide trek.
Remembering Ben Riley, Frank Capp, Grady Tate, and Chuck Blackwell.
Ben Riley This past November 18, the American jazz-drumming great Ben Riley passed away at the age of eighty-four. A brief list of Riley’s credits includes Alice Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Barron, the New…
Ulysses Owens Jr.
During his long tenures with the jazz stars Christian McBride and Kurt Elling, Ulysses Owens Jr. aspired to build his own standing as a leader. The dazzling and seriously swinging drummer has taken another strong stride in that direction on…
Around and Around We Go
It’s hard to believe that we’ve already turned the corner toward another year, and Modern Drummer is celebrating forty-two years of publishing in 2018. While that pales in comparison to the 4.54 billion times this rock we live on has…
The 2017 Hollywood Custom and Vintage Drum Show
Drum enthusiasts from around the globe convened at the Glendale Civic Auditorium in Glendale, California, this past October 7 to check out informative clinics and a plethora of new and vintage drumming gear. The stellar performance lineup included Jason McGerr…
Denny Carmassi
It was a move that surprised some observers. Native San Franciscan Denny Carmassi was selected in May of 1982 to replace seven-year veteran Michael Derosier as drummer for the Seattle-based rock group, Heart. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO…
Fred Below — Magic Maker
Sometimes it seems as if people have more regard for classic "things" than they do for classic people. An antique Radio King snare drum, an antique K. Zildjian cymbal and a Billy Glad stone drumset would illicit floods of adulation…
A Slingerland Unmasked
After purchasing and restoring the 1950s Slingerland bass drum pictured in this month’s featured kit, Marc Membreno was overtaken by the urge to flesh out the setup with other vintage Slingerland tubs. “I started with a 1958 blue sparkle bass…
Trying Easy
Some years ago in New York, during my studies with RUDI (Swami Rudrananda), one of the students made the following comment: “I am really trying hard, but I am not improving.” RUDI replied, “You must learn to try easy.” We…
M'Boom
When two or more drummers get together, traditionally, it's a battle. Or is it? What about in Africa, where a great deal of the music is performed by large drum ensembles, in which each member has a specific part to…
Dr. Ralph LaFemina Exploring New Directions
The fact that Dr. Ralph LaFemina was never a performer in the big leagues of music, or that he's a practicing psychologist rather than a full-time musician, does not detract from his contribution to drumming. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
Rufus "Speedy" Jones
Jazz has often been called the true American classical music, finding its most immediate roots in the blues. Although the blues sang out against physical hardship and mental depression, its simple, haunting rhythms would most always convey a jubilance and…
