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.
Ryan O’Keefe of Airbourne
G’day! I’m writing to you in the front lounge of our tour bus in Denver, Colorado. I have to be honest with you, I’ve always seen my role as a drummer as pretty simple—get up and do the best I…
Giann Rubio of Blue For Sin
Hello, fellow Modern Drummers! My name is Giann Rubio, and this is my first blog entry ever! I’m sure there are some of you who haven't heard of me, so I’ll bring you up to speed. I was born and…
Lou Caldarola of Kicksville
Hello, Modern Drummer readers. Lou Caldarola of Kicksville here. I wanted to take a moment to tell you all about our latest projects. We’ve just started working on The Singles—Season 3. Skope magazine gushed about The Singles—Season 1: “If you…
Keech Rainwater of Lonestar
Hey, everybody, my name is Keech Rainwater, and I’m from the country band Lonestar. I know, country music, right? Actually, we rock pretty hard and have been for the past eighteen years. I started out when I was about twelve…
Jen Ledger of Skillet
Hey, all! My name is Jen Ledger. I’m twenty years old, and I’ve been playing drums for the band Skillet since Jan 2008. Here’s a quick video of my drum setup. I tend to get a little goofy when the…
David Beck of Stealing Heather
I’ve always seen Modern Drummer as an organization with its finger on the pulse of the rhythmic world. As such, I was thrilled when they asked me to share my thoughts, and my story, with all of you. For those…
Donny Gruendler of Rhett Frazier Inc.
MD readers. It’s been a couple years since I’ve blogged, so I’ll reintroduce myself. My name is Donny Gruendler, and I am a Los Angeles–based drummer, producer, and tech head. During my formative years in Detroit, I learned to love…
Gunnar Waage: Drummer/Composer/Educator from Iceland
Hello, MD readers! It’s been a while since my last blog for Modern Drummer in 2007, so I think an update is in order. I’m a drummer/composer/educator living in Iceland. I’ve been running my own little conservatory here, and I’m…
Cupcakes Of Hank & Cupcakes
Hey, bangers around the world! I’m Cupcakes (that’s right), singer and drummer of raw-pop group Hank & Cupcakes. We arrived in New York a year and a half ago and have been playing pretty much non-stop ever since. We’re a…
Ben Shanbrom of Bushwhack
Greetings, Modern Drummer faithful! My name is Ben Shanbrom, and I play drums and (yikes!) sing in the progressive alt-metal band Bushwhack. I started annihilating pots and pans at the ripe age of two and proved too bad-ass for pre-school…
Laura Petracca of Hunter Valentine
Hello, Modern Drummer readers, this is Laura Petracca, the drummer from Hunter Valentine. Our new album, Lessons From The Late Night, was just released on May 11, and I’m itching to get back on the road and finally get a…
Kevin Hogle of 500 Miles To Memphis
What’s up, MD readers! Thanks for taking the time to read this blog entry, and a huge thanks to Modern Drummer for giving me the opportunity to do so! My name is Kevin Hogle, and I play in a band…
Billy Sullivan The Nature Of Existence
Hey to all the Modern Drummer readers out there. I thought I could drop you a quick note about something I think you’ll find interesting…I hope so, anyway. I started playing drums, like a lot of us do, at a…
Pat Gesualdo: Picking Up On Signs Of Frustration
There are many techniques to use when teaching drumming to special-needs students. When I train and certify drum instructors, doctors, and therapists in the Drum Therapy curriculum of the DAD Program, one of the most important things I stress is…
