Drummers
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.
Dave King of The Bad Plus
Great musicians, regardless of style, should electrify and challenge. The Bad Plus’s Dave King achieves both goals on the trio’s fourth album, PROG. They create intricate improvisations from material as diverse as David Bowie’s “Life On Mars” and Rush’s “Tom…
Mark Zonder of Slavior
After spending over two decades performing in progressive metal acts such as Warlord and Fates Warning, Mark Zonder could be pigeonholed as a one-trick slammer. But if the recent self-titled release of his newest band Slavior is any indication, Zonder’s…
Ian Mosely of Marillion
After spending the past few years writing, recording, and mixing their fourteenth studio album, Marillion is back on the road to let the world hear Somewhere Else. As such, it means a resumption of percussive duties for their long-time drumming…
Mike Portnoy: In Constant "Progressive" Motion
by Mike Haid Mike Portnoy may very well be the hardest-working drummer in the business. His recent three-DVD set, In Constant Motion, which focuses on the past few Dream Theater releases, a slew of Mike’s side projects and tribute bands,…
Gavin Harrison: Displacing Rhythms In Cyberspace
It’s not as if Gavin Harrison needs to lurk on the Internet. He’s popular. You like him! On the strength of his books, DVDs (including the recent Hudson release, Rhythmic Horizons) and performances with UK progressive band Porcupine Tree, you…
Bill Bruford: Our Prog Forefather
by Ken Micallef Progressive rock’s evolution from its nascent days in London’s university halls and local clubs to stadium-filling global phenomenon has its roots in the tumultuous melting pot of 1960s rock and psychedelia. Upon the release of The Beatles’…
Virgil Donati
MD recently connected with drumming great Virgil Donati to catch up on his slew of current activities, including new CD and DVD releases, international touring, and his recent MD readers poll award for best clinician. We also asked Virg for…
Prog-Rock Master Drummer Pat Mastelotto On The Whats And Whys Of His Home Studio Arsenal
This month’s Modern Drummer features a Woodshed interview with drummer/“home recording enthusiast” Pat Mastelotto, of King Crimson, KTU, Mastica, TU, Tuner– basically, an unending succession of fascinating musical projects. Here’s Pat’s first-person description of the gear he keeps in his…
Stephen Flinn
Stephen Flinn spent the ’70s gigging in hard rock bands, and the ’80s immersed in honing his jazz technique. Today he considers himself an “avant-garde-ist.” Aside from the ambient, minimal, often Asian-flavored soundscapes found on Flinn’s latest recording, Square Circle,…
Ryland Steen: Diversify And Thrive
“It’s the most demanding drumming I’ve ever done,” says drummer Ryland Steen of his current gig in the Orange County–based ska-punk act Reel Big Fish. “It’s so much fun to be able to just go off and have it be…
Artimus Pyle: Venemous After Lynyrd Skynyrd
Artimus Pyle has recently released a solo album called Artimus Venomous, the first in what he promises to be a series that will include such titles as Artimus Harmonious and Artimus Dubious. The new album features self-written songs sung by…
Jason Bittner: What Drives The Beat Clinic Tour Diary
Jason Bittner What Drives The Beat Clinic Tour Diary, November 17–23, 2008 Hi, everyone out there in drum land, Jason Bittner here, recently returning home after completing my first ever U.S. clinic tour in support of my brand-new Hudson Music…
Josh Freese: Time Bandit
By Ken Micallef Time. Feel. Groove. Pulse. For many, these are illusive concepts with multiple meanings. Does a heavy metal drummer “feel” the pulse in the same way as a pop drummer? Does a punk drummer approach groove the same…
Morgan Rose: Resurrected
(September 2007 Issue) Morgan Rose uses the word “resurrected” when describing the current state of Sevendust, the band he co-founded over ten years ago. This time last year, the group’s then-record label disintegrated while barely into the promotional cycle for…