Feature Stories
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.
Steven Adler
Steven Adler is a larger-than-life personality, radiating childlike glee and an infectious warmth. All it took was a slight nudge from MD, and the former Guns n’ Roses drummer was off to the races. Here we present Adler undiluted, as…
Nate Smith
As a member of Dave Holland’s big band, quintet, and octet, Nate Smith holds, well, three of the most cherished gigs in jazz. Holland, a revered bass player who started his own musical quest with Miles Davis in the ’60s,…
The Cult’s John Tempesta
by Billy Brennan The September issue of Modern Drummer magazine features Cult drummer John Tempesta offering ten tips on navigating a journeyman career and growing as a drummer. Here he elaborates on those topics and talks about his…
20 CLASSIC PROG ALBUMS
Odd times, intergalactic themes, and more tom-toms. Rock drumming gets interesting. 1. King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) Crimson’s original drummer, Michael Giles, slays on this cornerstone of prog rock. Though he left the band…
Jamaican Crossover Hits
Jamaican rhythms have found a home on the rock and pop charts for decades. The ’70s and ’80s were especially good to ska, rocksteady, reggae, and associated rhythms, with American superstars such as Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder turning them…
In the Studio: Jamaican Drum Sounds
Jamaican Drum Sounds Quick Tips to Achieve Authentic Reggae-Style Tones by Michael Dawson and Gil Sharone The drum sounds employed in each subgenre of reggae are just as important to the overall vibe of the music as the distinctive grooves…
2012 Croatia International Drum Camp
The sixth annual Croatia Drum Camp will be held this August 5-12 at the Jeunesses Musicales International World Meeting Centre in Groznjan, Croatia. The picturesque backdrop of this 14th-century Mediterranean hilltop village overlooks sprawling vineyards surrounding the Adriatic Sea, making…
Of Gasoline & Groceries: Economic Survival Tips for the Working Drummer
by Bernie Schallehn The following article originally ran in the April 2009 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, which is available as a back issue. To find out what issues are currently available in digital form, go to the…
Encore: Max Roach Percussion Bitter Sweet
From the get-go the message is clear: Hang on, there’s no looking back. The ’60s have arrived. This 1961 Impulse Records session is explosive, iconoclastic, and seminally political, radiating both rage and transcendent elation. Those who still thought of Max…
R&B Drumming Legend Ray Lucas: Props From Peers
Ray Lucas is one of the unsung heroes of American music. An early accomplice of Jimi Hendrix, Lucas spent long hours jamming and performing on stage with the future guitar god. He also backed many of the top R&B and…
Influences: Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins
As Jane’s Addiction continues its successful Theatre of the Escapists tour, a new generation of fans is being hipped to the ecstatic tribal glam event that is a Jane’s show—and to the uniquely galloping drumming approach of Stephen Perkins. In…
Paul Motian: 1931-2011
He showed us new ways to think about jazz drumming. There will never be another like him. by Michael Parillo On a dark night at the Village Vanguard, the audience snakes slowly down the long staircase and settles in at…
New Gear For 2012! Highlights From Winter NAMM (S–Z)
by Billy Brennan Here are some of the coolest new products coming down the pipeline for 2012, all of which were on display at the annual Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, this past January. Sabian Sabian displayed each…
Pete Lockett’s Rajasthan Collaboration: Percussion Breakdown Featuring Gafoor Khan and Kutla Khan
World-renowned percussionist Pete Lockett recently travelled to Rajasthan, India, to get to the heart and soul of the Indian folk music tradition. The trip led to a series of collaborative performances throughout the country, as well as across Europe.…
