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.
What You Need To Know About...Hand Drums
by Fran Azzarto It’s common for drumset players to be curious about hand drumming, and to eventually decide to buy their first set of bongos…or would congas be better…or perhaps a djembe? Modern Drummer’s sister publication, Drum Business, recently ran an…
Chris Dave To Release Solo Album, Tour With D’Angelo, and More
Drummer and producer Chris Dave has an ambitious year planned for 2012. Currently Chris is preparing for the release of his debut album as a leader, due later this year. Look for the drummer to take the reins with his…
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Van
This article originally ran in the October 2005 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. For access to all of the great editorial from MD’s first twenty-six years of publication, check out our Digital Archive. by Jon Wurster…
What You Need to Know About…Drum Thrones
by Billy Brennan The throne is the foundation of any player’s groove and is an incredibly important purchase for any prospective customer. As is a common theme in drum-related products, there’s no right or wrong choice—round versus saddle style, soft…
Mind Matters: The Drummer as Performer/Entertainer
The following is an excerpt from the Modern Drummer book Mind Matters: Overcoming Common Mental Barriers in Drumming, by Bernie Schallehn. The Drummer as Performer/Entertainer Q: I’ve been drumming with a band for the past five months, and the bandleader…
Josh Freese: How to Promote Yourself, and Other Insights
This article originally ran in the December 2009 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. 1. Think marketing. I made my latest record on my own dime. So I thought, How can I do something cool and interesting to make people…
25 Great Double-Drumming Tracks
This article originally ran in the February 2007 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. by Adam Budofsky Two drummers working it out, face to face—trading licks, contributing to a massive groove, spurring each other on—it’s one of the great musical…
Mastodon’s Brann Dailor on The Hunter: Change Is Good
by David Ciauro Perhaps the Mayans were right after all. The End of Days must be upon us when we live in a world that finds the Atlanta-based metal band Mastodon’s latest album, The Hunter, debuting on Billboard’s top…
Back Through The Stack Teddy Campbell
This article originally ran in the September 2005 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. For access to all of the great editorial from MD’s first twenty-six years of publication, check out our Digital Archive. by Billy Amendola Out of…
Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante The 2011 Big Four tour featuring Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax solidified Anthrax as both legends and prevailing lords of the mosh, and culminated in a profound hometown show on September 14 at Yankee Stadium. “I think everything…
13 Tons Of Heavy
A Baker’s Dozen Of The Best Hard Rock Albums Released Over The Past Year GOD DETHRONED UNDER THE SIGN OF THE IRON CROSS According to God Dethroned’s official website, the band called it quits following the release of this album,…
10 Indispensable Funk Albums
by Jeff Schaller One could argue that no music form highlights the drummer more than funk. The fat grooves, the dirty backbeats, the snap of a tight snare, the syncopated hits with a stellar horn section, the deep pocket against…
Teacher’s Forum: Don’t Give Up Too Soon
Our Job Isn’t Just to Turn Out Professional Musicians by Rick Mattingly As I look back over my years of private teaching, I am proud that several of my former students have been successful in pursuing music careers. Some majored…
Def Leppard’s Rick Allen: Perseverance
This article originally ran in the March 1988 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. For access to all of the great editorial from MD’s first twenty-six years of publication, check out our Digital Archive. “Perseverance. I guess that would be the…
