Update
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 Lombardo: Metal And The Unconscious State
by Ken Micallef When it comes to recording, sometimes less is more. And sometimes, less results in an out-of-body experience. That was the case for Dave Lombardo when recording Slayer’s new album, World Painted Blood. Paring back his Tama Artstar…
Stephen Perkins: Jane's Addiction
by Waleed Rashidi Talking with Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, you get that honest-to-goodness vibe that the Los Angeles–based rock musician’s life is way more than merely hitting the skins for the duration of a show or recording session. See,…
Benny Greb: Breaking Down The Language Of Drumming
by Michael Dawson German drum star Benny Greb has a lot to talk about these days. Not only has he been steadily climbing the ranks as one of the world’s premier clinicians–he’s been a huge hit at major industry events…
Ryan Van Poederooyen: Developing A Terror Syndrome
For the last few years, Vancouver native Ryan Van Poederooyen has been making an increasingly loud noise with Canadian prog metal masters The Devin Townsend Band. Indeed, his brutal power and precise metal chops have helped him reach the top…
Steve Smith: Head, Hands, Feet, And “Shoulders???
Hudson Music has recently released Steve Smith’s DVD Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, which Smith describes as “a detailed look at the drumming of some of the jazz giants who have helped create the vocabulary and concepts of drumming…
Steve "Froth" Frothingham: Not So Vintage Drummer
L.A. psychedelic revivalists Bigelf are so dedicated to accurately replicating the sound of ’70s European prog rock, they use vintage equipment exclusively. For drummer Steve “Froth” Frothingham, whose primary influence is Guy Evans of the British prog pioneers Van der…
Guns 'N' Roses' Bryan "Brain" Mantia
by Robin Tolleson Brain gets asked to do a lot of interesting things these days, like playing time on a wagon wheel while recording with Tom Waits in an abandoned country church, or keeping a drumkit set up for six…
Ryan Yerdon: Getting Animalistic
It turns out that Ryan Yerdon was once quite in touch with his sensitive side. Surprised? Well, before joining Puddle Of Mudd, which is famous for its ballsy, riff-laden rock epics, Yerdon played with the more indie-minded vocalist Carina Round,…
Mitch Mitchell: Drummers Weigh In
by Mark Griffith Mitch Mitchell was not alone in blending jazz and rock drumming styles, but he may have pushed the combo further than anyone who came before him. Whether you call it fusion, jazz-rock, or rock-jazz, Mitch’s playing–most notably…
Josh Garza: A Bonham Disciple Carves His Own Path
It’s one thing for a drummer to cite John Bonham as an influence, but it’s another thing entirely for his playing to actually channel the principal characteristics of Bonham’s distinctive sound. Josh Garza of NYC’s Secret Machines, who recently released…
Virgil Donati: Hellacious Drumming With Devil’s Slingshot And Beyond
When guitar god Tony MacAlpine was asked to tour Europe in 2007, he called on two of his former band mates from Steve Vai’s touring group, bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan and drumming superstar Virgil Donati. The shredsters quickly gelled, and…
Ronnie Vannucci: Killer With A Cause
by Ken Micallef Seeing as he’s from Las Vegas, the home of twenty-four-hour gambling, retina-freezing neon, and spontaneous wedding ceremonies, The Killers’ Ronnie Vannucci has a penchant for doing things–to quote a famous Vegas crooner–his way. A natural drummer…
Pete Best: The Original Beatle Grooves On New Solo Album
Pete Best, the original drummer for The Beatles, has returned to performing in recent years. He’s also just released his first-ever CD as a leader, Haymans Green, which will definitely remind you that he was once a Beatle. Best’s music…
Daniel Adair: Truth Or Dair
Nickelback owns rock radio. Over the past five years the band has sold more than twenty-six million records while garnering awards and top-ten singles faster then you can say “Oh Canada.” In addition, Nickelback has set records on Billboard…
