April 2022 – Volume 46 • Number 4
Articles in April 2022
Sarah Thawer: Developing, Evolving
Sarah Thawer is not your typical drummer. Starting her unconventional music education at a very young age of two, she shaped her musical identity by combining her cultural roots with her extensive experience absorbing all the music around her—from Jazz…
Rick Rubin
The Legendary producer talks about Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Unlimited Love. Producer Rick Rubin is a modern music legend. He has produced the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Weezer, Metallica, Johnny Cash, The Dixie Chicks, The…
Innovative Percussion A7X Stick
This new addition to the Innovative Percussion roster of products certainly represents a real ambition for quality. The A7X Brooks Wackerman signature drumstick slides right into your hand quite comfortably, and clearly states its purpose for rock and metal drumming.…
“Essential Dialog” for Creative Percussion Controllers
This is where the journey begins… This is the first in a new series of articles exploring the creative use of percussion midi controllers. I was recently watching YouTube videos covering the history of electronic drumming. It’s amazing to see…
Evans Snare Tune-Up Kit (UV1 & Calftone)
The snare drum is a sensitive instrument. However, while cracking away one backbeat at a time, all the intricate parts that factor into one’s snare tone can often go forgotten. Overhauling your snare drum can be a lengthy, frustrating process.…
Majestic Percussion Releases Highly Anticipated Opus One Orchestral Snare Drum Series
Majestic Percussion announces the launch of the Opus One Orchestral Snare Drum series. Featuring the most desirable attributes of coveted vintage snare drums combined with modern design advancements, the new series was created over several years in collaboration with some…
Behind the Legends
Modern Drummer’s new series of LEGENDS books are a labor of love. They feature brand new interviews. Brand new transcriptions. Never before seen pictures. Digital downloads of rare recordings. Deep dives into equipment. And more… When else does a reader…
Past Masters of Rock... Absorb, Adapt & Adopt!
I have the incredible honor of interviewing some of the greatest musicians in the world on the YouTube channel, “The Sessions Panel.” The purpose is to capture the story of these great artists for future generations to learn and be…
Going to the Movies, with Peter Erskine
Scene 1: Jam session, rehearsal, or a gig. Bandleader’s Line: Let’s play “Green Dolphin Street” … and… Drums, how about you play an intro? Spot Quiz: A.) Do you ask, “How long?”B.) Do you ask, “What tempo?”C.) Do you ask,…
Transcriptions:
“Salute to Kareem,” Mother’s Milk; “Suck my Kiss,” Blood Sugar Sex Magik; “Breaking the Girl,” Blood Sugar Sex Magik;“Readymade,” Stadium Arcadium; “Dark Necessities,” The Getaway; In this month’s cover story and interview Chad Smith talks about R&B and funk drumming,…
Clayton Cameron
Tapping into, and brushing up, on Perfect Time We all first met Clayton Cameron several years ago. His career had brought him from manning the skins in the big band behind The Rat Pack and the legendary Sammy Davis Jr.…
Concepts for Beginners
This month’s article will focus on some monumental ideas that will help you quicken your growth as a drummer when first starting out. Some of these concepts were taught to me by my drum instructors when I was younger, and…
Martin Bulloch of Mogwai
As musicians, we’re all familiar with the expression “music is math.” This definitely rings true with the ever so calculated and melodically powerful Martin Bulloch, drummer for the much accoladed Glasgow based band, Mogwai. Martin’s precision to detail and musically…
The Muscle-Bound Myth and Weight Training for Drummers
If someone asked me to put together a list of non-negotiables – things I need to prioritize for my own well being - two activities would immediately come to mind: Drumming (obviously) and weight training. Drumming and training are a…
TnR Products Percussion Isolation Mounts Receive Fresh Branding To Match Improved Design
In the spirit of continuous improvement and better serving the drumming community, TnR Products is proud to announce design updates and the rebranding of their percussion isolation mounts as TnR TrueVibe. The snare stand isolation mounts have undergone subtle but…
Carter Beauford Replica Kit
April’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Hampton, Arkansas. It is Adam Parker’s Carter Beauford replica kit. Adam explains, “I have followed Carter’s kit every year since I was 14. Eventually I started replicating it because I loved…
Mapex Re-introduces the Venus Series Complete All-Inclusive Setup
The all-new Mapex Venus Series complete drum kit presents an all-inclusive setup for the first-time player ready to start the “Drummer for Life” adventure. As a global drum company with a 30 plus year reputation for manufacturing excellence and a…
Chad Smith’s Red Hot Chili Peppers Audition
I grew up in Detroit and moved out to California in August of 1988. Through a friend of a friend, I got the audition with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. My friend knew a girl who was dating John Frusciante.…
Introducing...
My name is Mark Griffith, I am a professional musician who happens to play drums. I tour, play locally, record, do clinics, masterclasses, teach, and I write. I started writing for Modern Drummer under Ron Spagnardi’s leadership 25 years ago,…
Sonor’s Steve Smith 30th Anniversary drumset
In 2007 Sonor drums created a limited-edition drumset to honor Steve Smith’s 30th anniversary as a Sonor artist. Steve has two such kits, one is stored in New Jersey for use on the East Coast, and one is stored at…