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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.
Nick Ruffini
What’s up, MD readers? I’m a New York City–based drummer, instructor, and speaker as well as the artist relations manager for Boso drumsticks. My lifelong journey of playing drums started at fifteen. From high school to college and beyond I…
Session Drummer/Programmer Steven Wolf
My name is Steven Wolf, although most people refer to me as just Wolf. I wear many musical hats, so you may know my name from any number of places. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a…
Sean Donaghy of Wild Rompit
Hi, Modern Drummer readers! My name is Sean Donaghy, and I am the drummer for Wild Rompit, a folk-inspired rock band out of Philadelphia. We recently released our CD Spirit Moves, so I thought I would talk about tracking drums…
Frank Godla of Meek Is Murder
Hey guys, Frank Godla here from the NYC band Meek is Murder. We’ve recently completed our second full-length album, Everything Is Awesome Nothing Matters, with producer Kurt Ballou (Converge) at Godcity Studio. Thinking back on the process is what led…
Johnnie Bolin of Black Oak Arkansas
I’ve been the drummer for Jim Dandy and Black Oak Arkansas for the past twenty-five years. I’ve been on the road with Jim Dandy and BOA promoting our new album, Back Thar and Over Yonder, which is on Atlantic Records.…
Jay Postones of TesseracT
So I’m currently sitting in our BandWagon at the largest truck stop in the world—Iowa 80. Today is a good day as it’s the first day of the tour that we’ve been able to wash our laundry, and believe me,…
La Voz’s Jason Gianni
I never thought I was a very good juggler. Even as an athletic kid and a budding musician, I never really achieved the timing and flow of how a series of balls or prop items can be thrown in the…
Nico Espinosa of Deaf Poets
Hello, MD! I’m Nico Espinosa, drummer for Miami-based indie-rock band the Deaf Poets. I am originally from Entre Rios, Argentina, but Miami has been my home for the last thirteen years. Drumming has been a part of my life ever…
Jonathan Ellinghaus with Blake Morgan
Hello, MD! Want to be a better drummer? Learn to play guitar. Want to be a great drummer? Start writing songs. In spite of what a lot of people would see as clear successes (consistent session work, lots of album…
Eve to Adam’s Alex Sassaris
Hey all you drum loving maniacs! I’m Alex Sassaris from the NYC rock band Eve to Adam. We are gearing up for the release of our fourth studio album, Locked and Loaded, which comes out September 17 through our label…
Shaun Gallant of Gallant Entertainment
Hello, readers. As a trained percussionist, I noticed after college that there were very few opportunities to perform on a drumline. I also figured that although marching percussion can fire up a crowd at high school and college sporting events,…
James Cassells of Asking Alexandria
For those of you who are unaware of who I am, I’m the stick man behind that notorious British metal group Asking Alexandria. I am kindly thankful to Modern Drummer for giving me the opportunity to write you to fill…
Andre Jevnik of the All Ways
Hey MD readers! I’m Andre Jevnik, and I am a twenty-year-old drummer from New York. I was the runner up in the Thomas Lang Big Drum Bonanza contest. Sure, I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t walk away with the…
Matt Traynor of blessthefall
Hi, I’m Matt Traynor, drummer of blessthefall. I have been rocking the skins since 2000, so it’s been thirteen years. I first started off idolizing Travis Barker of Blink 182, banging on tabletops with taped-up chopsticks. My first real drumkit…
