Drummer Blog
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.
On the Beat With Damon Grant: Fifteen Tips I Learned After Music School
This list is in no particular order, and they all should be number one because they are all important. Have fun and smile! People will hire you more if they like to be around you. Remember people’s names, because everyone…
On the Beat With Lee Allen of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band: Living the Funk Life
Yo! What’s happening MD readers! I’ve been a Modern Drummer reader since 1995. My name is Lee Allen and I’ve been recording and touring with the funk band Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band from Asheville, NC since 2009. We…
On the Beat With Sam Doyle of the Maccabees: Make It Your Own
Hi, Modern Drummer readers, Sam from the Maccabees here. I’m writing this from our studio as our fourth album, Marks To Prove It, is about to be released. While that brings a sense of trepidation about how it’s going to…
On the Beat With Rickie Mazzotta of mewithoutYou: Wisdom and Inspiration
Photo by Carly Hoskins Peaceful greetings to Modern Drummer and its readers, my name is Rickie Mazzotta and in case you don’t know who I am, here is a little bit about myself: I am a current and founding member…
On the Beat With Adam Argullin: Mallets and Motivating With Drums
Hey, Modern Drummer! This is Adam Argullin. It’s pretty surreal, but a great honor, to be writing for the MD website as I’m a longtime fan! I grew up in southwestern Kentucky, not far from Nashville. My first job as…
On the Beat With the University of Miami’s Steve Rucker
Hi, Modern Drummer readers! My name is Steve Rucker, and I’ve been the Director of Drumset Studies at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami for over thirty-five years. It’s been an awesome ride, and I’m honored…
On the Beat With Pete Parada of the Offspring: The Audition; Or, the Fine Art of Being Over Prepared
Hi MD, Pete here. We’ve all been there. Anyone who has ever held any kind of gig has had to go through some kind of audition. They can range anywhere from nerve-wracking to downright terrifying, depending on the situation. Auditions…
On the Beat With Matt Thompson of King Diamond: Mayhem Festival Dates
Hi! Matt Thompson from King Diamond here, and I’m very happy to be part of MD online! I’m happy to say that we are part of Mayhem this year, along with Slayer, Hellyeah, Whitechapel, and a bunch more, whom I’m…
On the Beat With Nate Arling of the Last Vegas and Urge Overkill: Top Ten Touring and Gigging Tips
Hi MD readers! My name is Nate Arling, and I live in Chicago, Illinois. I play drums in the Last Vegas and Urge Overkill. I also do studio work and have played 1,000-plus shows in fifteen-plus countries at clubs, garages,…
On the Beat With Journey Guitarist Neal Schon and Drummer Steve Smith: Discussing Neal’s Latest Solo Album, Vortex
Neal tells Modern Drummer, “What can I say—it’s Steve Smith! He is bombastic and very inventive on all the tracks. I do usually have a certain groove in my head and will usually hum it out to explain what I’m…
On the Beat With Muncie’s Anna Cucciardo: The Challenges of Touring With a Baby
My previous Modern Drummer blog told the tale of a pregnant drummer—eighty-three gigs across the country during the nine months that I had a tiny human developing inside of me. (You can check out that story here) Although it was…
On The Beat With Joe English of Secrets: Self-Taught Versus Taking Lessons
Joe English of Secrets; photo by Jeremy Silveira Hey, Modern Drummer readers! I’m Joe, the guy behind the kit for Secrets. With Secrets, I’ve been lucky enough to tour the world and record two albums I’m proud of (we just…
Drummer Blog: Top Canadian Drummer Jayson Brinkworth Checks In
Hello, all modern drummers out there! Jayson Brinkworth here, writing from Canada. I hope this finds you all grooving and inspired beyond belief these days. I am writing this while flying to my next gig, and I just finished the…
Drummer Blog: Hollis Brown’s Andrew Zehnal Shares his Story and Discusses New Record
Hollis Brown by Becky Yee Hello MD readers! My name is Andrew Zehnal, and I’m the drummer for the NYC band Hollis Brown. I’m super-excited to announce that our new record, 3 Shots, was released on May 5 on Jullian…
