THE WORLD’S #1 DRUM RESOURCE NEW PRODUCTS FROM ADORO, RTOM, AND DDRUM TALKS PORCUPINE TREE AND PINEAPPLE THIEF LEARN FROM: CARMINE APPICE JOE FRANCO MIKE CLARKE PETER ERSKINE JULY 2022 MAMMOTH WVH’S WOLFGANG VAN HALEN AND GARRETT WHITLOCK JONATHAN PINSON WORKING WITH JAZZ LEGENDS MD’S READERS POLL CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY! SEE PAGE 79WELCOME TO RIDGELAND For nearly 40 years, Gretsch Drums have been hand-crafted in Ridgeland, South Carolina. It’s here that a team of dedicated artisans ensure that every drum delivers “That Great Gretsch Sound.” At nearly a half-inch thick, this stout shell made of maple, gum and poplar, features a hybrid bearing edge that combines the classic Gretsch 30º edge with an old-school Broadkaster-style roundover. The result is warm, full-bodied tone with plenty of attack. It’s available in 5"× 14" and 6½" × 14" shell sizes in any USA Custom finish. The Ridgeland, Born in the South and made to inspire. gretschdrums.com The Gretsch USA Custom Ridgeland Snare Drum30 WOLFGANG VAN HALEN AND GARRETT WHITLOCK Drummer-multi-instrumentalist Wolfgang Van Halen and his touring drummer Garrett Whitlock talk about their band Mammoth WVH, and what it’s like to have two drummers in a band. 40 JONATHAN PINSON The young jazz drummer talks about working with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Seal, his education at Berklee, and the many younger greats that he has been working with, such as Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington. 18 GAVIN HARRISON Gavin talks about the writing and recording of the new Porcupine Tree record Closure / Continuation, playing with Pineapple Thief, his unmistakable sound, English Drumming, and… architecture (?)Volume 46 • Number 7 Cover photo by Adam Taylor contents photos by Derrick Bremmer LESSONS 48 BASICS Billy Ashbaugh takes us through a set of topics that changed his early musical development, and his professional growth on the drums. 50 LESSON Mike Clarke gives his insight about jazz ride cymbal playing and comping. 52 JAZZ DRUMMERS WORKSHOP From Bob Moses’ influential book Drum Wisdom MD gets inside Bob’s concept of Resolution Points. 54 ROCK AND JAZZ CLINIC Joe Franco shares more insight from his classic book Double Bass Drumming. This time he shows us how to break up sixteenth note ideas with the bass drums. 56 ROCK PERSPECTIVES In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Carmine Appice Ultimate Realistic Rock, Modern Drummer is diving into sixteenth notes with Carmine. 62 TEACHER’S FORUM The worldwide ambassador of drumming, Dom Famularo discusses being in the moment, how to listen creatively, intensity, and what it means to be fully committed. 64 CREATIVE PERCUSSION CONTROLLERS Tony Verderosa talks to the groundbreaking hybrid drummer Maysun about sound design, electronics, building his “drum sets” and his unique approach to solo drumming. DEPARTMENTS EQUIPMENT 14 NEW AND NOTABLE New products from Adoro Silent Sticks, RTom, Paiste, Mapex, and Pearl. 17 PRODUCT CLOSE UP The new ddrum NIO self-contained pad-triggering system. DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CODE INSIDE 4 EDITORS OVERVIEW 6 KIT OF THE MONTH Michael “Squeak” Melusky’s DW Collectors Maple/Mahogany ”SS Saphire” drum kit. 8 JAZZ INSIGHTS Peter Erskine asks “Where am I Going?” And explains a different concept behind playing fills 12 HEALTH AND WELLNESS James Petercsak talks to us about the similarities between making improvements in the gym and the practice room, and the importance of technique. 72 NEXT GEN Drummer-comedian Josh Hamon talks about shaping his unique approach to comedy and drumming, and the interesting relationships between his two passions. 76 COLLECTORS CORNER Steve Smith’s 1987 Sonor Lite kit. 78 IN MEMORIAM Alan White- The legendary Yes drummer was about so much more than playing with Yes. 80 EYE CANDY We get up close and personal with Joey Kramer’s Nine Lives touring kit.Modern Drummer July 2022 4 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Billy Ashbaugh, Donn Bennett, Clayton Cameron, Bob Campbell, Peter Erskine, Dom Famularo, Bob Girouard, Mike Haid, Brian Hill, Nic Kubes, Daniel Laverde, Raghav Mehrotra, James Petercsak, Tony Verderosa MODERN DRUMMER magazine ( ISSN 0194-4533) is published monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc. , 1279 W. Palmetto Park Rd PO Box 276064 Boca Raton, FL 33427. PERIODICALS MAIL POSTAGE paid at Boca Raton, FL 33427 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2022 by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc. EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MODERN DRUMMER Publications, 1279 W. Palmetto Park Rd PO Box 276064 Boca Raton, FL 33427. info@moderndrummer.com Email: info@moderndrummer.com. MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photos but cannot assume responsibility for them. SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, 1279 W. Palmetto Park Rd PO Box 276064 Boca Raton, FL 33427. Change of address: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address and send to info@moderndrummer.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, 1279 W. Palmetto Park Rd PO Box 276064 Boca Raton, FL 33427. Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 41480017 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PO Box 875, Stn A, Windsor ON N9A 6P2 MEMBER: National Association of Music Merchants, Percussive Arts Society THE MD PRO PANEL/ADVISORY BOARD: Chris Adler, Carmine Appice, Kenny Aronoff, Bill Bachman, Eddie Bayers, Gregg Bissonette, Jason Bittner, Bill Bruford, Will Calhoun,Terri Lyne Carrington, Matt Chamberlain, Peter Erskine, Dom Famularo, Daniel Glass, Alex González, Danny Gottlieb, Benny Greb, Matt Halpern, Horacio Hernandez, Gerald Heyward, Taku Hirano, Jonathan Joseph, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Peter Magadini, Pat Mastelotto, Rod Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Carl Palmer, Stephen Perkins, Dafnis Prieto, Rich Redmond, Brian Reitzell, Jim Riley, Bobby Rondinelli, Antonio Sánchez, Cindy Blackman Santana, Chad Smith, Steve Smith, Todd Sucherman, Billy Ward, Kenny Washington, Dave Weckl, Paul Wertico, Dennis Wolfe Music Key MODERN DRUMMER ONLINE: www.moderndrummer.com Founder Ronald Spagnardi 1943–2003 Co-Founder Isabel Spagnardi Publisher/CEO David Frangioni CFO Carolina Frangioni President David Hakim Vice-President Ronnie Jimenez CTO Jason Mehler Senior Art Director Scott Bienstock Content Director Mark Griffith Editorial Michael Finkelstein Editorial Daniel “Ziggy” Laverde Digital Marketing Manager Ricardo Rodriguez Worldwide Education Dom Famularo Live Fom My Drum Room Podcast John DeChristopher Archivist Felipe Laverde @ModernDrummer @modern_drummer Subscribe today at moderndrummer.com/subscribe modern_drummer Modern Drummer Next Level Fresh on the heels of our well received Salute to Women in Drumming issue, Modern Drummer is stronger than ever! Whether you are an eager to learn developing drum student, an intermediate drummer playing in a band, a working pro, or a well-known drummer in the music world… We’re here for you. Modern Drummer is now featuring monthly detailed in-depth interviews with a wider range of drummers, extensive hotlinks directly leading to both informative and performance content and educational contributions from a great collection of contributing writers. In this issue alone we have lengthy and in-depth interviews with modern day progressive guru Gavin Harrison, drummer and bandleader Wolfgang Van Halen and his touring drummer Garrett Whitlock, young jazz phenom Jonathan Pinson, electronic groundbreaker Maysun, and drummer-comedian Josh Harmon. We are also featuring educational columns on jazz by Peter Erskine and Bob Moses, electronics by Tony Verderosa, drumming essentials and basics by Billy Ashbaugh and Dom Famularo, rock drumming by Carmine Appice and Joe Franco, the next generation of drummers by Raghav Mehrotra, and health and wellness by James Petercsak. If you are into famous drumsets and gear, this month we give you an up-close and personal look at Joey Kramer and Steve Smith’s famous drumsets, and information and reviews of new products by Adoro Silent Sticks, RTOM, Paiste, Mapex, Pearl, and ddrum. With new Modern Drummer digital issues every month, a new informative drummer’s portal featured on moderndrummer.com and a new podcast series; MD presents…Live from my Drum Room with John DeChristopher, MD’s digital footprint is always expanding. The extensive Modern Drummer Educational Multi-Media Library which includes titles from Carmine Appice, Joe Morello, Gary Chester, John Riley, Ron Spagnardi, Jonathan Joseph, Joe Franco, Bobby Rondinelli, Michael Lauren, Bob Moses, Joe Bergamini, the new Modern Drummer Legends series featuring Neil Peart, Alex Van Halen, Chad Smith, Danny Seraphine, Kenny Aronoff, Peter Erskine, Steve Smith, and many more global artists to come. Modern Drummer, the ultimate resource for all things drums, drumming and drummers, is committed to supporting and expanding the drumming community worldwide. Go to your drums, grab some sticks, and join the groove. Mark Griffith Editor-Director of ContentModern Drummer July 2022 6 Michael “Squeak” Melusky, DW Collector’s Series Maple/Mahogany This month Michael “Squeak” Melusky from Minersville, PA sends us pictures of his DW Collectors Maple/Mahoga- ny shell drum kit. Michael explains his kit, “I call it the SS Sapphire kit, SS for the Steve Smith and Todd Sucherman inspired configuration, Sapphire for the 80’s music tribute band I use it with. The band features 80’s era rock music that is perfect for such a large kit.” The kit utilizes a Gibraltar rack system designed to be stealth and easy to pack up. Thankfully, it goes into two road cases with minimal tear down. The bass drums have custom matching bass drum hoops with inlay, and also have MAY mounted Audix D6 microphones. Michael’s cymbals are Zildjian A and A Custom’s. He uses two Roland Samplers triggered from various pads. Michael has a personal IEM monitor rig with microphone splitters allowing him to mix himself and send stereo outs to FOH. The entire set is completed with a collapsible and movable riser. With a kit this size, the most important (and not pictured) part of the set is his trusted drum tech.month Michael “Squeak” Melusky from Minersville, PA sends us pictures of his DW Collectors Maple/Mahoga hell drum kit. Michael explains his kit, “I call it the SS Sapphire kit, SS for the Steve Smith and Todd Sucherman ired configuration, Sapphire for the 80’s music tribute band I use it with. The band features 80’s era rock ic that is perfect for such a large kit.” GEWA music USA, Inc. | 8787 Snouffer School Road | Gaithersburg, MD 20879 G 9 G 5 THE UPDATE - NATURAL, LIKE NEVER BEFORE! ACOUSTIC SOUNDS - DIGITAL New sound samples, redefined - They open up a new world of acoustic sounds. NATURAL PLAYING FEEL Redefined trigger settings, dynamics and polyphony. PERFORMANCE READY Sit down - start - experience ADVANCES Great new trigger presets gewadigitaldrums gewadigitaldrums gewadigitaldrums gewadrums.com //Next >