Ludwig Legacy cL assic

sabian Xs20s

dw Jazz series

roL and V-drums Lite

JOHN BONHAM

The World’s #1 Drum Magazine

moderndrummer.com

ALEX VAN HALEN

BUZZ PRODUCTS

™

His tHundering

rHy tHms remain FresH

Keeping eddie, woLF, and

diamond daVe up aLL nigHt

™

FEATURES

EQUIPMENT

ALEX VAN HALEN

Van Halen will never forget how to rock as long as

Alex Van Halen is behind the drums.

NEIL PEART

Still a master innovator of rock drumming.

NICKO MCBRAIN

Outside the box of metal drumming.

JOHN BONHAM >>

Nearly 30 years later, John Bonham’s crushing sound

is as fresh as ever.60

84

100

110

32Product close-uP

Ludwig Legacy Classic Kit

George Way 5x14 Studio Snare

Sabian “New Look” Xs20 Cymbals

Beato Pro 1 Hardware Bags

DW Jazz Series Kit

44electronic review

Roland HD-1 V-Drums Lite

50new and notable

WIN!PAGE 82

Prize Package Worth

$11,000

EDUCATION

80Off the RecORd

A

lex Van Halen: The Early Years by Ed Breckenfeld

126Jazz dRummeRs’ WORkshOp

Jazz 101: Swing Feel and Triplet Independence, Part I

b

y Dr. Sherrie Maricle

130stRictly technique

I

nvert Your Rudiments: Power of the Paradiddle

b

y Jim Riley

132latin sympOsium

R

elayed Time Shifting: Understanding African Feels

b

y Phil Maturano

134the funky Beat

S

tretch That Groove! Part II: Odd-Meter Permutations

b

y David Garibaldi

136dRum sOlOist

R

emembering Carlos Vega: On James Taylor’s Live Album

b

y Eric Novod

138cOncepts

T

he Master Musician: Loving Notes and Bearing Witness

b

y Billy Ward

140the JOBBing dRummeR

K

eeping the Skies Friendly: Drummer’s Guide to Air Travel

b

y Paul Wells

150taking caRe Of Business

B

ottom Line: Getting Your Worth as a Working Drummer

b

y Jeremy Hummel

152teacheRs’ fORum

B

uilding a Successful Teaching Practice Part III

b

y Robert P. Smith

DEPARTMENTS

10an editOR’s OveRvieW

N

ot Old...Just Older by Billy Amendola

12ReadeRs’ platfORm

16ask a pRO

S

teve Smith on Don’t Stop Believin’ - What’s On James Gadson’s

F

loor Tom? - Quick Beats: Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison

28it’s questiOnaBle

M

ystery Shaker/ Mallets - O

verhead Mic Placement - Cymbal Repair

174cRitique

178shOWcase

184dRum maRket

In

cluding Vintage Corner

186BackBeats

W

oodstick 2007, Carlos “Patato” Valdez in Memoriam

C

ascio Drumfest 2007, and more

192kit Of the mOnth

178

32174

the WORld’s #1 dRum magazine

6 Modern Drummer • April 2008

™

FEATURES

EQUIPMENT

ALEX VAN HALEN

Van Halen will never forget how to rock as long as

Alex Van Halen is behind the drums.

NEIL PEART

Still a master innovator of rock drumming.

NICKO MCBRAIN

Outside the box of metal drumming.

JOHN BONHAM >>

Nearly 30 years later, John Bonham’s crushing sound

is as fresh as ever.60

84

100

110

32Product close-uP

Ludwig Legacy Classic Kit

George Way 5x14 Studio Snare

Sabian “New Look” Xs20 Cymbals

Beato Pro 1 Hardware Bags

DW Jazz Series Kit

44electronic review

Roland HD-1 V-Drums Lite

50new and notable

WIN!PAGE 82

Prize Package Worth

$11,000

EDUCATION

80Off the RecORd

A

lex Van Halen: The Early Years by Ed Breckenfeld

126Jazz dRummeRs’ WORkshOp

Jazz 101: Swing Feel and Triplet Independence, Part I

b

y Dr. Sherrie Maricle

130stRictly technique

I

nvert Your Rudiments: Power of the Paradiddle

b

y Jim Riley

132latin sympOsium

R

elayed Time Shifting: Understanding African Feels

b

y Phil Maturano

134the funky Beat

S

tretch That Groove! Part II: Odd-Meter Permutations

b

y David Garibaldi

136dRum sOlOist

R

emembering Carlos Vega: On James Taylor’s Live Album

b

y Eric Novod

138cOncepts

T

he Master Musician: Loving Notes and Bearing Witness

b

y Billy Ward

140the JOBBing dRummeR

K

eeping the Skies Friendly: Drummer’s Guide to Air Travel

b

y Paul Wells

150taking caRe Of Business

B

ottom Line: Getting Your Worth as a Working Drummer

b

y Jeremy Hummel

152teacheRs’ fORum

B

uilding a Successful Teaching Practice Part III

b

y Robert P. Smith

DEPARTMENTS

10an editOR’s OveRvieW

N

ot Old...Just Older by Billy Amendola

12ReadeRs’ platfORm

16ask a pRO

S

teve Smith on Don’t Stop Believin’ - What’s On James Gadson’s

F

loor Tom? - Quick Beats: Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison

28it’s questiOnaBle

M

ystery Shaker/ Mallets - O

verhead Mic Placement - Cymbal Repair

174cRitique

178shOWcase

184dRum maRket

In

cluding Vintage Corner

186BackBeats

W

oodstick 2007, Carlos “Patato” Valdez in Memoriam

C

ascio Drumfest 2007, and more

192kit Of the mOnth

178

32174

the WORld’s #1 dRum magazine

6 Modern Drummer • April 2008

Bringing the Thunder

JOhnBonham

Describing the style of the late John Bonham’s

drumming instantly conjurs up visions of the thunderous power he created. His contributions to rock music were revolutionary, and his talent unmatched and irreplaceable. You can only imagine Jimmy Page’s reaction to first seeing him in 1968, ending his search for a new drummer to form a new band, the New Yardbirds (later renamed Led Zeppelin.)

A childhood friend of Robert Plant, they played together in the ‘Band of Joy’, resulting in local gigs and a few studio demos. At first, Bonham was reluctant to join the well-known guitarist because of a steady gig with Tim Rose. But... the rest of history...

As John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have all stated many times, Led Zeppelin wouldn’t have been half as good without him. Along with JPJ, they provided the solid foundation and backbone of the band, which made it all possible. Live performances truly

showcased his abilities during the numerous improvised jams throughout every concert and of course his famous “Moby Dick” drum solo; reaching a half-hour in length at times!

Immitators are usually left frustrated, since Bonham made it look so easy - not only in his playing but also in the incredible drum sound he acheived. His legendary right foot (on his bass pedal) and lightning-fast triplets were his instant trademark. He later refined his style from the hard skin-bashing approach to a more delicate wrist controlled one - which produced an even more powerful & louder sound with less effort.

His tragic passing on September 25th, 1980 immortalized his legacy forever. His only son, Jason proudly continues the tradition. Daughter Zoe also has a strong interest in music and is experimenting with her own original material. John’s sister Deborah is a highly acclaimed & talented singer.

Modern Drummer • April 2008 60

Bringing the Thunder

JOhnBonham

Describing the style of the late John Bonham’s

drumming instantly conjurs up visions of the thunderous power he created. His contributions to rock music were revolutionary, and his talent unmatched and irreplaceable. You can only imagine Jimmy Page’s reaction to first seeing him in 1968, ending his search for a new drummer to form a new band, the New Yardbirds (later renamed Led Zeppelin.)

A childhood friend of Robert Plant, they played together in the ‘Band of Joy’, resulting in local gigs and a few studio demos. At first, Bonham was reluctant to join the well-known guitarist because of a steady gig with Tim Rose. But... the rest of history...

As John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have all stated many times, Led Zeppelin wouldn’t have been half as good without him. Along with JPJ, they provided the solid foundation and backbone of the band, which made it all possible. Live performances truly

showcased his abilities during the numerous improvised jams throughout every concert and of course his famous “Moby Dick” drum solo; reaching a half-hour in length at times!

Immitators are usually left frustrated, since Bonham made it look so easy - not only in his playing but also in the incredible drum sound he acheived. His legendary right foot (on his bass pedal) and lightning-fast triplets were his instant trademark. He later refined his style from the hard skin-bashing approach to a more delicate wrist controlled one - which produced an even more powerful & louder sound with less effort.

His tragic passing on September 25th, 1980 immortalized his legacy forever. His only son, Jason proudly continues the tradition. Daughter Zoe also has a strong interest in music and is experimenting with her own original material. John’s sister Deborah is a highly acclaimed & talented singer.

Modern Drummer • April 2008 60

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Drumming in the Here and Now

Modern Drummer • April 2008 84

It’s been four years since the last Van Halen tour, but in their time the band has traveled a million miles. Van Halen has always been more of a pure rock ‘n’ roll act than anything else. Mega-hits like “Jump”, “Dance the NIght Away”, “Panama”, “Runnin’ with the Devil”, “Pretty Woman”, and “Hot for Teacher” are hardcore party anthems for a generation that ignored disco and punk. For those loyal fans, Van Halen constituted a rite of passage, a fun-loving band that partied as hard as they rocked-and their ability to rock was never in question.

As Eddie Van Halen strangled his guitar through all manner of hammering, slashing, and maniacal speedball eruptions, brother Alex laid down a bombastic groove of titanic proportions, typically on a colossal drumset fortified by double bass drums, Octobans, and percussion. And while he often cited Ginger Baker and Buddy Rich as seminal influences, Alex’s drumming was always larger than life, thrusting through Van Halen’s music with the energy of an angry tank, matching Eddie’s blitzkrieg style with equally assaultive note choices.

Practically joined at the hip to his brother Eddie, nephew Wolfgang, and David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen has finally returned to the road with the band that bears his name.

ALEX VAN HALEN

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Drumming in the Here and Now

Modern Drummer • April 2008 84

It’s been four years since the last Van Halen tour, but in their time the band has traveled a million miles. Van Halen has always been more of a pure rock ‘n’ roll act than anything else. Mega-hits like “Jump”, “Dance the NIght Away”, “Panama”, “Runnin’ with the Devil”, “Pretty Woman”, and “Hot for Teacher” are hardcore party anthems for a generation that ignored disco and punk. For those loyal fans, Van Halen constituted a rite of passage, a fun-loving band that partied as hard as they rocked-and their ability to rock was never in question.

As Eddie Van Halen strangled his guitar through all manner of hammering, slashing, and maniacal speedball eruptions, brother Alex laid down a bombastic groove of titanic proportions, typically on a colossal drumset fortified by double bass drums, Octobans, and percussion. And while he often cited Ginger Baker and Buddy Rich as seminal influences, Alex’s drumming was always larger than life, thrusting through Van Halen’s music with the energy of an angry tank, matching Eddie’s blitzkrieg style with equally assaultive note choices.

Practically joined at the hip to his brother Eddie, nephew Wolfgang, and David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen has finally returned to the road with the band that bears his name.

ALEX VAN HALEN

It starts with a relentless search to find the most

elegant finishes ever to grace a set of drums,

traveling the globe to uncover the most exqui-

site exotic woods we can find. Our passion is

combining the legendary Collector’s Series®

sound with nature’s paint job. Exotic veneer is

adhered to the full surface of the all-maple or

birch shell using the same heat-pressure

methods used on all Collector’s Series® shells.

�e shell will then be sanded smooth, lacquered

and buffed to a flawless, elegant finish.

Collector’s Series® Birch drums with Natural Lacquer over Twisted Walnut Exotic.

Collector’s Series®