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CCOONNTTEENTNSTS Volume 41 • Number 6
Cover and Contents photos by Alex Solca
FEATURES
24 GRAND FUNK RAILROAD’S DON BREWER
Back in the ’70s he was known as one of the
hardest-hitting players in rock. And you know
what? He still is.
by Bob Girouard
26 POISON’S RIKKI ROCKETT
The notorious glam-rock drummer tackles ad-
versity and storms back in front of the masses.
by Patrick Berkery
40 RIVAL SONS’ MICHAEL MILEY
After logging thousands of miles opening for
legends like Deep Purple and Black Sabbath,
the drummer and his bandmates are poised for
massive success.
by Ken Micallef
46 REASONS TO LOVE: ROGER HAWKINS
As a member of the famed Muscle Shoals
Rhythm Section, he laid down tracks with
28 Anika Nilles a spontaneity and exhilarating groove that
repeatedly made music history.
by Jeff Potter
“I got all this attention on YouTube, but it took me two
years to understand what was happening. I was look- 48 A DIFFERENT VIEW: RUSS TITELMAN
ing for a title that described that experience.” The man at the helm of classic recordings by
Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, and many others
takes us inside the making of a hit.
A German drummer unexpectedly fi nds her mojo online, becomes a star
by Billy Amendola
overnight, and uses her debut album to work out what it all means.
by Michael Dawson
LESSONS EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENTS
54 Basics 16 Product Close-Up 8 An Editor’s Overview
Hi-Hat Splashes Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Series MD Archive Online
Spicing Up Your Backbeats Vic Firth Modern Jazz Collection by Michael Dawson
by Rich Redmond Brass Ball Drums Stave-Shell Snares
Nord Drum 3P Multipad 10 Readers’ Platform
55 Rock ’n’ Jazz Clinic Bucks County Semi-Solid Mahogany/ Hybrid Setups: Pros? Cons?
Groove Construction Poplar Drumset
Part 13: Left-Handed Split Grooves 12 News
by Jost Nickel 52 Gearing Up Dr. Dog’s Eric Slick goes solo,
Medeski, Martin and Wood’s Billy Martin Josh Eppard tours with
56 Strictly Technique Coheed and Cambria, and more
1,000 Ways to Practice a Single Page 64 New and Notable
Part 4: Orchestrated Flams on the Drumset 70 Showcase
by Libor Hadrava featuring Drum Market
Enter to win a
58 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Love Drums setup worth 74 Critique
Playing Melodically Marcus Baylor takes the reins,
Part 1: “Billie’s Bounce” more than $3,800! Page 69 Bowie memoir, and more
by Peter Erskine
78 Encore
60 Rock Perspectives Chicago II
Septuplet Permutations
Diving Deep Into an Odd Subdivision 80 Inside Methods
by Aaron Edgar Stanton Moore Drum Academy
62 Concepts 82 In Memoriam
Hone Your Human GPS Alphonse Mouzon
Setting Goals, Defi ning Problems, and
Devising Solutions 84 Backbeats
by Mark Schulman 2016 Drum-Off Grand Finals
86 Kit of the Month
Split Hybrid
AANN E DEIDTOITRO’S ROV’SE ROVVIEEWRVIEW
MD Archive Online Founder
Ronald Spagnardi
1943–2003
Publisher/CEO Senior Art Director
Hello, longtime subscribers, casual by Isabel Spagnardi Scott G. Bienstock
readers, and newcomers to the MD n Lei Senior Vice President Editorial Director
family! We are super-excited to announce Joh Lori Spagnardi Adam J. Budofsky
that—for the fi rst time in our forty-plus-
year history—every single issue of Modern Vice President Managing Editor
Drummer is now available for viewing Kevin W. Kearns Michael Dawson
via our new iOS and Android app and the
Associate Publisher Associate Editor
special Archive section of moderndrum-
Tracy A. Kearns Willie Rose
mer.com.
If you’re a current subscriber, you Advertising Director Editor at Large
should have received an email with Bob Berenson Billy Amendola
instructions on how to set up your
Advertising Assistant Business and
account. If you overlooked that email,
LaShanda Gibson Content Development
feel free to send a message to mdinfo@
Miguel Monroy
moderndrummer.com, and we’ll walk
you through the process. Basically what you need to do is click on the The MD Pro Panel: Chris Adler, Gregg Bissonette, Jason Bittner, Will Calhoun,
“My Profi le” button at the top of moderndrummer.com, click “Lost Terri Lyne Carrington, Matt Chamberlain, Jeff Davis, Peter Erskine, Bob Gatzen,
Daniel Glass, Benny Greb, Matt Halpern, Horacio Hernandez, Gerald Heyward,
Password,” and then enter the email address that’s associated with your
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8 Modern Drummer June 2017