I stumbled upon a great cache of vintage drum and drumming videos from two English Gentlemen who are obsessed with all things drumming. I contacted Harrison Weston-Contell and Next Level Chops about collaborating and sponsoring each other. This video in particular shows how we would have all had to play a bass drum and snare drum and cymbal at the same time before the invention of the bass drum pedal. “Sticky Wicket’ is full of joy and very entertaining when he demonstrates these historic techniques. There are many more videos with Sticky demonstrating vintage drums and authentic vintage drum playing styles. Looking forward to presenting more of Harrison’s deep site and video channel. Thanks, guys!
Read moreNew back issues available: Nov/Dec '93 through Sep/Oct '94 in bound collection
$4 Shipping included in price. Not So Modern Drummer back issues: bound Archive collection of Volume VI: Issues 1- 6 plus annual subscriber directory. Total of 7 issues from Nov/Dec 1993 - Sept/Oct 1994.
Read more1920s Ludwig Professional Outfit














George,
I hope you’re rockin! Will I see you at the Chicago show this year?
I thought you might like to see this set I just picked up locally. This is how they looked straight out of the cases after being stored since WWII. Don’t let anybody tell you that all of the good ones are gone!
Enjoy,
Donn
Read moreCovers? Cover Bands? I've Got You Covered
Almost all musicians play cover tunes … it's where the majority of music comes from. And almost all bands are cover bands, at least in the beginning. Artists depend on the tunes and the tunes depend on other artists. But sadly, the term cover seems to have morphed into almost an insult. Nobody is offended when they remake a movie, such as Godzilla (not once but twice!) And no way would anyone protest, “It’s just a cover of the Ishiro Honda movie” or suggest that the film-maker had cheated or copped out.
Read moreDRUM! Magazine interview with George Lawrence - DrumSellers.com, NSMD, Poco, Memphis and other stuff.
Republished from DRUM! Weekly. Thanks, Phil.
During the past three years Reverb.com has become the key outlet for serious musicians to sell their gear. It now bills itself as “The world’ largest marketplace for buying and selling music gear.” But now it has a competitor that has set its sights on being a marketplace for drums.
Drumsellers.com is the brainchild of George Lawrence, a professional drummer whose career highlights include recording sessions on major label rock, pop, country and jazz albums in Nashville and Los Angeles, and recording and touring with the band Poco from 2004 to 2015. Along the way he also found time to teach many high profile drummers, and own his own drum shop (George’s). And, some of you will know George as the publisher of Not So Modern Drummer Magazine, which he purchased in 2009 and converted to digital in 2012. Recently, we’ve noticed the growth at Drumsellers and wanted to learn more about the plans for the site. We interviewed Lawrence last month.
Read moreBob Parker - A Different Drummer - with the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp in President John Kennedy's Funeral Procession





The only drum pattern that was played during the entire 3-4 days was a cadence that our Head Drummer came up with. It was a simple pattern as a way for all the drummers that participated could learn in a short amount of time. The pattern was Flam, Flam, Flam, 7 Stroke Roll-Flam, Flam, Flam, 7 Stroke Roll- Flam, Flam, Flam, 7 Stroke Roll - Flam, Flam, Flam Tap! The drums were covered in that shroud that my mother had sewn, and the snares were turned off. This cadence was played at a very slow tempo [approx. 78 B.P.M.] using 3s sticks. One interesting side note was that only Drummers participated in the funeral. There were no other instruments used during the entire 3-4 days of ceremonies! Quite an honor!
Read moreCarmine Appice: Rockin' with the Rascals




“We went to SST to rehearse for our tour last year. We worked there for five days. We recorded all the songs we did on the multi-track at SST, as well. It was great to work there. We had food every day. The room was great. The sound system was great. The sound of the room was great. We were there every day from like, ten to six. It was a very pleasurable experience.”
Read more1937-39 SLINGERLAND 8 x 14 BLACK DIAMOND PEARL BERNIE MATTISON RADIO KING MODEL









The Bernie Mattison Radio King Model was first introduced in 1936 and had the tapped (no insert) lugs. I’ve dated the drum in this article at 1937-39 because the lugs have inserts. The 1937-39 Slingerland catalogs list this drum as the Band Model Radio King.
Read moreThe Drum Engravers, Part 1: John Aldridge




























The first of these is the best-known drum engraver of our time, John Aldridge. Some years ago, John Aldridge wanted a hand engraved drum. When he discovered he couldn't afford it, John learned how to do it himself, and brought this lost art form back to the drum industry.
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