No. 255, September 2017

Ben Thatcher’s combustible, full-throttle drumming style combines with Mike Kerr’s soaring vocals and edgy, inventive bass playing to ignite UK-based rock duo Royal Blood. We talk in-depth with Thatcher about his influences, the sessions for How Did We Get So Dark?, and his very heavy drumming. Simmons electronic drums are back, and we glimpse into the past and the future of this technology with none other than Dave Simmons himself. Cheap Trick’s new album, We’re All Alright!, features the stalwart drumming of Daxx Nielsen, son of Rick Nielsen who in 2010 was asked to succeed founding member Bun E. Carlos in the drum chair when Carlos had to curtail his performing activities. Looking to refresh your vital supplies of drumsticks and drumheads? Find out what’s new for 2017 in Drum Magazine’s 2017 Sticks & Heads Gear Guide. Make sure that your drum set is arranged optimally for your long-term health and well-being by consulting our examination of drum set ergonomics. Spice up your pop-music drumming by integrating Latin rhythms, and check out lessons from Glen Sobel, Danny Gottlieb, and Gil Sharone. Plus, Drum reviews A&F Drum Company Royals drums, Carolina Drumworks Gold Series Snare Drums, and Sabian Artist Elie Cymbals.