Drum History

By Bart Vanderzee

What's Drum History about?

A podcast all about the rich history of the drums - and how they became what they are today! Join Bart van der Zee as he speaks with experts about the curious journey of the ever-evolving drum set.

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Drum History episodes:

05.28.2024
The HUGE Alex Van Halen Auction with Kurt Ekstrom
Alex Van Halen is auctioning off hundreds of unbelievable items that have never been seen by public eyes, plus some of his most iconic drum sets that he played with Van Halen! Kurt Ekstrom joins me back on the podcast...
05.14.2024
A Look at the Gear of Danny Seraphine with Tate Berkey
Danny Seraphine is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted, world-famous original drummer of Chicago. Tate Berkey has been researching Danny's gear for the last year and has compiled an exhaustive look at all things Danny Seraphine. We cover...
04.23.2024
The Lessons of Robbie Gonzalez with Rob Hart
Rob Hart takes us through audio clips of his former mentor and teacher Robbie Gonzalez which gives us first hand knowledge and ideas of this great mind of drumming. Robbie Gonzalez was a Berklee professor, prolific recording artist, and performed...
04.09.2024
The History of Recording Drums with Jay Petach
Unravel the captivating journey of recording technology with Jay Petach as your guide, spanning back to the 1800s when pioneers like Thomas Edison introduced groundbreaking inventions like the Phonograph and Edison's Cylinders. Delve into the evolution leading to the revolutionary...
03.26.2024
New Temporary Schedule and New Studio!
Hey everyone! I am launching a temporary bi-weekly show schedule with two new episodes per month. We are currently in the midst of an attic renovation which has bumped me out of my normal Drum History Studio for the next month...
03.19.2024
Ellis Tollin: Drumming's Unsung Legend with Anthony Amodeo
Ellis Tollin is a world-class performer who played on hit records, started a very successful music store in Philadelphia called Music City, which hosted countless performances by greats such as Louie Bellson, Max Roach, Art Blakey, and many more. Ellis...
03.12.2024
The Budget Guide to "Sleeper" Drum Gear with Gerry Porter
Gerry shares with us a list of drums and cymbals that are often overlooked and under-marketed but sound just as good as the equipment that is 10x the price. "Sleeper Gear," by definition, is drum gear that you might not...
03.05.2024
(The Vault) The History of Gretsch Drums with John Sheridan
(First Aired Feb 2019) "That Great Gretsch Sound" has been around since 1883, join me as I talk with John Sheridan about the full history of this iconic company! John is an expert on Gretsch and co-wrote "The Gretsch Book"...
02.27.2024
Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon with Joel Selvin
Jim Gordon went from being the first call drummer of his generation who played on hundreds of hit records, to becoming a victim of the chemicals in his brain that caused him to murder his mother in a schizophrenic episode....
02.20.2024
Who is Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Drummer?
Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock used a drummer on the set of the 1963 classic thriller, 'The Birds'? The real question is: who is this mystery drummer, and how/why did Hitchcock employ a percussionist to perform during the filming...
02.13.2024
A Look at Alex Van Halen's Gear (Part 2) with Kurt Ekstrom
(Part 2 Covers 1985-2015) Alex Van Halen is responsible for inspiring a generation of young drummers to pick up drumsticks because of his virtuosic playing and HUGE drum sets. Kurt Ekstrom joins us on the podcast to guide us through...
02.06.2024
A Look at Alex Van Halen's Gear (Part 1) with Kurt Ekstrom
(Part 1 covers 1964-1984) Alex Van Halen is responsible for inspiring a generation of young drummers to pick up drumsticks because of his virtuosic playing and HUGE drum sets. Kurt Ekstrom joins us on the podcast to guide us through...
01.30.2024
(The Vault) The History of Sabian Cymbals with Andy Zildjian
My wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy last week, so enjoy this classic episode from 2020 while I get caught up on next weeks episode! Andy Zildjian is the president of Sabian Cymbals and takes us on a...
01.23.2024
Designing a Mega Drum Set with Mike Mangini
Mike Mangini is famous for being an incredibly talented drummer and teacher, but also for creating some of the most elaborate and breathtaking drum sets of all time. He breaks down his first kit, which he used with Extreme, consisting...
01.16.2024
(The Vault) Ringo Starr's Life and Gear with Gary Astridge - New Video!
(From March 2020) Gary is a historian and expert on all things Ringo Starr. He has curated Ringo's collection of original Beatles drum kits and is full of great stories about Ringo that you won't hear from anyone else! We talk...
01.09.2024
Exploring Silent Film Era Drums and Traps with Nick White
Nick White has the worlds largest collection of Silent Film Trap instruments, and he recently used them in the Martin Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon. Nick shares some of his favorite instruments and sounds in this episode including...
01.02.2024
How to Make a Career as a Drummer with Henrique De Almeida
Henrique has had a prolific drumming career as a performer, Berklee professor, author, studio musician, clinician, and business owner. In this episode, he teaches us a clear path to create a successful and fulfilling career as working drummers through multiple...
12.26.2023
(The Vault) The History of Keller Shells with Justin Owen
(4/30/2019) Keller has quietly made drum shells for many of the worlds greatest drum brands - learn about how the company got its start in 1946! I talk with Justin Owen, Special Accounts Manager at Keller Products, about how this...
12.19.2023
Drum History Podcast Intro Challenge is live!
Thanks to everyone who submitted videos of themselves playing the Drum History Podcast intro music for the 2023 Drum History Intro Challenge to help me celebrate 5 years of the Podcast. We got 33 great submissions from all over the...
12.12.2023
(The Vault) The Birth of the Drum Set with Dr. Jaz Sawyer
(Released May 2019) Did Papa Jo Jones invent the Hi-Hat with the help of a plumber? Find out in this episode! Jaz takes us from the beginnings of drumming in Africa through the advent of the modern drum set as...
12.05.2023
A Look at Tony Williams Cymbals (Part 4: 1963-1997) with Paul Wells
Paul Wells closes out the 4 part Tony Williams series with a deep dive into TW's legendary cymbals, and his Sticks and Heads. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic drummers of the 20th century, with a meteoric rise...
11.28.2023
A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 3: 1990-1997) with Scott Garrison
Scott Garrison was Tony Williams drum tech from 1994 through Tony's passing in 1997. He takes us on a journey through the gear and his experiences with Tony Williams in great detail. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic...
11.21.2023
A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 2: 1975-1990) with Paul Wells
Paul Wells takes us on a journey through the gear of Tony Williams in extreme detail. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic drummers of the 20th century, with a meteoric rise from his days with Miles Davis to...
11.14.2023
A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 1: 1940's-1975) with Paul Wells
Paul Wells is back on the show to take us on a journey through the gear of Tony Williams in extreme detail. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic drummers of the 20th century, with a meteoric rise from...
11.07.2023
(The Vault) The Roots of Reggae Drumming with Gil Sharone
(May 2021) Gil is a world renowned drummer who shares his deep passion and knowledge for Reggae drumming in this great episode. He takes us through all the sub genres such as ska, rocksteady, dub, and dancehall. Plus he teaches...
10.31.2023
From “War Dogs” to Drum Machines with David Packouz
David Packouz was the subject of the 2016 film 'War Dogs' (starring Miles Teller and Jonah Hill), which chronicled his incredible experience as a contract gun runner for the US government during the Iraq War. In complete contrast to that,...
10.24.2023
5 year Anniversary of Drum History! (Listener Video Project)
Thank you to everyone who has supported the show over the last 5 years! I am excited to announce a project where I am going to make a video showcasing you guys performing the Drum History Podcast Into music. Shoot...
10.17.2023
Exploring Calfskin Drum Heads with Rob Cook
Rob Cook joins me to discuss all things calfskin drumheads in this interesting and educational episode! We talk about the differences between calfskin and other animal skin heads, the level of durability, how temperature affects them, what happened to the...
10.10.2023
Mind. Body. Drums. - Drumming and the Nervous System with Adam Gust
Adam Gust teaches us how understanding Neuroscience, The Vegus Nerve, and listening to your body and emotions can help you be a better drummer with less pain and tension in your body. Adam began this quest to combine brain science...
10.03.2023
The Rarest Cymbals in the World with Gerry Porter (Hazelshould)
Gerry Porter deals in the finest drums and cymbals in the world at hazelshould.com, and he shares his immense knowledge of ultra-rare, famous, and valuable cymbals with us in this unique episode! We talk about what makes the Istanbul K's...
09.26.2023
(The Vault) The Medal of Honor Drummer Boy with Marlene Targ Brill
Released 12/2020 - Orion was a 14 year old drummer boy in the Civil War when he earned the Medal of Honor for an extremely courageous act in battle. Marlene Shares his amazing story that begins when he enters the...
09.19.2023
The Lessons of Mike Clark with Rob Hart
Mike Clark is one of the most respected jazz, funk, and fusion drummers of the 20th century with his own unique style and approach to the kit. Rob Hart joins me back on the podcast to share recordings of a...
09.12.2023
(The Vault) The History of Remo Drumheads with Herbie May
(Released 2019) Herbie is a 32 year veteran of the Remo Company and shares the full history of the company with us, including the controversial debate between Evans and Remo and who was first to invent the synthetic drumhead. Remo...
09.05.2023
A Look at Lars Ulrich's Gear (Part 2) with Chris Russio
In part 2, Chris and I take a deep dive into each and every kit that Lars used from the iconic Black Album Artstar II kit up to todays yellow StarClassics for the 72 Seasons tour, and everything in between....
08.29.2023
A Look at Lars Ulrich's Gear (Part 1) with Chris Russio
Chris and I take a deep dive into each and every kit that Lars used since he was a little kid and received mix and match kit from his Grandmother, up to the iconic Justice tour kit with the monkey...
08.22.2023
The Essence of Philly Joe Jones with Tim Carman
Philly Joe Jones is an icon of jazz drumming who is most famous for his time with Miles Davis and his unique style of soloing and swinging that has made him one of the most respected drummers of the 20th...
08.15.2023
Lost Gene Krupa Drum Set Discovered in 2023 with Brooks Tegler and Steve Stevens
Gene Krupa's 1954 Slingerland Radio King drum set was recently discovered and rescued from sitting in a wet basement for the last few decades via an online auction that caught the drum world by storm. I am joined today by...
08.08.2023
The History of Ebenor Drums with William Leclerc
Ebenor Percussion is a Quebec based drum brand that makes everything from the Lugs to the hoops to the shells in-house! William Leclerc started Ebenor Drums 10 years ago and has grown it to be one of the most well...
08.01.2023
The History of Simmons Drums with Daren Pfeifer, Steve Graham, Patrick Casey, Steve Watts and Ed Rose
This is a 5 person mega episode all about the history of Simmons Drums, the iconic hexagonal electronic drums that changed the face of music in the 1980's. The sound, look and spirit of Simmons drums can be heard on...
07.25.2023
(The Vault) The History of Cocktail Drums with John Mettam
(EP 80 - 12/2020) Cocktail drum kits date back to post World War 2 in an orchestra pit in England where space is at a premium and the drums needed to grow taller, as opposed to wider. the "stand up...
07.18.2023
The Lessons of Steve Smith with Rob Hart
Rob Hart was fortunate enough to take lessons with the great Steve Smith for over 20 years and he recorded many of them on his Sony Walkman or Steve's studio rig! Rob shares 7 great clips from his lessons with...
07.11.2023
The History of INDē Drums with Josh Allen
Independent Drum Lab has become one of the most innovative brands in the drum industry since its launch in 2015. Josh Allen used his Industrial Design Degree at Ludwig to create many innovative designs and products, but he then decided...
07.04.2023
A look at John Densmore's Gear (The Doors) with Kurt Ekstrom
John Densmore of The Doors is truly a drumming icon of the 1960's and his Ludwig Mod Orange Drum Set is just as important in the history of Rock and Roll. My guest is Kurt Ekstrom who is a diehard...
06.27.2023
The Godfather of Acoustic-Electronic Drums with Alfonso Adinolfi (Boom Theory)
Alfonso created and shipped the first "Acoustically Formatted Electronic Drum Kits" in 1991 which was a game changer in the electronic drum world, and helped shaped the e-drum industry since then. He has been a staple of the drum industry...
06.20.2023
The Indie Cymbal Maker Revolution with Timothy Roberts
We live in a golden era where independent cymbal makers are creating more beautiful instruments than ever before. Timothy Roberts joins me this week to share his take on the landscape of indie Cymbalsmith's and gives us tons of great...
06.13.2023
The Evolution of Bass Drum Art with Dominic Tancredi and Luke Condrich
The history of bass drum head art dates back over a century ago when pipe bands would paint the name of their town and group on the calf skin head. This evolved over time with beautifully painted scenic paintings that...
06.06.2023
Vintage Paiste Collector's Guide (Part 2) with Dan Garza
Part 2 covers the cymbal series including the 602's, Giant Beats, 2002, 404, 505, Signature, and many more. We discuss the USA and European distributors of Paiste Cymbals, plus the more affordable lower line cymbals that are still collectible and...
05.30.2023
Funk, R&B, and Big Rhythm Drumming with Pat Petrillo
Pat Petrillo shares tons of great info including what it is like to be featured on the cover of Modern Drummer, his Instagram series about breaking down actual sticking of Ringo's parts, and we discuss his great new album, "The...
05.23.2023
Vintage Paiste Collector's Guide (Part 1) with Dan Garza
This episode is a deep dive into the nuances of collecting Vintage Paiste Cymbals with Dan Garza, a die hard Paiste enthusiast and the moderator of the Paiste section on Cymbal.Wiki. We cover everything from the different alloys that are...
05.16.2023
Uncovering the Legendary Sound of Covington Era Rogers Drums with Anthony Amodeo
Anthony has been on a mission to discover as much as he can on the history of the legendary Covington era of Rogers Drums! Anthony and his Rogers friends are using state of the art techniques to test the species...

What's Drum History about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Drum History episodes:

The HUGE Alex Van Halen Auction with Kurt Ekstrom

A Look at the Gear of Danny Seraphine with Tate Berkey

The Lessons of Robbie Gonzalez with Rob Hart

The History of Recording Drums with Jay Petach

New Temporary Schedule and New Studio!

Ellis Tollin: Drumming's Unsung Legend with Anthony Amodeo

The Budget Guide to "Sleeper" Drum Gear with Gerry Porter

(The Vault) The History of Gretsch Drums with John Sheridan

Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon with Joel Selvin

Who is Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Drummer?

A Look at Alex Van Halen's Gear (Part 2) with Kurt Ekstrom

A Look at Alex Van Halen's Gear (Part 1) with Kurt Ekstrom

(The Vault) The History of Sabian Cymbals with Andy Zildjian

Designing a Mega Drum Set with Mike Mangini

(The Vault) Ringo Starr's Life and Gear with Gary Astridge - New Video!

Exploring Silent Film Era Drums and Traps with Nick White

How to Make a Career as a Drummer with Henrique De Almeida

(The Vault) The History of Keller Shells with Justin Owen

Drum History Podcast Intro Challenge is live!

(The Vault) The Birth of the Drum Set with Dr. Jaz Sawyer

A Look at Tony Williams Cymbals (Part 4: 1963-1997) with Paul Wells

A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 3: 1990-1997) with Scott Garrison

A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 2: 1975-1990) with Paul Wells

A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 1: 1940's-1975) with Paul Wells

(The Vault) The Roots of Reggae Drumming with Gil Sharone

From “War Dogs” to Drum Machines with David Packouz

5 year Anniversary of Drum History! (Listener Video Project)

Exploring Calfskin Drum Heads with Rob Cook

Mind. Body. Drums. - Drumming and the Nervous System with Adam Gust

The Rarest Cymbals in the World with Gerry Porter (Hazelshould)

(The Vault) The Medal of Honor Drummer Boy with Marlene Targ Brill

The Lessons of Mike Clark with Rob Hart

(The Vault) The History of Remo Drumheads with Herbie May

A Look at Lars Ulrich's Gear (Part 2) with Chris Russio

A Look at Lars Ulrich's Gear (Part 1) with Chris Russio

The Essence of Philly Joe Jones with Tim Carman

Lost Gene Krupa Drum Set Discovered in 2023 with Brooks Tegler and Steve Stevens

The History of Ebenor Drums with William Leclerc

The History of Simmons Drums with Daren Pfeifer, Steve Graham, Patrick Casey, Steve Watts and Ed Rose

(The Vault) The History of Cocktail Drums with John Mettam

The Lessons of Steve Smith with Rob Hart

The History of INDē Drums with Josh Allen

A look at John Densmore's Gear (The Doors) with Kurt Ekstrom

The Godfather of Acoustic-Electronic Drums with Alfonso Adinolfi (Boom Theory)

The Indie Cymbal Maker Revolution with Timothy Roberts

The Evolution of Bass Drum Art with Dominic Tancredi and Luke Condrich

Vintage Paiste Collector's Guide (Part 2) with Dan Garza

Funk, R&B, and Big Rhythm Drumming with Pat Petrillo

Vintage Paiste Collector's Guide (Part 1) with Dan Garza

Uncovering the Legendary Sound of Covington Era Rogers Drums with Anthony Amodeo