Drummers on Drumming

By Ben HilzingerMusic Music Commentary Music Interviews

Drummers on Drumming episodes

February 05, 2025 Big Fat Five: Ian Matthews (Kasabian) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, the podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This is another segment of Big Fat Five, where I invite my favorite drummers to break down the five records that shaped their approach to the instrument.

Today, I’m joined by Ian Matthews, drummer for the "future rock" band Kasabian—a group that, like many of the greats, enjoys massive success outside the U.S. while somehow remaining criminally underrated stateside. With eight studio albums and a reputation for explosive, anthemic live shows, Kasabian has been shaping the sound of modern rock for decades. And at the heart of it all? Ian Matthews—the powerhouse engine behind their dynamic and electrifying sound.

We cover a lot in this conversation—stuff that will help any drummer level up their playing and presence on the kit. I also want to mention something special: If you've listened to The Drum Panel recently, you know I’ve talked about a certain project from November 2024 that I was really stoked about. Well, Ian was one of my main inspirations for those sessions.

This one meant a lot. Enjoy the five records that shaped Ian Matthews into the drummer he is today.
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

IAN'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Artist - Buddy Rich
Album - Live At Ronnie Scott’s
Release Year - 1972
Key Track - "Time Being"
Drummer - Buddy Rich
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Artist - Leo Sayer
Album - Endless Flight
Release Year - 1976
Key Track - "When I Need You"
Drummer - Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Rick Shlosser, Nigel Olsson, Ed Greene,
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Artist - Dave Brubeck
Album - Time Out
Release Year - 1959
Key Track - "Take 5," "Blue Rondo á la Turk"
Drummer - Joe Morello
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Artist - Iron Maiden
Album - Live After Death
Release Year - 1985
Key Track - "Aces High"
Drummer - Nicko McBrain
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Artist - Steely Dan
Album - Aja
Release Year - 1977
Key Track - "Aja," "Home At Last"
Drummer - Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Jim Keltner, Rich Moratta, Ed Greene
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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46 min
January 29, 2025 Big Fat Five: Jason Gerken (Shiner, Hum, Molly McGuire) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records
Today, we’ve got another segment of the podcast called Big Fat Five. This is where I invite my favorite drummers on the show to break down the five records that helped shape their approach to the instrument.
Our guest today is Jason Gerken, a Kansas City-based drummer known for his work with Molly McGuire, Shiner, Open Hand, Project 86, and most recently, Hum. After our episode with Jared Shavelson a few weeks ago, I got a flood of DMs from people thanking me for introducing them to Jason’s drumming on The Egg by Shiner. I knew I had to get him on ASAP. Jason’s drumming carries so much weight—in every sense of the word. I know a lot of my friends were especially looking forward to this one, so here you go. I hope you all enjoy the five records that shaped Jason Gerken into the drummer he is today.
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

JASON'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Artist - Chicago
Album - IX
Release Year - 1975
Key Track - Beginnings
Drummer - Danny Seraphine
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Artist - Rush
Album - Moving Pictures
Release Year - 1981
Key Track - Red Barchetta
Drummer - Neil Peart
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Artist - Jimi Hendrix Experience
Album - Essentials 1&2
Release Year - 1967
Key Track(s) - "If 6 Was 9" and other B-sides
Drummer - Mitch Mitchell
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Artist - Yes
Album - Fragile
Release Year - 1971
Key Track - Heart of the Sunrise
Drummer - Bill Bruford
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Artist - Government Issue
Album - You/Crash
Release Year - 1987
Key Track - Jaded Eyes
Drummer - Peter Moffett
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HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Artist - Bitch Magnet
Album - Umber
Release Year - 1989
Key Track - Navajo Ace
Drummer - Orestes Delatorre
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Artist - Steely Dan
Album - The Royal Scam
Release Year - 1976
Key Track - Green Earrings
Drummer - Bernard Purdie
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Artist - Bastro
Album - Diablo Guapo
Release Year - 1989
Key Track - Sing the Troubled Beast
Drummer - John McEntire
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Artist - Helmet
Album - Strap It On
Release Year - 1992
Key Track - FBLA
Drummer - John Stanier
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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36 min
January 22, 2025The Drum Panel: Defining Success, Underrated Drummers, and the Gear We Love (That’s Not a Drum)
Episode 10 of The Drum Panel
Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM.
For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Jessica Burdeaux (Covet, City Mouth, Host of Reverb.com's "What's That Sound?" series on YouTube).
Today we discuss:
How do we get into the mindset of authentically emulating grooves?
Thinking like a producer: Approaching drumming with overdubbing and auxiliary percussion in mind.
What’s a style of music you feel you should know more about?
How do you decide when to cut yourself off from outside influences?
What’s your favorite piece of music gear that isn’t a drum or cymbal?
If you could play one iconic groove perfectly, what would it be?
Who are some drummers you think are underrated right now?
How do you currently define success as a drummer?
Are koalas marsupials?

As promised...
Josh Freese
Jason Gerken
Casey Deitz
Valerie Franco
Ulf Mickael Wahlgren
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
45 min
January 15, 2025 Big Fat Five: Jared Shavelson (Joyce Manor, Seal, Mariachi el Bronx, Ways Away, The Hope Conspiracy, Boysetsfire, Paint It Black, Chuck Ragan)
Today, we’ve got another segment of the podcast called Big Fat Five. This is where I invite my favorite drummers on the show to break down the five records that helped shape their approach to the instrument. This format also inspired my book, Drummers on Drumming, which is available now as a paperback or ebook on Amazon.
Today’s guest is Jared Shavelson. I met Jared through a mutual buddy and Big Fat Five alum, Mike Robinson. Jared is the real deal. He studied jazz in college but left early to kickstart his career—and it’s safe to say that decision paid off. Over the years, he’s played with Seal, The Bronx, Mariachi El Bronx, Joyce Manor, The Hope Conspiracy, Paint It Black, The Aquabats, and so many others.
I just saw him perform with Mariachi El Bronx on New Year’s Eve, opening for Morrissey at The Palladium. He was playing a cocktail kit, and the Afro-Cuban rhythms he was laying down were absolutely insane—I was completely blown away.
Now, we were supposed to record this a few days ago, but life in LA had other plans. Between the fires and travel chaos, it was hard to pin down a time. Jared ended up flying out of Los Angeles Thursday night, only to get stuck in Atlanta during a snowstorm when his flight was canceled. After being stranded at the airport for 18 hours, he decided to help pass the time by hopping on the mic with me. That’s why the audio in this episode might be a little rough—picture Jared huddled in the corner of a busy terminal while we recorded.
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

JARED'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - Led Zeppelin 1
Artist - Led Zeppelin
Release Year - 1969
Key Track(s) - Good times bad times / How Many More Times
Drummer - John Bonham
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Album - Time Out
Artist - Dave Brubeck
Release Year - 1959
Key Track(s) - Take Five / Kathy’s Waltz
Drummer - Joe Morello
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Album - Alice In Chains Unplugged
Artist - Alive in Chains
Release Year - 1996
Key Track(s) - Nutshell / No Excuses / Down in a Hole
Drummer - Sean Kinney
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Album - Out of Step
Artist - Minor threat
Release Year - 1984
Key Track(s) - Betray
Drummer - Jeff Nelson
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Album - The Egg
Artist - Shiner
Release Year - 2001
Key Track(s) - The Egg / Surgery / Andalusia
Drummer - Jason Gerken

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
38 min
January 08, 2025The Drum Panel: 2024's Biggest Wins, Unexpected Lessons, and the Stack Debate
Episode 9 of The Drum Panel
Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM.
For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum & drummer for Winnetka Bowling League).
Today we discuss:
What was the most game-changing moment in your drumming or musical journey this year?
Which performance, session, or project from this year holds a special place in your heart—and what made it so meaningful?
What’s one surprising thing you discovered about yourself as a musician this year?
Did any piece of gear or tool unexpectedly transform your playing this year? Share your story!
Hot take: Is spending more than $100 on a stack just plain unnecessary?
Time to settle the debate—Is Buddy Rich a legend or just overhyped?
Let’s get it out there: What are some of your biggest drumming pet peeve?

Listen to 500 Anõs by La Armada HERE
Check out Kris' cute little digital recorder HERE
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
43 min
January 01, 2025 Excerpts from My Book: Drummers on Drumming, Part 2
Ok, I promise I won’t be promoting my book forever—but give me at least a few weeks to talk about it (I’m proud of it!). And hey, the sooner you grab a copy, the sooner you’ll stop feeling guilty... and, well, left out.
In this episode, I read a few excerpts from my new book, Drummers on Drumming. You’ll hear stories and song choices from incredible drummers like Joe Bagale, David Raouf (rdavidr), Joe Seiders, Ilan Rubin and Jesse Kongos. These highlights give you a taste of the insights and inspiration you’ll find in the book. I hope you enjoy these glimpses into the creative minds of today's top players.
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Get Your Copy of the 'Drummers on Drumming' Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
31 min
December 25, 2024 Excerpts from My Book: Drummers on Drumming, Part 1
Ok, I promise I won’t be promoting my book forever—but give me at least a few weeks to talk about it (I’m proud of it!). And hey, the sooner you grab a copy, the sooner you’ll stop feeling guilty... and, well, left out.
In this episode, I read a few excerpts from my new book, Drummers on Drumming. You’ll hear stories and song choices from incredible drummers like Jason McGerr, Madden Klass, Jojo Mayer, Noa Kahn, Andrew Marshall, Michael Benjamin Lerner, and Brendan Buckley. These highlights give you a taste of the insights and inspiration you’ll find in the book. I hope you enjoy these glimpses into the creative minds of today's top players.
---
Get Your Copy of the 'Drummers on Drumming' Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
35 min
December 18, 2024The Drum Panel: Our Guilty Pleasures, Drum Trolls, and the IG Cheating Debate
Episode 8 of The Drum Panel
This week, Eric (@ericsurrea) is back!...alongside our newest bestie George Martinez (@skinnygeorge).
In this episode, we dive into:
Are ghost notes the modern-day equivalent of skinny jeans—cool now but overdone?
How do you strike the right balance between technical precision and feel in your playing?
Are dynamics the single most important factor in making a drummer sound great?
Why is it so challenging to produce a high-quality drum part on the spot?
Are tambourines and shakers actually more essential than toms?
What are the guilty-pleasure drum songs we secretly love to play but would never admit to?
Is a rubber practice pad less effective than a gel pad or pillow for improving your playing?
Are self-taught drummers at a disadvantage in the long run?
What’s the best way to handle trolls in the drumming community?
Is quantizing your Instagram drum videos considered cheating?
---
Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 4 min
December 11, 2024 The Drum Panel: Audition Advice, Anecdotes, and Staying Hired—Thriving in the Touring Industry with Elias Mallin & Stacy Jones
Episode 7 of The Drum Panel
This week, we're joined by Stacy Jones (Miley Cyrus, Letters to Cleo, American Hi-Fi) and Elias Mallin (Kesha, Noah Cyrus, Filter)—two seasoned veterans of the touring music industry and influential figures in shaping the competitive LA music scene.
This episode steps away from our usual bullet-point list of hot takes and dives into a bigger-picture conversation about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in live music. We cover everything from technique tips and tuning tricks to staying mentally sharp during performances, audition dos and don’ts, and plenty of honest stories about the ups and downs of auditions and live shows.
Special thanks to Patches Sound for hosting us!
---
Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 10 min
December 04, 2024 Big Fat Five: Sterling Laws (NIKI, Natasha Bedingfield, Matt Berninger) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records
Welcome back to Big Fat Five—a segment of Drummers on Drumming brought to you by Big Fat Snare Drum, where I chat with my favorite drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound. I’m your host, Ben Hilzinger, and this week’s guest is the incredible Sterling Laws.
Sterling is a fellow Pacific Northwest native now based in Los Angeles, but more importantly, he’s a Grammy-nominated drummer whose resume is as impressive as it gets. He’s worked with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Gordon, Chappell Roan, NIKI, Matt Berninger, Liz Phair, The War on Drugs, Linda Perry, Aly & AJ, Lo Moon, Dave Stewart, and many more.
Sterling is out there doing the thing and still manages to bring a unique perspective to the kit while working with such a diverse roster of artists—a quality that’s both rare and inspiring. It’s exactly why I was so excited to talk to him.
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

STERLING'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - Badmotorfinger
Artist - Soundgarden
Release Year - 1991
Key Track(s) - Rusty Cage, Searching With My Good Eye Closed, Jesus Christ Pose
Drummer - Matt Cameron
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Album - In Rainbows
Artist - Radiohead
Release Year - 2007
Key Track(s) - 15 Steps, Bodysnatchers, Weird Fishes, Reckoner
Drummer - Philip Selway
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Album - Future Self
Artist - The Globes
Release Year - 2011
Key Track(s) Pigeon, Stay Awake, A Stitch Couldn't Save The World
Drummer - Marcus Ourada
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Album - Boxer
Artist - The National
Release Year - 2007
Key Track(s) - Mistaken For Strangers, Brainy, Apartment Story
Drummer - Bryan Devendorf
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Album - Live From The Ryman And More
Artist - Sheryl Crow
Release Year - 2019
Key Track(s) - A Change Would Do You Good, Everything Is Broken, Maybe Angels, If It Makes You Happy
Drummer - Fred Eltringham
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
37 min

About Drummers on Drumming

From the publisher's feed

A podcast for drummers who think too much. Ben Hilzinger talks to the greats about creativity, identity, staying sane, and finding purpose behind the kit.