Drummers on Drumming

By Ben HilzingerMusic Music Commentary Music Interviews

Drummers on Drumming episodes

November 27, 2024 Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Angels & Airwaves): Start Somewhere To Go Somewhere
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming!
Today, I’m thrilled to share a conversation with a true force in modern drumming—Ilan Rubin. You’ve heard his incredible work behind the kit with artists like Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Angels & Airwaves, Paramore and so many more. But Ilan is not just an outstanding drummer; he’s also a passionate educator, and his latest project proves just that.
He’s recently released his instructional book, Start Somewhere to Go Somewhere, and trust me, it’s not just another drum method book.
In this episode, we certainly discuss the book, but we dive deep into Ilan’s philosophy on practice and technique in a way that I personally haven’t heard him talk about before … and why he felt compelled to share his unique perspective in an already crowded field of drum education. I have the book and ive been able to spend some more time with it since recording this episode and I can say first hand, it’s worth it. So without further ado…here is my chat with the youngest rock n roll hall of fame inductee, Ilan Rubin.
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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.

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43 min
November 20, 2024The Drum Panel: The Ultimate Compliment, Jazz Study—Essential or Overrated?, and Is the Band Drummer Era Over?
Episode 6 of The Drum Panel
This week's guests are two of my favorite drummers and people, Sarab Singh (MUNA) and Adam Christgau (Tegan and Sara).
In this episode, we dive into:
What’s the greatest compliment a drummer can get, and does it truly matter?
How do others really describe your playing style—are you sure you'd agree?
Should every drummer dive into jazz, or is it a skill only some truly need?
Has the golden era of iconic bands come to an end, or is it just evolving?
Are music schools churning out technical robots at the cost of creative souls?
Is practicing on pillows with heavy sticks a hidden secret or just a myth?
Are quintuplets and sextuplets essential or a complete waste of practice time?
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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
49 min
November 13, 2024 Big Fat Five: Lucy Ritter (Chappell Roan, Suki Waterhouse) Share Her Top 5 Influential Records
We’ve got another installment of Big Fat Five: a segment where I talk to drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound.
Today’s guest is Lucy Ritter, a New York/New Jersey native who picked up the drums at just 9 years old and was already landing professional gigs by 14. After three years at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, she made the bold decision to leave and join her first major tour: the Broadway musical An Officer and a Gentleman. That gig opened doors, eventually leading to her being offered the drum chair for the Grammy Award-winning musical Jagged Little Pill.
These days, Lucy has stepped away from the Broadway scene and taken on an exciting new role as the drummer for one of today’s fastest-rising pop acts, Chappell Roan. We dig into how she landed that gig and explore the five records that have profoundly influenced her drumming style. This episode has been a long time coming, so let’s dive in. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the incredibly talented Lucy Ritter... cheers!
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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.

LUCY'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - A Love Supreme
Artist - John Coltrane
Release Year - 1965
Key Track(s) - Pt. II - Resolution & Pt. III - Pursuance
Drummer - Elvin Jones
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Album - Earfood
Artist - Roy Hargrove
Release Year - 2008
Key Track(s) - Strasbourg / St. Denis, The Stinger, Mr.Clean
Drummer - Motez Coleman
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Album - Grow
Artist - Chon
Release Year - 2015
Key Track(s) - But / all of them
Drummer - Nathan Camarena, Brian Evans, Matt Garstka
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Album - Live at Velfarre
Artist - Earth, Wind & Fire
Release Year - 1996
Key Track(s) - In The Stone, September, Let Your Feelings Show, Let’s Groove
Drummer - Sonny Emory
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Album - Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
Artist - Blink-182
Release Year - 2001
Key Track(s) - 3
Drummer - Travis Barker

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

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41 min
November 06, 2024The Drum Panel: Timeless Drum Tones, AI’s Impact, Advice We’d Give Our Younger Selves, and More...
Episode 5 of The Drum Panel
This week's guests are my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City / Sessions) and good buddy Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum).

SUBMIT YOUR CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC OPINIONS HERE
In this episode, we dive into:
If you could reinvent one aspect of your drumming, what would it be, and why?
What's the one piece of advice you wish you'd known as a young drummer starting out?
How important is style to a drummer’s career—can visuals be as impactful as skill?
What ingredients create a drum tone that stands the test of time?
Have we lost the ability to have a hit song without the use of a click?
With AI's influence growing, what do you think drumming will look like in the near future?
Is the quest for 'perfect' recordings draining the soul out of live music?
Why do so many drummers gravitate toward intricate playing—are we losing the groove?
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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
October 30, 2024 Big Fat Five: Jesse Boyle (Chase Atlantic) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records...
Today I’m joined by Jesse Boyle, my good buddy and the drummer for the boundary-pushing band Chase Atlantic. Known for blending genres like alternative, R&B, and electronic music, Jesse’s unique approach drives the pulse behind Chase’s immersive live soundscapes. We’ll dive into the top five influences that shaped his drumming and musical journey and we get into a newer career he’s started…all because he gave himself permission. I think it’s important for everyone to stay tuned through the end of the episode.
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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.

JESSE'S BIG FAT FIVE:
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Album - Reggatta De Blanc
Artist - The Police
Release Year - 1979
Key Track(s) - Message in a Bottle, Walking On the Moon
Drummer - Stewart Copeland
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Album - By The Way
Artist - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Release Year - 2002
Key Track(s) - By the Way, Don’t Forget Me
Drummer - Chad Smith
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Album - Only by the Night
Artist - Kings of Leon
Release Year - 2008
Key Track(s) - Closer, I Want You
Drummer - Nathan Followill
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Album - The Colour and The Shape
Artist - Foo Fighters
Release Year - 1997
Key Track(s) - My Hero, Everlong
Drummer - Dave Grohl / William Goldsmith
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Album - TOTO IV
Artist - TOTO
Release Year - 1982
Key Track(s) - Rosanna
Drummer - Jeff Porcaro
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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41 min
October 23, 2024 'Big Fat Five' Is Becoming 'Drummers on Drumming' + A Book Announcement
Hey friends, Ben Hilzinger here. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk to you about a pretty exciting shift I’m making with this podcast. After much thought, I’ve decided to change the name of the podcast. Moving forward, it will be known as Drummers on Drumming.
Let me tell you a little about how I got here.
This whole thing started as The Big Fat Snare Drum Podcast, just a fun way to connect with drummers I admire—talking about stories, gear, grooves, and whatever else came up. It was a blast. But after a while, I wanted to dive deeper into the stories that shaped the way drummers think and play. That’s where the Big Fat Five concept came from: drummers sharing the five records or moments that influenced them the most.
The Big Fat Five format really connected with people, and I loved it. But over time, I realized the name was becoming a little limiting. I’ve got so many ideas for other segments—like The Drum Panel, where multiple drummers join me for roundtable discussions—and I didn’t want to feel stuck in one format. I needed a title that gave me space to try new things and keep the podcast fresh.
And honestly, if I want to keep doing this—and growing the show—I need to make sure it’s easy for new listeners to find. Big Fat Five isn’t exactly the most discoverable name if someone’s searching for “drumming podcasts.” So this rebrand to Drummers on Drumming not only reflects the direction I want to take, but it’ll also make the show more findable for people who haven’t discovered it yet.
Now, here’s how the change will happen. Right now, the podcast is still called Big Fat Five, but I wanted to give everyone a heads-up before the switch. One week from today, both the name and the podcast icon will officially change to Drummers on Drumming. So, if you see the new name and artwork in your podcast feed next week, don’t worry—it’s still the same show you know and love, just with a new name and more room to grow.
Oh! And speaking of exciting new things, I’ve been working on a book—also called Drummers on Drumming—and it’s almost ready! The book dives deep into the Big Fat Five concept, with insights from some truly amazing drummers. I’m currently wrapping up the book cover as I record this, and I plan to have it available by Black Friday. So keep an eye out for that—it’ll make a pretty sweet gift for the drummer in your life...or, you know, yourself.
So there you have it—a new chapter for the podcast. It’s the same vibe, the same passion, just with a new name and more freedom to explore new ideas. I can’t wait to bring you along for this next phase.
Thank you so much for listening, supporting, and being part of this journey. I’ll see you next time on Drummers on Drumming.
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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
4 min
October 16, 2024The Drum Panel: Stealing Feel, Perfect Drum Takes, and Defining Pocket
Episode 4 of The Drum Panel
This week's guests are my good buddies Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum), and Mark Stepro (The Wallflowers, Butch Walker).
In this episode, we dive into:
If we could steal one drummers’s feel and add it to our own, who would it be?
What is an example of a perfect drum take on record?
What does “pocket” ACTUALLY mean?
What is the role of drummers in songwriting credits?
Does music theory really make one a better musician?
What’s the first thing we notice about a drummer that makes them come across as “amateur”?

Check out Steward Copeland on Drumeo 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
51 min
October 08, 2024 Big Fat Five: Julian Wieder (Independent) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records
Our guest today is one of Berlin’s rising stars in the drumming world, Julian Wieder. At just 25, he’s already making serious moves across the RnB, Hip-Hop, and Indie scene, both on stage and in the studio. I first discovered Julian thanks to the algorithm gods on Big Fat Snare Drum’s Explorer page—and once I saw his playing, I knew I had to get him on the show. His feel is unreal, blending pocket grooves with a sense of freedom that feels completely natural and effortless. Plus, he’s not just a drummer…he’s an educator, and a bit of a clinic master in the making.
In this episode, we’ll dive into the top records that shaped his sound, and he introduced me to a new favorite of mine that I can’t wait for you to hear. So I hope you enjoy the top records that helped shaped Julian Wieder 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.

JULIAN'S BIG FAT FIVE:
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Album - The Joy Of Motion
Artist - Animals as Leaders
Release Year - 2014
Key Track(s) - The Woven Web, Tooth and Claw
Drummer - Matt Garstka
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Album - Continuum
Artist - John Mayer
Release Year - 2006
Key Track(s) - Waiting On The World To Change, Gravity
Drummer - Steve Jordan
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Album - Wallflower
Artist - Jordan Rakei
Release Year - 2017
Key Track(s) - Eye To Eye, Sorceress
Drummer - Jim Macrae
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Album - Chris Dave and The Drumhedz
Artist - Chris Dave
Release Year - 2018
Key Track - Whatever
Drummer - Chris Dave
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Album - Past Present and Futures
Artist - Chick Corea
Release Year - 2001
Key Track(s) - Fingerprints, Rhumba Flamenco
Drummer - Jeff Ballard
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Honorable Mentions:
Nas - Illmatic
Ghost Note - Swagism
Yussef Kamaal - Black Focus

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

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35 min
October 02, 2024 Big Fat Five: Gabe Smith (Gracie Abrams) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records
Our guest today is Gabe Smith, the current CEO of Drums for Gracie Abrams Inc. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, now based in New York City, Gabe has also worked with incredible contemporary artists like Wet, Tei Shi, Eden, Frankie Cosmos, Kimbra and many more. Last summer, he opened for Taylor Swift and is about to rejoin that tour after some headline shows with Gracie Abrams. He’s a busy guy! It took some finessing since we’re both on tour, but we made it happen. I loved his picks, and I’m excited for you to hear this one. Please enjoy the top 5 records that shaped Gabe Smith into the sought-after, hardworking musician he is today. Cheers!
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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.

GABE'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - Abbey Road
Artist - The Beatles
Release Year - 1969
Key Track - She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Drummer - Ringo
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Album - Songs In The Key of Life
Artist - Stevie Wonder
Release Year - 1976
Key Track - Knocks Me Off My Feet
Drummer - Stevie Wonder
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Album - When The Pawn...
Artist - Fiona Apple
Release Year - 1999
Key Track - A Mistake
Drummer - Matt Chamberlain
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Album - Friendly Travelers Live
Artist - Wolfgang Muthspiel, Brian Blade
Release Year - 2007
Key Track - Gnadenwald (Live)
Drummer - Brian Blade
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Album - Donny Hathaway
Artist - Donny Hathaway
Release Year - 1971
Key Track - She Is My Lady
Drummer - Al Jackson Jr.

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
26 min
September 25, 2024The Drum Panel: The Worth of Gear: Are Drum Heroes Still Relevant?...and yes, we talk about Oasis
Episode 3 of The Drum Panel
This week's guests are my good buddies Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Carina Round), Neal Daniels (Matchbox 20, Liz Phair), Mike Robinson (Blame My Youth, Food On Tour Podcast).
In this episode, we dive into:
The value of high-end gear: Is it really worth the investment?
The existence of drum heroes: Do they still inspire us today?
Yes...we talk about Oasis...
Insights from the guys on the current landscape of drum endorsements.
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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
48 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.