Tag: drums

  • Todd Sucherman Rejoins Sonor Drums After 25 Years with Pearl

    Todd Sucherman
    (image from Todd Sucherman.com)

    In a significant shift in the drumming world, Todd Sucherman, the renowned drummer for Styx, has officially parted ways with Pearl Drums after nearly 25 years. Announcing the move through his social media, Sucherman revealed he is returning to Sonor Drums, the brand he played extensively during his early career.

    Sucherman first played Sonor drums during a recording session at the age of nine and continued using the brand until his early thirties. His return comes at a notable time, aligning with Sonor’s 150th anniversary, making it a powerful homecoming for both the drummer and the drum company.

    Reflecting on his departure from Pearl, Sucherman expressed heartfelt gratitude:

    “I made many true friends at Pearl over the years—plenty of whom I logged many miles performing at drum festivals and clinics all over the world together.”

    While his primary drum kit will now feature Sonor drums, Sucherman clarified that he will continue to use Pearl’s bass drum pedals and Icon Rack System, blending elements of both brands in his live and studio setups.

    Why Todd Sucherman Returned to Sonor Drums

    Sucherman’s decision to return seems deeply personal, emphasizing both nostalgia and quality craftsmanship. In his announcement, he stated:

    “I’m thrilled to return to the drums of my youth, and they are now the drums of my future.”

    Sonor, a German drum company founded in 1875, has long been known for its exceptional craftsmanship, making it a favorite among professional drummers worldwide. The partnership is significant for Sonor as well, with Sucherman’s endorsement aligning perfectly with their 150th anniversary celebrations.

    Todd Sucherman’s Legacy with Styx

    Joining Styx in 1995 and becoming their full-time drummer after the passing of original member John Panozzo, Todd Sucherman has since become one of the most respected drummers in the rock scene. His technical mastery and musical versatility have made him a standout performer, both live and in the studio.

    Beyond his work with Styx, Sucherman has released solo material and instructional content, further cementing his influence in the drumming community.

    What’s Next for Todd Sucherman and Sonor?

    This renewed partnership will likely inspire new creative projects. With Sucherman’s reputation for excellence and Sonor’s legacy of premium drum construction, it’s a collaboration that both drummers and fans will be watching closely in 2025.

  • The secret to serious groove drumming may just be . . . math!

    jeff porcaro groove math fractalsIn an article for Science magazine, Kerry Klein reveals the results of a Max Planck Institute study, which demonstrated fractals, or patterns that look “self-similar” on many different scales.

    A team headed up by physicist Holger Hennig analyzed the timekeeping of legendary drummer Jeff Porcaro – specifically, his recorded performance on Michael McDonald’s classic song, “I Keep Forgettin’.” What they found was that both Porcaro’s 16th-note rhythms AND dynamic volumes varied throughout the piece (although nearly unnoticeable to the human ear), and that those variations formed fractals.

    “It seems that the timekeeper in the brain not only produces fractal timing,” Hennig says, “but likely also fractal intensity or, in this case, loudness.”

    Click here to read the complete Science article.

  • Nashville Drummer Falls Through Window, Breaks Rib At Gig

    Ty Anderson and his wife were enjoying the Don Kelley Band at Robert’s Western World on Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee this past Friday . . . when the most unexpected of events took place. At the end of a song, drummer Stan Saxon stood up from his drums to thank the audience, and toppled over backwards – falling straight through the glass window behind him!

    On top of that, Ty caught it all on camera:

    The resilient Saxon not only finished his set of music with the band, but he also performed another four hours elsewhere nearby that same day. It wasn’t until the next morning that he learned that he’d actually broken a rib.

    But that still didn’t stop him from drumming at a gig again already that night. Talk about dedication to the music!

  • John Beck’s story-filled percussion collection

    John Beck - Eastman School of MusicTeaching percussion at Rochester, New York’s Eastman School of Music since 1959, John H. Beck has amassed quite the incredible collection of instruments, method books and other items. Beck, technically now retired, spoke recently with the Democrat & Chronicle about gradually sorting through the items and the memories.

    “Almost everything in here has a story,” says Beck. “The stories are what hold me back from getting this done. I open that door and walk in here, and there’s memorabilia all over the place.

    He taught hundreds of students in his years at Eastman, one of the most popular being the legendary Steve Gadd. But about his time with Gadd, he says, “”I didn’t really teach him . . . I just guided him.”

    Read the full D&C story here.

  • Aerodrums founders take their product to the Dragons’ Den

    aerodrums box contentAfter their recent appearance on Dragons’ Den, Aerodrums founders Yann Morvan and Richard Lee feel that the show’s investors didn’t quite understand the potential value of their rad little product and company.

    Combining Lee’s love of drumming with Morvan’s real-time motion tracking tech know-how, the two created Aerodrums to allow drummers to “air drum” for real. What this means to a percussionist is suddenly having the ability to practice or perform virtually anywhere. Even silently, as to not disturb those in their apartment building or other surroundings.

    Although impressed by the pair’s computer and high-speed camera wizardry, the Dragons’ Den crew were not entirely sold on the idea of supporting it.

    “Looking back we were not really able to make them understand the size of the market. It is true that musical instruments are not something everyone is interested in, there are a lot of people out there who don’t play music and even less who play drums. But that doesn’t mean it’s a tiny market. We felt their valuation of the company was completely wrong.” – Yann Morvan

    aerodrums closed box with drumsticksIn the end, an offer was indeed made to the Aerodrums team. How did it all pan out? Read this article from The Guardian for all the details!

  • What A Drummer’s Brain Looks Like

    We’ve all heard drummer jokes (here are 23 of the best drummer jokes out there) and some of them ARE pretty darn funny! But science has recently been pointing out some incredibly remarkable differences between the brain of a percussionist and that of just your average Joe.

    The good people at General Electric released this rad video that begins to touch on the neural connections made as a drummer performs:

    For more reading along these lines, check out this I Heart Intelligence post, as well as this from mic.com

    For your additional viewing pleasure, Mickey Hart…


    Brain

  • A playable cardboard drumset?

    Introducing Obilab and their incredible, cardboard, affordable, foldable and portable drumkit!

    Carry this super lightweight rig on your back, set it up in a jiffy and rock out now matter where you’re at. Small enough to fit in an overhead compartment on the airplane, you can take the Obilab kit everywhere you go.

    See/hear for yourself how cool this is . . .

    They’re in the launch phase as we write this, so you’ll likely be hearing much more about them in the near future. Interested in checking them out? Here are some links:

    Obilab.com

    Instagram: @obilab

    Twitter: @ObilabMusic

    Vimeo: @obilab