Drummers on Drumming

What is up?! Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming — a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. My name is Ben Hilzinger, and today’s episode is a little different.A few months ago, I was sent a book by drummer and educator Mark Feldman — founder of Bang! The Drum School. The book is called Drumming Decoded: The Secret Code to Quickly Go From Newbie to Confident Drummer. It’s a relatively quick read at around 180 pages, but it’s surprisingly comprehensive.Now, I usually try to steer clear of too much “insider baseball” on this podcast because I want everyone to feel part of the conversation. That said, I also realized I haven’t really addressed beginner drummers directly in a lot of my content.So I brought Mark on not only to promote his book (which I do recommend — link’s in the show notes), but also to have a conversation about building a solid foundation from day one. And while this book and convo are definitely geared toward novice drummers, there are a ton of takeaways that can help any drummer — no matter where you're at in your journey.So, whether you’re just picking up sticks for the first time or you're revisiting the fundamentals, I hope you dig this episode. Even if you think you’ve heard it all before... you might just grow a little more.Here’s to the beginners — keep going. You got this!Check out Bang! The Drum School HERE Snag your copy of Drumming Decoded HERE ---ALSO...Get Your Copy of the my book Drummers on Drumming 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

Episode 13 of The Drum PanelWelcome 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 returning guest, Mike Robinson.Today we discuss: What the hell does it mean to be "rock"? Dealing with social anxiety and imposter syndrome while trying to network for your career. Why the word "networking" is gross ---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

This is another installment of Big Fat Five, a segment where I ask some of my favorite drummers to break down five records that had a major impact on their approach to music.This week, I’m joined by Marco Kleebauer—an Austrian drummer and producer who very recently popped up on my Instagram Explore page… and instantly peaked my interest. His drumming is minimalist yet experimental, and his analog-leaning recording approach is exactly the direction I want to explore with my own sound. This is just another reason I love doing this podcast—I get to discover someone new, connect with them, and then bring them to your attention, too!Go check out his website HERE where you can purchase his original music, grab some drum break packs, and explore playlists featuring artists he’s either collaborated with or who’ve used his drum breaks in their own music. And some exciting news… Marco is releasing a book called Notes on Drum Recording by the end of this year. It’s all about how to record drums in a small, less-than-ideal room—which, let’s be honest, is the reality for most of us (myself included). So be sure to follow him on Instagram—not only for a bunch of reasons you’ll soon discover, but also to stay updated on the book’s release.Marco dives into his backstory right at the top of our chat, so I’ll get out of the way. But I implore you to listen to the entire episode—he sprinkles some very tasty nuggets throughout.Alright, here are the five records that helped shape Marco Kleebauer into the highly sought-after producer and drummer he is today. Cheers!Check out his website HEREFollow him on Instagram HEREMARCO'S BIG FAT FIVE:Artist - The BeatlesAlbum - RevolverRelease Year - 1966Key Track - "Tomorrow Never Knows"Drummer - Ringo Starr-Artist - Led ZeppelinAlbum - Led Zeppelin 1Release Year - 1969Key Track - "Good Times Bad Times"Drummer - John Bonham-Artist - Jimi HendrixAlbum - Are You ExperiencedRelease Year - 1967Key Track - "Fire"Drummer - Mitch Mitchell-Artist - Silver ApplesAlbum - Silver ApplesRelease Year - 1968Key Track - "Program"Drummer - Danny Taylor-Artist - Flaming LipsAlbum - The Soft BulletinRelease Year - 1999Key Track - "Race for the Prize"Drummer - Steven Drozd---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

This is another installment of Big Fat Five, a segment where I ask some of my favorite drummers to break down five records that had a major impact on their approach to music.Today, I’m joined by Dee Simone, a Bay Area-raised dummer currently based in Los Angeles. She’s funky, powerful, dynamic, and incredibly versatile behind the kit.I have to give credit where it’s due—this interview wouldn’t have happened without Bill Burr. I was listening to his podcast when he gave a glowing review of Doechii’s recent Tiny Desk Concert for NPR, specifically shouting out Dee’s playing. For those who don’t know, Bill is a fantastic drummer himself, so that endorsement sent me down a rabbit hole of Dee's performances. Obviously, I have zero regrets.Dee has shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Doechii, Alison Wonderland, and Madame Ghandi to name a few. She’s done a lot, yet she remains humble and hungry, and this was a really fun conversation.Read Dee's Shoutout LA Feature HEREDEE'S BIG FAT FIVE:Artist - John P. KeeAlbum - The New Life Community Choir feat. John P. Kee Not Guilty - The ExperienceRelease Year - 2000Key Track - “Rain On Us,” "Right Here,” “I Do Worship”Drummer - Calvin Rodgers-Artist - The RootsAlbum - Things Fall ApartRelease Year - 1999Key Track - “The Next Movement,” “Act Too (The Love Of My Life,” “You Got Me”Drummer - Questlove-Artist - Kim BurrellAlbum - Live In ConcertRelease Year - 2001Key Track - “I’ll Keep Holding On,” “Holy Ghost,” “Anything”Drummer - Calvin Rodgers & Robert “Sput” Searight-Artist - BeyoncéAlbum - HOMECOMING: THE LIVE ALBUMRelease Year - 2019Key Track(s) - “Life Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” “Sorry,” “Bow Down,” “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)”Drummer - Venzella Joy Williams-Artist - ThundercatAlbum - ApocalypseRelease Year - 2013Key Track - “Lotus and the Jondy,” “Heartbreaks + Setbacks,” “Without You”Drummer - Thomas Pridgen---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

Episode 12 of The Drum PanelWelcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM.Today, we've got two fantastic guests joining the conversation:First up is Eric Leiderman. Eric is a producer at Late Night with Seth Meyers, where for years he oversaw the rotating drummer chair—regularly bringing in incredible drummers to fill in with the 8G Band when bandleader Fred Armisen couldn't be there. Eric’s done a ton to elevate the drumming community, and we’re stoked to have him on.We're also joined by Neal Daniels, an amazing drummer who's worked with artists like Liz Phair, LP, and Matchbox Twenty. Neal always brings thoughtful perspectives to the panel, and we’re excited to have him back.Today we discuss: How can drummers authentically promote themselves online without feeling fake? How do we maintain our artistic voice while making a living playing pop gigs? Is recording yourself the key to growth? Should every drummer learn double pedal? How can drummers practice self-compassion? Which historic recording session would you have loved to witness? ---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

This week’s guest is Fred Eltringham! If you listened to our recent episode with Sterling Laws, you heard Fred get a lot of love as one of Sterling’s five picks—so it was an honor to finally have him on the show himself.And I gotta say…his voice is so soothing and calm. Puts mine to shame.Fred has been playing with Sheryl Crow since 2012, but his résumé also includes The Wallflowers, The Chicks, kd lang, Willie Nelson, Gigolo Aunts, Juliana Hatfield, Ben Kweller, and plenty more. He’s a steady, calm ship at sea behind the kit, and it seems like songwriters line up around the block to work with him.In addition to his international touring with Sheryl, you can catch him on Instagram whenever he’s doing something cool in Nashville—especially with Jules Belmont, as part of their tasty little instrumental group.So, please enjoy my chat with Fred Eltringham about the five records that shaped him into the musician he is today.As promised…CLICK HERE for Fred’s current play-along playlist…Cheers!---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.FRED'S BIG FAT FIVE:Artist - Led ZeppelinAlbum - Led Zeppelin IRelease Year - 1969Key Track(s) - "Good Times, Bad Times," "Dazed and Confused"Drummer - John Bonham-Artist - The BeatlesAlbum - Abbey RoadRelease Year - 1970Key Track(s) - "Come Together," "You Never Give Me Your Money," "Polythene Pam," "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window," "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight," "The End"Drummer - Ringo Starr-Artist - SqueezeAlbum - SinglesRelease Year - 1989Key Track(s) "Pulling Mussels," "Tempted"Drummer - Gilson Lavis-Artist - Tom Petty and The HeartbreakersAlbum - Greatest HitsRelease Year - 1993Key Track(s) "The Waiting," "Last Dance With Mary Jane," "Free Fallin"Drummers - Stan Lynch, Phil Jones-Artist - Sheryl CrowAlbum - Sheryl CrowRelease Year - 1996Key Track(s) - "If It Makes You Happy," "Sweet Rosalyn," "Home"Drummers - Michael Urbano, Brian Macleod, Jim Keltner, Pete Thomas-Any Honorable Mentions?Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Donald Lindley on drums) / Essence (Jim Keltner on drums)Mitch Mitchell - The Jimi Hendrix ExperienceBuddy Miles - Band of GypsysJim Keltner - All things: Steely Dan, Leon Russell, John Lennon, George Harrison, Traveling WilburysJim Gordon - Sessions, Leon Russell, Harry NilssonHarry Nilsson - The Point (John Guerin on drums), Nilsson Schmilsson (Jim Gordon on drums)Charlie Watts - All things Rolling StonesKeith Moon, Kenny Jones (The Faces) - The Who: Who's Next, Tommy, Live from the Isle of Wight, It's HardNick Mason - Pink FloydGary Mallaber - Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974–78Levon Helm - The BandAlex Van HalenDave Houghton - Joe Jackson's Look SharpDave Grohl - Anything he drums onQueens of the Stone Age - First 3 albums: Nick Lucero, Gene Trautmann, Dave Grohl, Alfredo HernándezSteve Jordan / Charley Drayton - X-Pensive Winos: Live at the Palladium, Main OffenderStevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life, InnervisionsPrince - Dirty Mind through Diamonds and PearlsRoger Hawkins - Muscle Shoals / Sessions / Aretha Franklin: The House That Jack Built, RespectRuss Kunkel - Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole KingThe list goes on and on and on...I've reached max characters!For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode is going to be a little different. I’m starting a new, perhaps self-indulgent series where I pose a question on the Big Fat Snare Drum Instagram and make an episode out of your responses. Maybe it’ll stick. Who knows?…but these are the conversations I have with my musician friends anyways, so now I’m just pushing record. The first question posed was “which records helped define the 70’s drum sound?”. We got A LOT of responses and opinions were certainly shared (THANK YOU!) Ihad to shave a 5,000 hour playlist down to a handful of songs. Then, I called up my good buddy and amazing drummer, Jake Reed, to chat with me about his views on 70’s recording techniques and listen to the songs with me. Please enjoy!---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, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 my friend Chris “Woody” Wood, drummer for the internationally loved band, Bastille. Since exploding onto the scene with Bad Blood in 2013, Bastille has become a staple of modern alt-pop—balancing sweeping, atmospheric moments with massive sing-along choruses.Woody’s playing is a perfect example of how space, groove, and feel can elevate a song without ever getting in the way—something especially crucial in an arena-sized band like Bastille. But make no mistake, he still finds his moments, keeping his playing fresh, musical, and relevant for well over a decade.Beyond the kit, Woody is just a hilarious and thoughtful dude. He even co-hosts his own podcast, Away Days w/ Woody and Piers, a comedic deep dive into the world of away football fandom. We get into all of that and more—while uncovering the five records that shaped him into the drummer he is today.---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.CHRIS' BIG FAT FIVE:Artist - Red Hot Chili PeppersAlbum - CalifornicationRelease Year - 1999Key Track - "Scar Tissue"Drummer - Chad Smith-Artist - Queens Of The Stone AgeAlbum - Songs For The DeafRelease Year - 2002Key Track(s) - "Hangin' Tree," "Millionaire"Drummer - Dave Grohl-Artist - Smashing PumpkinsAlbum - Mellon Collie and The Infinite SadnessRelease Year - 1995Key Track(s) - "Jelly Belly," "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"Drummer - Jimmy Chamberlin-Artist - Mars VoltaAlbum - Deloused In The ComatoriumRelease Year - 2003Key Track(s) - "Inertiatic ESP," "Cicatraz ESP"Drummer - Jon Theodore-Artist - Nate SmithAlbum - ANYTHING HE PLAYS ONFor 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

Episode 11 of The Drum PanelWelcome 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, Britt Bowman (Demi Lovato, KiNG Mala, Meg Myers, Royal and the Serpent, Toni Cornell).Today we discuss: What’s the one piece of gear you’ve held onto the longest—and why? Are signature drumsticks a genuine advantage or just a marketing ploy? If you only had one hour per week to practice, how would you maximize your progress? Is it more beneficial for your creativity to immerse yourself in one album for a full week or explore a new record every day? Why every drummer needs a creative outlet outside of their career. How mental health directly impacts your drumming—and what to do about it. ---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

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. --- 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 - 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, - Artist - Dave Brubeck Album - Time Out Release Year - 1959 Key Track - "Take 5," "Blue Rondo á la Turk" Drummer - Joe Morello - Artist - Iron Maiden Album - Live After Death Release Year - 1985 Key Track - "Aces High" Drummer - Nicko McBrain - 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices