Although I wasn’t a huge fan of Loudness, it’s always sad when a fellow player dies, especially to such a heartbreaking disease. My heart goes out to the family.

Regarding drum grips: When I first started teaching, I told kids that they should use whatever feels most comfortable, but I now know there is a little technique that you have to force upon them. Learning to hold drum sticks incorrectly will definitely affect their playing for years to come. Plus, it will make you look bad as a teacher!

That said, I think that traditional grip is a little silly. When you see rock drummers using it, it looks a little pretentious because it serves no practical purpose (unless of course, you are in a marching band, playing your side drum).

It was during this time in my life that I really started to pay attention to drummers in the music that I listened to. When you start to learn songs by the artists you like, you realize that many of them are using the same beat – which is a little dismaying.

But Tim Alexander never used the same beat. He was much different than all the others.

Primus relied on three players who worked masterfully and independently from each other, but the sound remained cohesive. You can’t imagine my joy when I heard the first drum sounds of “My Name Is Mud” off the Pork Soda album; I hadn’t heard anything that strong. Ever.

Later, when the band replaced Alexander with similarly-talented Brain (his moniker), I couldn’t help but miss the subtleties of Alexander’s playing. For one thing, Brain didn’t use a double-bass drum pedal. I’m not THAT big of a double-bass fan, but it seemed right at home in Primus’ chunky style of music.

Primus seems to always be on hiatus, Alexander will remain the drummer who taught that you don’t have to be sloppy/loud to be in loud bands.

I always associated anthrax with terrorism and mediocre metal bands. Who knew that something as benign as bohemian drum building could allegedly kill you?

…well they did 100 years ago.

Seriously, I didn’t even know there was still music in the military. The whole debate actually strikes me as a little absurd and as outdated as the traditional grip.

John Patty, a Peorian-based drummer, was electrocuted by 35,000 volts while doing maintenance work by an electrical substation. The near-fatal accident traveled down his body, leaving his lower-legs useless. When he woke up from the medically-induced coma, his legs were gone.

Through an inspiring journey, Patty has learned to play a full kit again (given some modifications). While most of us would be content to hit a hand drum or provide auxiliary percussion, this guy went above and beyond to keep the spirit of rock alive.

Hats off you you sir!