Modern Drummer is rebooting its world-famous Drum Festival on September 12th at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time with a live-streaming event honoring the late, great Rush drummer Neil Peart. Proceeds of ticket sales will benefit brain tumor research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The event, which will be produced and distributed via digital concert by LiveXLive Media, a global platform for livestream and on-demand audio, will feature Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Thomas Lang (Paul Gilbert, Nine Beats), Alex González (Maná), Jim Riley (Rascal Flatts), former Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine, Cindy Blackman-Santana (Santana), famed Vanilla Fudge/Jeff Beck drummer Carmine Appice, Keith Carlock (Toto, Steely Dan), Todd Sucherman (Styx), touring and studio legend Kenny Aronoff, Gregg Bissonette (Ringo’s All-Starr Band), Ray Luzier (Korn), global educator Dom Famularo, and YouTube drummer Kristina Schiano.
The festival will also feature special appearances by Carl Palmer (ELP, Asia), Eric Singer (Kiss), Mike Portnoy (Sons of Apollo, BMPD), Eric Leiderman (Late Night With Seth Meyers producer), Les DeMerle (Harry James, Transfusion), Brian Tichy (Bonzo Bash, ex-Foreigner, Whitesnake), Jason Bittner (Overkill), Don Lombardi (Drum Workshop, Drum Channel), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Jonathan Moffett (Michael Jackson), and social-media influencers Wyatt Stav and 66 Samus.
Among the special features of the 2020 MD Festival are VIP digital Meet & Greet packages which provide exclusive 1:1 video chats with your favorite drummer! Cindy Blackman-Santana, Kenny Aronoff, Danny Seraphine, Todd Sucherman, Brian Tichy, Thomas Lang, Carmine Appice, Keith Carlock, Chad Smith, and Gregg Bissonette.
And special-offer bundles include merchandise, tickets, and subscriptions to LiveXLive and Modern Drummer.
In addition, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the School of Rock, Drum Workshop, and Drum Channel are on board as Festival partners to provide exclusive content, giveaways, and special guests.
The Modern Drummer Festival is the most famous and prestigious drum festival in the world, and over the years has featured the most important and influential players in history. A small sampling includes jazz legends Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, and Jack DeJohnette, rock gods Ginger Baker, Ian Paice, and Danny Carey, fusion greats Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, and Vinnie Colaiuta, world-music icons Sheila E, Airto Moreira, and Horacio Hernandez, and modern masters Chris Coleman, Jojo Mayer, and Benny Greb. Ticket packages for this year’s event start at $12.99 and can be purchased here.
Add Kenny Aronoff to the list! – nevermind, he’s already on it! 😉 GREAT drummer! Only seen him once in ’85 on Mellencamp’s Scarecrow tour, 1 of the greatest concerts ever!!
Rock on, Wiggy! Stewart Copeland is 1 of my favorite drummers as well! As is Frank Beard (the beardless one 😉 ) from ZZ Top!
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Doug – let me pay the compliment back – Kenny Aronoff is a beast behind the kit. Loved his work with John Courgar Mellonhead. 🙂
Actually I am writing this another favorite comes to mind Liberty Devito from the Billy Joel Band – incredibly underrated.
I agree, Billy Joel has always had a great band behind him! – Mellonhead ~ LMAO!!! He really is! Great artist/musician, always been a fan, especially from ’79 – ’93, I’ll be nice and leave it at that. 😉
This sounds cool and a great way to see these guys show off their chops. Drummer’s rule, I should know, I am one. \mm/ Up the Irons!
I also LOVE drummers, you rule Tasker.
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Add Kenny Aronoff to the list! – nevermind, he’s already on it! 😉 GREAT drummer! Only seen him once in ’85 on Mellencamp’s Scarecrow tour, 1 of the greatest concerts ever!!
My pick is the late, great Cozy Powell.
Not a drummer (but I play one on TV)…and love this list – wish they had my favorite drummer….Stewart Copeland (the Police). Looks like a great event
Rock on, Wiggy! Stewart Copeland is 1 of my favorite drummers as well! As is Frank Beard (the beardless one 😉 ) from ZZ Top!
Doug – let me pay the compliment back – Kenny Aronoff is a beast behind the kit. Loved his work with John Courgar Mellonhead. 🙂
Actually I am writing this another favorite comes to mind Liberty Devito from the Billy Joel Band – incredibly underrated.
I agree, Billy Joel has always had a great band behind him! – Mellonhead ~ LMAO!!! He really is! Great artist/musician, always been a fan, especially from ’79 – ’93, I’ll be nice and leave it at that. 😉