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Drum History

Drum History

By: Bart Vanderzee
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 A podcast all about the rich history of the drums - and how they became what they are today! Join Bart van der Zee as he speaks with experts about the curious journey of the ever-evolving drum set.All rights reserved Music World
Episodes
  • How Drum Sample Packs Are Created with Shawn Fields and Darrell Thorp

    How Drum Sample Packs Are Created with Shawn Fields and Darrell Thorp
    Nov 4 2025
    In this episode, Bart talks with Shawn Fields, founder of Drumatica, and Grammy-winning audio engineer Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Beck, Foo Fighters) about the creation of the groundbreaking Black Oyster drum sample library. Shawn shares how his lifelong obsession with capturing the perfect drum sound evolved from sampling friends’ kits in the ’90s to launching Drumatica — a company dedicated to delivering “mix-ready” virtual drum instruments for musicians everywhere. He explains how years of experimentation, precision sampling, and collaboration with Sweetwater Studios led to the creation of this meticulously detailed collection. Darrell dives into the mixing philosophy behind the Black Oyster project — from mic placement and compression choices to balancing vintage warmth with modern punch. Together, they explore how Drumatica aims to empower musicians, producers, and songwriters with authentic acoustic drum sounds that inspire creativity right out of the box. The discussion also covers: The origins of the “automatic drummer” concept The painstaking process of recording and tuning hundreds of drum hits Collaborations with top engineers like Brendan Dekora The evolving role of AI in music creation and how Drumatica plans to use it Why capturing every nuance of a performance still matters in the digital age Whether you’re a drummer, producer, or recording enthusiast, this episode offers a fascinating look at the art, science, and obsession behind modern drum sampling. 🎵 Learn more at: www.Drumatica.com and www.darrellthorp.com/ Save 30% with code drumhistory30
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • A Look at the Gear of Steve Gadd (Part 1) with Paul Wells

    A Look at the Gear of Steve Gadd (Part 1) with Paul Wells
    Oct 7 2025
    In this episode of Drum History, we take an in-depth look at the legendary gear of Steve Gadd, one of the most recorded and influential drummers of all time. Our returning guest, Paul Wells (Juilliard jazz faculty, Curtis Stigers, Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks), joins host Bart van der Zee for another ultra-detailed “gear episode” exploring the drums that shaped Gadd’s sound across his incredible career. Part 1 covers from Childhood to 1989. From his early Gretsch and Rogers kits to the iconic Yamaha setup that became synonymous with his style, we trace how each era of his gear evolved — and how innovations like his tom configurations, hi-hat preferences, and snare choices influenced generations of drummers. Paul also shares insights from his exclusive interview with Steve Gadd, arranged with help from John DeChristopher (Live From My Drum Room), and stories from Artie Smith, Steve’s longtime drum tech. Links and resources: 📘 Steve Gadd: A Life in Time by Joe Bergamini (Hudson Music) https://amzn.to/3KvLSP9 🥁 Gaddiments – Steve’s book of modern rudimental exercises https://amzn.to/4h4rgd2 🎥 Ruben van Roon’s YouTube channel for rare Steve Gadd performances and breakdowns https://www.youtube.com/@RubenvanRoonDrumChannel and of course, Live from My Drum Room with John DeChristopher https://www.youtube.com/@livefrommydrumroom If you love deep gear history, detailed analysis, and legendary drumming stories, this is one you won’t want to miss. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & Steve Gadd overview 2:30 – Early Gretsch kits and childhood setup 10:00 – Rogers kits, The Hustle, and the disco era 20:00 – Army years & rare cymbal stories 28:00 – Yamaha era and gear innovations 45:00 – Interview with Steve Gadd preview 55:00 – Books, resources & legacy 🎙️ Hosted by Bart van der Zee 🎵 Guest: Paul Wells https://www.youtube.com/@paulwells2227
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    2 hrs and 11 mins
  • Your Mind’s Ear: Dave Elitch on Sound, Gear, and Playing Without Pain

    Your Mind’s Ear: Dave Elitch on Sound, Gear, and Playing Without Pain
    Aug 12 2025
    Drummer and educator Dave Elitch (The Mars Volta, Weezer, Miley Cyrus) joins me to break down why so many drummers hit a ceiling—and how to fix it with better mechanics, smarter practice, and choices that actually translate to the kit. We dig into eliminating hidden tension, building sustainable speed and feel, practical tuning and muffling, and Dave’s new course Your Mind’s Ear on dialing in sound and gear (launching September 8, 2025). Highlights The #1 mistake: building speed on top of tension—and how to unwind it Meeting players where they are: playing “more you” without pain Social media vs. reality: flashy techniques that won’t hold up on a gig Practical tuning & muffling (heads, dampening, avoiding dead drums) Small daily habits that prevent injury and compound progress Find Dave Website/Courses: www.daveelitch.com Instagram: @daveelitch Follow Drum History Subscribe for more deep dives on drumming and music history.
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    48 mins
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