Doug Meola's DrumSpot

Hey Drummers! Do you currently or have you ever played an acrylic drum kit like the Ludwig Vistalites? What are your thoughts on their sound and response? Check out this clip from Jeff Olcheltree from his DVD: "Trust Your Ears" - the Drum Tech Explorations of Jeff Ocheltree. In this one Jeff reviews the John Bonham Vistalite kit set up. The great Mark Romans gives a cool demo of the finished product! Check it out! (Original video posted on YouTube by DRUMMERWORLD - Bernhard Castiglioni)

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com

Hey Drummers! Are you a fan of Jojo Mayer / Nerve? Have you ever seen them play live? I was fortunate enough to see Jojo with Nerve several times at a venue called Nublu in NYC when I played with my band Saints and Lovers that was based in NYC. Check out this Nerve - Video EP Trailer - Live and Improvised at The Bunker Studio.

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com

Hey Drummers! Do you like watching vintage drum solos and/or "drum battles"? You have got to check out this cool footage from 1968 featuring Elvin Jones, Sunny Murray and Art Blakey on the same stage. Have you ever "jammed" with another drummer or done any gigs with you and another drummer playing together? I have played gigs with percussionists and it is always fun and interesting but I have never played on stage with another drum kit drummer.

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com

Hey Drummers! Do you have a favourite Billy Cobham album or performance? Check out this gem from 1974! Billy with John Abercrombie, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, John Farris, Alex Black and Milchu Leviev at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Norway, 1974. Billy is always amazing... Check out his "Gong Bass Drum" - 44years ago!

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com

Hey Drummers! Have you ever seen the amazing Terri Lyne Carrington play live in person or do you have a favourite recording that she has done? She is a Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer, composer, singer, record producer and entrepreneur who has played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Yellowjackets, and many others. Here she is doing her thing, check it out!

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com

Hey Drummers! Check out Buddy Rich using matched grip (!) playing the well known tune "Caravan" - a jazz standard composed by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington, and has been performed by countless bands and artists, the song is also heavily featured in the 2014 film Whiplash as an important plot element. Have you ever learned and/or played "Caravan" in a performance? Please share your experiences with us! Video courtesy of Music Circle, check it out!

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com

Hey Drummers! Have you ever thought about trying to play drums upside down on a rotating drum riser? A few weeks back I posted a video of Buddy Rich drumming upside down on a rotating drum kit for a TV show in the 1970s. Of course Tommy Lee made the rotating drum riser an incredible spectacle as a part of his drum solos. Travis Barker and Joey Jordison have also incorporated the revolving riser into their shows. The incredible Charlie Adams is a pioneer of the spinning, rotating drum riser and may have been the first drummer to take it to this extreme back in 1981! You have to check this out! Charlie is the longtime drummer for the artist Yanni and is also the drum instructor who taught Jimmy Chamberlin of the Smashing Pumpkins in his early years!

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com

Hello Drummers! Have you ever seen Virgil Donati at a drum clinic or in concert? This guy is a BEAST! He has played with some of the most talented musicians on the planet including Planet X, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, Soul SirkUS, Scott Henderson, and Tony MacAlpine, to name a few. Here is video clip of one of Virgil's solos from when he was touring with Steve Vai.. Virgil is currently on a drum clinic tour with Thomas Lang, if they are going to be appearing near you, don't miss it!

Do you have a favourite Virgil recording or performance? Please share yours with us!

For more drum information, photos, videos, educational and unique drumming stuff, stop by The DrumSpot website and and check it out! http://dougmeola.com