Articles by: David West

Jeff Beck: "I was pretty down at the time, I'd lost my girl, Hendrix had come and smeared everybody across the floor… I’d fallen out with the Yardbirds"

By David West published 12 January 23

Classic interview: More than 55 years on from his ousting from The Yardbirds, we revisit this classic interview where Beck looked back on an incredible story

Rush drum legend Neil Peart on the pursuit of excellence: "There is nothing I would rather have than the respect of other musicians for what I do"

By David West published 12 September 22

Classic interview: "Can I go down to the basement every day and practise again like I did when I was 13?"

12 epic reads for drummers with time on their hands

By David West last updated 8 July 20

Learn about the history of drums, celebrate female drummers and get inside the minds of Ginger Baker, Neil Peart, Keith Moon and more

Omar Hakim: 10 drummers that blew my mind

By David West published 1 January 20

As he takes his band Ozmosys on the road, session titan reveals his drum heroes

The 10 best rock drummers in the world right now

By David West published 28 December 19

The hottest rock drum talent of 2019, as voted for by you

The best live session drummers in the world right now

By David West published 3 December 19

The pro players backing the biggest names in rock and pop

The 6 best new snares in the world today

By David West last updated 5 December 19

How many have you tried?

The best new electronic percussion gear in the world today

By David West last updated 5 December 19

Your pick of the hybrid, digital and electronic drum innovations from 2019...

The best drum clinicians in the world today

By David West published 29 November 19

Your pick of the top tutors and demon demonstrators

The best online drum personalities in the world today

By David West published 29 November 19

Who takes the content crown?

The 7 best prog drummers in the world right now

By David West published 28 November 19

Your pick of the progressive players

Brutus drummer/vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts: “For 10 minutes after the show I hate everyone!”

By David West published 7 August 19

The Belgian drummer tells us about meeting Lars Ulrich, why flaws don't matter and why no one should talk to her after a show

Rival Sons' Michael Miley: “I’m more Keith Moon than meat and potatoes.”

By David West published 3 May 19

Heavy-grooving drummer on feeling like a caged animal, learning onstage, and trusting your instincts

Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangini: "I play like a Bruce Lee punch”

By David West published 12 April 19

Prog metal virtuoso on challenges, why he’s not the World’s Fastest Drummer and playing under a microscope

Mudhoney's Dan Peters: “In my old age, the red light scares me”

By David West published 27 March 19

The grunge pioneer talks breaking out of Seattle’s underground punk scene, playing atop the iconic Space Needle, and never worrying about hit singles

Behind the drums - Steve White: “What a wonderful community the drumming community is”

By David West published 4 March 19

Former Style Council drummer on his commitment to fostering the next generation's voice

Dennis Chambers: “James Brown would probably have ruined my life”

By David West published 21 February 19

Sugar Hill and Parliament-Funkadelic drum legend legend on breaking out of Baltimore as a teenager and refusing to fail

Behind the drums - KISS's Eric Singer: “Queen were like The Beatles on steroids"

By David West published 19 February 19

Drummer talks the frightening prowess of Buddy Rich, the importance of paying it forward and his life before and after KISS

JoJo Mayer: “The music industry is already dead. Something new is going to happen”

By David West published 13 February 19

The ground-breaking drumming pioneer taking audiences to places they’ve never been before

Steve Gadd: the drummer's drummer

By David West published 11 December 18

One of the most influential and imitated drummers of his generation talks to MusicRadar

Barrett Martin: "West Africa, that’s where all the mother rhythms come from"

By David West published 31 October 18

From Screaming Trees classics to Senegalese rhythms, drummer reflects on his eclectic career

Parkway Drive's Ben Gordon: "No one else in the band knows anything about drums"

By David West published 11 October 18

Crafting the right grooves to get a festival crowd jumping, and learning to play upside down in the Cage Of Death…

Chris ‘Daddy’ Dave: "People would show up with snare drums just to see if I would play them"

By David West published 26 September 18

Playing the game with a modern great

Copeland-approved funk hero Pete Ray Biggin: "When I play soul I’m still funky, I can’t help it. I play rock, I play it funky. It’s just in there"

By David West published 20 June 18

Life lessons from the young lion of funk

X Japan founder Yoshiki: “I had a death wish. If I’m going to die, I’m going to die on stage, so that’s why I would jump into my drumset.”

By David West published 14 May 18

Yoshiki talks brainwashing, We Are X and playing like there’s no tomorrow