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  1. Drums

In Pictures: 25 Years of Rhythm

News
By Rich Chamberlain published 3 September 2010

A look back at the stars that have graced Rhythm's illustrious cover

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Stewart Copeland

Stewart Copeland

An early one from the vaults (and an absolute legend to kick things off) - The Police's Stewart Copeland.

Page 1 of 26
Page 1 of 26
Sly Dunbar

Sly Dunbar

A rather stylish looking Sly Dunbar on the cover of Rhythm's March 1986 issue, an issue which cost just a quid and included reviews of Yamaha's 9000 series snares, a selection of Istanbul cymbals and a Dynacord electronic kit.

Page 2 of 26
Page 2 of 26
Vinnie Colaiuta

Vinnie Colaiuta

Mr Colaiuta heads up July 1987's issue, in which he tells us about his need to work on projects which he finds "musically stimulating". Judging by the sublime CV he's amassed in the subsequent 23 years we're guessing Vinnie has stuck to this principle.

Page 3 of 26
Page 3 of 26
Terry Bozzio

Terry Bozzio

The king of the oversized kit takes centre stage here on a cover which also features Premier's APK kit and the Roland Octapad II.

Page 4 of 26
Page 4 of 26
Tommy Lee

Tommy Lee

Tommy Lee peering over a Pearl bass drum with the kind of hair cut that screams hair metal on Rhythm's August 1989 issue.

Page 5 of 26
Page 5 of 26
Roger Taylor

Roger Taylor

A stripped back cover that has just about everything you need. A drumming god. Check. A pair of sticks. Check. A rickety stool. Check.

Page 6 of 26
Page 6 of 26
Steve Smith

Steve Smith

Steve Smith shows his love for Zildjian with a rather fetching t-shirt and poses for this cover with one of his beloved pies seemingly sticking out the side of his head.

Page 7 of 26
Page 7 of 26
Jason Bonham

Jason Bonham

Jason Bonham stepped out of his father's sizable shadow at the tail-end of 1992 as he earned his own Rhythm cover interview, and he did it sporting this awesome look.

Page 8 of 26
Page 8 of 26
Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl

The emergence of a drumming god - December 1993 Dave Grohl (and a Tama kit with a simply massive rack tom) dominates the cover of the UK's best-selling drumming magazine.

Page 9 of 26
Page 9 of 26
Larry Mullen Jr

Larry Mullen Jr

Riding high on the success of U2's Zooropa album, Larry Mullen Jr took his place upon Rhythm's cover in November 1994.

Page 10 of 26
Page 10 of 26
Chad Smith

Chad Smith

Never one to be accused of being boring, check out what Chad Smith was happy to do when it came for posing for his November 1995 cover shot.

Page 11 of 26
Page 11 of 26
Steve White

Steve White

The UK drumming institution took to Rhythm's cover in 1996, a year in which that honour was also given to the likes of Frank Beard, Zak Starkey and Ed Thigpen. Steve has graced the cover of five issues of Rhythm.

Page 12 of 26
Page 12 of 26
Peter Criss

Peter Criss

Kiss's original catman put on a bit of slap for this February 1997 cover.

Page 13 of 26
Page 13 of 26
Tre Cool

Tre Cool

Tre Cool brings a much needed luminous green tint to November 1998's Rhythm cover.

Page 14 of 26
Page 14 of 26
Caroline Corr

Caroline Corr

As an integral part of a multi-million album shifting band, Caroline Corr more than earned her place on Rhythm's cover back in May 1999. She was in good company that year, with Sheila E, Keith Moon, Chad Smith, Terry Bozzio and a shedload more gracing the Rhythm cover.

Page 15 of 26
Page 15 of 26
Buddy Rich

Buddy Rich

April 2000 saw us celebrate the life and career of a true drumming master - Buddy Rich.

Page 16 of 26
Page 16 of 26
Steve Gadd

Steve Gadd

Steve Gadd shared his session secrets with us in this 2001 cover interview,

Page 17 of 26
Page 17 of 26
Ginger Baker

Ginger Baker

We stepped inside the crazy life of Ginger Baker in January 2002.

Page 18 of 26
Page 18 of 26
John Bonham

John Bonham

Well, we couldn't have one Bonham without the other, could we? We doff out caps to Bonzo is our December 2003 issue. In this issue we also launched our first ever covermounted disc featuring audio lessons, playalong tracks and loads more. The disc is better than ever today and we recently moved to video lessons and a brand spanking new user interface.

Page 19 of 26
Page 19 of 26
Joey Jordison

Joey Jordison

Slipknot's masked tub-thumper, and recent winner of our Greatest Drummer of the Last 25 Years poll, looks suitably macabre in this June 2004 cover.

Page 20 of 26
Page 20 of 26
Alex Van Halen

Alex Van Halen

Alex Van Halen takes the prime position on a cover filled with drumming talent in March 2005. Aside from AVH there's also Mick Fleetwood, Gary Powell and Mark Richardson. And that's before you've even opened the mag!

Page 21 of 26
Page 21 of 26
Danny Carey

Danny Carey

Judging by the feedback from our recent Greatest Drummer of the Last 25 Years poll you guys love Danny Carey. And as you can see from this June 2006 cover, we love him too

Page 22 of 26
Page 22 of 26
Drum Heroes

Drum Heroes

We let Guest Editor Mike Portnoy loose on this January 2007 cover. For the special issue he chose to interview his heroes Nick Mason, Neil Peart, Bill Bruford and Lars Ulrich.

Page 23 of 26
Page 23 of 26
Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich peeks back at you from behind his shades on October 2008's Rhythm cover.

Page 24 of 26
Page 24 of 26
Mitch Mitchell

Mitch Mitchell

We kicked off 2009 with this stripped-back tribute to the great Mitch Mitchell.

Page 25 of 26
Page 25 of 26
The Drummers of Michael Jackson

The Drummers of Michael Jackson

It was another case of giving you more drum heroes for your money earlier this year as the Drummers of Michael Jackson (JR Robinson, Leon Ndugu Chancler, Ricky Lawson, Jonathan Moffett and Bashiri Johnson) shared July's cover to discuss their contributions to some of the greatest pop music ever recorded.

Page 26 of 26
Page 26 of 26
Rich Chamberlain
Rich Chamberlain

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).

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