Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Kits

In Pictures: Derek Grant kit shots

News
By Rich Chamberlain published 27 May 2010

Alkaline Trio drummer talks us through his kit

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

In Pictures: Derek Grant Kit Shots

In Pictures: Derek Grant Kit Shots

Last night Rhythm caught up with Alkaline Trio before their awesome, anthem filled headlining show at the Bristol O2 Academy. We checked out drummer Derek Grant’s kit and spoke to him about his choice of gear, his penchant for huge bass drums and his unorthodox dampening methods. Check it all out for yourself…

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
The Alkaline Trio stage set-up

The Alkaline Trio stage set-up

"The kit I use over here is vastly different to the kit I use in the States. The kit I use here is a kit I’ve had for six or seven years and I shipped it over here and it lives over here. This kit is the kit I would have played in the States six or seven years ago which is a 24” kick drum, a 13” tom and a 16” floor tom. It’s built by C&C, which is a company I’ve been with for about ten years."

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Derek's 24" bass drum

Derek's 24" bass drum

"In the States over the last five years or so I’ve gone from a 24” to a 26” to a 28” kick and the toms have got slightly bigger as well. So, the kit Ive got used to playing is quite a bit beefier than ths one. Anytime I come here and play this kit there’s a certain learning curve. I tend to hit more rims and the kick drum sounds totally different. But, it’s a beautiful kit, it sounds great and I really enjoy playing it. One of these days I’ll have to get replica kits over here."

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Derek's kit

Derek's kit

"I like to have everything nice and tight. I don’t like to over extend myself reaching for a drum. I feel like by doing that I’m conserving energy that I need for certain drum fills and songs."

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Floor tom

Floor tom

Derek's 16" C&C floor tom - which he interchanges with his bass drum throughout his playing to create his signature punchy sound - all miked-up and ready to go.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Heads...

Heads...

"I’ve always used Remo heads, whether or not I had a deal with them I always used them in the studio. Now I work with them exclusively so I get to use them live and they’re without a doubt my favourite heads."

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
One up..

One up..

"I use a little bit of Moon Gel on the toms. I don’t like overtly ringing toms. I like the tubbier sound. When I was a kid I wanted such a dead sound that I used to take a full sheet of paper and tape it to the drum heads. Thankfully I’ve gotten away from that."

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Derek's kit in all its glory

Derek's kit in all its glory

Derek uses C&C drums, Sabian AAX cymbals and Remo heads.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
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).

Latest in Drum Kits
Slingerland Radio King 3-piece drum set
“Not the most thunderous of kits. Not particularly loud, but sophisticated, rounded and darkly inviting": Slingerland Radio King drum set review
 
 
Man playing acoustic drums on the left of the image and electronic drums on the right
Is an acoustic or an electronic drum kit better for beginners?
 
 
Where to start with a drum kit
 
 
DrumCraft Urban Beats
“A good-looking kit which won’t break the bank”: DrumCraft Urban Beats review
 
 
Alesis Crimson III
Alesis’ popular Crimson e-kit just got an upgrade with version III sporting new heads and a new BFD-powered drum brain
 
 
Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set
“Boasts an array of features above its relatively low price”: Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set review
 
 
Latest in News
Perry Bamonte of The Cure performs at Riot Fest 2023 at Douglass Park on September 17, 2023
“Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative": Perry Bamonte, of the Cure, dies aged 65
 
 
D'Angelo and Prince
D’Angelo was so in awe of Prince that he refused to play his guitar on the one occasion they shared a stage
 
 
Portrait of British musician Kirsty MacColl (1959 - 2000) and Irish musician Shane MacGowan, the latter of the group the Pogues, as they pose together, each holding a toy gun with one hand and, in the other, a Christmas cracker over an inflatable Santa Claus, 1987.
“In operas, if you have a double aria, it's what the woman does that really matters. The man lies, the woman tells the truth": The story of Fairytale Of New York
 
 
Chris Rea circa 1970
Tell Me There’s A Heaven: Chris Rea has died, aged 74
 
 
Lady Gaga performs during her 'JAZZ & PIANO' residency at Park MGM on August 31, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada
“Being a human being isn’t going to go out of style anytime soon”: Why Lady Gaga is unafraid of AI
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Alanis Morrisette performs live on stage at The O2 Arena on July 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage for ABA)
Alanis Morissette reveals what she thinks is “the real irony” of the fuss caused by the lyrics in her 1996 hit
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...