This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2011)

This article is outdated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Please see the talk page for more information. (August 2011)

A marching drumline warming up

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set", including but not limited to cymbals) and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a wide assortment of musical genres. The term percussionist applies to a musician who performs struck musical instruments of numerous diverse shapes, sizes and applications. Most contemporary western ensembles bands for Rock, Pop, Jazz, R&B etc. includes a drummer within the context of its music based ensemble for purposes including but not limited to timekeeping, and artist based applications deemed appropriate towards the elevation of a prescribed music based aesthetic. Most drummers of this particular designation work within the context of a larger contingent (aka rhythm section) that may also include, keyboard (a percussion instrument) and/or guitar, auxiliary percussion (often of non western origin) and bass (bass viol or electric). Said ensembles may also include melodic based mallet percussion including but not limited to: vibraphone, marimba and/or xylophone. The rhythm section, being the core metronomic foundation with which other melodic instruments, including voices, may present the harmonic/melodic portion of the material.

First and foremost, a drummer is a musician that performs music on the multi-percussion instrument known as the drum set, which usually consists of a bass drum (with pedal), a floor tom, tom-toms, a snare drum, hi-hats, a ride cymbal, and a crash cymbal.

In popular music, the primary function of the drummer is to "keep time" or provide a steady tempo and rhythmic foundation. However, in other musical styles, such as world, jazz, classical, and electronica, the function of a drummer is often shifted from "time keeper" to soloist, whereby the main melody becomes the rhythmic development generated by the drummer or percussionist.

There are many tools that a drummer can use for either timekeeping or soloing. These include cymbals, (i.e. china, crash, ride, splash, hi-hats, etc.) Auxiliary percussion, (i.e. bells, Latin drums, cowbells, temple blocks) and many others. Also there is a single, double, and a triple bass pedal for the bass drum.

Military[link]

Drummer of the French Chasseurs alpins

Before motorized transport became widespread, drummers played a key role in military conflicts. The drum cadences provided set a steady marching pace, and elevated troop morale on the battlefield. In some armies drums also assisted in combat by keeping cadence for firing and loading drills with muzzle loading guns. Military drummers were also employed on the parade field, when troops passed in review, and in various ceremonies including ominous drum rolls accompanying disciplinary punishments. Children also served as drummer boys well into the nineteenth century, though less commonly than is popularly assumed as due to the nature of the job experienced older men were preferred.

Drummers are no longer employed in battle, but their ceremonial duties continue. Typically buglers (wind instrument)and drummers mass under a sergeant-drummer and during marches alternately perform with the regiment and/or battalion ensembles.

Military based musical percussion traditions were not limited exclusively to the western world. When Emir Osman I was appointed commander of the Turkish army on the Byzantine border in the late 13th century, he was symbolically installed via a handover of musical instruments by the Seldjuk sultan. During the Ottoman Empire, size of a military band reflected the rank of its commander in chief: the largest reserved for the Sultan (viz. his Grand Vizier when taking the field). It included various percussion instruments, often adopted in European military music (as 'Janissary music') The pitched bass drum is still known in some languages as the Turkish Drum. Alternatively, in old English, Tabert is champion of the people, or great leader, i.e. a great drummer.

Military forces especially those of the British Commonwealth, battalions or regiments often consisted of a "pipes and drums" band ("the band') consisting of bagpipes and drummers. These bands are often employed as stretcher bearers or medics on the battlefield.

Parades[link]

Is a genre of marching ensemble descended from it military drummers and can be arranged as a performance of a drum, a group of drummers, and as a part of a larger marching band. Their uniforms will often have a military style and a fancy hat. In recent times, it is more common to see drummers in parades wearing costumes with an African, Asian, Latin, Native American, or tribal look and sound.

Popular culture[link]

Beginning in the 20th century, drummers achieved an elevated distinction as stars of the entertainment industry with swing era drummer Gene Krupa often portrayed among the best known among the varied show business related genres. Krupa's ongoing popularity created a fortuitous stereotype, evolved during rock music eras, where drummers were often portrayed as glamorous personas sitting behind large drum kits on gargantuan arena stages, although Krupa's periodic legal troubles did create the occasional perception of drummers as less than responsible within the context of prescribed behaviors, a stereotype with as many detractors as supporters.

See also[link]

• List of drummers
• Drum beat
• Drum machine
• Pipe band

References[link]

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Tagged since April 2011. It may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Tagged since May 2011. It may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. Tagged since May 2011.

Thomas Lang
Thomas Lang in concert, October 15, 2005
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Lang
Born	(1967-08-05) August 5, 1967 (age 44)
Origin	Vienna, Austria
Genres	Instrumental rock, pop, jazz, progressive rock, heavy metal, avant-garde metal
Occupations	Musician, producer
Instruments	Drums, bass, keyboards, guitar, vocals
Years active	1985–present
Associated acts	stOrk, John Wetton, Vienna Art Orchestra, Falco, Robert Fripp, Glenn Hughes, Robbie Williams, Steve Hackett, Nina Hagen, Terabite, Schwarzenator

 Thomas Lang (help·info) (born August 5, 1967, Vienna) is an Austrian drummer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and record producer. He is the founding member of the Los Angeles-based progressive/avant garde metal trio, stOrk.

Lang took up drumming at the age of 5. In addition to lessons at local music schools and years of private tuition, he was classically trained at the Vienna Conservatory of Music. After leaving the conservatory in 1985, Lang began working professionally, working his way through the European pop, rock and jazz scenes. Throughout his career as a session musician he has played for various artists such as John Wetton, Robert Fripp, Glenn Hughes, Peter Gabriel, Asia, Nik Kershaw, Tina Turner, Robbie Williams, Kelly Clarkson, Sugababes, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Ronan Keating, Steve Hackett, 911, Boyzone, Falco, Nina Hagen, Steve Jones, Mick Jones, The Commodores, George Michael, Doogie White, B*Witched, Gianna Nannini, Lighthouse Family, Westlife, Kylie Minogue, The Blockheads, Sertab Erener, Vienna Art Orchestra, Bonnie Tyler, and Nadine Beiler, among others. In 1995 Lang released his debut solo release, Mediator, which topped the charts in Europe and garnered positive reviews.^[1]

Instructional material[link]

Lang has released the DVD Creative Control, teaching advanced drumming techniques. In 2005 he headlined the UK Drumfest held in Birmingham alongside Kenny Aronoff and Jimmy Chamberlin.

Lang’s original practice regime eventually became the basis for his 2-part series of instructional videos, “Ultimatives Schlagzeug I & II” which were originally released in 1995. The videos were re-released on DVD in 2004 by Hudson Music. In 2003 Lang released the instructional DVD and book “Creative Control”.

In 2009, Lang launched The Thomas Lang Drumming Boot Camp a multi-day touring, educational drumming experience that has been hosted in various locations around the world including London, Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Austria and Finland among others.

His follow-up DVD and book, "Creative Coordination & Advanced Foot Technique" was released in November 2006. Lang maintains a website to offer his books and DVDs. In 2010, he auditioned for Dream Theater, as revealed by a recent documentary trailer released by the band, but did not win the audition; the eventual winner revealed to be Mike Mangini.

In 2010 Lang began hosting the Thomas Lang Drumming Boot Camp, a touring educational drum camp that has been hosted around the world in various locations including Los Angeles, London, New York, Berlin and Austria among other locations.

In December 2011, Lang began offering online lessons at the Artistworks Drum Academy.

Equipment[link]

Lang is a 10-year endorser of Meinl cymbals. He has designed a number of cymbals with Meinl: the 16" Synthetik Crash, 17" Kompressor Crash, 18" Kinetik Crash, 18" Signal Crash/Klub Ride, and Filter Chinas. Lang stated on Creative Control that when he designed his cymbals, he wanted to recreate electronic cymbal sounds in acoustic cymbals.^{[citation needed]} One of Lang's goals was to create a pitch-matched range of contemporary crash cymbals that provide acoustic and electronic drummers with modern sounds that resemble artificially engineered cymbal samples - “Tom’s Becken” launched in 2002. In 2004 Thomas Lang worked with Meinl again to design the “Fast Hats”, and a series of “Filter Chinas”.

In 2002, the Remo Corporation approached Thomas to produce the “Thomas Lang Practice Kit".

Other Thomas Lang products are Vic Firth’s “Thomas Lang signature model” stick and the “Thomas Lang signature Bigfoot bassdrum beaters” .

After endorsing Sonor Drums for 20 years, in 2010 he signed with Drum Workshop (DW) drums.

Awards[link]

• 1999, 2001: Best studio drummer (Rhythm magazine)
• 2002: Best pop drummer, Best all-around drummer (Rhythm magazine)
• 2002: Best drummer (Drums and Percussion magazine)
• 2003: Best clinician (Modern Drummer magazine)
• 2004: Best DVD, Best clinician runner up, Best drummer runner-up (Modern Drummer magazine); Best DVD, Best new signature product, Best drummer (Drummer magazine); Best studio drummer (Rhythm magazine); Best recorded drum performance (Sticks magazine)
• 2005: Best pop drummer, Best Clinician, Best Solo Drum performance (Rhythm magazine); Best DVD, Best all around drummer, Best drum event (Drummer magazine)
• 2006: Best drum clinician (DRUM! Magazine), Best drumming video/DVD (Drum! Magazine); Best DVD, Best drummer (Rhythm magazine)
• 2007: Best DVD, Best drummer (Rhythm magazine); Best DVD, Best drummer, Best Clinician (Modern Drummer magazine)
• Aurora Gold Award 2007 for Best Video Production
• 2008: Best Clinician (Modern Drummer Magazine); Best Clinician (DRUM! Magazine)

Selected discography[link]

• Thomas Lang - Mediator (1995)
• John Wetton - Live at the Progfest L.A. (1997)
• Thomas Lang - Creative Control (2003)
• Thomas Lang - Creative Coordination (2006)
• Thomas Lang - Something Along Those Lines (2007)
• B*Witched - Jump Up, Jump Down (Live)
• Willi Langer - Colours of the Octopus
• Willi Langer - Signs of Life
• Billy Liesegang - No Strings Attached
• Vienna Art Orchestra - Songs and other Adventures
• Vienna Art Orchestra - Art and Fun
• John Wetton - Arkangel
• John Wetton - Live in Tokyo
• John Wetton - Live in Argentina
• StOrk - StOrk (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Thomas Lang on Drummerworld
• Thomas Lang on MySpace
• Thomas Lang Drumming Boot Camp
• Thomas Lang School of Drums
• Thomas Lang's Big Drum Bonanza

Benny Greb
Background information
Born	(1980-06-13) June 13, 1980 (age 32)
Origin	Augsburg, Germany
Genres	New Wave/rock , Jazz
Occupations	Musician, Music Teacher
Instruments	Drums, Percussion,
Years active	2002 – present
Website	http://www.bennygreb.de/

Benny Greb (born on June 13, 1980 in Augsburg, Germany) is a prolific German drummer and clinician. He started playing the drums at age six and began taking lessons at age twelve. He plays a large variety of music and can be seen playing rock with Stoppok and The Ron Spielman Trio, jazz with The Benny Greb Brass Band and Sabri Tulug Tirpan, funk with Jerobeam, reggae with Bobby McFerrin, fusion with the NDR Big Band on their Frank Zappa Project, with 3erGezimmeR and Wayne Krantz, and acoustic punk with Strom & Wasser. He has also performed at the Modern Drummer Festival 2010 and at many clinics and drum festivals around the world. Greb is endorsed by Meinl Percussion and has a signature line of Vintage Series cymbals including the "Sand Ride" and "Sand Hats," both known for their sandblasted finishes.

Greb appeared on the scene in 2009 with his Hudson Music DVD "The Language of Drumming".

External links[link]

• Official website
• Drummerworld Profile

Notes[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2010)

Aquiles Priester (born June 25, 1971) is the drummer of the Brazilian power metal band Hangar. In 2006, Aquiles participated in Fábio Laguna's Freakeys project. He is a former member of Angra.^[1]

Biography[link]

Aquiles Priester was born in Otjo, South Africa. His first exposure to the instrument was at age four while watching a jazz ensemble perform on television.

Aquiles moved to Brazil in 1977, and played football until 1985. In 1985 he attended the "Rock in Rio" festival where he decided to become a drummer. Although he began playing on cans, he would eventually assemble a set consisting of a snare, tom (which he borrowed from his school), bass drum, hihat, and a cymbal, which he hung from his roof. One of his biggest influences is Nicko McBrain of (Iron Maiden). A local television band called The Tropical Band observed his performances and invited him to play a couple of songs; later the band Stylo Livre (freestyle) recruited him. Priester would struggle for years to come, but eventually find success with metal outfits throughout Brazil, and eventually receive the chance to audition for Angra, in 2000. He continued to play with Angra until their hiatus at the end of 2007 but eventually left the band to focus on his other band, Hangar. In 2010 he auditioned, along with six other drummers, for the chance to replace Dream Theater's former drummer, Mike Portnoy. The band ultimately decided to hire Mike Mangini as their new drummer.

Equipment[link]

Aquiles endorses: Paiste, Mapex, Evans, Pro-Mark, Audio-Technica, DW Pedals, Gibraltar Hardware, Zoom, Staff Drum, Santo Angelo, Urban Boards, Ciclotron, Shred Cases, AeroRic Custom Drums, Tander Tattoo Studio and Lady Snake Rock Wear.

Aquiles has led various drum clinics throughout the Americas, especially the ones in Santiago, Viña del Mar, and Concepción (cities of Chile) with great acceptance and technique.

Discography[link]

With Hangar[link]

• Last Time (1999)
• Inside Your Soul (2001)
• The Reason of Your Conviction (2007)
• Last Time Was Just the Beginning (2008)
• Infallible (2009)
• Acoustic, but Plugged In! (2011)

With Angra[link]

• Rebirth (2001)
• Hunters and Prey (2002)
• Live in São Paulo (2003)
• Temple of Shadows (2004)
• Aurora Consurgens (2006)

With Freakeys[link]

• Freakeys (2006)

Apart from these acts, Aquiles Priester has also been involved in Di'anno (Nomad - 2000) and Serj (Liquid Piece of Me - 2007).

Videography[link]

• Inside My Drums (2004)
• The Infallible Reason of my Freak Drumming (2010)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Aquiles Priester's official website
• Entrevista no OBaterista.com

This article on a Brazilian musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This article on a drummer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e