Ongoing History of New Music with Alan Cross

Episode: History of the Modern Drum Kit

Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Alan Cross

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Alan Cross dives deep into the origins and evolution of the modern drum kit. Far more than a simple profile of great drummers, the episode covers centuries of rhythmic innovation: from the earliest membranophones to the rise of jazz, the swing era, rock and roll, and electronic drums. Alan brings both a historian’s rigor and a drummer’s passion, featuring not only fascinating historical milestones but also colorful stories about iconic players and the gear that shaped generations of music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Focus on Drummers and Drum Kits?

• Drummers often receive less attention compared to guitarists and singers, aside from a few notables like Dave Grohl.
• There are extensive books about guitars and keyboards, but very little about drum kits themselves.
• Alan notices, "Don't tell me that you go to a Tool show and don't stare at what Danny Carey is playing..." (02:06)

2. Alan’s Personal Drumming Journey

• Alan reveals his own background: "Full disclosure here. I play the drums. I’ve been a drummer for decades. In fact, I used to teach drums at a long gone place in the north end of Winnipeg called Drums Unlimited." (03:03)
• Reminisces about seeing Neil Peart’s Rush drum kits up close—a peak fan moment.

3. The Ancient Roots of Drums

• Drums (membranophones) are among the oldest instruments—dating as far back as 6000 BC, vital in rituals, war, and early music.
• The snare appears by the 14th century, originally for keeping time for flute players but soon becomes essential in military and popular music (08:42).

4. Consolidation and Early Drum Kits

• Late 19th/early 20th century: transition from many percussionists to one person handling multiple drums/cymbals.
• Crucial innovation: the foot pedal, patented by Ludwig & Ludwig in Chicago, 1909—“And it’s basically the same design that we see on drum kits today.” (10:00)
• Cymbals’ origin traced back to Constantinople (Zildjian, est. 1623).

5. Impact of Jazz, Prohibition, and the Swing Era

• Baby Dodds, speakeasies, and New Orleans jazz drive the practical evolution of kits—more compact, more portable for quick getaways during police raids (12:00).
• The introduction of the hi-hat by Barney Wahlberg in 1926 revolutionizes swing and jazz rhythm keeping.

6. Standardization of Drum Kits

• Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich’s influence: flamboyant playing, rising respect for drummers, and increasingly standardized kits.
• By 1948, Krupa’s Slingerland kit “would be recognizable and playable by a drummer of today.” (17:45)
• Louis Belson pushes the envelope with double bass drums, first recorded in 1952.

7. Bebop, Rhythm & Blues, and the Birth of Rock

• Bebop emerges due to shrinking big bands; heavier shuffle rhythms become key (19:41).
• The innovation of a constant “backbeat” on the snare—"A basic 4:4 rhythm became the foundation for everything that came after that." (20:12)

8. Iconic Drummers and Their Influence

• Stewart Copeland (The Police): Known for his tight snare, reggae/dub feel, use of splash cymbals, and “syncopated beats leading from the hi-hat.” (04:46)
• Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction): Brings big band swing into alt-rock drumming—"I immediately glommed onto Stephen Perkins." (11:37)
• Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers): Blend of rock and funk transforms his approach—“this is when he stopped being a drummer and began being a musician.” (12:27)
• Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins): Jazz background influences his use of hi-hats and subtle swing in alt-rock (15:17).
• Dave Grohl (Nirvana): Heavy-hitting style inspired by John Bonham—symbol of modern rock drumming intensity (21:36).
• Danny Carey (Tool): “His drum kit is set up according to strict mathematical principles. The circle theory, the golden proportion, the theory of the equator.” (21:23)
• Pete Salisbury (The Verve): Known for inventive, non-traditional rhythms: “not all simple 4/4 beats from him.” (27:18)
• Ringo Starr (The Beatles): "The biggest thing that ever happened to drums and rock n roll was Ringo Starr.” Revolutionized stick holding with 'matched grip' and made drumming accessible and fun to a new generation (25:22).

9. Rise and Evolution of Electronic Drums

• From early attempts by Graham Edge (Moody Blues) to the Pollard Syndrome (1976) and the iconic octagonal Simmons pads of the ‘80s (28:31).
• “Today's electronic drums have been embraced by players such as Danny Carey, Neil Peart, Will Champion of Coldplay, Rob Borden of Linkin Park and many, many others.” (29:10)
• Example: “Send Me An Angel” by Real Life (1983) features only electronic drums (30:33).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the drum kit’s late arrival:
  “Something that's only really been around for about a hundred years. We're going to look at how it was created and then how it changed and grew over the last century.” – Alan Cross, (04:00)

• On standardizing drum kits:
  “By 1948, Koopa's kit had evolved to a point where it would be recognizable and playable by a drummer of today.” – Alan Cross, (17:45)

• On the hi-hat’s invention:
  “The guy who invented the modern hi-hat seems to be a dude named Barney Wahlberg.” – Alan Cross, (14:53)

• On Ringo’s influence:
  “Ringo made playing the drums look fun and easy. And it was fun. But easy? Hardly.” – Alan Cross, (25:38)

• On drumsticks innovation:
  “They became as personal as golf clubs and hockey sticks.” – Alan Cross, (22:11)

• On electronic drums’ moment:
  “It was all so futuristic. But they couldn't store sounds and needed to be programmed and reprogrammed ... Nothing dates a song like an '80s style electronic drum sound.” – Alan Cross, (28:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Drummers & Drum Attention Deficit – 00:55-04:14
• Alan’s Drumming Roots & Drums Unlimited Anecdotes – 04:10-05:17
• Stewart Copeland/Police, Left-Handed Quirks – 05:18-07:10
• Ancient to Medieval Drum Evolution – 07:50-10:30
• Birth of the Foot Pedal and Cymbals (Zildjian) – 10:33-12:15
• Stephen Perkins Feature (Jane's Addiction) – 11:37-12:35
• Speakeasies, Jazz, and Hi-Hat Invention – 12:25-16:00
• Swing Era, Gene Krupa, Drum Battles – 16:22-18:43
• Bebop, R&B, the Backbeat Revolution – 19:41-20:20
• Feature: Jimmy Chamberlin & Jazz Connection – 15:17-17:12
• Feature: Dave Grohl & Heavy Rock Drumming – 21:36-22:10
• Vic Firth Drumsticks Revolution – 21:03-22:24
• Danny Carey, Tool, Occult and Math in Drum Kit Setup – 22:24-23:40
• Ringo Starr and the Matched Grip Revolution – 25:22-26:47
• Feature: Pete Salisbury (The Verve), British Alt-Rock – 27:18-28:04
• Electronic Drums from Syndrome to Roland/Yamaha – 28:31-30:15
• All-Electronic Drum Track: "Send Me An Angel" – 30:33-30:48

Conclusion & Further Resources

Alan wraps up by emphasizing the continuity of the modern drum kit’s core design since the 1960s, despite material and technological changes. While most drums are still acoustic, electronic sets now play a vital role in practice and performance—so real that many top players use them live and in the studio.

Recommended viewing:

• “The Century Project” DVD by Daniel Glass—“He takes you through a hundred years of drum kit evolution in a very fascinating way.” (31:36)

Connect with Alan Cross:

• Email: alan@alancross.ca
• Website: ajournalofmusicalthings.com
• Free newsletter by 10am ET every weekday

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in music history, drumming innovation, or the gear that’s shaped the sound of modern music. Alan’s storytelling and colorful anecdotes make this a fascinating journey through rhythm, creativity, and technological evolution.