AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW

Creative Calamities Founder Ronald Spagnardi 1943–2003

Co-Founder Isabel Spagnardi

R ingo put a very fine point on it when he

sang, “It don’t come easy.” Sure, there are
lucky schmoes who seem to attract celebrity,
Publisher/CEO David Frangioni
CFO Carolina Frangioni
accolades, and riches without appearing to have CTO Jason Mehler
much talent, or even an ounce of ambition. But Content Director Michael Molenda
that’s probably not you or me. We’re stuck. We Managing Director/SVP David Hakim
have to put our shoulders against the wheel and Senior Art Director Scott G. Bienstock
work hard for our achievements. Editor at Large Billy Amendola
If you’re seeking a top-tier career as a
Digital Marketing Manager Ricardo Rodriguez
sideperson or session musician, establishing
Worldwide Education Dom Famularo
yourself is especially brutal during a global
Editorial Danny Laverde
zombie apocalypse that’s disrupting, devastating,
and perhaps forever changing the revenue Director of Special Projects Nic Kubes
streams available to musicians. Artists who Archivist Felipe Laverde
predominantly work in local clubs and bars
THE MD PRO PANEL/ADVISORY BOARD: Chris Adler, Carmine Appice,
don’t have it any easier. Indoor shows, festivals, Kenny Aronoff, Bill Bachman, Eddie Bayers, Gregg Bissonette, Jason Bittner,
and concert tours continue to be cancelled or rescheduled due to the Delta Bill Bruford, Will Calhoun,Terri Lyne Carrington, Matt Chamberlain,
variant, and many gigging musicians are scrambling for other ways to generate Peter Erskine, Dom Famularo, Daniel Glass, Alex Gonzales, Danny Gottlieb,
revenue. Even if you’re someone who just likes to jam with friends, working Benny Greb, Matt Halpern, Horacio Hernandez, Gerald Heyward, Taku Hirano,
up the mojo to practice your chops can be difficult at times. Job and other Jonathan Joseph, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Peter Magadini, Pat Mastelotto,
Rod Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Carl Palmer, Stephen Perkins, Dafnis Prieto,
life stresses can slam right into your best intentions and put a pause on your
Rich Redmond, Brian Reitzell, Jim Riley, Bobby Rondinalli, Antonio Sanchez,
musical endeavors. Cindy Blackman Santana, Chad Smith, Steve Smith, Todd Sucherman,
For all of his success, cover artist Russ Miller is really not much different Billy Ward, Kenny Washington, Dave Weckl, Paul Wertico, Dennis Wolfe
than any accomplished and ambitious drummer. He worked it. Hard. Whether
experiencing successes or failures, Miller learned from them all, and he always CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: MODERN DRUMMER welcomes
had a career plan in clear focus—even if that plan was a pivot. Donn Bennett, Michael Dawson, manuscripts and photos but cannot
Bob Girouard, Mike Haid, assume responsibility for them.
Whatever your relationship to your drum kit or your musical vocation, Sarah Will Romano, Rich Scannella,
Hagan’s interview with Miller [p.28] should be inspiring. Miller was very open Ilya Stemkovsky. SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE:
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about the ups and downs of his career trajectory, and he shared how he moved MODERN DRUMMER magazine Park Rd PO Box 276064 Boca Raton, FL
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simply can’t get out of his or her own way. That’s a sad place to be, because EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/
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Email: info@moderndrummer.com. Merchants, Percussive Arts Society
optimism that the desolation is temporary can be comforting. In other words,
screw it all, and get back on that horse. Create. Push through. Make it happen.
MODERN DRUMMER SUBSCRIPTIONS:
Russ Miller did not surrender. Ever. In fact, none of our musical heroes
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took a whipping and gave up. Please absorb that reality in your own creative access to 45 yrs of MD issues & articles for just $4.99 per month with no
life. I believe that every musician has something to say. Maybe it’s just a contract.

couple of short sentences, and maybe it’s an entire novel, but someone in
the community of musicians—perhaps even a lot of someones—will get
inspiration from your piece of art. That is, unless you allow adversity to put the
brakes on, and you produce nothing. Don’t be that person. All musicians are
elevated when good works are made, released, and shared. Let’s hear yours.
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Michael Molenda
Music Key
Content Director

@ModernDrummer modern_drummer @modern_drummer

4 Modern Drummer September 2021