Best Alex Zee Podcasts (2024)

1
Talking Drums, King Gizzard, and Inspiration with Michael "Cavs" Cavanagh 20:15

4h ago20:15

20:15

Cav's and I chatted before the King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard concert on 08/25/24 in Newport Ky. We discuss his inspirations, his current set up (C&C and Dream Cymbals), King Gizzard, and his solo projects. Cav's is one of my favorite drummers so this was an absolute honor to speak with him and see the show up from the side of the stage. Here i…

1
The Celebrity Drum Dealer with Donn Bennett 1:05:09

4d ago1:05:09

1:05:09

Donn Bennett is one of the foremost dealers of rare and celebrity drum sets in the world! He shares with us how he got into this unique profession, some of his most biggest success stories, and many lessons that he has learned along the way over his 30+ year career. Donn has also built a reputation for himself as being the go-to dealer for the bigg…

1
The Studio Drums of Lars Ulrich (Part 2) with Chris Russio 1:22:58

1M ago1:22:58

1:22:58

The St. Anger Snare is finally figured out! Chris Russio joins me back on the podcast to do a super deep dive into all of the studio drum sets, cymbals, heads, sticks, accessories, percussion and everything else used by Lars Ulrich from 2001 to Today! We talk about all of the infamous St. Anger Snare drum and everything that went wrong with that al…

1
1000 Year Old Robotic Drummers!? Al-Jazari's 12th Century Mechanical Marvels 9:22

1M ago9:22

9:22

In this solo episode, I take a deep dive into the 1000 year old automaton drummers that were created by 12th century Islamic inventor, Al-Jazari. These VERY early robots are amazing marvels of engineering and predominantly feature drummers who play kettle drums and cymbals to alert people in Mesopotamia (now Turkey) of the time of day with extremel…

1
The Studio Drums of Lars Ulrich (Part 1) with Chris Russio 1:23:50

1M ago1:23:50

1:23:50

Chris Russio joins me back on the podcast to do a super deep dive into all of the studio drum sets, cymbals, heads, sticks, accessories, percussion and everything else used by Lars Ulrich from 1982 to 2001! We talk about all of the earliest known recordings of Metallica on his Camco drum set, through all the Tamas, the famous Sabian HiHats, and the…

1
Why Do Drum Brands Sound Different? with Jeff Kirsch 1:32:17

3M ago1:32:17

1:32:17

Jeff Kirsch teaches us the real reason why the biggest drum brands in the world sound different from each other, and in some cases, why they sound exactly the same. We discuss brands such as Ludwig, Gretsch, Leedy, Tama, Camco, DW, just to name a few. We talk about the different shell constructions, ply counts, use of re-rings, rise of Japanese bui…

1
The Drum Gear of Primus with Tim "Herb" Alexander 51:27

3M ago51:27

51:27

Tim "Herb" Alexander joins me on the show to discuss his iconic drum sets that were used in classic Primus music videos such as Jerry Was A Race Car Driver, My Name is Mud, John The Fisherman, Wynona Big Brown Beaver, DMV and much more! I am a longtime Primus fan and I learned a TON from this conversation. Tim is a 3x grammy nominee and multi-plati…

1
The HUGE Alex Van Halen Auction with Kurt Ekstrom 1:13:31

3M ago1:13:31

1:13:31

Alex Van Halen is auctioning off hundreds of unbelievable items that have never been seen by public eyes, plus some of his most iconic drum sets that he played with Van Halen! Kurt Ekstrom joins me back on the podcast to look through this incredible auction and dissect tons of these rare items. Kurt covered all of AVH's career on the podcast last y…

1
A Look at the Gear of Danny Seraphine with Tate Berkey 2:32:58

4M ago2:32:58

2:32:58

Danny Seraphine is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted, world-famous original drummer of Chicago. Tate Berkey has been researching Danny's gear for the last year and has compiled an exhaustive look at all things Danny Seraphine. We cover his earliest drum kits, his time with Slingerland drums, his Zildjian endorsements, and then his switch to Y…

1
The Lessons of Robbie Gonzalez with Rob Hart 1:06:59

5M ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Rob Hart takes us through audio clips of his former mentor and teacher Robbie Gonzalez which gives us first hand knowledge and ideas of this great mind of drumming. Robbie Gonzalez was a Berklee professor, prolific recording artist, and performed with greats like Al Di Meola. This episode features many great recordings of Robbie performing live and…

1
The History of Recording Drums with Jay Petach 56:24

5M ago56:24

56:24

Unravel the captivating journey of recording technology with Jay Petach as your guide, spanning back to the 1800s when pioneers like Thomas Edison introduced groundbreaking inventions like the Phonograph and Edison's Cylinders. Delve into the evolution leading to the revolutionary use of magnetic tape and the advent of computers, propelling us into…

1
New Temporary Schedule and New Studio! 6:01

6M ago6:01

6:01

Hey everyone! I am launching a temporary bi-weekly show schedule with two new episodes per month. We are currently in the midst of an attic renovation which has bumped me out of my normal Drum History Studio for the next month or two. It has been chaos recently with having a newborn and i've got some new stuff going on with traveling to California …

1
Ellis Tollin: Drumming's Unsung Legend with Anthony Amodeo 1:05:43

6M ago1:05:43

1:05:43

Ellis Tollin is a world-class performer who played on hit records, started a very successful music store in Philadelphia called Music City, which hosted countless performances by greats such as Louie Bellson, Max Roach, Art Blakey, and many more. Ellis is known as the father of the Drum Clinic, and he was also a close personal friend of Buddy Rich.…

1
The Budget Guide to "Sleeper" Drum Gear with Gerry Porter 1:04:43

6M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Gerry shares with us a list of drums and cymbals that are often overlooked and under-marketed but sound just as good as the equipment that is 10x the price. "Sleeper Gear," by definition, is drum gear that you might not notice at a music store or never even consider trying when, in reality, it sounds great and can be found at a bargain price. Gerry…

1
(The Vault) The History of Gretsch Drums with John Sheridan 53:55

6M ago53:55

53:55

(First Aired Feb 2019) "That Great Gretsch Sound" has been around since 1883, join me as I talk with John Sheridan about the full history of this iconic company! John is an expert on Gretsch and co-wrote "The Gretsch Book" with Rob Cook. John takes us through the 136 year history with amazing facts and stories and also some information that you won…

1
Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon with Joel Selvin 55:13

7M ago55:13

55:13

Jim Gordon went from being the first call drummer of his generation who played on hundreds of hit records, to becoming a victim of the chemicals in his brain that caused him to murder his mother in a schizophrenic episode. Joel Selvin describes his Jim Gordon's life and his book perfectly with this description: "The blazing rock opera of the greate…

1
Who is Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Drummer? 16:31

7M ago16:31

16:31

Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock used a drummer on the set of the 1963 classic thriller, 'The Birds'? The real question is: who is this mystery drummer, and how/why did Hitchcock employ a percussionist to perform during the filming of the movie? I have been researching this topic for the last few weeks and have made some amazing discoveries about…

1
A Look at Alex Van Halen's Gear (Part 2) with Kurt Ekstrom 1:44:11

7M ago1:44:11

1:44:11

(Part 2 Covers 1985-2015) Alex Van Halen is responsible for inspiring a generation of young drummers to pick up drumsticks because of his virtuosic playing and HUGE drum sets. Kurt Ekstrom joins us on the podcast to guide us through each and every one of Alex's iconic drum sets and all the accessories and details that make them absolutely one of a …

1
A Look at Alex Van Halen's Gear (Part 1) with Kurt Ekstrom 2:14:03

7M ago2:14:03

2:14:03

(Part 1 covers 1964-1984) Alex Van Halen is responsible for inspiring a generation of young drummers to pick up drumsticks because of his virtuosic playing and HUGE drum sets. Kurt Ekstrom joins us on the podcast to guide us through each and every one of Alex's iconic drum sets and all the accessories and details that make them absolutely one of a …

1
(The Vault) The History of Sabian Cymbals with Andy Zildjian 1:00:25

7M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

My wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy last week, so enjoy this classic episode from 2020 while I get caught up on next weeks episode! Andy Zildjian is the president of Sabian Cymbals and takes us on a very fun journey through the history of the company that dates back to its founding in 1981 by his father, Robert Zildjian. This episode features …

1
Designing a Mega Drum Set with Mike Mangini 57:04

8M ago57:04

57:04

Mike Mangini is famous for being an incredibly talented drummer and teacher, but also for creating some of the most elaborate and breathtaking drum sets of all time. He breaks down his first kit, which he used with Extreme, consisting of RotoToms in an 'Apex Shape.' Then, we jump to his 2010s Dream Theater kit, which was a modern marvel of drum set…

1
(The Vault) Ringo Starr's Life and Gear with Gary Astridge - New Video! 1:04:29

8M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

(From March 2020) Gary is a historian and expert on all things Ringo Starr. He has curated Ringo's collection of original Beatles drum kits and is full of great stories about Ringo that you won't hear from anyone else! We talk about a biography of Ringo, A description of all of his drum sets through the years, and Garys involvement with Ringo and h…

1
Exploring Silent Film Era Drums and Traps with Nick White 1:11:02

8M ago1:11:02

1:11:02

Nick White has the worlds largest collection of Silent Film Trap instruments, and he recently used them in the Martin Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon. Nick shares some of his favorite instruments and sounds in this episode including automotive, train, animal, impact, and comedy sound effects, plus many more. Nick was on the show over 200 …

1
How to Make a Career as a Drummer with Henrique De Almeida 1:13:53

8M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Henrique has had a prolific drumming career as a performer, Berklee professor, author, studio musician, clinician, and business owner. In this episode, he teaches us a clear path to create a successful and fulfilling career as working drummers through multiple different outlets. We cover topics such as do you need to read to be a pro drummer? What …

1
(The Vault) The History of Keller Shells with Justin Owen 47:30

9M ago47:30

47:30

(4/30/2019) Keller has quietly made drum shells for many of the worlds greatest drum brands - learn about how the company got its start in 1946! I talk with Justin Owen, Special Accounts Manager at Keller Products, about how this company has been at the center of the drum universe for over 70 years and managed to remain out of the limelight. - you …

1
Drum History Podcast Intro Challenge is live! 2:53

9M ago2:53

2:53

Thanks to everyone who submitted videos of themselves playing the Drum History Podcast intro music for the 2023 Drum History Intro Challenge to help me celebrate 5 years of the Podcast. We got 33 great submissions from all over the world and they are all unique and sound amazing! Check them out here on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ugAdCU9BS…

1
(The Vault) The Birth of the Drum Set with Dr. Jaz Sawyer 46:10

9M ago46:10

46:10

(Released May 2019) Did Papa Jo Jones invent the Hi-Hat with the help of a plumber? Find out in this episode! Jaz takes us from the beginnings of drumming in Africa through the advent of the modern drum set as we know it today. The amount of different cultures drumming styles that blended together leading up to "double drumming" goes much deeper th…

1
Coming Soon! 2:24

9M ago2:24

2:24

This Machine Kills The Model Minority is coming soon to an RSS feed near you! A podcast about the missing link between Jackie Chain and Jackie Chan. Join AAPI/Latinx stand-up comedian, Alex Zee as he covers news and topics relating to the minority lifestyle because yes: it is a lifestyle. Episodes drop early 2024! ►Support the show here ▼or by list…

1
A Look at Tony Williams Cymbals (Part 4: 1963-1997) with Paul Wells 2:04:32

9M ago2:04:32

2:04:32

Paul Wells closes out the 4 part Tony Williams series with a deep dive into TW's legendary cymbals, and his Sticks and Heads. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic drummers of the 20th century, with a meteoric rise from his days with Miles Davis to his Lifetime project, and he became jazz royalty through his tireless pursuit of pushing our instru…

1
A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 3: 1990-1997) with Scott Garrison 1:29:13

10M ago1:29:13

1:29:13

Scott Garrison was Tony Williams drum tech from 1994 through Tony's passing in 1997. He takes us on a journey through the gear and his experiences with Tony Williams in great detail. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic drummers of the 20th century, with a meteoric rise from his days with Miles Davis to his Lifetime project, and he became jazz r…

1
A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 2: 1975-1990) with Paul Wells 1:49:15

10M ago1:49:15

1:49:15

Paul Wells takes us on a journey through the gear of Tony Williams in extreme detail. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic drummers of the 20th century, with a meteoric rise from his days with Miles Davis to his Lifetime project, and he became jazz royalty through his tireless pursuit of pushing our instrument to its limits. Tony Williams will a…

1
A Look at Tony Williams Gear (Part 1: 1940's-1975) with Paul Wells 1:35:38

10M ago1:35:38

1:35:38

Paul Wells is back on the show to take us on a journey through the gear of Tony Williams in extreme detail. Tony Williams is one of the most iconic drummers of the 20th century, with a meteoric rise from his days with Miles Davis to his Lifetime project, and he became jazz royalty through his tireless pursuit of pushing our instrument to its limits…

1
(The Vault) The Roots of Reggae Drumming with Gil Sharone 54:38

10M ago54:38

54:38

(May 2021) Gil is a world renowned drummer who shares his deep passion and knowledge for Reggae drumming in this great episode. He takes us through all the sub genres such as ska, rocksteady, dub, and dancehall. Plus he teaches us about the legends in Reggae drumming such as Lloyd Knibb and Carlton Barrett and the gear that these Jamaican drummers …

1
From “War Dogs” to Drum Machines with David Packouz 1:06:03

10M ago1:06:03

1:06:03

David Packouz was the subject of the 2016 film 'War Dogs' (starring Miles Teller and Jonah Hill), which chronicled his incredible experience as a contract gun runner for the US government during the Iraq War. In complete contrast to that, he has more recently created a top-of-the-line drum machine called the Beat Buddy, which captures the feel of a…

1
5 year Anniversary of Drum History! (Listener Video Project) 13:27

11M ago13:27

13:27

Thank you to everyone who has supported the show over the last 5 years! I am excited to announce a project where I am going to make a video showcasing you guys performing the Drum History Podcast Into music. Shoot a video of yourself performing and send me the files to drummingwithbart1@gmail.com by November 7th, 2023 and I will edit everything tog…

1
Exploring Calfskin Drum Heads with Rob Cook 1:14:35

11M ago1:14:35

1:14:35

Rob Cook joins me to discuss all things calfskin drumheads in this interesting and educational episode! We talk about the differences between calfskin and other animal skin heads, the level of durability, how temperature affects them, what happened to the industry when plastic heads came along and much more! Rob Cook is the founder of Rebeats, runs…

1
Mind. Body. Drums. - Drumming and the Nervous System with Adam Gust 59:13

11M ago59:13

59:13

Adam Gust teaches us how understanding Neuroscience, The Vegus Nerve, and listening to your body and emotions can help you be a better drummer with less pain and tension in your body. Adam began this quest to combine brain science and drumming after traumatic experience where he lost the ability to play the drums after walking through a plate glass…

1
The Rarest Cymbals in the World with Gerry Porter (Hazelshould) 1:09:23

11M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

Gerry Porter deals in the finest drums and cymbals in the world at hazelshould.com, and he shares his immense knowledge of ultra-rare, famous, and valuable cymbals with us in this unique episode! We talk about what makes the Istanbul K's so rare and sought-after, the power of a celebrity owned cymbal (Tony Williams, John Bonham, Roy Haynes), and ra…

1
(The Vault) The Medal of Honor Drummer Boy with Marlene Targ Brill 46:02

12M ago46:02

46:02

Released 12/2020 - Orion was a 14 year old drummer boy in the Civil War when he earned the Medal of Honor for an extremely courageous act in battle. Marlene Shares his amazing story that begins when he enters the war at 12 years old through the rest of his life, and the lives of his musical family. We learn all about drummer boys and the role they …

1
The Lessons of Mike Clark with Rob Hart 54:15

12M ago54:15

54:15

Mike Clark is one of the most respected jazz, funk, and fusion drummers of the 20th century with his own unique style and approach to the kit. Rob Hart joins me back on the podcast to share recordings of a lesson he took with Mike in 1992 which grew into a 30+ year friendship. We go through 8 clips that were recorded in a San Francisco Apartment wi…

1
(The Vault) The History of Remo Drumheads with Herbie May 59:31

12M ago59:31

59:31

(Released 2019) Herbie is a 32 year veteran of the Remo Company and shares the full history of the company with us, including the controversial debate between Evans and Remo and who was first to invent the synthetic drumhead. Remo is one of the most famous names in drums and it all stems back to one man, Remo Belli. Herbie was good friends with Rem…

1
A Look at Lars Ulrich's Gear (Part 2) with Chris Russio 1:28:38

1y ago1:28:38

1:28:38

In part 2, Chris and I take a deep dive into each and every kit that Lars used from the iconic Black Album Artstar II kit up to todays yellow StarClassics for the 72 Seasons tour, and everything in between. We discuss his major changes in gear including the shrinking of his kit and him getting rid of the mega power tom kits for the modern StarClass…

1
A Look at Lars Ulrich's Gear (Part 1) with Chris Russio 1:18:45

1y ago1:18:45

1:18:45

Chris and I take a deep dive into each and every kit that Lars used since he was a little kid and received mix and match kit from his Grandmother, up to the iconic Justice tour kit with the monkey strapped to the front from 1988. We discuss his sticks, heads, pedals, hardware, and each and every drum set including the Camco's that got stolen! Part …

1
The Essence of Philly Joe Jones with Tim Carman 49:42

1y ago49:42

49:42

Philly Joe Jones is an icon of jazz drumming who is most famous for his time with Miles Davis and his unique style of soloing and swinging that has made him one of the most respected drummers of the 20th century. Tim Carman is the author of "Philly-ISM" which breaks down the style and essence of Philly Joe Jones at its most basic form, so you can l…

1
Lost Gene Krupa Drum Set Discovered in 2023 with Brooks Tegler and Steve Stevens 1:20:42

1y ago1:20:42

1:20:42

Gene Krupa's 1954 Slingerland Radio King drum set was recently discovered and rescued from sitting in a wet basement for the last few decades via an online auction that caught the drum world by storm. I am joined today by the winner of this iconic set, Steve, and GK authentication expert, Brooks Tegler, to hear the full story of this legendary kit.…

1
The History of Ebenor Drums with William Leclerc 1:05:01

1y ago1:05:01

1:05:01

Ebenor Percussion is a Quebec based drum brand that makes everything from the Lugs to the hoops to the shells in-house! William Leclerc started Ebenor Drums 10 years ago and has grown it to be one of the most well respected names in the world of boutique drums. He started the brand when he was just 21 years old and has climbed his way up the ladder…

1
The History of Simmons Drums with Daren Pfeifer, Steve Graham, Patrick Casey, Steve Watts and Ed Rose 1:20:33

1y ago1:20:33

1:20:33

This is a 5 person mega episode all about the history of Simmons Drums, the iconic hexagonal electronic drums that changed the face of music in the 1980's. The sound, look and spirit of Simmons drums can be heard on most every recording of the 1980's across all genres including rock, pop, rap, metal, and everything in between! My guests include two…

1
(The Vault) The History of Cocktail Drums with John Mettam 1:06:01

1y ago1:06:01

1:06:01

(EP 80 - 12/2020) Cocktail drum kits date back to post World War 2 in an orchestra pit in England where space is at a premium and the drums needed to grow taller, as opposed to wider. the "stand up drum set" evolved from there and became a staple of jazz lounges, street performers, comedy acts and many great drummers who wanted a unique look and fe…

1
The Lessons of Steve Smith with Rob Hart 1:03:27

1y ago1:03:27

1:03:27

Rob Hart was fortunate enough to take lessons with the great Steve Smith for over 20 years and he recorded many of them on his Sony Walkman or Steve's studio rig! Rob shares 7 great clips from his lessons with Steve Smith that cover things such as playing in odd time signatures, perfecting your hi-hat foot, maximizing time on your drum set and much…

1
The History of INDē Drums with Josh Allen 48:45

1y ago48:45

48:45

Independent Drum Lab has become one of the most innovative brands in the drum industry since its launch in 2015. Josh Allen used his Industrial Design Degree at Ludwig to create many innovative designs and products, but he then decided he wanted to go off on his own and create INDē Drums. This is a an interesting episode with a unique point of view…

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