Best Ben Hilzinger Podcasts (2025)

1
The 5 Pillars of Drumming 50:45

5d ago50:45

50:45

What is up?! Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming — a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. My name is Ben Hilzinger, and today’s episode is a little different. A few months ago, I was sent a book by drummer and educator Mark Feldman — founder of Bang! The Drum School. The book is called Drumming Decoded: The Secret Code to Quickly Go From Newbie …

1
The Drum Panel: What IS Rock?, Social Anxiety & "Networking" as a Drummer 52:15

12d ago52:15

52:15

Episode 13 of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM. For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special returning guest, Mike Robinson. Today we discuss: What the hell does it mean to be "rock"? Dealing with social anx…

1
Big Fat Five: Marco Kleebauer (Drummer/Producer) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 55:49

19d ago55:49

55:49

This is another installment of Big Fat Five, a segment where I ask some of my favorite drummers to break down five records that had a major impact on their approach to music. This week, I’m joined by Marco Kleebauer—an Austrian drummer and producer who very recently popped up on my Instagram Explore page… and instantly peaked my interest. His drumm…

1
Big Fat Five: Dee Simone (Doechii, Alison Wonderland, Madame Gandhi) Shares Her top 5 Influential Records 45:37

27d ago45:37

45:37

This is another installment of Big Fat Five, a segment where I ask some of my favorite drummers to break down five records that had a major impact on their approach to music. Today, I’m joined by Dee Simone, a Bay Area-raised dummer currently based in Los Angeles. She’s funky, powerful, dynamic, and incredibly versatile behind the kit. I have to gi…

1
The Drum Panel: Self-Promotion, Authenticity in Pop Gigs, and the Double Pedal Dilemma 42:23

1M ago42:23

42:23

Episode 12 of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM. Today, we've got two fantastic guests joining the conversation: First up is Eric Leiderman. Eric is a producer at Late Night with Seth Meyers, where for years he oversaw the r…

1
Big Fat Five: Fred Eltringham (Sheryl Crow) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 46:39

1M ago46:39

46:39

This week’s guest is Fred Eltringham! If you listened to our recent episode with Sterling Laws, you heard Fred get a lot of love as one of Sterling’s five picks—so it was an honor to finally have him on the show himself. And I gotta say…his voice is so soothing and calm. Puts mine to shame. Fred has been playing with Sheryl Crow since 2012, but his…

1
Records That Define the 70's Drum Sound 53:29

2M ago53:29

53:29

This week’s episode is going to be a little different. I’m starting a new, perhaps self-indulgent series where I pose a question on the Big Fat Snare Drum Instagram and make an episode out of your responses. Maybe it’ll stick. Who knows?…but these are the conversations I have with my musician friends anyways, so now I’m just pushing record. The fir…

1
Big Fat Five: Chris "Woody" Wood (Bastille) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 51:10

2M ago51:10

51:10

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, the podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This is another segment of Big Fat Five, where I invite my favorite drummers to break down the five records that shaped their approach to the instrument. Today, I’m joined by my friend Chris “Woody” Wood, drummer for the internationally loved band, Bastille. Since expl…

1
The Drum Panel: Mental Health > Paradiddles, Signature Sticks and Dream Lessons 51:56

2M ago51:56

51:56

Episode 11 of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM. For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Britt Bowman (Demi Lovato, KiNG Mala, Meg Myers, Royal and the Serpent, Toni Cornell). Today we discuss: Wh…

1
Big Fat Five: Ian Matthews (Kasabian) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 46:12

2M ago46:12

46:12

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, the podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This is another segment of Big Fat Five, where I invite my favorite drummers to break down the five records that shaped their approach to the instrument. Today, I’m joined by Ian Matthews, drummer for the "future rock" Kasabian—a group that, like many of the greats, en…

1
How To Pronounce the Tough Drum Brand Names with Eric Leiderman 1:04:28

2M ago1:04:28

1:04:28

Ever wondered if you’ve been saying Tama, Paiste, or Sonor correctly? You’re not alone! In this episode, Late Night with Seth Meyers producer and friend to all drummer's, Eric Leiderman joins the show to settle the debate on how to pronounce some of the most commonly mispronounced drum brands. We break down the correct pronunciations of brands like…

1
Big Fat Five: Jason Gerken (Shiner, Hum, Molly McGuire) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 36:17

3M ago36:17

36:17

Today, we’ve got another segment of the podcast called Big Fat Five. This is where I invite my favorite drummers on the show to break down the five records that helped shape their approach to the instrument. Our guest today is Jason Gerken, a Kansas City-based drummer known for his work with Molly McGuire, Shiner, Open Hand, Project 86, and most re…

1
The Drum Panel: Defining Success, Underrated Drummers, and the Gear We Love (That’s Not a Drum) 45:04

3M ago45:04

45:04

Episode 10 of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM. For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Jessica Burdeaux (Covet, City Mouth, Host of Reverb.com's "What's That Sound?" series on YouTube). Today we…

1
Drumming Insights: A look at "Drummers on Drumming" with Ben Hilzinger 1:03:20

3M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

We are joined by Ben Hilzinger, professional drummer and author of Drummers on Drumming, to explore the stories behind the records that shaped the legends of the drumming world. Ben shares his experiences performing with bands like Cannons and Eve 6, hosting his acclaimed podcast, and diving into the journeys of iconic and up-and-coming drummers th…

1
Big Fat Five: Jared Shavelson (Joyce Manor, Seal, Mariachi el Bronx, Ways Away, The Hope Conspiracy, Boysetsfire, Paint It Black, Chuck Ragan) 38:49

3M ago38:49

38:49

Today, we’ve got another segment of the podcast called Big Fat Five. This is where I invite my favorite drummers on the show to break down the five records that helped shape their approach to the instrument. This format also inspired my book, Drummers on Drumming, which is available now as a paperback or ebook on Amazon. Today’s guest is Jared Shav…

1
The Drum Panel: 2024's Biggest Wins, Unexpected Lessons, and the Stack Debate 43:53

3M ago43:53

43:53

Episode 9 of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM. For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum & drummer for Winnetka Bowling League). Today we discuss…

1
Excerpts from My Book: Drummers on Drumming, Part 2 30:42

3M ago30:42

30:42

Ok, I promise I won’t be promoting my book forever—but give me at least a few weeks to talk about it (I’m proud of it!). And hey, the sooner you grab a copy, the sooner you’ll stop feeling guilty... and, well, left out. In this episode, I read a few excerpts from my new book, Drummers on Drumming. You’ll hear stories and song choices from incredibl…

1
Excerpts from My Book: Drummers on Drumming, Part 1 35:07

4M ago35:07

35:07

Ok, I promise I won’t be promoting my book forever—but give me at least a few weeks to talk about it (I’m proud of it!). And hey, the sooner you grab a copy, the sooner you’ll stop feeling guilty... and, well, left out. In this episode, I read a few excerpts from my new book, Drummers on Drumming. You’ll hear stories and song choices from incredibl…

1
The History of How We Buy Drums with Gerry Porter 1:12:30

4M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating history and evolution of buying and selling drums with special guest Gerry Porter of Hazelshould.com. From the dapper beginnings of mom-and-pop drum shops in bustling cities to the rise of mail-order catalogs that revolutionized access to musical instruments, we trace the industry's transformation. We'l…

1
The Drum Panel: Our Guilty Pleasures, Drum Trolls, and the IG Cheating Debate 1:04:58

4M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

Episode 8 of The Drum Panel This week, Eric (@ericsurrea) is back!...alongside our newest bestie George Martinez (@skinnygeorge). In this episode, we dive into: Are ghost notes the modern-day equivalent of skinny jeans—cool now but overdone? How do you strike the right balance between technical precision and feel in your playing? Are dynamics the s…

1
The Drum Panel: Audition Advice, Anecdotes, and Staying Hired—Thriving in the Touring Industry with Elias Mallin & Stacy Jones 1:10:54

4M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Episode 7 of The Drum Panel This week, we're joined by Stacy Jones (Miley Cyrus, Letters to Cleo, American Hi-Fi) and Elias Mallin (Kesha, Noah Cyrus, Filter)—two seasoned veterans of the touring music industry and influential figures in shaping the competitive LA music scene. This episode steps away from our usual bullet-point list of hot takes an…

1
Finding a New Rhythm: Ryan Dusick on Life After Maroon 5 47:55

4M ago47:55

47:55

In this episode, we dive deep into the extraordinary journey of Ryan Dusick, the original drummer for Maroon 5. Ryan shares his experiences of rising to fame with one of the world’s most popular bands, the mental health and substance struggles that forced him to step away, and his remarkable path to recovery. We discuss how he rebuilt his life, fou…

1
Big Fat Five: Sterling Laws (NIKI, Natasha Bedingfield, Matt Berninger) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 37:28

4M ago37:28

37:28

Welcome back to Big Fat Five—a segment of Drummers on Drumming brought to you by Big Fat Snare Drum, where I chat with my favorite drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound. I’m your host, Ben Hilzinger, and this week’s guest is the incredible Sterling Laws. Sterling is a fellow Pacific Northwest native now based in Los Angeles…

1
Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Angels & Airwaves): Start Somewhere To Go Somewhere 43:31

5M ago43:31

43:31

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming! Today, I’m thrilled to share a conversation with a true force in modern drumming—Ilan Rubin. You’ve heard his incredible work behind the kit with artists like Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Angels & Airwaves, Paramore and so many more. But Ilan is not just an outstanding drummer; he’s also a passionate educator…

1
A Deep Dive into Shakers with William Johnson 52:04

5M ago52:04

52:04

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of shakers, one of the most versatile and underrated percussive instruments! In this episode, we dive into the origins of shakers, their unique classifications, and a variety of playing techniques. Whether you’re a percussion enthusiast or a curious music lover, you’ll gain insights into how these simple …

1
The Drum Panel: The Ultimate Compliment, Jazz Study—Essential or Overrated?, and Is the Band Drummer Era Over? 49:58

5M ago49:58

49:58

Episode 6 of The Drum Panel This week's guests are two of my favorite drummers and people, Sarab Singh (MUNA) and Adam Christgau (Tegan and Sara). In this episode, we dive into: What’s the greatest compliment a drummer can get, and does it truly matter? How do others really describe your playing style—are you sure you'd agree? Should every drummer …

1
Big Fat Five: Lucy Ritter (Chappell Roan) Share Her Top 5 Influential Records 41:22

5M ago41:22

41:22

We’ve got another installment of Big Fat Five: a segment where I talk to drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound. Today’s guest is Lucy Ritter, a New York/New Jersey native who picked up the drums at just 9 years old and was already landing professional gigs by 14. After three years at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana Un…

1
How to Ergonomically Set Up Your Drum Set with Brandon Green 1:02:49

5M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

Brandon Green from drummechanics.com joins us on the show to give us a 101 course on all things drum ergonomics and how to play the drums without any pain! We go every piece of the drum set and discuss how to set them up individually for the best results in both comfort and ease for your body, and also to get the best and most efficient performance…

1
The Drum Panel: Timeless Drum Tones, AI’s Impact, Advice We’d Give Our Younger Selves, and More... 43:45

5M ago43:45

43:45

Episode 5 of The Drum Panel This week's guests are my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City / Sessions) and good buddy Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum). SUBMIT YOUR CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC OPINIONS HERE In this episode, we dive into: If you could reinvent one aspect of your drumming, what would it be, and why? What's the one piece of advi…

1
Big Fat Five: Jesse Boyle (Chase Atlantic) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records... 41:05

6M ago41:05

41:05

Today I’m joined by Jesse Boyle, my good buddy and the drummer for the boundary-pushing band Chase Atlantic. Known for blending genres like alternative, R&B, and electronic music, Jesse’s unique approach drives the pulse behind Chase’s immersive live soundscapes. We’ll dive into the top five influences that shaped his drumming and musical journey a…

1
The History of Baldman Percussion with Mike Mckee and Danny Young 59:03

6M ago59:03

59:03

Baldman Percussion hit the drum scene in 2018 and took the industry by storm with the Junk Hat! In 6 short years, they have become 2x NAMM best in show winners, created products that are beloved by drummers such as Travis Barker, Matt Chamberlain and Thomas Pridgen, and had a great time doing it. Mike Mckee and Danny Young are professional drummers…

1
'Big Fat Five' Is Becoming 'Drummers on Drumming' + A Book Announcement 3:29

6M ago3:29

3:29

Hey friends, Ben Hilzinger here. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk to you about a pretty exciting shift I’m making with this podcast. After much thought, I’ve decided to change the name of the podcast. Moving forward, it will be known as Drummers on Drumming. Let me tell you a little about how I got here. This whole thing started as The Big Fa…

1
The Drum Panel: Stealing Feel, Perfect Drum Takes, and Defining Pocket 51:17

6M ago51:17

51:17

Episode 4 of The Drum Panel This week's guests are my good buddies Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum), and Mark Stepro (The Wallflowers, Butch Walker). In this episode, we dive into: If we could steal one drummers’s feel and add it to our own, who would it be? What is an example of a perfect drum take on record? What does “pocket”…

1
Cheers to 6 Years of Drum History Podcast! 6:44

6M ago6:44

6:44

Thanks to everyone for listening, watching, and supporting the show over the years! Drum History has been an absolute pleasure every step of the way and I am excited to keep learning about the history of the drums! **JOIN PATREON** https://www.patreon.com/drumhistorypodcast **DRUM HISTORY MERCH** https://www.teepublic.com/stores/drum-history-podcas…

1
Big Fat Five: Julian Wieder (Independent) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 35:29

6M ago35:29

35:29

Our guest today is one of Berlin’s rising stars in the drumming world, Julian Wieder. At just 25, he’s already making serious moves across the RnB, Hip-Hop, and Indie scene, both on stage and in the studio. I first discovered Julian thanks to the algorithm gods on Big Fat Snare Drum’s Explorer page—and once I saw his playing, I knew I had to get hi…

1
Big Fat Five: Gabe Smith (Gracie Abrams) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 26:37

6M ago26:37

26:37

Our guest today is Gabe Smith, the current CEO of Drums for Gracie Abrams Inc. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, now based in New York City, Gabe has also worked with incredible contemporary artists like Wet, Tei Shi, Eden, Frankie Cosmos, Kimbra and many more. Last summer, he opened for Taylor Swift and is about to rejoin that tour after som…

1
The Gear of Nicko McBrain (Part 2) with Shane Kinney 1:45:09

7M ago1:45:09

1:45:09

Nicko McBrain is the power behind Iron Maiden and one of the most iconic drummers of all time. Shane Kinney joins me back on the show to share his immense knowledge of Nicko's drums, cymbals, hardware, heads, and accessories. In part 2, we cover his switch to from Sonor to Premier drums, Vic Firth, DW Pedals, and so much more. Nicko had a brief and…

1
The Drum Panel: The Worth of Gear: Are Drum Heroes Still Relevant?...and yes, we talk about Oasis 48:16

7M ago48:16

48:16

Episode 3 of The Drum Panel This week's guests are my good buddies Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Carina Round), Neal Daniels (Matchbox 20, Liz Phair), Mike Robinson (Blame My Youth, Food On Tour Podcast). In this episode, we dive into: The value of high-end gear: Is it really worth the investment? The existence of drum heroes: Do they still inspire us to…

1
Big Fat Five: Daniel Glass (Royal Crown Revue, Author/Historian) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 55:59

7M ago55:59

55:59

Our guest today is Daniel Glass. Daniel is a renowned drummer, educator, and historian known for his deep expertise in the roots of American drumming, particularly in jazz, swing, and early rock 'n' roll. A member of the pioneering retro-swing band Royal Crown Revue, Glass has performed with a wide array of top artists, blending historical influenc…

1
The Gear of Nicko McBrain (Part 1) with Shane Kinney 1:34:43

7M ago1:34:43

1:34:43

Nicko McBrain is the power behind Iron Maiden and one of the most iconic drummers of all time. Shane Kinney joins me on the show to share his immense knowledge of Nicko's drums, cymbals, hardware, heads, and accessories. We cover his first six Sonor drum sets all the way up to the messy end of the relationship, which left Nicko so angry that he imm…

1
The Drum Panel: Gear Criticism, Flat Toms, and Endorsement Realities: Can You Play Without Knowing the Vocals? 45:43

7M ago45:43

45:43

Episode 2 PART DEUX of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a segment where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions on polarizing and controversial drum topics submitted by our listeners. Today's episode is the second half of a conversation between myself (Ben), my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Kris M…

1
Big Fat Five: Taye Dever Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 29:45

7M ago29:45

29:45

Our guest today is Taye Dever, a young drummer from North Carolina who recently came onto my radar and quickly grabbed my attention. Taye draws inspiration from a diverse range of genres, including R&B, Pop, Folk, Rap, Gospel, and more. While his musical style is eclectic, he seems to be a fresh face in the music scene. I’m honored if this is your …

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

7M 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 Drum Panel: Click Tracks, Minimal Setups, and the Truth About Bass Drums 47:41

8M ago47:41

47:41

Episode 2 of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions on polarizing and controversial drum topics submitted by our listeners. For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum & drummer for W…

1
Big Fat Five: Philo Tsoungui's (The Mars Volta) Top 5 Influential Records 42:57

8M ago42:57

42:57

Today's guest is Philo Tsoungui, an independent drummer based in Berlin, Germany. Philo has played with many incredible artists both in Germany and internationally, including a recent stint with The Mars Volta. I can't praise Philo's playing enough; it just works. While it can be categorized as Hip Hop, it's so much more than any single genre, as y…

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

8M 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 Drum Panel: Rudiments, Triggers, and the Lars/Ringo Debate: What Really Matters in Modern Drumming? 57:12

8M ago57:12

57:12

Today, my good friend and fellow professional drummer, Eric Urrea, and I are excited to launch the pilot episode of a new segment on our podcast, tentatively named “The Drum Panel.” Drummers are known for having strong opinions, and we aim to delve into many of these in a roundtable format. For this first recording, it’s just the two of us, but our…

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

8M 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
Big Fat Five: Adolfo Torres (M.I.J.O.) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 44:21

9M ago44:21

44:21

This week’s guest is Adolfo Torres. Adolfo's musical journey started in Cali, Colombia, and from a young age, his passion for music was evident, leading his parents to enroll him in drum lessons. This early start paved the way for his education at the Drummers Collective in NYC and later at Berklee College of Music on an American Tour Scholarship. …

1
Big Fat Five: Jost Nickel (Jan Delay & Disko No. 1) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records 47:24

9M ago47:24

47:24

Our guest today is none other than Jost Nickel, a renowned German drummer, composer, and educator. Jost is part of the golden generation of drummers from Germany, alongside his friends and fellow drumming legends Anika Nilles, Marco Minnemann, and Benny Greb. Currently, Jost keeps busy with Jan Delay and Disko No. 1, but his talent has graced many …

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