JAN 2007:
Matt has been added to the 'roster' at DrummerWorld.com! Check it out at:
www.drummerworld.com

NOV 2006:
Benefit for Wally Ingram

Our good friend, drummer and percussionist Wally Ingram, was recently diagnosed with throat and neck cancer. Beginning the first week of December, we will be auctioning a Matt Abts Signature Hand Drum which was donated by Everyone's Drumming and signed by Gov't Mule . Please check back here and in the Gov't mule E-mail Newsletter for the start date.

In the meantime, please check out Wally's site for updates and ways to make a direct donation.

MAY 2006:
2006 Drummies! Readers Poll Results Exciting News! The results have been tabulated for the 2006 Drummies! Readers Poll Awards.

Artist Features: 2006 Drummies! Readers Poll Awards

Who Do You Love?
Exactly what makes us prefer one drummer over another? It isn't simply technical excellence; otherwise we would only listen to rudimental drummers.
How about going to the opposite end of the scale, to that ultimately unquantifiable commodity called "soul?" It's an impossible quality to measure, but we sure miss it when it's not there.
But then there's also taste and flash. Sound and feel. Groove and touch. Where do they fit in?
Okay, let's stop playing word games. Everybody knows the real answer - it's all the above, plus one other thing, perhaps the most important thing: We love drummers who make a difference. We love drummers who are at the top of their game. We love seeing a drummer push the envelope, go for it, add to the vocabulary, expand the art form. We love innovators and agitators.
More than anything else, we vote for those drummers who change our lives in some profound way. So turn the page and take a look at the drummers and percussionists you decided represent the cream of the crop from the past year. And thanks for your input.

DRUM CATEGORIES:
Drummer of the Year: John Dolmayan
Runners Up: Neil Peart, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta

Rising Star of the Year: Daniel Adair
Runners Up: Chris Adler, Jason Bittner, Ronnie Vannucci

Jazz/Fusion Drummer: Dave Weckl
Runners Up: Morgan Agren, Steve Smith, Dennis Chambers

Funk Drummer: Chad Smith
Runners Up: David Garibaldi, Dennis Chambers, John Blackwell Jr.

Metal Drummer: Joey Jordison
Runners Up: Jason Bittner, Chris Adler, John Dolmayan

Mainstream Rock/Pop Drummer: Carter Beauford
Runners Up: Tre Cool, Josh Freese, Wuv

R&B/Blues Drummer: Zoro
Runners Up: John Blackwell Jr., Gorden Campbell, Steve Jordan

Progressive Rock Drummer: Mike Portnoy
Runners Up: Neil Peart, Jon Theodore, Danny Carey

Jam Band Drummer: Carter Beauford
Runners Up: Matt Abts, Kris Myers, Rodney Holmes

Alternative Rock Drummer: John Dolmayan
Runners Up: Tre Cool, Brian Young, Josh Freese

Punk Drummer: Travis Barker
Runners Up: Tre Cool, Josh Freese, Erik Sandin

Country Drummer: Paul Leim
Runners Up: Eddie Bayers, Trey Landry, Trey Gray

Studio Drummer: Josh Freese
Runners Up: Vinnie Colaiuta, Kenny Aronoff, Steve Gadd

Live Drummer: Joey Jordison
Runners Up: Carter Beauford, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy

Clinician of the Year: Dom Famularo
Runners Up: Steve Gadd, Virgil Donati, Thomas Lang

Drumming Album Vol.3: The Subliminal Verses by Slipknot
Runners Up: Octavarium by Dream Theater, Catch 33 by Meshuggah, City Of Evil by Avenged Sevenfold

PERCUSSION CATEGORIES:
Percussionist of the Year: Marc Quiñones
Runners Up: Giovanni Hidalgo, Ray Barretto, Luis Conte

Percussion Rising Star: Fausto Cuevas
Runners Up: Richie Flores, Mike Dillon, Reid DeFever

Latin Percussionist: Giovanni Hidalgo
Runners Up: Richie Flores, Marc Quiñones, Alex Acuña

Jazz/Fusion Percussionist: Sammy Figueroa
Runners Up: Alex Acuña, Luis Conte, Michael Spiro

Rock/Pop Percussionist: Tim Pacheco
Runners Up: Marc Quiñones, Karl Perazzo, Richie "Gajate" Garcia

Studio Percussionist: Bobby Allende
Runners Up: Luis Conte, Lenny Castro, Alex Acuña

Live Percussionist: Marc Quiñones
Runners Up: Luis Conte, Sheila E, Airto Moreira

Worldbeat Percussionist: Rolando Morales-Moto
Runners Up: Airto Moreira, Layne Redmond, Jim Greiner

Percussion Album: Time Was - Time Is by Ray Barretto
Runners Up: Live At The Fillmore by Ozomatli, Drum Sex by Brent Lewis, The Complex by Blue Man Group

Drum Circle Facilitator: Jim Greiner
Runners Up: Christine Stevens, Arthur Hull, Chet Doboe

Percussion Clinician: Jim Greiner
Runners Up: Luis Conte, Richie "Gajate" Garcia, Daniel de los Reyes

Percussion Ensemble: Hip Pickles
Runners Up: Stomp, Blue Man Group, Nexus


INDUSTRY AWARDS:
Drum Kit: Pearl Reference Series
Runners Up: DW Collector's Series, Tama Starclassic Performer, Pearl Masters

Custom Cymbals: Zildjian A Custom
Runners Up: Sabian HHX, Paiste Signature, Zildjian K Custom

Snare Drum: Pearl Joey Jordison Model
Runners Up: Dunnett Titanium, DW Edge, Mapex Black Panther

Electronic Percussion: Roland TD-20S V-Pro Kit
Runners Up: ddrum 4 SE Kit, Roland Handsonic 10, Hart Dynamics Giga Pro Kit

Percussion: Pearl Bobby Allende Signature Series Congas
Runners Up: Giovanni Compact Congas & Bongos, Gon Bops California Series Congas, LP Jam Blocks

Pedal: Tama Iron Cobra
Runners Up: DW 9000, Pearl Eliminator, Axis Longboards

Hardware: Tama Iron Cobra
Runners Up: DW 9000 Series Runners Up: Pearl Advanced Hardware Systems 2000, DW 5000 Series, Tama Roadpro

Sticks: Vic Firth American Classic 5A
Runners Up: Vic Firth John Dolmayan SDOL, Zildjian Travis Barker Model, Pro-Mark 420 Mike Portnoy Autograph Series

Drumhead: Remo Ambassador
Runners Up: Evans EC2, Evans Genera G1 Coated, Remo Pinstripe

Accessory: Dunnett R-Class Swivel Lever Throw-Off
Runners Up: Moongel, Hanzenfutz, Tama Rhythm Watch

Print Ad: Pro-Mark "Say It With Your Music"
Runners Up: Pearl Reference Series "Key To Breaking The Sound Barrier," Tama "Monstrous Influences," Sabian "Paragon"

Web Site: drummerworld.com
Runners Up: tigerbill.com, drumsmith.com, dannybritt.com

originally published August, 2006