Modern Drummer Magazine – August 2026

Summary

Gregg Potter and Cathy Rich share the August 2026 Modern Drummer cover to mark 40 years since Buddy Rich's death, and Volume 50 Number 8 backs them with "Love For Sale" transcribed from a 1982 performance at page 60 and Buddy Rich memorabilia at 86.

Modern Drummer August 2026 (Volume 50, Number 8) is a Buddy Rich issue: Mark Griffith interviews Gregg Potter at 18 on playing in the Buddy Rich Big Band, and Cathy Rich at 30 on the other side of her father. Editor's Overview at 6 sets the frame, "Modern Drummer Remembers: Buddy Rich, 40 Years Later." Two features sit outside: Jay Weinberg at 42 and Brian Tichy at 52, both by Danny "Ziggy" Laverde.

Lessons carry the Rich transcriptions at 60, Ten 1% Edge at 74, advanced overlapping phrases at 75, Joe Morello's Adventure in Time at 82 and Gary Chester's The New Breed at 84. Departments run Kit of the Month at 7, Jazz Insights with Peter Erskine at 8, Collector's Corner with Tim Northup's Northup Drums Museum at 86, Recording Spotlight on Lars at 94 and Eye Candy at 98. The Rich transcriptions and the Northup memorabilia are the two things no other issue this year will carry.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story
p.18 · GREGG POTTER — SITTING ON THE HOTTEST DRUM SEAT EVER!
Gregg Potter tells Mark Griffith at 18 what it was like playing drums in the Buddy Rich Big Band machine, described as the hottest drum seat ever. The piece covers the band, the book and the pressure of that chair. Listen to a Buddy Rich Big Band recording after reading, then try the tempo yourself.

p.30 · CATHY RICH — THE OTHER SIDE OF BUDDY RICH
Cathy Rich speaks at 30 about her father away from the stage, with Mark Griffith drawing out the person behind the drummer. The piece covers family and the legacy she manages. Read it after the Potter interview, since the two views sit opposite each other.

▸ Features
p.42 · JAY WEINBERG — CREATING WITHOUT LIMITS
Jay Weinberg talks to Danny "Ziggy" Laverde at 42 about creating without limits, covering his playing and projects. The piece names the work and the approach. Seek out his current project after reading.

p.52 · BRIAN TICHY — THE JOURNEY NEVER ENDS
Brian Tichy is interviewed at 52, with the piece covering a career that keeps moving. He names the bands and the records. Check the tour dates of whatever band he names here.

▸ Transcriptions
p.60 · TRANSCRIPTION — BUDDY RICH, "LOVE FOR SALE"
Marc Atkinson transcribes Buddy Rich's "Love For Sale" from a 1982 YouTube performance, plus "Apples (aka Gino)" from Big Swing Face, at page 60. The notation captures the solo as played. Play it against the 1982 footage rather than a studio record.

▸ Lessons
p.74 · BASICS — TEN 1% EDGE
Chris Lesso gives ten small improvements at 74, each a 1% edge rather than a rebuild. The column names the adjustments. Take one adjustment and apply it this week.

p.75 · ROCK PERSPECTIVES — PROGRESSIVE DRUMMING ESSENTIALS
Aaron Edgar covers advanced overlapping phrases at 75 in the progressive drumming series. The column names the phrases and the sticking. Isolate the hands before combining the phrase.

p.82 · JAZZ DRUMMERS WORKSHOP — MASTER STUDIES II
Joe Morello's Master Studies II runs Adventure in Time at 82, continuing the series. The column prints the patterns. Practise one pattern slowly until the time feels even.

p.84 · TEACHERS' FORUM — THE NEW BREED
Gary Chester's The New Breed covers concepts at 84, in the teachers' forum slot. The column gives the idea and its use. Apply the concept to a groove you already play.

▸ Departments
p.86 · COLLECTOR'S CORNER
Tim Northup's Collector's Corner at 86 presents Buddy Rich memorabilia from the Northup Drums Museum. The column names the items and their provenance. Visit the museum's collection online if you cannot see the items in person.

p.94 · RECORDING SPOTLIGHT
David Frangioni's Recording Spotlight at 94 covers ReLoad, Relistened: Lars in the Vault. The piece looks at the recording and the drum sound. Pull the album and listen for the drum production described.

p.98 · EYE CANDY
Eye Candy at 98 shows Zendé Murdock's Runarounds touring kit, with photography carrying the page. It names the kit and setup. Note the configuration if you build a touring kit.

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Editor's Take

Modern Drummer Volume 50 Number 8 is a tribute issue that mostly earns itself: Gregg Potter at 18 on the hottest drum seat in the Buddy Rich band and Cathy Rich at 30 on her father give two sides that a single interview could not, and the "Love For Sale" transcription from a 1982 performance at 60 is the rare transcription tied to footage you can actually watch. Tim Northup's memorabilia at 86 adds something only this issue has. The weakness is that Jay Weinberg at 42 and Brian Tichy at 52 sit awkwardly outside the theme, and the equipment section is the thinnest part — New and Notable at 14 is two items, and Product Close Up at 12 covers one brand. The cover, Alex Kluft's photograph of Potter and Cathy Rich, is quiet and right for the subject. Buy this if you care about Buddy Rich; others should borrow the transcription pages.

Strengths
• Potter and Cathy Rich give two sides of one subject
• "Love For Sale" transcription tied to 1982 footage
• Northup memorabilia is unique to this issue

Weaknesses
• Weinberg and Tichy sit outside the Rich theme
• Equipment section is the thinnest part here

Verdict: Recommended for Buddy Rich readers — The tribute content is strong; the gear pages are thin.