On September 01st 2010, four new trainees have started their apprenticeship as export- and wholesale merchants at the Meinl company in Gutenstetten, Germany. Over the course of the next three years they will be working in different devisions at Meinl and will be actively involved in the organisation of Meinl's various events and tradeshows worldwide. Good luck to all and enjoy your time with Meinl.

From left:

Felix Gnebner
Anna-Lena Merkel
Maximilian Kipp
Lukas Vogl

In association with Meinl cymbals, mikedolbear.com presents the "Language Of Drumming" Benny Greb U.K. Workshoptour 2010. Check him out at one of these shows:

October 11th: Dublin (X Music)
October 13th: Manchester (Drum Centre)
October 14th: Doncaster (Electro Music)
October 16th: Colchester (Orchard Percussion)
October 17th: Swansea (Drumnutt)

Meinl Cymbals is pleased to welcome Grant McFarland of This or the Apocalypse to its family of cymbal artists.

Just so you know...Grant is one of the new breed of drummers. He's one to keep your eye on. A Total Monster.

Hailing from Lancaster, PA, Grant and TOTA just released their sophomore album, Haunt What's Left on Goodfight Records, produced by none other than (fellow Meinl Cymbal artist) Chris Adler of Lamb of God.

Here's what Chris had to say about TOTA and Grant recently - 

"I received an advance copy of Monuments (TOTA's first album) from my friend Drew at Lifeforce and I flipped on the drummer. I called Drew and asked if this was the real deal or programming; he assured me it was real. I saw they were playing a festival LOG was on months later, very early in the day. I drug my drum tech to come watch with me and about 12 other people standing in awe with jaws dropped. I found the drummer, Grant, later that day and we discussed all things metal over a bottle of vodka in the back of my bus all night. I realized after that hang, specifically, that this was a band that could be and do anything and I was entirely addicted.”

Shortly after Chris approached the band about producing their next album. Chris explains, "I knew that if I was going to ever work with another band that it would have to be a very special circumstance. I’ve had literally thousands of bands ask, but I never felt the connection and belief I felt when I saw and hung with TOTA. I’m happy to be a part of this. I feel like this is an important moment.” Chris also brought along with him famed producer/engineer Josh Wilbur (Avenged Sevenfold/Atreyu) to work on the project. The band brought into the session enough material to record three full albums.

When asked about Grant specifically, Chris had this to say - 

"Grant is incredibly multifaceted. Not only does he play an enormous role in writing all the material, he’s a monster on the drums. He has the ability to marry complex rhythms with the idea of a song that doesn’t confuse and turn off the listener. I’ve not seen many songwriters, especially drummers, do it as well as Grant. He’s an inspiring player and a genius writer."

 ...'Nuff said!

Meinl Cymbals recently had the chance to welcome George Hines, founder and owner of the US music store chain George's Music (10 locations in Pennsylvania and Florida) to its home base in Gutenstetten, Germany.

George and his wife Lisa were in Europe in early August and took the time to visit the company and see its home base.

A good time was had by all and of course it was all followed up by a dinner at the incomparable Fiedler Haus.

Quite a few Meinl cymbal artists have won in the 2010 Readers Poll of the Dutch magazine Slagwerkkrant. Here is a breakdown of the results:

Drummers Drummer worldwide:
#6 Benny Greb
runner-up: Derek Roddy

Drummers Drummer Benelux:
#4 Stef Broks (Texture)
#6 Michael Schack
runner-up: Bram Hakkens

Rock/Dance/Funk Drums worldwide:
#8 Thomas Lang

Rock/Dance/Funk Drums Benelux:
#5 Bram Hakkens

Hardrock/Metal Drums worldwide:
#1 Chris Adler

Hardrock/Metal Drums Benelux:
#1 Stef Broks (Textures)
#3 Dirk Verbeuren (Soikwork)

Fusion/World Drums worldwide:
#4 Benny Greb

Fusion/World Drums Benelux:
runner-up: Roel Calister

Best Band Benelux:
#1 Blof (Norman Bonink)

Congratulations to all the winners and runner ups.

Gustav Strobel has been Meinl's first ever employee who started to work for the company in September 1964 until his retirement in November 1992. We will always remember him as a hardworking, reliable, and loyal employee.

Gustav Strobel has died on August 20, 2010 at the age of 76 years.

In loving memory
Reinhold and Ingrid Meinl

Check out Meinl's Philippinian endorsee Benjie "Bagets" Mendez at one of the following drum clinics:

September 08th / SM Pampanga
September 09th / SM Baguio

Meinl Cymbal artist Clyde Stubblefield - the legendary "Funky Drummer" - of James Brown fame, needs your help.

This just in from Kathie Williams, manager of Clyde Stubblefield and his partner in drumming crime, and another JB alum - John 'Jabo' Starks...

"Hope this finds you all well & enjoying the last days of summertime!

Just want to let you know about GIVE THE DRUMMER SOME! - a donation campaign developed by The Coalition for Clyde Stubblefield.

The coalition is an artist & industry alliance founded by drummers Stanton Moore, Johnny Rabb & David Stanoch to support Clyde and help him find some relief from the stress of intensive kidney dialysis treatments he receives weekly since his kidneys failed last year.

One year ago, in July of 2009, drumming legend Clyde Stubblefield suffered kidney failure after being diagnosed with kidney disease in 2005.

To help Clyde and his family find some relief as he braves this journey we, The Coalition for Clyde Stubblefield, have organized an effort to provide his many friends and fans worldwide a safe and secure way to chip in and donate to the worthy cause of recognizing a man who has influenced thousands of drummers and brought joy to millions of everyday people through his innovative, natural rhythm.

A native of Chattanooga, TN, Clyde's natural sense of rhythm has always preceded him, "Beating on tin cans...boxes, and whatever else I could get hold of as a child," he says. It was Clyde James Brown was referring to when he uttered the now-classic phrase, "Give the drummer some," on his 1967 hit ,"Cold Sweat"  -  Clyde's debut recording with Brown!

Clyde recorded several classic James Brown songs including "Say it Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)," "Mother Popcorn," "I've Got the Feelin'," and his signature track, "Funky Drummer." Clyde's breakdown beat on this classic is one of the most sampled drum loops of all time, used by the Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, Dr. Dre, George Michael, Ice T, Nine Inch Nails, Parliament/Funkadelic, Prince, Public Enemy, and Sinead O'Connor, to name only a few, and earning him the distinction of being the "World's Most Sampled Drummer." Ironically, Clyde has never been paid any type of royalty for this use of his innovative beat.

Clyde has remained in demand, performing and recording with such diverse artists as Otis Redding, Garbage, Public Enemy and John Scofield, as well as fellow JB alumni, Fred Wesley, Fred Thomas, and Jabo Starks, in The FunkMasters. Clyde has also played in the house-band of NPR's popular "Whad'Ya Know Show" since the 1980s and his drumsticks are on display in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

Today while Clyde, a long-time resident of Madison, WI, is still performing and sharing his deep soulfulness with fans everywhere, he is also dealing with the stress that regular kidney dialysis treatments demand to keep him active and working.

And so we invite and encourage you to "Give The Drummer Some," won't you? Let Clyde feel some of YOUR soulfulness as we come together to help out a brother, a teacher, our friend. No contribution is too small and every penny makes a difference.

Please join us and thank you.

Check out the website we've created that just went online August 12th:"

 Click Here.

Meinl Cymbal artist Benny Greb is in popular demand and is back with another round of US clinics planned for September 2010.

Don't miss this chance to see one of the most musical drummers of our time in an up close and personal setting.

Dates are as follows - 

Tuesday, September 21 - Mother's Music - Edmonton, Alberta

Wednesday, September 22 - Just Drums - Toronto, Ontario

Thursday, September 23 - Drum Center of Portsmouth - Porstmouth, NH

Saturday, September 25 - Atlanta Pro Percussion - Atlanta, GA

Sunday, September 26 - Skins N' Tins - Champaign, IL

Monday, September 27 - Drum Center of Lexington - Lexington, KY

Tuesday, September 28 - Indoor Storm - Raleigh, NC

Wednesday, September 29 - Long Island Drum Center - Plainview,

This just in from Meinl Cymbal artist Derek Roddy - 

Hello everyone,

As many of you know....I've been working on getting my band Serpents Rise recorded and released.

Well, here it is....and for free download. Click here.

Be sure to pass this along to anybody you think will listen to it and to any metal fans you may know.

Cheers and enjoy.

D.