iDrum, the free, interactive, digital magazine for drummers, has a packed third issue featuring in-depth video interviews with the unrivalled Dennis Chambers, Graham Broad fresh from The Wall Tour with Roger Waters, and Aaron Comess talking about the return of the Spin Doctors.

There is a special feature on the Musikmesse. This is when all the true advantages of a fully interactive magazine come to the fore – where you can not only see, but listen and hear to all the new products that were debuted there. There is a full A to Z guide from the iDrum team covering a full fifteen pages with video interviews and demonstrations.

iDrum brings you exclusive interviews in every issue, and this month includes features on top teacher Pat Petrillo. Editor Ian Croft also catches-up with Keith LeBlanc with live footage of his band Tack>>Head and you can see videos and a festival report from The UK Custom Drum festival. Another special feature is a behind the doors look at the Zildjian Artists Sessions in London where you can see and hear demonstrations of the new Gen16 Cymbals as well as get previews of what prototypes the research and development team are currently working on.

There are loads of product, DVD and CD reviews, again with video presentations and comment from experts you know and trust. Also included are over an hour and half of free drum and percussion lessons in the Tech Sessions covering all types of rhythm and genres with top teachers including Pete Lockett, Jungle Drummer and iDrum’s very own Jamie Borden.

And don’t forget the competition – you still have the chance to win the drumming prize of a lifetime – a complete set of Neil Peart Evolutions Snare drums by DW, his Sabian Paragon Cymbals and a brick of his custom designed signature Promark Drum Sticks. Together this prize is worth in excess of £10,000 ($15,000 or €11,000).

More than a magazine, iDrum is ahead of its time, an extraordinary experience that allows you to interact directly with the content, whether it is the interviews, the lessons, or the reviews. This free third issue comes with over one hundred and forty pages packed with drumming excitement.

Come and listen to the talking drum magazine, you’re going to love it. Go to www.idrummag.com/issue3.

Blondie Drummer Clem Burke is to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Gloucestershire for his groundbreaking involvement in a project that bears his name.

The Clem Burke Drumming Project (CBDP) was launched in July 2008 in collaboration with Clem Burke, the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Chichester.  The seminal research revealed that professional drummers had a heart rate profile similar to professional footballers and expended a significant amount of energy per performance.

The award recognises not only his musical excellence, but also the pioneering work he has undertaken to explore the physical demands of drumming and the uses of drumming to promote physical and psychological wellbeing.

Subsequent work by the Project has included the positive effects of drumming amongst primary school children with a range of educational needs and drumming as an intervention to super-obese children. The Project is also about to publish data on 15 professional drummers that shows that the initial findings on Clem’s performance are typical.  Darrin Mooney, drummer for Primal Scream, Matt Tong from Bloc Party, Rob Rolfe of Enter Shikari, Kevin Figueiredo, drummer with Extreme and musician Jeremy Hickey, known as R.S.A.G. have been working with the research team in physiological testing that measures heart rate, oxygen uptake and blood lactate levels in rehearsal testing and during live shows.

Dr Steve Draper, Co-founder of the CBDP, University of Gloucestershire said:

“This is a proud moment for all involved with the Clem Burke Drumming Project and a fitting recognition of the achievements of its figurehead.   Clem is a respected, world renowned and Grammy Award winning artist who has enjoyed a long and varied career in music.  It has, and continues to be, a privilege to work with him.”

Co-founder, Dr Marcus Smith from the University of Chichester added:
“The award of an Honorary Doctorate of Music to Clem Burke recognises not only his longevity and excellence as a musician but also his willingness to engage with academics to investigate the science of drumming.

“Over the past 12 years our understanding of the physiological demands of playing the drums has become clear and the potential role drumming may have as an intervention to enhance health and wellbeing.”

Clem is delighted with the awards. He said:

“I would never have expected that my work with the Clem Burke Drumming Project would result in such an award. It is truly a great honour and I accept this award on behalf of my brother drummers everywhere in the world”

The honorary award will be conferred on July 30 at the Rhythmfest drumming summer school taking place at the University of Gloucestershire’s Park campus in Cheltenham.

More information about the CBDP can be found at www.clemburkedrummingproject.com.

iDrum issue two is here. Created by experts, designed to break new ground, packed full of exclusive interviews with talented artists, up to the minute news, reviews of cutting edge products – issue two is just the start of what is planned for the future. You can read it, watch it, hear it, touch it, share articles with friends and all for Free!

Features include the second part of Jamie Borden’s Neil Peart interview continuing with Neil discussing how his mind works, how he keeps in shape – physically and mentally and how the Time Machine Kit came about. In the exclusive Mike Portnoy interview, find out why he left Dream Theatre after nearly 25yrs, what it’s like playing with Avenged Sevenfold and what the future holds.  Then get together with Mr. Nice Guy himself – Jason Bittner of Shadows Fall – and find out why he thinks sharing is important. Other articles include Michito Sanchez – percussionist extraordinaire, John Tempesta – talking about his UK clinic tour, Jon Hiseman – discussing his new book and Brendan Buckley – Shakira’s go to guy.

In the Tech Sessions The Jungle Drummer continues the ‘blaggers guide’ to Drum ’n’ Bass and Pete Lockett gives an off beat displacement lesson looking at paradiddles and Tihai’s around the kit. In other lessons you can look at polyrhythmic patterns with Jamie Borden, the technicalities and rhythms of Pandeiro with Adriano Santos, groove enhancement with Pat Garvey, and dissect The Songo Groove with Richard Patterson. Not forgetting the first in a series of R & B groove lessons from Ed Williams.

The Review section is jam packed with all the latest gear and drumming must have gadgets. This part of the magazine looks at drum kits from the DW Performance series, and Tiki Vintage Maple Series, cymbals from Dream, UFIP and Meinl, as well as Mapex pedals, Natal cajons, Audix Mics, Mad hatters Hi Hat Jingle and of course the BC2 from Porter and Davies. This is followed by a generous chapter looking at all the latest CDs and DVDs where you can listen and watch excerpts as well as read what the reviewer thought.

iDrum brings you the amazing drumming prize of a lifetime, worth over £10,000 ($15,000 or €11,000)! In this free to enter competition, iDrum subscribers can win a piece of drumming history. Up for grabs are a complete set of Neil Peart Evolutions Snares by DW, his Sabian Paragon Cymbals, and a brick of his custom designed signature Promark Drum Sticks.

With over 180 pages this second issue is bursting at its virtual seams. You, the reader, can engage directly with the content and you can share it through your website, your blog, Facebook or Twitter – there is more than enough to go around. Get the iDrum habit, sign up for a free subscription and take the waiting out of wanting.

It’s free, it’s easy to use, it’s fun, its packed full of interesting things, it keeps going and going, you canread it anywhere, whenever you like, it can be shared, so go to http://magazine2.idrummag.com/issue2/page/1/ and try it – the ultimate drumming magazine.