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Dave Grohl

Documented by Chris @ Drum Faster

The drummer of Nirvana before he was the frontman of Foo Fighters — one of the hardest hitters rock has produced. The Nevermind drum sound (and that brass snare) is still chased by producers thirty years on.

Read our full Dave Grohl feature →

2009 — Them Crooked Vultures

Back behind the kit with Josh Homme and John Paul Jones — deep-shelled DW kit, big cymbals, and the loosest, funkiest playing of his career.

Bass drum — DW Collector's Series maple kit 26"Floor tom — DW Collector's Series maple kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series maple kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series maple kit Snare — DW 14"x6.5" Collector's Bell Brass snare 14"Hi-hats — Zildjian A 15" Rock Hi-hats 15"Crash — Zildjian A 20" Medium Crash 20"Crash — Zildjian A 20" Medium Crash 20"Ride — Zildjian A 24" Medium Ride 24"
The 2009 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
DW Collector's Series maple kit 26" kick, oversized toms ⤷ who plays this
DW 14"x6.5" Collector's Bell Brass snare the modern stand-in for the Terminator ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 15" Rock Hi-hats ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 20" Medium Crash pair ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 24" Medium Ride ⤷ who plays this
DW 5000 pedal still the classic chain drive ⤷ who plays this
DW 9000 series stands ⤷ who plays this
Remo Coated Emperor ⤷ who plays this

1993 — In Utero

Recorded with Steve Albini in two weeks: a bigger, roomier drum sound — same brass snare story, more microphones, less polish.

Bass drum — Tama Rockstar-Pro kit 24"Floor tom — Tama Rockstar-Pro kit Rack tom — Tama Rockstar-Pro kit Rack tom — Tama Rockstar-Pro kit Snare — Tama 14"x6.5" bell brass snare 14"Hi-hats — Zildjian A 15" Rock Hi-hats 15"Crash — Zildjian A 20" Medium Crash 20"Ride — Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride 22"
The 1993 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Tama Rockstar-Pro kit natural finish, 24" kick ⤷ who plays this
Tama 14"x6.5" bell brass snare the Terminator returns ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 15" Rock Hi-hats ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 20" Medium Crash ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride ⤷ who plays this
DW 5000 pedal ⤷ who plays this
Remo Coated Emperor ⤷ who plays this

1991 — Nevermind

Tracked at Sound City with Butch Vig: Tama shells, huge Zildjians, and the legendary Tama bell brass snare nicknamed "The Terminator". Live, Dave famously destroyed most of what he sat behind.

Bass drum — Tama Granstar kit 24"Floor tom — Tama Granstar kit 16"Rack tom — Tama Granstar kit 13"Snare — Tama 14"x6.5" bell brass snare 14"Hi-hats — Zildjian A 15" Rock Hi-hats 15"Crash — Zildjian A 19" Medium Crash 19"Ride — Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride 22"
The 1991 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Tama Granstar kit 24" kick, 13"/16" toms — smashed and replaced regularly on tour ⤷ who plays this
Tama 14"x6.5" bell brass snare "The Terminator" — the Nevermind snare sound ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 15" Rock Hi-hats ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 19" Medium Crash played hard enough to fold ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride ridden like a crash ⤷ who plays this
DW 5000 pedal ⤷ who plays this
Easton Ahead rock sticks aluminium sticks survived him longer than wood ⤷ who plays this
Remo Coated Emperor toms and snare batter ⤷ who plays this

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