Simmons Drums

Billy Amendola is the Editor At Large for Modern Drummer magazine whose background as a musician makes him perfect for the job! His passion for music began at an early age and by the time he began working for the magazine in 1997, Billy was already a seasoned studio musician and founding member of the band Mantus. Ron Spangnardi, the founder of Modern Drummer, first hired Billy to help with his drum festival in 1990.

Thomas Dolby was a champion of early synthesizers and used them often during his performances as a pop star beginning in the 1980s. For example, his 1982 hit “She Blinded Me with Science” incorporates several synths including the MiniMoog and the Simmons Drum Machine. Always looking for ways to make sounds with new technology, Thomas created the company Headspace in 1993 which produced Internet downloadable files. He later changed the company name to Beatnik, Inc and released software synthesizers, which were licensed to Nokia for their mobile phones.

Sandy Gennaro’s skills as a drummer can be heard on recordings and live performances by artists such as Hall of Famers Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Bo Diddley and Cyndi Lauper, The Monkees, Benny Mardones, and The Pat Travers Band.

Mike Reininger has always had an unwavering love for drums. Growing up surrounded by music, he often sang with his brother and developed a keen sense of rhythm through tap dancing. In fifth grade, he joined the school marching band as a snare drummer, a defining moment when he knew percussion would always be an integral part of his life. Thanks to the GI Bill, Mike attended college while continuing to play local gigs at night and on weekends. He later toured with his band, becoming an early adopter of electronic drum kits, blending cutting-edge technology with the energetic New Wa