Ahead of his appearance on the main stage at The UK Drum Show this October, Brandon Toews sat down with Drummers Review’s Ollie Winiberg to discuss his journey through drumming, the incredible stories behind some of Drumeo’s biggest moments, and the players who have inspired him throughout his career.
Known to millions of drummers around the world through his work with Drumeo, Brandon has spent years interviewing, learning from and creating content alongside some of the greatest players in the history of the instrument. However, as Ollie discovered during their conversation, Brandon’s own journey is just as fascinating.
The interview began with a light-hearted moment as Ollie discovered the correct pronunciation of Brandon’s surname, Toews, pronounced “Taves”, before diving into what it’s like spending so much time around legendary musicians.
Some of Brandon’s biggest “I can’t believe this is happening” moments have come from finding himself in the room with true legends.
Reflecting on filming with Phil Collins, Brandon said: “We arrived in Switzerland, set up, and all of a sudden Phil’s car arrived. You’re sitting in the room with him and thinking, ‘Wow, we’re actually here with Phil Collins.’”
Brandon also recalled the challenges behind filming with Travis Barker, where cancelled flights, a broken-down car and production issues almost prevented the session from happening, only for everything to come together in the end.
Another major talking point was Drumeo’s hugely popular “drummer hears a song for the first time” series, with Ollie asking the question many viewers have debated online: is it really genuine?
Brandon explained that the process involves extensive research, preparing lists of 50–100 songs based on each drummer’s influences, career history and musical background.
The goal, he explained, is simple: to create authentic moments that inspire people to play.
“If someone watches a video and doesn’t feel the itch to go to their kit and play, we’ve done something wrong,” Brandon said.
During the interview, Brandon also discussed his own journey as a drummer. After beginning with piano as a child, he discovered drums and fell in love with the instrument through bands including Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and U2.
After studying music at university, Brandon continued developing his craft while becoming increasingly involved with Drumeo during its early years. Joining when the company had around 12 employees, he has since witnessed its transformation into one of the biggest names in drum education.
When asked which drummers he would bring back for a special Drumeo session, Brandon highlighted Elvin Jones, Neil Peart and Tony Williams. These three players pushed boundaries and created a legacy that continues to influence musicians today.
Looking ahead to The UK Drum Show, Brandon revealed that his main stage appearance will combine performance, education, audience participation and some special surprises from the Drumeo archive.
“I’m not going up there and pretending I’m Dave Weckl,” Brandon laughed. “But my perspective is unique. I’ve sat beside these drummers, learned from them, and I want to share those ideas.”
With his passion for celebrating musicians and inspiring the next generation of players, Brandon Toews embodies everything that makes the drumming community so special, and his appearance at The UK Drum Show is set to be a highlight of the weekend.
