Welcome Keyser, West Virginia native Donnie Marple! Donnie is best known as the full-time drummer for American country music singer and songwriter Lee Brice. He’s also the 2017 Champion of the storied Guitar Center Drum-Off.

Starting from his early love for drumming inspired by his musical family and church, Donnie describes his rise through the competitive ranks, from local area competitions to competing nationally in the Guitar Center Drum-Off and eventually performing a solo at the prestigious Buddy Rich Memorial Concert - where he would share the stage with legends like Neil Peart and Chad Smith. Donnie discusses the evolution of his career with Lee Brice, his continual efforts to improve, and his experience balancing fatherhood with a demanding touring schedule. He also reflects on his passion for golf and reading, and offers insights into overcoming overthinking and focusing on mental health. The episode wraps as Donnie emphasizes the importance of humility, gratitude, and balancing professional success with personal fulfillment. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:08 Welcome, Donnie!
3:42 Lee Brice Audition
18:50 Mental Health and Overcoming Challenges
28:53 Golf and Drumming: Finding Balance
31:55 Learning from Other Drummers
37:14 Drum Box (Sponsor)
37:57 Early Beginnings
43:36 Guitar Center Drum-Off
57:19 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
58:38 Buddy Rich Memorial Concert
1:07:10 Reflecting & Inspiring the Next Generation
1:10:35 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:18:08 Gear Talk and Endorsements
1:24:31 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
1:28:43 Balancing Family and Career
1:30:50 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Connect with Donnie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnie_marple
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/donniemarple
Website: https://donniemarple.com

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Soul" - Lee Brice
"Rumor" - Lee Brice

Support the show

Connect with us:
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TikTok
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Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Attendee and exhibitor interviews from the Music City Drum Show July 19th & 20th, 2025.

Register for the 2026 Music City Drum Show
https://www.musiccitydrumshow.com

Interviews (in order of appearance)
00:00 Intro
0:11 Welcome
2:02 Matt Bover
5:04 Joel Edward McCoy
7:44 Don Orrell
11:01 Lillian Stegen
12:14 Dave Brandwein
14:45 Lleyton Brainard
16:21 Jake Robinson
18:05 Laurel Knopf (Roadkill Drums Podcast)
23:05 Jim Wagy
26:11 Brian Leszczynski
28:48 Mitch Zlotnik (Audimute)
33:10 Landon Hall
36:07 Josh Blount (Lucky Drums Co.)
37:56 Brendan Golden
39:40 Sully
41:23 Joe Hamm
45:00 Damon Hope
47:24 Outro

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome New Jersey-native and acclaimed drummer Jay Weinberg! Voted 4x "Best Metal Drummer" and "#1 Rock Drummer" in Modern Drummer Readers Polls, Jay Weinberg is known as the current drummer for American thrash groups Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves, and past tenure with the heavy-metal band Slipknot from 2014-2023. This episode dives deep into the intersection of art, music, and community. Having just wrapped support on Metallica's M72 World Stadium Tour, Jay recalls stories from the road and his approach to high-level performing. We learn the genesis of Jay's visual art career and his unique approach to balancing perfectionism and artistry. Jay discusses his important work with the Best Buddies of Tennessee, his approach to drum clinics and education, and his cherished collaborations with brands including SJC Drums, Zildjian, and Mixwave. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:10 Welcome, Jay!
2:49 Nashville's Evolving Drum Community
10:15 Hockey & Injury
13:13 Reflecting on Life's Decisions and Creativity
22:21 Touring with Metallica: A Dream Come True
33:29 Drum Box (Sponsor)
34:11 Jay Weinberg: The Visual Artist
36:44 Early Years: Jay' Father Max Weinberg, Bruce & the E Street Band
37:27 Balancing School and Touring
43:57 Exploring Visual Art and Oil Painting
46:48 The Intersection of Music and Art
53:50 Perfectionism & Patience
1:04:55 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
1:05:36 Collaborations and Custom Drum Kits
1:19:35 Mixwave Virtual Drums
1:23:36 Zildjian Signature Bell
1:26:09 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:27:09 Best Buddies of Tennessee
1:35:36 SJC Drums (Sponsor)
1:36:25 Drumming Accolades
1:38:47 Music City Drum Show (2025 Clinic)
1:46:55 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
1:47:35 Show Prep: Rituals and Routines
1:51:47 The Physicality of Drumming
2:01:17 Closing Questions (Tattoos, Coffee, & Food)
2:11:13 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

SJC Drums
https://www.sjcdrums.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Connect with Jay:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jayweinberg
YouTube: http://youtube.com/jayweinbergofficial
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayweinbergdrum
Website: https://www.jayweinbergofficial.com

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Nero Forte" - Slipknot
"All Out Life" - Slipknot

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC