DRUMANDSTAGE FORUM

Top 9 Sonor Drum Endorsers Who Influenced the Most Drummers

1. Jack DeJohnette (Jazz Legend)

• Long-time Sonor endorser (30+ years).
• Brought Sonor into the jazz mainstream with his signature tone and legendary status.

2. Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree / King Crimson)

• Known for his articulate tone, musical drumming, and signature Sonor snare.
• A key influence for many modern progressive rock and studio drummers.

3. Jojo Mayer (Nerve / Jazz-Fusion)

• Genre-bending virtuoso with a strong online presence and educational reach.
• His Jungle kit and signature snare helped popularize Sonor among fusion and electronic players.

4. Steve Smith (Journey / Vital Information)

• One of Sonor’s longest-serving endorsers (since the late '70s).
• Famous for clinics, DVDs, and blending rock with jazz technique.

5. Mikkey Dee (Motörhead)

• Iconic hard rock/metal drummer whose Sonor kits powered Motörhead’s classic sound.
• Known for durable and powerful setups.

6. Phil Rudd (AC/DC)

• His legendary backbeat with AC/DC on Sonor drums shaped the sound of hard rock.
• A symbol of groove and simplicity with a punch.

7. Danny Carey (Tool)

• One of the most visible modern Sonor endorsers with a massive fan base.
• His custom Sonor kits and complex rhythms inspire many new drummers.

8. Thomas Haake (Meshuggah)

• A pioneer of extreme metal and polyrhythms.
• His use of Sonor in Meshuggah is a benchmark for technical metal drummers.

9. Glenn Kotche (Wilco)

• Known for his experimental and creative percussion approach.
• Endorses Sonor for both live and studio work.

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Why These 9 Matter:

• They cover a range of genres: jazz, rock, prog, fusion, and metal.
• Many are educators or have signature Sonor gear (snares, kits) that inspire fans.
• Their recordings, live performances, and clinics have brought global visibility to Sonor.

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Quick Summary:

1. Jack DeJohnette – Jazz legend and long-time Sonor artist.

2. Gavin Harrison – Progressive rock hero with signature tones.

3. Jojo Mayer – Fusion icon and educator.

4. Steve Smith – Rock/Jazz clinician and Sonor veteran.

5. Mikkey Dee – Motörhead’s powerhouse drummer.

6. Phil Rudd – AC/DC’s backbeat king.

7. Danny Carey – Modern prog drumming icon (Tool).

8. Thomas Haake – Technical metal innovator (Meshuggah).

9. Glenn Kotche – Experimental rock and creative percussionist (Wilco).

These guys fly under the radar because they were never official endorsers, but they rocked the largest collection of rosewood Phonics on stage for hundreds of shows and a few albums from 1975 into the early 80s. I’m gonna put a post up one day with that story.

Bill Kreutzmann and Micky Hart of the Grateful Dead

My father.

And Chester Thompson.

DaveInNZ wrote: Mon Jul 28, 2025 1:20 am

...And Chester Thompson.

Did you have any inclination to change companies when he left Sonor? I doubt he would do an interview about why he left Sonor, but I may reach out to him.

Nah... The image of him sat behind that Signature Series kit was permanently embedded by that point - I was a teen geeking out on that, couldn't have happened at a more formative time.

Besides he went to DW didn't he? Not sure you could ever get me to part with any money for anything DW make.

I am not a DW guy, either. They quite possibly have the best artist program on the planet, but I am not a fan of the product.

STEVE SMITH

Chester Thompson

I saw/heard this concert and was blown away by the sound...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2WraCDPEYo

Tommy Aldridge, Steve Smith, and Mark Craney

I've had Yamaha and Pearl kits over the last 40 years and had been aware of Sonor since Steve Smith in the 80s. But it was Todd Sucherman that pushed me into making a decision on a new kit.