Stephen Bidwell was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in the Virginia suburbs. Since first being handed drumsticks in the late 80s he has studied and lived in West Virginia, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and New York but has called Austin, Texas home since 2005. Somewhere in those travels, he earned a Bachelors’s degree in classical percussion (two of them actually) and a Master’s degree in Jazz studies. Since early 2018 he has been the drummer for the Grammy-nominated Black Pumas, a psychedelic soul group known for incendiary live shows. When not on tour with Black Pumas, Stephen plays in several diverse projects (Hard Proof, The Calm Blue Sea, Azmaris, Mood Illusion), works in any genre you can think of as a sideman and teaches lessons at his home studio.

You can see some of Steve’s interviews and other drum journalism over at ModernDrummer.com, he’s been a contributing writer since 2008.

 

Steve proudly plays Gretsch drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks.

 

Photo credits: Naz Stone, Gregg Giannukos, Liina Raud, Sean Mathis. If I’ve used a photo of yours unknowingly, please email me asap and we will get sorted.