There are several different types of mic stands available for just about any purpose. The straight stand is the most common and includes either a round metal base or a folding tripod base for holding large microphones. Its height is adjustable and the mic can be swiveled at an angle. The boom stand has a movable arm that allows the microphone to be placed at odd angles. A desk stand is short, usually just a few inches high, and is used for placing mics close to the ground for things like kick drums or guitar amps.
In order to make the use of stands more flexible, it is usually necessary to add extras such as a goose neck---a bendable metal arm that can be screwed on to the end of the mic stand and bent at virtually any angle. A goose neck can come in handy for drummers who also sing, because the goose neck can be combined with a boom mic stand and drop down from above the musician, thereby causing no interference with the drummer's playing.
Boom stands are a great way to mic amplifiers, as they allow for more flexibility in where you want to place the mic. Place the stand as close to the amp as you want and adjust the boom accordingly. Boom stands are also good for placing mics on drums, as they allow you to keep the mics out of the way of the drummer. It's good to use a tripod-based boom stand for mics on drums, as the weight of the mic could tip the stand over if it is extended too far. Make sure to have a weight on the boom, also, to counter the weight of the mic. For a kick drum mic, try a desk stand with a goose neck to get the mic close to the inside drum head.