Chris Adler

Chris Adler
Adler performing in 2015
Background information
Birth name Christopher James Adler
Born (1972-11-23) November 23, 1972
Origin Washington, D.C.
Genres Groove metal, thrash metal, progressive metal
Occupation(s) musician
Instruments Drums, percussion, guitar, bass guitar, piano, saxophone
Years active 1986–present
Labels Epic
Associated acts Lamb of God, Megadeth, Jettison Charlie, Blotted Science, Testament, Protest The Hero, Nitro
Website chrisadler.com

Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American drummer, best known as a member and founder of the groove metal band Lamb of God, and Grammy Award winning member of Megadeth. He became a member of thrash metal band Megadeth from 2015-2016, playing on their fifteenth album Dystopia and performed most live touring dates in support of that album. In his 5th Grammy nomination, "Dystopia" won Chris his first Grammy Award for the Best Metal Performance at the 59th Grammy Awards. In 2006 Adler collaborated with revered progressive guitarist Ron Jarzombek beginning the project Blotted Science. In 2010, Adler moved to Toronto, Canada for 6 weeks and recorded and helped write the album "Volition" with the progressive metal band Protest the Hero. The album went on to win and provide Chris his first Juno Award (Canadian equivalent to the US Grammy) In 2014 he contributed several drum tracks to the Testament album Dark Roots of the Earth. In 2016 Adler recorded three songs with Jim Gillette, Michael Angelo Batio, and Victor Wooten in a California studio for a Nitro reunion album. As of October 2017, he left the Nitro reunion project to focus on a mid-2018 release and tour with Lamb of God. He is the elder brother of Lamb of God bandmate and guitarist Willie Adler. Chris played in several local bands including Calibra, Jettison Charlie, and Grouser before founding Lamb of God in 1994. Adler is pescatarian and has worked with PETA. He is recognized by his left-handed playing on a right-handed kit, his use of the heel-toe technique,[1] his unusual approach to the drum kit.

Biography

Adler attended Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia; Adler attended college at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia where he met current bandmates John Campbell and Mark Morton. His inspirations include former Wrathchild America and current Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin[2] and Stewart Copeland[3] of The Police. Other influences are John Bonham, Dave Lombardo, Gar Samuelson, Lars Ulrich, Billy Cobham and Gene Hoglan.[4] On August 9, 2014 ABC News radio asked Adler in an interview if he did the drums for the new Slipknot single "The Negative One". Adler responded with "I can't confirm nor deny it". Adler later dismissed this in a later interview.[5]

According to DRUM! Magazine, Adler describes his first drum kit as a disaster:

"The bass drum legs were different lengths so they wouldn't touch the ground at the same time. Every time I would hit it, it would wobble from left to right. The cymbal stands were duct taped together, and I think after two or three times playing the kit, the pedalboard actually broke in half because it was made of that crappy old fake metal."[6]

He played on Megadeth's 2016 studio release Dystopia and on all live shows during the following world tour, juggling his time between Lamb of God and Megadeth. On July 1, 2016 Adler left Megadeth due to continued pressure to join full-time and leave Lamb of God. In lieu of leaving the band he started, Adler recommended his friend Dirk Verbeuren to Megadeth main man Dave Mustaine who accepted his recommendation. Verbeuren took over the throne for Megadeth at that time after agreeing to quit all of his other projects. On 12 February 2017 Adler won his first Grammy award for "Dystopia" which won the Best Metal Performance category at the 59th Grammy Awards.[7] As he was no longer a band member he did not attend the ceremony with current Megadeth drummer Verbeuren attending with the band instead.

Adler is a vegetarian.[8][9]

Chris Adler's equipment

Adler uses Saturn Mapex Drums, his own signature Black Panther 12x5.5" snare, and Gibraltar Hardware. He also uses and endorses Evans Drumheads, Pro-Mark signature Sticks, Trick Pedals and Meinl Cymbals. Chris helped Meinl produce the 24" MB20 Pure Metal Ride for him and helped with the creation of the 12" Soundcaster Custom Distortion Splash. He also uses a Roland pad and two Roland trigger Modules linked to a 808. He also uses a Roland TD30k Kit at home and for warmups on tour.

Current tour kit

  • Drums - Mapex Saturn in Satin Black Maple Burl[10]
    • 10"x9" Tom
    • 12"×10" Tom
    • 16"×16" Floor Tom
    • 18"×16" Floor Tom
    • 22"×18" Bass Drum (×2)
    • 12"×5.5" Mapex Warbird (Chris Adler Signature)
  • Cymbals – Meinl[11]
    • 14" Generation X Filter China
    • 16" Generation X Filter China
    • 17" Byzance China (Prototype)
    • 14" Soundcaster Custom Medium Soundwave Hihat - 14" Byzance Dark Hihat
    • 8" Byzance Splash (x2)
    • 12" Soundcaster Custom Distortion Splash
    • 14" Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash
    • 16" Mb8 Medium Crash
    • 18" Byzance Medium Thin Crash
    • 24" Byzance Pure Metal Ride (New Signature model)
    • 8" Classics High Bell
  • Drumheads[10] - Evans
    • Toms: EC2S Clear - G1 Clear
    • Bass: EMAD Heavyweight - Custom Resonant
    • Snare: Heavyweight snare batter - 300 snare side
  • Hardware[1]
    • Trick Pro V pedals
    • Gibraltar Rack System and Clamps
    • Mapex Cymbal Boom Arms
  • Other[12]
    • Roland TD-7 Electronic Percussion Module and Single Trigger Pad
    • Roland trigger modules
    • Pro-Mark TX5AXW Chris Adler Signature Sticks

Discography

With Calibra

  • Demo Tape (1989, Independently Released)

With Cry Havoc

  • Demo Tape (1993, Independently Released)

With Jettison Charlie

  • Hitchhiking to Budapest (1994, Turn of The Century)
  • "Legions of The Unjazzed"/"I Love You, You Bastard" EP (1996, Peas Kor Records)

With EvilDeathInc.

With Burn the Priest

With Grouser

  • Demo Tape (1996, Independently Released)

With Lamb of God

Solo

  • Drum Nation Volume 3 (2006, Magna Carta) feat. Ron Jarzombek
  • Chris Adler and Jason Bittner: Live at Modern Drummer Festival 2005 DVD (2006, Hudson Music)

With Testament

With Protest The Hero

With Megadeth

References

  1. 1 2 "Drummerworld video showing Adler talk about his pedals and bass drum technique". Pearl Drummers Forum. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  2. ↑ "Lamb of God's Chris Adler Talks Drums (w/ Audio) - in Interviews". Metal Underground.com. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  3. ↑ Linda Friedel (2011-03-16). "Drum clinic rocks local music store - Wednesday Sun News Story - Kansas City". Kccommunitynews.com. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  4. ↑ Phil Freeman (2012-02-24). "Lamb of God's Chris Adler's Five Favorite Drummers". wonderingsound.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  5. ↑ "LAMB OF GOD's CHRIS ADLER: 'I Have No Involvement' In SLIPKNOT's New Album". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Chris Adler: Working Man's Metal". DRUM! Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-09-14.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  8. ↑ "Lamb of God interview". YouTube. 2007-02-19. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  9. ↑ "Lamb of God's Chris Adler is Vegetarian". peta2.com. 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  10. 1 2 "Chris Adler". Chris Adler. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  11. ↑ "MEINL_cymbals_2008.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  12. ↑ "DRUMHEAD Magazine". Drumheadmag.com. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  13. ↑ "Testament: New Album Title Revealed; Tour With Anthrax, Overkill, Death Angel Planned". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
  14. ↑ Lamb Of God’s Chris Adler Is Officially The Drummer For Megadeth’s New Album
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