Chad Sexton
Encyclopedia
Chad Ronald Sexton is the drummer
for American
rock
band 311
. He grew up in Omaha
, Nebraska
and went to Westside High School
with fellow band members Nick Hexum
and Tim Mahoney.
Prior to joining the band he marched snare
with the Railmen drum corps
in Omaha, Nebraska and the Sky Ryders drum corps in Hutchinson
, Kansas
.
Sexton is currently sponsored by Pearl Drums
, and Zildjian cymbals. He was previously sponsored by Orange County Drums and Percussion.
While living in Omaha, he took lessons from Steve Thomas at Joe Voda's Drum City. He became friends with the store employees and his mother Linda began working there. Voda's Drum City was bought out and is no longer in business. In 2006, he asked help from Joe and Linda and re-opened the Drum City under the name Chad Sexton's Drum City, which is now a music store in North Hollywood, California
which specializes in gear, tour supplies, drum lessons, repairs, and sales.
Sexton has also mixed records for up and coming bands such as The Rivalry, Agents Of The Sun, The Urgency, Ballyhoo!, and rap-rock veterans Shootyz Groove
.
, Ginger Baker
and Bill Bruford
.
He incorporates various styles into his playing including reggae
, hip-hop, jazz
and rock
.
Amongst fans, he is best known for his drum solo on the song Applied Science, which is often played much longer in live shows, notably on 311's Live!
album. In the past few years, the entire band has joined in on the drum solo. They bring out floor toms, a snare, and cymbals for each of the other band members to play. This drum solo has been known to last five or more minutes.
Chad is known for a distinctive, high pitched and ringy snare sound. While many listeners argue that this sound is achieved by the snare's tuning, Chad has mentioned in interviews that it is in fact his method of striking the drum that produces the high pitched note. He has demonstrated that he hits rimshots with the bead of the stick lying abnormally close to the rim of the drum, and with the tapered neck of the stick hitting the rim in a style reminiscent of methods used when playing timbales
. While he has stated that he does tune his snare rather high, it is nothing out of the ordinary accepted range for a snare drum.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band 311
311 (band)
311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton...
. He grew up in Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
and went to Westside High School
Westside High School (Omaha)
Westside High School is the high school of the Westside Community Schools district of Omaha, Nebraska. This school has provided education in the Westside Community for 50 years.-Modular schedule system:...
with fellow band members Nick Hexum
Nick Hexum
Nicholas Lofton Hexum is an American musician, currently the vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the alternative rock band 311.-Early life:Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Hexum went to Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska...
and Tim Mahoney.
Prior to joining the band he marched snare
Marching percussion
Marching percussion instruments are specially designed to be played while moving. This is achieved by attaching the drum to a special harness worn by the drummer. The drums are designed and tuned for maximum articulation and projection of sound, as marching activities are almost always outdoors or...
with the Railmen drum corps
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
in Omaha, Nebraska and the Sky Ryders drum corps in Hutchinson
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
Sexton is currently sponsored by Pearl Drums
Pearl Drums
Founded in 1952, the is a multinational corporation based in Japan with a wide range of products, predominately percussion instruments.-History:Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa, who began manufacturing music stands in Sumida, Tokyo on April 2, 1946...
, and Zildjian cymbals. He was previously sponsored by Orange County Drums and Percussion.
While living in Omaha, he took lessons from Steve Thomas at Joe Voda's Drum City. He became friends with the store employees and his mother Linda began working there. Voda's Drum City was bought out and is no longer in business. In 2006, he asked help from Joe and Linda and re-opened the Drum City under the name Chad Sexton's Drum City, which is now a music store in North Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
which specializes in gear, tour supplies, drum lessons, repairs, and sales.
Sexton has also mixed records for up and coming bands such as The Rivalry, Agents Of The Sun, The Urgency, Ballyhoo!, and rap-rock veterans Shootyz Groove
Shootyz Groove
Shootyz Groove is a rap rock band from The Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Formed in 1992, the band originally consisted of Donny on guitar, Spec on bass guitar, Dose on drums, and their two MCs Sense and Season...
.
Drumming style
He says he has been influenced by drummers such as Buddy RichBuddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
, Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
and Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
.
He incorporates various styles into his playing including reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, hip-hop, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
.
Amongst fans, he is best known for his drum solo on the song Applied Science, which is often played much longer in live shows, notably on 311's Live!
Live (311 album)
Live is the only live album by 311. Recorded during the Transistor tour. Notable for Chad Sexton's 2 minute, 47 second drum solo during "Applied Science."...
album. In the past few years, the entire band has joined in on the drum solo. They bring out floor toms, a snare, and cymbals for each of the other band members to play. This drum solo has been known to last five or more minutes.
Chad is known for a distinctive, high pitched and ringy snare sound. While many listeners argue that this sound is achieved by the snare's tuning, Chad has mentioned in interviews that it is in fact his method of striking the drum that produces the high pitched note. He has demonstrated that he hits rimshots with the bead of the stick lying abnormally close to the rim of the drum, and with the tapered neck of the stick hitting the rim in a style reminiscent of methods used when playing timbales
Timbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
. While he has stated that he does tune his snare rather high, it is nothing out of the ordinary accepted range for a snare drum.