Chris Adler
Encyclopedia
Christopher James Adler is an American drummer
, best known as a member of the groove metal
band Lamb Of God
. He is the older brother of bandmate and guitarist Willie Adler
. Chris had played in several local bands before joining Lamb of God in 1994.
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
drummer Shannon Larkin
and Stewart Copeland
of The Police
.
Before devoting his career to Lamb of God, Adler was planning a career as a Network Engineer. He is Microsoft
certified. Adler admits that even today he still gets nervous before big shows, "I have to watch the video when we are done because I kinda black out and just run on adrenaline and muscle memory." His favorite song to play live is Hourglass.
According to DRUM! Magazine, Adler describes his first drum kit as a disaster:
When asked how Wrath would differ from the previous albums, Adler had this to say.
Like Lamb of God bassist John Campbell
, Adler is a vegetarian.
It is suggested on the Killedelphia DVD that his beard is in fact a hair prosthesis
, though this is likely to be a joke, typical of the bands on the road antics.
, his own signature Black Panther 12x5.5" snare, and Gibraltar Hardware
. He also uses and endorses Aquarian
Drumheads, Pro-Mark
signature Sticks, Trick V-1 PRO 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 TD-7 Module to trigger an 808
.
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...
, best known as a member of the groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
band Lamb Of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
. He is the older brother of bandmate and guitarist Willie Adler
Willie Adler
William M. Adler is the rhythm guitarist in the groove metal band Lamb Of God. He is the younger brother of bandmate Chris Adler.Willie joined Lamb of God after the first guitarist, [Keven Maglasang ], left the band...
. Chris had played in several local bands before joining Lamb of God in 1994.
Biography
Adler attended Bishop Ireton High SchoolBishop Ireton High School
Bishop Ireton High School is a Roman Catholic High School located in Alexandria, Virginia. The school was founded in 1964 by the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales, an order of Catholic priests sometimes called Salesians, and originally admitted only male students...
in Alexandria, Virginia; Adler attended college at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
in Richmond, Virginia where he met current bandmates John Campbell
John Campbell (bassist)
John Steven Campbell is the bassist and a founding member of the groove metal band Lamb Of God.Unlike many bass players who will use four and five string basses, Campbell at one time played a self modified three-stringed Guild Pilot bass, excluding the higher G-string...
and Mark Morton
Mark Morton (musician)
Mark Duane Morton is the lead guitarist of the American groove metal band Lamb Of God.- Before Lamb of God :Morton grew up near Williamsburg, Virginia. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of Alabama Thunderpussy fame. Morton played rhythm guitar...
. His inspirations include former Wrathchild America
Wrathchild America
Wrathchild America was an American thrash metal band formed in Martinsburg, West Virginia in 1978. They are regarded as the first thrash metal band. They released two studio albums through Atlantic Records, and gained charting success through the Billboard 200...
drummer Shannon Larkin
Shannon Larkin
Shannon Larkin, born James Shannon Larkin on April 24, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, is a musician best known for being the drummer of the heavy metal band Godsmack. He replaced the previous drummer Tommy Stewart in June 2002...
and Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
of The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
.
Before devoting his career to Lamb of God, Adler was planning a career as a Network Engineer. He is Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
certified. Adler admits that even today he still gets nervous before big shows, "I have to watch the video when we are done because I kinda black out and just run on adrenaline and muscle memory." His favorite song to play live is Hourglass.
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."
When asked how Wrath would differ from the previous albums, Adler had this to say.
"I'm happy to be done because it was the most intense playing since As The Palaces BurnAs the Palaces BurnAs the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
, and I proved to myself that I still got it. This new stuff is heavy duty. This album is going to be more aggressive than the last 2. We want to get back to the nasty stuff."
Like Lamb of God bassist John Campbell
John Campbell (bassist)
John Steven Campbell is the bassist and a founding member of the groove metal band Lamb Of God.Unlike many bass players who will use four and five string basses, Campbell at one time played a self modified three-stringed Guild Pilot bass, excluding the higher G-string...
, Adler is a vegetarian.
It is suggested on the Killedelphia DVD that his beard is in fact a hair prosthesis
Hair prosthesis
A Hair prosthesis , is a custom-made wig specifically designed for patients who have lost their hair as a result of medical conditions or treatments, such as alopecia areata...
, though this is likely to be a joke, typical of the bands on the road antics.
Chris Adler's equipment
Chris Adler uses Black Panther Series Mapex DrumsMapex Drums
Mapex Drums is a drum brand manufactured by KHS Musical Instruments Company of Taiwan. Mapex has been in the drum making industry for over 18 years.-Products:...
, his own signature Black Panther 12x5.5" snare, and Gibraltar Hardware
Gibraltar Hardware
Gibraltar Hardware is a maker of drumset and percussion hardware. It's most famed for making drumset frames and cages, but it also makes everything from hi-hat stands to drumset thrones...
. He also uses and endorses Aquarian
Aquarian
Aquarian may refer to:*Aquarius , a sign of the zodiac*Aquarian Illusion, a magic trick*Aquarian Tabernacle Church, a wiccan church*The Aquarian Foundation, a spiritualist church based in Seattle, Washington...
Drumheads, Pro-Mark
Pro-Mark
Pro-Mark is a Houston, Texas-based American drumstick company owned by founder Herb Brochstein. It is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.-History:...
signature Sticks, Trick V-1 PRO Pedals and Meinl
Meinl Percussion
Roland Meinl Percussion is a leading manufacturer of cymbals and other percussion instruments, based in Gutenstetten, Germany. Their main brand is Meinl.Founded in 1951 by Roland 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
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
pad and TD-7 Module to trigger an 808
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
.
Current tour kit
- Drums - MapexMapex DrumsMapex Drums is a drum brand manufactured by KHS Musical Instruments Company of Taiwan. Mapex has been in the drum making industry for over 18 years.-Products:...
Black Panther Blaster Series in Transparent Walnut Burst (Walnut Shells)- 10"x9" Tom
- 12"×10" Tom
- 16"×16" Floor Tom
- 18"×16" Floor Tom
- 22"×18" Bass Drum (×2)
- 12"×5.5" Chris Adler Signature Black Panther Snare (Discontinued)
- Cymbals – MeinlMeinl PercussionRoland Meinl Percussion is a leading manufacturer of cymbals and other percussion instruments, based in Gutenstetten, Germany. Their main brand is Meinl.Founded in 1951 by Roland Meinl...
- 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
- 12" Soundcaster Custom Distortion Splash
- 14" Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash
- 16" Mb8 Medium Crash
- 18" Byzance Medium Thin Crash
- 24" Mb20 Pure Metal Ride (Signature model)
- 8" Classics High Bell
- Drumheads - AquarianAquarianAquarian may refer to:*Aquarius , a sign of the zodiac*Aquarian Illusion, a magic trick*Aquarian Tabernacle Church, a wiccan church*The Aquarian Foundation, a spiritualist church based in Seattle, Washington...
- Toms: Clear Response 2 - Classic Clear
- Bass: Clear Superkick 2 - Custom Resonant
- Snare: Coated Hi-Energy snare batter - Classic clear snare side
- Hardware
- Trick PRO 1-V Pedals
- GibraltarGibraltar HardwareGibraltar Hardware is a maker of drumset and percussion hardware. It's most famed for making drumset frames and cages, but it also makes everything from hi-hat stands to drumset thrones...
Rack System and Clamps - MapexMapex DrumsMapex Drums is a drum brand manufactured by KHS Musical Instruments Company of Taiwan. Mapex has been in the drum making industry for over 18 years.-Products:...
Cymbal Boom Arms
- Other
- RolandRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
TD-7 Electronic Percussion Module and Single Trigger Pad - DdrumDdrumddrum is a division of Armadillo Enterprises, Inc. that manufactures drums, percussion, and electronic drum triggers.-Acoustic drums:ddrum is a sister company to Dean guitars and produces drums that fall into one of several series, each following a motif of beginning with the letter "d" and grouped...
Pro Acoustic Trigger (x2) - DB Drum shoes
- Pro-MarkPro-MarkPro-Mark is a Houston, Texas-based American drumstick company owned by founder Herb Brochstein. It is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.-History:...
TX5AXW Chris Adler Signature Sticks
- Roland
With Jettison Charlie
- Hitchhiking to Budapest (1994, Turn of The CenturyTurn of the centuryTurn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
) - "Legions of The Unjazzed"/"I Love You, You Bastard" EP (1996, Peas Kor Records)
With Burn the Priest
- Demo Tape (1995, Independently Released)
- Split with ZEDZEDZED might mean:*In building, a zero energy development, zero energy design or zero emissions development a zero energy domicile as coined by Deirdre Ross, of Ross architecture & design, 22 November, 2011....
(1997, Goatboy Records) - Split with Agents of Satan (1998, Deaf American RecordingsDeaf American RecordingsDeaf American Recordings was started by Rich Hoak in late 1993. The label is centered in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, USA.-Releases:* da0-01000 F.O.D...
) - Sevens and More (1998, mp3.comMP3.comMP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
) - Burn the PriestBurn the Priest (album)- Epic reissue :On Mar 22, 2005, it was re-released by Epic Records. The album has been remixed by Colin Richardson, remastered by Mark Wilder and features new liner notes by original producer Steve Austin . The cover art was changed in order to be store friendly, but retains the original artwork...
(1998, Legion RecordsLegion RecordsLegion Records was started in 1997 by Michael Brosnan under the name Goatboy Records then changed to Goatboy Farms Recordings. It was centered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The final name change occurred in 1999 for, publicly, unknown reasons...
)
With Lamb of God
- New American GospelNew American GospelNew American Gospel is the second album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2000 on Prosthetic Records. New American Gospel is the first release with Willie Adler on guitar, and the first album under the name "Lamb of God"....
(2000, Prosthetic Records) - As the Palaces BurnAs the Palaces BurnAs the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
(2003, Prosthetic Records) - Terror And HubrisTerror and HubrisTerror and Hubris is the first DVD by the metal band Lamb of God. It was released in January 2003. Due to legal reasons, the video for "11th Hour" could not be included on the DVD.-Track listing:#Intro#How They Met Interview#"In the Absence of the Sacred"...
DVD (2004, Prosthetic Records) - Ashes of the WakeAshes of the WakeAshes of the Wake is the fourth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2004. The album debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first-week and was rated by Guitar World as the 49th greatest Guitar Album of all Time...
(2004, Epic Records) - KilladelphiaKilladelphia (DVD)Killadelphia is a 2005 live DVD from US metal band Lamb of God, released on Epic Records and shot and directed by Doug Spangenberg. It consists of footage filmed during the band's two gigs at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia on October 16 and 17 of 2004, hence the pun title of the DVD...
DVD (2005, Epic Records) - KilladelphiaKilladelphia (album)Killadelphia is a live album by heavy metal band Lamb of God in Philadelphia, October 2004, which was released by Epic Records as a DVD. It boasts the entire unabridged audio from the concert documented in the DVD of the same name...
(2005, Epic Records) - SacramentSacrament (album)Sacrament is the Grammy Award nominated fifth studio album from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. Released on August 22, 2006, Sacrament debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 charts with first-week sales of 63,000....
(2006, Epic Records) - SacramentSacramentA sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
DVD (2006, Epic Records) - Walk With Me In HellWalk with Me in Hell (DVD)Walk with Me in Hell is a 2008 live DVD by American metal band Lamb of God. On May 1st, 2008, Lamb of God stated via Myspace that their new live DVD, Walk with Me in Hell, would be released on July 1, 2008. The DVD is two discs long and has nearly five hours of footage...
DVD (2008, Roadrunner Records/Epic Records) - Wrath (2009, Epic Records/Roadrunner Records)
With EvilDeathInc.
- "Full On" Now That's Metal Compilation CD (1996, mp3.comMP3.comMP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
), Sevens and More (1998, mp3.comMP3.comMP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
), Bedroom Compilation Cassette (1995, FFFFFF-Fiction:* Fast, Furious and Fun, motto of the Savage Worlds role-playing game rule system* Fight For Five, a Kim Possible movement.* Final Fantasy Five, in the Final Fantasy role-playing video game series* Fine Feathered Friend a Tom and Jerry short.-Football:...
)
With Testament
- The Dark Roots of EarthThe Dark Roots of EarthThe Dark Roots of Earth is the upcoming tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. It is currently scheduled to be released in late April/early May 2012 by the independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records...
(2011, Nuclear Blast) (though technically not a member of Testament, Chris has recorded some drum tracks for this album)
Solo
- Drum Nation Volume 3 (2006, Magna Carta) feat. Ron JarzombekRon JarzombekRon Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with Austin, Texas progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science, featuring Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster and Obscura drummer Hannes Grossmann, and most...
- Chris Adler and Jason Bittner: Live at Modern Drummer Festival 2005 DVD (2006, Hudson Music)
External links
- Official website
- Official Lamb of God website
- Interview with musician Chris Adler on ink19.com
- Interview with musician Chris Adler on Rockdetector.com
- Video clips, pictures and information about musician Chris Adler.
- DRUM! Magazine
- Maker of the Pro 1-V/Bigfoot Chris plays
- Home of the artist page for Chris Adler @ Trick Drums