Igor Cavalera
Encyclopedia
Igor Graziano Cavalera is a Brazil
ian musician
. He is best known as the former drummer for Brazilian heavy metal
band Sepultura
.
, were the founding members of the Brazil
ian thrash metal band
Sepultura
. Igor is now the drummer for Cavalera Conspiracy
. He has played in the bands Nailbomb
and Strife
, and guest drumming in "Brasileiro", a song by Titãs
. As his hip-hop influences grew stronger he began to DJ. Cavalera is one half of DJ duo Mixhell, a project he founded with his wife Laima Leyton.
Igor started playing drums at a very early age. When Sepultura
was formed, Igor was the youngest member at the age of 13, his brother Max was 14 at the time. Sepultura
was a big success and gave Igor an early start. On April 21, 1984, Igor played, for the first time, on a real drum kit, which was borrowed from Helinho of the band Overdose, that also played that night.
After the band split with his brother Max (lead vocals/rhythm guitar) in 1996 their relationship underwent a crisis. In recent times their relationship has improved, with Max stating in an interview that a reunion with Sepultura was possible. Igor joined Max's current band Soulfly
on stage at the 2006 tenth annual D-Low Memorial Show, to play the Sepultura songs "Roots Bloody Roots
" and "Attitude
". It was the first time the brothers had played together in ten years.
In 2006 with the release of Dante XXI
, he began spelling his name "Iggor", saying there is no special meaning to this, he just prefers the way it looks. On 13 January 2006, it was announced that Iggor was taking a break due to the birth of his fourth child. He left the ranks of Sepultura temporarily. On 12 June 2006 with the release of Dante XXI
, Iggor announced that he was quitting Sepultura due to "artistic incompatibility." Sepultura replaced Iggor with Jean Dolabella
.
Igor was scheduled to collaborate with underground hip hop artist Necro, on a project described by Necro as in the style of "old-school '80s thrash/death metal." However, Necro mentioned later that the project will not go ahead. In 2008 he released the album Inflikted
together with his brother Max in a project named Cavalera Conspiracy
.
He is credited as having made a guest appearance on Biohazard
's 2001 release "Uncivilization
" on the track "Gone".
, Igor collects toys and football shirts and has many hobbies, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, snowboarding, surfing, drawing and supporting Brazilian football club Palmeiras. He admires his father Graziano Cavalera as his role model. He has four children: Joanna Bass Cavalera, November 7, 1996, Raissa Bass Cavalera, April 26, 2000, Icaro Bass Cavalera November 26, 2002, Antonio Leyton Cavalera January 15, 2006 (the first with his current wife Laima Leyton) and a stepson Pedro Leyton Pereira. In 1996 he started the fashion label "Cavalera".
, Beneath the Remains
and Arise). His innovative style in the album Chaos A.D. brought tribal elements into the songs. One classic example of his contribution is the introduction of the song "Territory" (1993, Chaos A.D.). He further developed this style in the 1996 Roots album, adding more tribal elements to Sepultura
's music.
Throughout his career, Cavalera has been widely recognized as a notoriously hard-hitting drummer (acknowledged by producer Scott Burns
during the recording of Beneath the Remains
). In later years, Cavalera adopted a drumset conformation with upright toms and less cymbals, as seen in Live in São Paulo
. In reference to his work on the Sepultura album Nation
, Allmusic wrote "Drummer Igor Cavalera's timing and tempo couldn't be more perfect as the adrenaline heightens until the album's intensity burns right through the speakers."
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He is best known as the former drummer for Brazilian heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
.
Biography
He, along with older brother MaxMax Cavalera
Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the heavy metal band Sepultura, before forming Soulfly in the late 1990s...
, were the founding members of the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian thrash metal band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
. Igor is now the drummer for Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy is a Brazilian heavy metal band founded by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera , along with American guitarist and bassist Marc Rizzo and Johny Chow. The band originally formed in 2007 as Inflikted but changed its name for legal reasons...
. He has played in the bands Nailbomb
Nailbomb
Nailbomb was an industrial / thrash metal band. The band formed as side project by Brazilian musician Max Cavalera of Sepultura and Soulfly and English musician Alex Newport of Fudge Tunnel...
and Strife
Strife
Strife is a first-person shooter video game developed by Rogue Entertainment and published by Velocity, based on the Doom engine from id Software. Strife added some role-playing game elements and allowed players to talk to other characters in the game's world...
, and guest drumming in "Brasileiro", a song by Titãs
Titãs
Titãs are a rock band from São Paulo, Brazil. Their best-known line up is the one in the album Cabeça Dinossauro : Nando Reis , Branco Mello , Marcelo Fromer , Arnaldo Antunes , Tony Bellotto , Paulo Miklos , Charles Gavin and Sérgio Britto...
. As his hip-hop influences grew stronger he began to DJ. Cavalera is one half of DJ duo Mixhell, a project he founded with his wife Laima Leyton.
Igor started playing drums at a very early age. When Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
was formed, Igor was the youngest member at the age of 13, his brother Max was 14 at the time. Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
was a big success and gave Igor an early start. On April 21, 1984, Igor played, for the first time, on a real drum kit, which was borrowed from Helinho of the band Overdose, that also played that night.
After the band split with his brother Max (lead vocals/rhythm guitar) in 1996 their relationship underwent a crisis. In recent times their relationship has improved, with Max stating in an interview that a reunion with Sepultura was possible. Igor joined Max's current band Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
on stage at the 2006 tenth annual D-Low Memorial Show, to play the Sepultura songs "Roots Bloody Roots
Roots Bloody Roots
"Roots Bloody Roots" is a song by Sepultura, the song is released as the first single from their sixth album Roots, released in 1996. The song is the band's best known and remains a concert staple to this day. A music video was filmed for the single which features the band performing in an...
" and "Attitude
Attitude (Sepultura song)
"Attitude" is Sepultura's eighth official single, and the second of three to be taken from the 1996 album Roots. The song is amongst the band's best-known and remains a concert staple to this day...
". It was the first time the brothers had played together in ten years.
In 2006 with the release of Dante XXI
Dante XXI
Dante XXI is the tenth studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released in 2006 through SPV Records. It is a concept album based on the three sections of Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy; Inferno , Purgatorio and Paradiso .- Album information :Dante XXI was originally titled...
, he began spelling his name "Iggor", saying there is no special meaning to this, he just prefers the way it looks. On 13 January 2006, it was announced that Iggor was taking a break due to the birth of his fourth child. He left the ranks of Sepultura temporarily. On 12 June 2006 with the release of Dante XXI
Dante XXI
Dante XXI is the tenth studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released in 2006 through SPV Records. It is a concept album based on the three sections of Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy; Inferno , Purgatorio and Paradiso .- Album information :Dante XXI was originally titled...
, Iggor announced that he was quitting Sepultura due to "artistic incompatibility." Sepultura replaced Iggor with Jean Dolabella
Jean Dolabella
Jean Dolabella is the former drummer of Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura. He is also involved with Iron Maiden's Paul Di'Anno in his side project RockFellas.- Biography :...
.
Igor was scheduled to collaborate with underground hip hop artist Necro, on a project described by Necro as in the style of "old-school '80s thrash/death metal." However, Necro mentioned later that the project will not go ahead. In 2008 he released the album Inflikted
Inflikted
Inflikted is the debut album from Cavalera Conspiracy, the Cavalera brothers' first record together in 12 years - since the release of Roots by Sepultura in 1996.-Album information:...
together with his brother Max in a project named Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy is a Brazilian heavy metal band founded by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera , along with American guitarist and bassist Marc Rizzo and Johny Chow. The band originally formed in 2007 as Inflikted but changed its name for legal reasons...
.
He is credited as having made a guest appearance on Biohazard
Biohazard (band)
Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
's 2001 release "Uncivilization
Uncivilization
Uncivilization is the sixth studio album by American band Biohazard. Uncivilization has sold 114,000+ copies.-Track listing:#"Sellout" – 3:31#"Uncivilization" – 4:08#"Wide Awake" – 3:46#"Get Away" – 3:47...
" on the track "Gone".
Personal life
Besides his worldwide success with SepulturaSepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, Igor collects toys and football shirts and has many hobbies, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, snowboarding, surfing, drawing and supporting Brazilian football club Palmeiras. He admires his father Graziano Cavalera as his role model. He has four children: Joanna Bass Cavalera, November 7, 1996, Raissa Bass Cavalera, April 26, 2000, Icaro Bass Cavalera November 26, 2002, Antonio Leyton Cavalera January 15, 2006 (the first with his current wife Laima Leyton) and a stepson Pedro Leyton Pereira. In 1996 he started the fashion label "Cavalera".
Playing style
Cavalera is considered to be one of the best heavy metal drummers in the world. In the early Sepultura albums his drumming was chaotic, following the thrash metal norms of the 80s. He mastered this style by 1987-1991 (with SchizophreniaSchizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, Beneath the Remains
Beneath the Remains
Beneath the Remains is the third studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released in 1989. It was their first release through Roadrunner Records.-Overview:...
and Arise). His innovative style in the album Chaos A.D. brought tribal elements into the songs. One classic example of his contribution is the introduction of the song "Territory" (1993, Chaos A.D.). He further developed this style in the 1996 Roots album, adding more tribal elements to Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
's music.
Throughout his career, Cavalera has been widely recognized as a notoriously hard-hitting drummer (acknowledged by producer Scott Burns
Scott Burns (producer)
Scott Burns is an American computer engineer and an ex-music producer of death metal music, resident at Morrisound Recording studio in Tampa, Florida in late 1980s and 1990s.-Biography:...
during the recording of Beneath the Remains
Beneath the Remains
Beneath the Remains is the third studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released in 1989. It was their first release through Roadrunner Records.-Overview:...
). In later years, Cavalera adopted a drumset conformation with upright toms and less cymbals, as seen in Live in São Paulo
Live in São Paulo
Live In São Paulo is the second live album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura. All the tracks were recorded on April 3, 2005, at a concert in São Paulo, Brazil. A DVD of the same name was also filmed at the show....
. In reference to his work on the Sepultura album Nation
Nation (album)
Nation is the eighth studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released in 2001 through Roadrunner Records. Nation features guest appearances from artists such as Hatebreed singer Jamey Jasta, Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra, Ill Niño singer Cristian Machado, Bile frontman Krztoff and...
, Allmusic wrote "Drummer Igor Cavalera's timing and tempo couldn't be more perfect as the adrenaline heightens until the album's intensity burns right through the speakers."