Zac Farro
Encyclopedia
Zachary Wayne Farro is an American
musician and drummer
of the bands Novel American
and Half Noise
. He is best known as the former drummer
of the alternative rock
band Paramore
from its inception until 2010. He is the younger brother of Josh Farro
, the band's former lead guitarist.
, Zac is the middle child of five siblings (Nate, Joshua
, himself, Jonathan, and Isabelle) and is of Italian
descent. Zac began playing drums at around the age of nine, and he was eleven years old when he played his first drum kit. Zac now resides in Nashville, TN, with his best friends Kyle Reeves, Rick Bennett, Spencer Nohe, and Joe Kane. His favorite hobbies include ping-pong, "grillin' out", and eating cookie dough.
, The National
, Mew
, Sigur Ros
, Yann Tiersen
and múm
. Farro has been influenced by Dave Grohl
(former drummer of Nirvana
and current singer/songwriter of Foo Fighters
and drummer for Them Crooked Vultures
), William Goldsmith
(former drummer of Sunny Day Real Estate
and Foo Fighters
, replaced by Taylor Hawkins
) and Riley Breckenridge
(drummer for the band, Thrice
). His favorite songs to perform live are, "My Heart" and "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic". In a video for Gretsch Drums
Zac Farro stated that he likes to play "Decode" and "Let The Flames Begin".
, created in Franklin, Tennessee
in 2004, with Hayley Williams
(lead vocals/keyboards
), his brother Josh Farro
(lead guitar
/backing vocals)and Jeremy Davis
(bass guitar
). Jeremy Davis admitted he was initially unsure if the band could be taken seriously because of Zac's young age until he saw him play. The band released three studio albums, All We Know Is Falling
, Riot!
and Brand New Eyes
, as well as two live albums and one EP
. Brand New Eyes
, their third album, was released on September 29, 2009. In June 2009, the band welcomed Taylor York
(rhythm guitar
), a long time friend of the Farros' and who previously played with them as a touring member. On December 18, 2010 the band's website announced the Farros' amicable departure. On December 21, 2010, Josh Farro released an official exit statement for himself and his brother, refuting the band's previous story.
" due to other bands being named "Tunnel". The band features Farro (drums, vocals) and Jason Clark (guitar, vocals).
Farro and Clark had earlier been together in a band with Taylor York and Josh Farro.
founded the band Novel American
with former Cecil Adora members Van Beasley, Ryan Clark and Tyler Ward briefly after his departure from Paramore and the group announced plans to record an EP
as well as play local venues in the near future.
On Feb 22, 2011, the band announced Zac Farro will replace Tyler Ward on drums.
, Pro-Mark
sticks, Zildjian cymbals and Remo
drum heads. He was sponsored by Truth Custom Drums and Meinl Percussion
. He has two drum kits,(one was in Europe and one was in America) both are Gretsch. One is a black marine nitron wrap (American). The other is a Champagne sparkle wrap (European).
Drum Setup
24"x16 Bass
13"x9 Tom
16"x16 Floor
18"x16 Floor
Cymbal Setup: Zildjian
Occasionally his Hi-Hats have been the pairs of either 15" K Light Hats and 15" New Beat Hats. He has also used a Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride in Traditional finish as a crash from time to time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician and drummer
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...
of the bands Novel American
Novel American
Novel American is an American rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2011. They were formed following guitarist Josh Farro's departure from Paramore and consists of Farro, Ryan Clark formerly of Cecil Adora, and Zac Farro .Tyler Ward was the band's drummer before being replaced by Farro's...
and Half Noise
Half Noise
Half Noise is an American alternative/indie band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2010. The project was formed as a result of the departure of Zac Farro of Paramore.-History:...
. He is best known as the former drummer
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...
of the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
from its inception until 2010. He is the younger brother of Josh Farro
Josh Farro
Joshua Neil Farro is an American rock guitarist and songwriter, and the lead guitarist of the band Novel American. He is best known as the former lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the alternative rock band Paramore...
, the band's former lead guitarist.
Personal life
Born in Voorhees Township, New JerseyVoorhees Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households, and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,424.0 people per square mile . There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of 955.2 per square mile...
, Zac is the middle child of five siblings (Nate, Joshua
Josh Farro
Joshua Neil Farro is an American rock guitarist and songwriter, and the lead guitarist of the band Novel American. He is best known as the former lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the alternative rock band Paramore...
, himself, Jonathan, and Isabelle) and is of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
descent. Zac began playing drums at around the age of nine, and he was eleven years old when he played his first drum kit. Zac now resides in Nashville, TN, with his best friends Kyle Reeves, Rick Bennett, Spencer Nohe, and Joe Kane. His favorite hobbies include ping-pong, "grillin' out", and eating cookie dough.
Influences
Some of his favorite bands include: RadioheadRadiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
, Mew
Mew (band)
Mew is a Danish alternative music band consisting of Jonas Bjerre, Bo Madsen, and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen. Bassist Johan Wohlert was also a founding member of the band, but left in 2006...
, Sigur Ros
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
, Yann Tiersen
Yann Tiersen
Yann Tiersen is a musician from France. His musical career is split between studio albums, collaborations and film soundtracks with a distinctive sound that is always involved...
and múm
Múm
múm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
. Farro has been influenced by Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
(former drummer of Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
and current singer/songwriter of Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
and drummer for Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
), William Goldsmith
William Goldsmith
William Goldsmith is an American drummer best known for being the drummer of the popular Seattle Alternative band Sunny Day Real Estate and for his tenure as the drummer of the alternative rock band Foo Fighters...
(former drummer of Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. In the 1990s, the group expanded upon the grunge style that was popular in the local scene to make a more melodic sound. While not the first band to be classified as emo, they were instrumental in establishing the genre. In...
and Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, replaced by Taylor Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins
Oliver Taylor Hawkins is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters....
) and Riley Breckenridge
Riley Breckenridge
James Riley Breckenridge is the drummer for Post-hardcore band Thrice. He plays C & C Custom Drums, and uses Vic Firth drumsticks, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, with Drum Workshop hardware and pedals.-Biography:...
(drummer for the band, Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
). His favorite songs to perform live are, "My Heart" and "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic". In a video for Gretsch Drums
Gretsch Drums
Gretsch Drums is a leading drum manufacturing company, based in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Their motto is "That Great Gretsch Sound!"- History :...
Zac Farro stated that he likes to play "Decode" and "Let The Flames Begin".
Paramore
Farro was a founding member of ParamoreParamore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
, created in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
in 2004, with Hayley Williams
Hayley Williams
Hayley Nichole Williams is an American singer, songwriter, and the lead vocalist of the band Paramore.- Life and career :...
(lead vocals/keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), his brother Josh Farro
Josh Farro
Joshua Neil Farro is an American rock guitarist and songwriter, and the lead guitarist of the band Novel American. He is best known as the former lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the alternative rock band Paramore...
(lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
/backing vocals)and Jeremy Davis
Jeremy Davis
Jeremy Clayton Davis is an American bassist for the band Paramore.Jeremy Clayton Davis was born on February 8, 1984 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He has been playing bass for almost 14 years...
(bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
). Jeremy Davis admitted he was initially unsure if the band could be taken seriously because of Zac's young age until he saw him play. The band released three studio albums, All We Know Is Falling
All We Know Is Falling
All We Know Is Falling is the debut studio album by American rock band Paramore, released on July 26, 2005. The album reached #8 on the UK Rock Chart...
, Riot!
Riot!
Riot! is the second studio album by American rock band Paramore, succeeding their debut album All We Know Is Falling, and was released in the United States on June 12, 2007 and in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2007...
and Brand New Eyes
Brand New Eyes
Brand New Eyes is the third album by North American rock band Paramore, released September 29, 2009 through Fueled by Ramen in the United States and Canada. It debuted at number two on Billboard 200....
, as well as two live albums and one EP
The Summer Tic EP
The Summer Tic EP is an EP by American rock band Paramore that was sold during the 2006 Warped Tour and the tour supporting their previously released album All We Know Is Falling. The name of the EP comes from a line in the song "Stuck on You", which is a cover of a song by Failure.-Track...
. Brand New Eyes
Brand New Eyes
Brand New Eyes is the third album by North American rock band Paramore, released September 29, 2009 through Fueled by Ramen in the United States and Canada. It debuted at number two on Billboard 200....
, their third album, was released on September 29, 2009. In June 2009, the band welcomed Taylor York
Taylor York
Taylor Benjamin York , is an American rock guitarist and is currently a member of the alternative rock band Paramore. He also plays the keyboard and glockenspiel occasionally during their live set...
(rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
), a long time friend of the Farros' and who previously played with them as a touring member. On December 18, 2010 the band's website announced the Farros' amicable departure. On December 21, 2010, Josh Farro released an official exit statement for himself and his brother, refuting the band's previous story.
Half Noise
Two days after his departure from Paramore, Zac took part in a new project band called "Tunnel", releasing a new song called "Hide Your Eyes". The duo then renamed themselves "Half NoiseHalf Noise
Half Noise is an American alternative/indie band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2010. The project was formed as a result of the departure of Zac Farro of Paramore.-History:...
" due to other bands being named "Tunnel". The band features Farro (drums, vocals) and Jason Clark (guitar, vocals).
Farro and Clark had earlier been together in a band with Taylor York and Josh Farro.
Novel American
Josh FarroJosh Farro
Joshua Neil Farro is an American rock guitarist and songwriter, and the lead guitarist of the band Novel American. He is best known as the former lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the alternative rock band Paramore...
founded the band Novel American
Novel American
Novel American is an American rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2011. They were formed following guitarist Josh Farro's departure from Paramore and consists of Farro, Ryan Clark formerly of Cecil Adora, and Zac Farro .Tyler Ward was the band's drummer before being replaced by Farro's...
with former Cecil Adora members Van Beasley, Ryan Clark and Tyler Ward briefly after his departure from Paramore and the group announced plans to record an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
as well as play local venues in the near future.
On Feb 22, 2011, the band announced Zac Farro will replace Tyler Ward on drums.
Gear
Zac is endorsed Gretsch DrumsGretsch Drums
Gretsch Drums is a leading drum manufacturing company, based in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Their motto is "That Great Gretsch Sound!"- History :...
, 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:...
sticks, Zildjian cymbals and Remo
Remo
Remo is a male given name of Latin origin - see Romulus and Remus.Remo may also refer to:* Remo, an American drum skin company* Remo , another name for the German wine grape Riesling* Remo language, a Panoan language of Brazil and Peru...
drum heads. He was sponsored by Truth Custom Drums and Meinl Percussion
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...
. He has two drum kits,(one was in Europe and one was in America) both are Gretsch. One is a black marine nitron wrap (American). The other is a Champagne sparkle wrap (European).
Drum Setup
24"x16 Bass
13"x9 Tom
16"x16 Floor
18"x16 Floor
Cymbal Setup: Zildjian
- 22" K Dark Medium Ride
- (2) 22" K Ride (as crashes)
Occasionally his Hi-Hats have been the pairs of either 15" K Light Hats and 15" New Beat Hats. He has also used a Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride in Traditional finish as a crash from time to time.
Side project
Zac has recorded tracks outside of Paramore by himself and with Josh Farro. These songs were never released. Tracks include:- Far
- Kings
- Nothing New