Chris Adler
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{short description|American drummer}}
{{other people|Christopher Adler}}{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chris Adler
| image = 2015 RiP Lamb of God - Chris Adler by 2eight - 3SC5483.jpg
| caption = Adler in 2015
| birth_name = Christopher James Adler
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|11|23}}{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chris-adler-mn0000105700 | title=Chris Adler Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | website=AllMusic }}
| origin = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| death_date =
| instrument = Drums
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = Musician
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
- Lamb of God
- Megadeth
- {{nowrap|Blotted Science}}
- Protest the Hero
- Nitro
}}
| website = {{URL|chrisadler.com}}
}}
Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American musician, best-known as a founding member and the longtime drummer of heavy metal band Lamb of God from 1994 to 2019.
He was also a Grammy Award winning member of Megadeth from 2015 to 2016, appearing on their fifteenth album, Dystopia. He performed some touring-dates in support of that album, as well as adhering to the touring and creative obligations of Lamb of God. Adler played in several local bands including Calibra, Jettison Charlie, Grouser, and Darker Days before founding Lamb of God in 1994.
Adler is well-recognized for his open-handed technique, his use of the heel-toe technique, and his unusual approach to the drum kit as a left-handed player on a right-handed kit.
Early life and influences
His influences include former Wrathchild America and former Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin,{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=65630 |title=Lamb of God's Chris Adler Talks Drums (w/ Audio) – in Interviews |publisher=Metal Underground.com |access-date=October 1, 2011}} and Stewart Copeland{{cite web |author=Linda Friedel |url=http://www.kccommunitynews.com/wednesday-sun-news/27205876/detail.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326050114/http://www.kccommunitynews.com/wednesday-sun-news/27205876/detail.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 26, 2011 |title=Drum clinic rocks local music store – Wednesday Sun News Story – Kansas City |publisher=Kccommunitynews.com |date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=October 1, 2011 }} of The Police. Other influences are John Bonham, Dave Lombardo, Gar Samuelson, Lars Ulrich, Billy Cobham, and Gene Hoglan.{{cite web |author=Phil Freeman |url=http://www.wonderingsound.com/interview/lamb-of-gods-chris-adlers-five-favorite-drummers/ |title=Lamb of God's Chris Adler's Five Favorite Drummers |publisher=wonderingsound.com |date=February 24, 2012 |access-date=April 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709082529/http://www.wonderingsound.com/interview/lamb-of-gods-chris-adlers-five-favorite-drummers/ |archive-date=July 9, 2015 }}
In an interview with 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."{{cite web|title=Chris Adler: Working Man's Metal|publisher=DRUM! Magazine|url=http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/chris-adler-working-mans-metal/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914074501/http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/chris-adler-working-mans-metal|archive-date=2010-09-14|author-first1=Andrew|author-last1=Lentz|year=2009}}
Career
In 2014, he contributed several drum tracks to the Testament album Dark Roots of Earth. The same year, he said that he could neither "confirm nor deny" whether he had performed on the Slipknot single "The Negative One". He dismissed this in a later interview.{{Cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lamb-of-gods-chris-adler-i-have-no-involvement-in-slipknots-new-album/|title=LAMB OF GOD's CHRIS ADLER: 'I Have No Involvement' In SLIPKNOT's New Album|date=August 14, 2014|work=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=April 23, 2017|language=en-US}}
File:Lamb Of God - Rock am Ring 2015-9876 (cropped).jpg 2015]]
On February 12, 2017, Dystopia won the Best Metal Performance award at the 59th Grammy Awards.{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/node/218641 |title=Chris Adler | GRAMMY.com |access-date=February 20, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222054146/https://www.grammy.com/node/218641 |archive-date=February 22, 2017 }}
On July 19, 2019, after a year in which he did not tour with the band, Adler parted ways with Lamb of God.
Shortly after leaving Lamb of God, Adler was hired at The Home Depot in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia, providing warehouse and management services.{{Cite web|title= Chris Adler Professional LinkeIn|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-adler-94a57a130/|access-date=April 28, 2024|website=LinkedIn|date=April 28, 2024 |language=en}}{{non-primary source needed|date=May 2025}}
In early May 2025, Adler revealed that his dismissal from Lamb of God was partly due to "developing Musician's Dystonia, a neurological condition that causes nerve deterioration in limbs most frequently used by musicians", in Adler's case his right foot. After years of growing tensions within the band, particularly after his time serving as Megadeth's drummer and in tandem with his condition, Lamb of God eventually told Adler "that his services were no longer required" despite being aware of his MD.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=HSMchtcYtjF2hcpz&v=QEosXsrDDoc&feature=youtu.be |title=Chris Adler Reveals the REAL Reason He Was Fired From LAMB OF GOD |date=2025-05-07 |last=LOADED RADIO |access-date=2025-05-14 |via=YouTube}}
Personal life
In February 2019, Adler announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BuRmF-EFFHS/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BuRmF-EFFHS |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=Chris Adler on Instagram}}{{cbignore}} Adler is interested in animal rights and is a vegetarian.[https://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=28042 "Lamb Of God's Chris Adler Is Proud Vegetarian"]. Metalunderground.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.[https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/248413/lamb-of-god-drummer-chris-adler-speaks-up-for-animals/story/ "Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler speaks up for animals"]. Gmanetwork.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
Equipment
= Current tour kit =
- Drums - Mapex Saturn in Satin Black Maple Burl{{Cite web|url=https://www.chrisadler.com/gear/|title=Chris Adler|website=Chris Adler|language=en-US|access-date=April 23, 2017}}
- 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{{cite web |url=http://meinlcymbals.com/fileadmin/downloads/MEINL_cymbals__guide_2008_web.pdf |title=MEINL cymbals 2008.pdf |access-date=October 1, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Current:
- 18" Byzance Traditional China
- 14" Pure Alloy Medium Hihat
- 8" HCS High Bell
- 8" Byzance Traditional Splash
- 16" Pure Alloy Medium Crash
- 16" Pure Alloy Custom Medium Thin Crash
- 10" Byzance Traditional Splash
- 18" Byzance Traditional Medium Thin Crash
- 14" Byzance Dark Hihat
- 24" Byzance Brilliant Pure Metal Ride
- 18" Byzance Traditional China
Cymbals circa 2016:
- 14" Generation X Filter China
- 16" Generation X Filter China
- 14" Soundcaster Custom Medium Soundwave Hihat or 14" Byzance Dark Hihat
- 8" Byzance Traditional Splash
- 12" Soundcaster Custom Distortion Splash
- 14" Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash
- 8" Classics Custom High Bell
- 14" Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash
- 16" Mb8 Medium Crash
- 8" Byzance Traditional Splash
- 18" Byzance Traditional Medium Thin Crash
- 24" MB20 Pure Metal Ride
- 17" Byzance Traditional China (Prototype)
- Drumheads - Evans
- Toms: EC2S Clear - G1 Clear
- Bass: EMAD Heavyweight - Custom Resonant
- Snare: Heavyweight snare batter - 300 snare side
- Hardware{{cite web|url=http://www.drummerworld.com/Drumclinic/chrisadlerbassdrum.html|title=Drummerworld video showing Adler talk about his pedals and bass drum technique|publisher=Pearl Drummers Forum|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
- Trick Pro V pedals
- Gibraltar Rack System and Clamps
- Mapex Cymbal Boom Arms
- Other{{cite web |url=http://www.drumheadmag.com/web/feature.php?id=34 |title=DRUMHEAD Magazine |publisher=Drumheadmag.com |access-date=October 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930215842/http://www.drumheadmag.com/web/feature.php?id=34 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
- 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.
- Bedroom Compilation Cassette (1995, Funeral)
- "Full On" Now That's Metal Compilation CD (1996, mp3.com)
- Sevens and More (1998, mp3.com)
;With Burn the Priest
- Demo Tape (1995, independently released)
- Split with ZED (1997, Goatboy Records)
- Split with Agents of Satan (1998, Deaf American Recordings)
- Sevens and More (1998, mp3.com)
- Burn the Priest (1998, Legion Records)
- Legion: XX (2018, Epic / Nuclear Blast)
;With Grouser
- Demo tape (1996, independently released)
;With Lamb of God
{{Main|Lamb of God discography}}
- New American Gospel (2000)
- As the Palaces Burn (2003)
- Ashes of the Wake (2004)
- Sacrament (2006)
- Wrath (2009)
- Resolution (2012)
- VII: Sturm und Drang (2015)
;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
- Dark Roots of Earth song "A Day in the Death" (2012, Nuclear Blast){{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=160680|title=Testament: New Album Title Revealed; Tour With Anthrax, Overkill, Death Angel Planned|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717123519/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=160680|archive-date=July 17, 2011}}
;With Protest the Hero
- Volition (2013)
;With Megadeth
- Dystopia (2016)[http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3337975/lamb-gods-chris-adler-officially-drummer-megadeths-new-album/ Lamb Of God's Chris Adler Is Officially The Drummer For Megadeth's New Album]
;With Thaikkudam Bridge
;With Firstborne
- Firstborne (2020, Firstborne Records)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.chris-adler.com/ Official website]
- [http://www.lamb-of-god.com/ Official Lamb of God website]
- [http://www.ink19.com/issues/september2007/interviews/LambOfGod.html Interview with musician Chris Adler on ink19.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617202616/http://www.ink19.com/issues/september2007/interviews/LambOfGod.html |date=June 17, 2009 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061018080930/http://www.rockdetector.com/interviews/artist%2C5087.sm?id=143 Interview with musician Chris Adler on Rockdetector.com]
- [http://drummerworld.com/drummers/Chris_Adler.html Video clips, pictures and information about musician Chris Adler.]
{{Lamb of God}}
{{Nitro (band)}}
{{Megadeth}}
{{Blotted Science}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adler, Chris}}
Category:Drummers from Washington, D.C.
Category:American heavy metal drummers
Category:Lamb of God (band) members
Category:Virginia Commonwealth University alumni
Category:20th-century American drummers
Category:American male drummers
Category:Blotted Science members