Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American musician, best known as the founder and longtime drummer of heavy metal band

Lamb of God Lamb of God ( el, Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Amnòs toû Theoû; la, Agnus Dei, ) is a title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God wh ...

from 1994 to 2019, and

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

winning member of

Megadeth Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...

. Adler was a member of Megadeth from 2015 to 2016, appearing on their fifteenth album, ''

Dystopia A dystopia (from Ancient Greek δυσ- "bad, hard" and τόπος "place"; alternatively cacotopiaCacotopia (from κακός ''kakos'' "bad") was the term used by Jeremy Bentham in his 1818 Plan of Parliamentary Reform (Works, vol. 3, p. 493). ...

'', and performed some touring dates in support of that album, as well as the touring and creative obligations with 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 Heel-toe technique is a foot technique that drummers use to be able to play single strokes or double strokes on the bass drum, hi-hat, or other pedals. Origin The heel-toe foot technique was pioneered by drummers of the big band era.

, 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 Wrathchild America was an American heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Martinsburg, West Virginia, in 1978. Before settling on the Wrathchild America name in 1988, the band had performed under the names Atlantis, Tyrant, and Wrathchil ...

and current

Godsmack Godsmack is an American rock band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Sully Erna, bassist Robbie Merrill, lead guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin. Since its forma ...

drummer Shannon Larkin, and Stewart Copeland of

The Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Police ...

. Other influences are John Bonham,

Dave Lombardo David Lombardo (born February 16, 1965) is a Cuban-American drummer, best known as a co-founding member of American thrash metal band Slayer. He is currently playing drums with Testament, Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Cross, Mr. Bungle ...

, Gar Samuelson,

Lars Ulrich Lars Ulrich (; ; born 26 December 1963) is a Danish musician best known as the drummer and co-founder of American heavy metal band Metallica. The son and grandson respectively of tennis players Torben and Einer Ulrich, he played tennis in his ...

, Billy Cobham, and

Gene Hoglan Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his pla ...

. In an interview with ''

DRUM! {{italic title ''DRUM!'' is a North American educational drumming magazine. It features artist profiles, product reviews, lessons and advanced transcriptions covering rock, pop and related styles of music. The magazine was launched in 1991 wi ...

'' 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."

Career

In 2014, he contributed several drum tracks to the Testament album ''

Dark Roots of Earth ''Dark Roots of Earth'' is the eleventh studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. It was released on July 27, 2012, in Europe, and four days later in North America by independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records. The album ...

''. The same year, he said that he could neither "confirm nor deny" whether he had performed on the Slipknot single "

The Negative One "The Negative One" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on August 1, 2014, it was the band's first new song since the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010 and the 2013 firing of drummer Joey Jordison. An accompanying music ...

". He dismissed this in a later interview. Lamb Of God - Rock am Ring 2015-9876 (cropped)

On February 12, 2017, ''Dystopia'' won the Best Metal Performance award at the 59th

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

. On July 19, 2019, after a year in which he did not tour with the band, Adler parted ways with Lamb of God. Art Cruz later became his permanent replacement. In September of 2019, Adler took a job at The Home Depot in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Chris is an Associate Store Manager, providing warehouse and store management services.

Personal life

In February 2019, Adler announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend. Adler is interested in

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all sentient animals have moral worth that is independent of their utility for humans, and that their most basic interests—such as avoiding suffering—should be afforded the sa ...

and is a

vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism m ...

Equipment

Current tour kit

*Drums – Mapex Saturn in Satin Black Maple Burl **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 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 Evans may refer to: People *Evans (surname) *List of people with surname Evans Places United States *Evans Island, an island of Alaska *Evans, Colorado *Evans, Georgia *Evans County, Georgia *Evans, New York *Evans Mills, New York *Evans City, ...

**Toms: EC2S Clear – G1 Clear **Bass: EMAD Heavyweight – Custom Resonant **Snare: Heavyweight snare batter – 300 snare side *Hardware **Trick Pro V pedals **Gibraltar Rack System and Clamps **Mapex Cymbal Boom Arms *Other **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 Legion Records was started in 1997 by Michael Brosnan as Goatboy Records, later changed to Goatboy Farms Recordings. It was centered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The final name change (to Legion) occurred in 1999. The label specialized in the ...

) *Split with Agents of Satan (1998, Deaf American Recordings) *'' Sevens and More'' (1998, mp3.com) *''

Burn the Priest ''Burn the Priest'' is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Burn the Priest. The album was released on April 4, 1999 by Legion Records. It was the band's only release before being re-named to Lamb of God until the release of ...

'' (1998,

Legion Records Legion Records was started in 1997 by Michael Brosnan as Goatboy Records, later changed to Goatboy Farms Recordings. It was centered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The final name change (to Legion) occurred in 1999. The label specialized in the ...

) *'' Legion: XX'' (2018, Epic / Nuclear Blast) ;With Grouser *Demo tape (1996, independently released) ;With Lamb of God *''

New American Gospel ''New American Gospel'' is the second studio album by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Lamb of God (band), Lamb of God, as well as their first album under that name (they were originally known as Burn the Priest). It was released in 2 ...

'' (2000) *''

As the Palaces Burn ''As the Palaces Burn'' is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Lamb of God, released under Prosthetic Records on May 6, 2003. The album was produced by Devin Townsend and the band itself, and received considerably more airplay th ...

'' (2003) *''

Ashes of the Wake ''Ashes of the Wake'' is the fourth studio album and first major-label release by American heavy metal band Lamb of God, released in 2004 via Epic Records. The album debuted at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 35,000 copies in its f ...

'' (2004) *''

Sacrament A sacrament is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite that is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments ...

'' (2006) *''

Wrath Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat. A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, su ...

'' (2009) *''

Resolution Resolution(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Resolution (debate), the statement which is debated in policy debate * Resolution (law), a written motion adopted by a deliberative body * New Year's resolution, a commitment that an individual mak ...

'' (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 *''

'' song "A Day in the Death" (2012, Nuclear Blast) ;With Protest the Hero *'' Volition'' (2013) ;With Megadeth *''

'' (2016) ;With Thaikkudam Bridge * Namah (2019) ;With Firstborne * Firstborne (2020, Firstborne Records)

References

External links

Official website

Official Lamb of God website

Interview with musician Chris Adler on Rockdetector.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adler, Chris 1972 births Grammy Award winners Musicians from Washington, D.C. Living people American heavy metal drummers Lamb of God (band) members Nitro (band) members Virginia Commonwealth University alumni 20th-century American drummers American male drummers Megadeth members Blotted Science members 21st-century American drummers Thrash metal musicians