Chris Pennie

Chris Pennie
Born May 31, 1977 (age 39)
Genres Alternative rock, new prog, mathcore, post-hardcore
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums
Years active 1995–present
Associated acts The Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed and Cambria, Idiot Pilot, Return to Earth, The Armed

Chris Pennie (born May 31, 1977)[1] is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.

Background

Pennie began playing drums at the age of 13, and at age 16 decided to pursue music seriously. He grew up in Randolph, New Jersey and graduated from Randolph High School, and spent two years at Berklee College of Music where he received a diploma in Music Synthesis, which focuses on electronic music composition and manipulation.[2]

Influences

As far as drummers, Pennie has cited Lars Ulrich and Stewart Copeland as his main early influences. In regard to his current playing, Sean Reinert is one of his biggest inspirations. He's also emphasized on several occasions that listening to and playing a diverse assortment of music has been an integral part in developing his style, noting such eclectic influences as 70's jazz-rock fusion group Mahavishnu Orchestra, technical metal bands Meshuggah, Cynic, and electronic-influenced groups such as Nine Inch Nails and DJ Shadow.

Bands

While in high school he was playing in the local New Jersey based band, Prozak. The other 3 members of Prozak were 8 – 10 years Pennie's senior, and in order for Prozak to play the local bars and clubs, Pennie's father would accompany him to the various gigs. Chris played with Prozak from '93 until he began attending Berklee School of Music in '95. He recorded ten songs with Prozak during his time with the band but they were never commercially released.

Pennie also spent time with the pop-punk group Boxer. Formed in 1995 with another Berklee graduate, Jeremy McDowell, they became the first band to be signed to the now famous Vagrant Records. They released one album, "The Hurt Process" in 1998, and broke up in late 1999. Pennie also recorded drums for his former tourmates in experimental metalcore group All Else Failed on their 2004 album "This Never Happened". Pennie describes his band, The Dillinger Escape Plan, as being 'mathcore' where they start each song with no structure and an open palette.

As for his role in the Dillinger Escape Plan, he and guitarist Ben Weinman, along with now departed singer and bassist Dimitri Minakakis and Adam Doll respectively, formed the band in March 1997. He and Ben Weinman wrote the majority of Dillinger's material and Pennie called Weinman his "musical soulmate". Pennie also took care of a lot of the electronic influence in the band's material in the studio as well as onstage, triggering effects and loops with footswitch pedals.

Chris became frustrated with The Dillinger Escape Plan, in particular with Ben Weinman. Pennie had previously turned down the Nine Inch Nails job because The Dillinger Escape Plan was 'his baby' but wasn't willing to turn down Coheed and Cambria because of his frustrations with Weinman and subsequently left Dillinger.

Chris began working in the studio with rock band Coheed and Cambria, because the drummer Josh Eppard had left the band. Due to contractual obligations, Pennie was not allowed to record for Coheed's 2007 album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow. Instead the band recruited Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins for the task. On June 28, 2007, Coheed and Cambria announced on their Myspace that Chris Pennie joined the band.

On November 2, 2011, Coheed and Cambria announced on their Facebook page that Pennie had left the band.[3] Chris also announced he had parted ways with Coheed and Cambria, in order to focus on other projects such as Return to Earth and Fight Mannequins.[4]

Current projects

He has also lent his talent to the predominantly electronic band Idiot Pilot on their 2007 released album Wolves. "In addition, the Dillinger Escape Plan's Chris Pennie appears on the album, augmenting several of Wolves' tracks with his drumming prowess. Anderson said the one-two punches of Hoppus, Robinson, Barker, and Pennie are bringing something new to Idiot Pilot's established sound."[5]

Equipment

Drums: Mapex Saturn Series in Black Cherry Sparkle finish

Cymbals: Sabian

Sticks: Vater

Bass Pedals: Mapex

Discography

With Dillinger Escape Plan

With Coheed and Cambria

With Return to Earth

Others

References

  1. ↑ "Mapex Drums". Usa.mapexdrums.com. May 31, 1977. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  2. ↑ Staff. "Chris Pennie", Sick Drummer Magazine, August 30, 2006. Accessed September 21, 2015. "After graduating from Randolph High School in 1995, Chris attended Berklee College of music in Boston Massachusetts, where he majored in music synthesis."
  3. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria (Facebook)".
  4. ↑ "Noisecreep".
  5. ↑ Harris, Chris (September 18, 2006). "Idiot Pilot Work With Plus-44's Barker, Hoppus On 'Dark Pop' LP – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2011-10-24.

External links

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