Chad Wackerman

Biography

A phenomenally skilled jazz and rock drummer, Chad’s professional career began in 1978 with the Bill Watrous Refuge West Big Band. Since then he has amassed a remarkable body of work including a seven year association with Frank Zappa, with whom he toured the USA and Europe and recorded 27 albums including the London Symphony recordings.

He has also recorded 8 albums and toured with guitar legend Allan Holdsworth, played on the ‘One Voice’ album and video with Barbra Streisand, and recorded albums and toured with artists as diverse as James Taylor, Steve Vai, Andy Summers, Steven Wilson, Men At Work, Ed Mann, Albert Lee, Colin Hay, Dweezil Zappa, Pasqua/Holdsworth/Haslip/Wackerman Group, Terry Bozzio, Carl Verheyen, David Garfield,John Patitucci, Jennifer Batten, Joe Sample, Robbie Kreiger, Banned From Utopia and The World Drummers Ensemble (Bill Bruford, Luis Conte, Dou Dou Ndiaye Rose and Chad Wackerman) .

As a band leader and composer Chad has five critically acclaimed CDs: ‘Forty Reasons’, ‘The View’,  ‘Scream’,  ‘Legs Eleven’ and his latest release, ‘Dreams Nightmares and Improvisations’. Chad has written music for the television show ‘The Dennis Miller Show’, as well as composing music for Allan Holdsworth’s ‘Secrets’, ‘Wardenclyffe Tower’ and ‘Sixteen Men of Tain’ CDs. His trio has a performance DVD, ‘Hits Live’.

Chad is on the teaching faculty of drumchannel.com which is the premier website for drummers and as an Adjunct Professor at California State University Long Beach. He has recorded many masterclasses for drum channel and is especially known for his 30 episode series on the teaching system of Murray Spivack.

In 2014 Chad was voted #21 in Rolling Stone magazine’s readers poll for the ‘Best Drummer of All Time’ category.

Chad’s drumming combines the power and conviction of rock with the sensitivity and finesse of jazz. His playing is remarkably free of predictable patterns and licks, relying instead on invention and interplay with the musicians around him.

Selected Discography (Solo Records)

Forty Reasons
features Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Cox.
The View
features Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Johnson, Jim Cox, Walt Fowler and Carl Verheyen.
Scream
features James Muller, Daryl Pratt, Leon Gaer, Jim Cox and Walt Fowler.
Legs Eleven
features James Muller, Daryl Pratt and Leon Gaer.
Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations
features Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Cox.

Additional Discography

Allan Holdsworth – Atavachron
Allan Holdsworth – Metal Fatigue
Allan Holdsworth – Road Games
Allan Holdsworth – Sand
Allan Holdsworth – Secrets
Allan Holdsworth – Sixteen Men Of Tain
Allan Holdsworth – Against The Clock
Allan Holdsworth – All Night Wrong
Allan Holdsworth – Wardenclyffe Tower
Allan Holdsworth/Allan Pasqua/Jimmy Haslip/Chad Wackerman – Blues For Tony
Band From Utopia – Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa
Banned From Utopia – So Ya Don’t Like Modern Art
Tom Grant – The View from Here
Albert Lee – Speechless
The Lovers – Embrace
The Lovers – Black Orchid
Ed Mann – Get Up
Ed Mann – Perfect World
Michael Villmo’s Koln Big Band – KBB
Mike Miller – World Goes Round
Liz Myers – Le Rendez-vous
Makoto Saitoh – Be Careful of Your Smile
Spies – By Way of the World
Barbra Streisand – One Voice
Andy Summers – Charming Snakes
Andy Summers – World Gone Strange
Steve Vai – Flex-Able
Steve Vai – Flex-Able Leftovers
Tophati- Tribal Dance
Carl Verheyen Band – Take One Step
Carl Verheyen – Mustang Run
Chema Vilchez – El Sue-o del Navegante
John Wackerman – Drum Duets Vol.1
Steven Wilson – Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Colin James Hay- Looking for Jack
Terry Bozzio/ Chad Wackerman – Alternative Duets vol.1 and 2
Dweezil Zappa – Having a Bad Day
Frank Zappa – Absolutely Free
Frank Zappa – As An Am
Frank Zappa – Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
Frank Zappa – Broadway the Hard Way
Frank Zappa – Cruisin’ with Ruben & The Jets
Frank Zappa – Does Humor Belong In Music?
Frank Zappa – Guitar
Frank Zappa – Jazz From Hell
Frank Zappa – Kill Ugly Radio
Frank Zappa – Kill Ugly Radio Some More
Frank Zappa – London Symphony Orchestra Vol.1
Frank Zappa – London Symphony Orchestra Vol.2
Frank Zappa – Make a Jazz Noise Here
Frank Zappa – Meets the Mothers of Prevention
Frank Zappa – No Commercial Potential
Frank Zappa – Sexual Harassment in the Workplace [CD single] Frank Zappa – Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
Frank Zappa – Sleep Dirt
Frank Zappa – Specialized Digital Audio Gratification
Frank Zappa – Stairway to Heaven/Bolero [CD single] Frank Zappa – Strictly Commercial
Frank Zappa – The Man From Utopia
Frank Zappa – Them Or Us
Frank Zappa – Thing-Fis
Frank Zappa – Valley Girl [single] Farnk Zappa – Were Only N IT For THe Money ( 1985 remix)
Frank Zappa Crusin With Ruben And The Jets ( 1985 remix)
Frank Zappa – You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1
Frank Zappa – You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 3
Frank Zappa – You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4
Frank Zappa – You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5
Frank Zappa – You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6
Frank Zappa – One Shot Dea
Frank Zappa – You Can’t Play That On the Radio Anymore

Chad has recorded albums with Australian artists The Lovers, Marcia Hines, Orange Horse, Grace Knight, Margret Urlich, Ann Kilpatrick, Clint Beattie, Rachel Gaudry and Ed Kuepper. Chad has also performed with Australian Chamber Orchestra director Richard Tognetti and classical guitarist Slava Grigorian.

 

DVD’s

‘Zappa Halloween Special’ (MTV) Live at New York Palladium
‘Zappa In Barcelona: European Tour May 1988’
‘The Dub Room Special’ Zappa
‘Video From Hell’ Zappa
‘The Torture Never Stops’-Zappa
‘You Are What You Is’-Zappa
‘Allan Holdsworth Live in Japan’
‘Does Humor Belong in Music?’ – Zappa
‘Electric Hoe-Down’ – Dweezil Zappa
‘Ultimate Drummers Weekend’
‘Can I Hold You’ – Colin James Hay
‘One Voice’ – Barbra Streisand (HBO Live Concert)
‘Allan Holdsworth’ instructional video for REH
‘The American Dream’ vol.1 and 2 -D.W. Video
‘Buddy Rich Memorial Concert # 5’ (features Chad Wackerman, Chester Thompson, Chuck Morris and Steve Ferrone).
Ultimate Drummers Weekend – 2004
Solos and Duets featuring the Black Page – Terry Bozzio and Chad Wackerman
D2- Terry Bozzio and Chad Wackerman
The Drum Pad 20th Anniversary Show – Bozzio /Wackerman
Live At Yoshi’s – Allan Holdsworth, Allan Pasqua, Jimmy Haslip and Chad Wackerman
The Drummers Of Frank Zappa- Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, Chester Thompson, Ralph Humphrey and Ruth Underwood.
Hits Live – Chad Wackerman Trio
Eat That Question – Frank Zappa
Summer ’82 When Zappa Came To Sicily

Chad’s itinerary has included:

Frank Zappa 1981-1988- USA, Canada and Europe.
Allan Holdsworth 1982-2011 – USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, Israel and Japan.
Men At Work 1985-1986- Japan and Australia.
Andy Summers Band 1989-1992- USA, Mexico, Europe and Japan.
John Patitucci Band 1994- Europe.
“Banned From Utopia” 1995/2014- USA and Europe.
Joe Sample 1996- Australia.
“The World Drummers Ensemble” 1996 (Bill Bruford, Louis Conte and Doudou Ndiaye Rose) Netherlands and Belgium.
Chad Wackerman Group 1999- Europe
James Taylor with Symphony 1999 – USA
“The Art Of Drumming Tour” 2000-2005 – Southern USA tour with Terry Bozzio
Guest artist with the La Fenice Orchestra in Venice Italy. 2009
James Taylor and his Legendary Band tour 2011-2012 in the US and Europe. The tour included performing multiple nights at Carnegie Hall, a performance at the White House for President Obama and a performance at the National Democratic Convention.
Robby Kreiger – 2012-2014
Steven Wilson 2013- US, Europe and Israel

Chad has recorded albums with Australian artists The Lovers, Marcia Hines, Orange Horse, Grace Knight, Margret Urlich, Ann Kilpatrick, Clint Beattie, Rachel Gaudry and Ed Kuepper. Chad has also performed with Australian Chamber Orchestra director Richard Tognetti and classical guitarist Slava Grigorian.

Interviews:

Chad has been featured in the following magazines:

‘Modern Drummer’, ‘Musician’, ‘Drums and Drumming’, ‘Jazziz’, ‘Down Beat’, ‘Jazz Times’, ‘Drum!’, ‘Percussive Notes Magazine’, ‘Drumhead Magazine’, and ‘Pulse’ (U.S.A.)
‘International Musician’, ‘The Wire’, ‘Top’ (U.K.)
‘Modern Drummer’ (Japan)
‘Drums and Percussion’, ‘Sticks’, ‘Fachblatt’ (Germany)
‘Batteur'(France)
‘Slagwerkrant'(Holland)
‘Drum Scene’ ,’Skin Full’, ‘Drum Media’, ‘Drummer'(Australia)
‘Guitar Club’ and ‘Percussioni’ (Italy).
‘Percussive Notes Magazine’
‘Drumhead’ Magazine

Composition:

As a band leader and composer, Chad has five critically acclaimed CDs titled, ‘Forty Reasons’, ‘The View’, ‘Scream’, ‘Legs Eleven and his latest release ‘Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations’. Chad also has a DVD out with his trio titled ‘Hits Live’. Chad has written for the television show ‘The Dennis Miller Show’ as well as composing for Allan Holdsworth’s ‘Secrets’, ‘Wardenclyffe Tower’, and ‘Sixteen Men of Tain’ CDs.

Clinician:

Chad tours as a clinician in the USA, Europe, Australia, Japan and Israel. He has been a featured artist with the North Texas State University Percussion Ensemble, The Sydney Conservatory of Music Percussion Ensemble, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Jazz Ensemble- Long Beach. Guest Clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and was a featured artist  with the La Fenice Orchestra in Venice, Italy.

Chad has given master classes at Berklee School of Music, Boston, Mass., Berklee School of Music, Valencia, Spain, University of Southern California Thorton School of Music, Percussion Institute of Technology, Musicians Institute and the Los Angeles Music Academy.

As a solo drum artist Chad has performed at the Modern Drummer Festival in Montclaire, New Jersey, The Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Los Angeles, The Montreal Drum and Percussion Festival, Canada, The Koblenz Drummer Meeting, Germany, and The Ultimate Drummers Day, Melbourne, Australia, Rhythm festival in Marktoberdorf, Germany

Chad is also the author of the book, ‘Double Hi Hat Exercises For The Contemporary Drummer’ published by Drum Workshop,Inc.