Top Rock Drummers

#4.  Chris Pennie

I first heard about Chris when I listened to Dillinger Escape Plan’s album, Calculating Infinity.

His drumming was insane back then, and it completely caught my attention right away. I had to check this guy out. I later discovered that when he was 16, he decided to pursuit music seriously, and received a diploma from Berklee in Music Synthesis. Not a big surprise right there. Once I started reading more about him, his range of influences and approach all started to make sense and fit his style.

Drawing influence from many drummers, from The Police’s Stewart Copeland who influenced him in his early years (as he began playing at the age of 13) to Sean Reinert (of Death, Aghora, and Cynic fame) later on. Chris is also greatly inspired from 70’s jazz-rock, such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, technical metal, such as Meshuggah, and electronic music, such as Nine In Nails and DJ Shadow. He has also recorded/toured with Coheed And Cambria and Return To Earth after departing from Dillinger Escape Plan, but I still think his best cuts are from the latter.