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Chad Szeliga

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Chad Szeliga
Szeliga performing with Black Star Riders at Nova Rock 2017
Szeliga performing with Black Star Riders at Nova Rock 2017
Background information
Born (1976-12-11) December 11, 1976 (age 47)[citation needed]
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1999–present
LabelsHollywood

Chad Szeliga (born December 11, 1976) is an American drummer and percussionist from Elyria, Ohio. Formerly the drummer of Breaking Benjamin, he joined Black Label Society in 2013, replacing Mike Froedge.[1] In 2017, Szeliga replaced Jimmy DeGrasso in Black Star Riders, leaving the band in 2021. Szeliga looks up to Vinnie Colaiuta, John Bonham, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers, Tony Williams, Manu Katche, Stewart Copeland and Neil Peart as his main influences.

Breaking Benjamin

While with Another Path, Szeliga recorded an audition video for Breaking Benjamin playing drums for the song "So Cold".[2] The video submitted happened to be the only VHS tape submitted. Ben Burnley was forced to borrow a VCR from his neighbor to view the tape. After Burnley reviewed the tape, the band decided he was the right guy for the job.[3] His first official recording with the band was for the full-band version of the song "Rain" from We Are Not Alone in mid-2005, which was sent to modern radio, and later appeared on the band's cover of Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever". He recorded with Breaking Benjamin on their 2006 album Phobia, which was released August 8, 2006. He also joined the band on their tour supporting that album.[4]

Szeliga left Breaking Benjamin in April 2013 due to creative differences with Frontman Ben Burnley and notified his fans via a Facebook post on April 22, 2013.

Other Ventures

He went on to drum with Black Label Society until 2014 and also recorded and toured briefly with Creed front man Scott Stapp.

On 5 May 2017, Szeliga was announced as the new drummer for Black Star Riders, replacing Jimmy DeGrasso.[5]

In 2018, Szeliga announced the start of a new project, Walking with Lions, in collaboration with guitarist Kevin Hicklin of 3 By Design.[citation needed] In 2020, it was announced that Szeliga had joined rock act Weapons of Anew sometime after the release of their debut album, replacing Chris Manfre.[citation needed]

Equipment

[6]

As of July 2020, Szeliga endorses Tama Drums, Evans drumheads, Paiste cymbals, and Vater Percussion drumsticks. He largely uses the Starclassic Performer Bubinga series as well as the new line of Tama's S.L.P Dymanic Kapur kit and has a tendency to put the mid rack tom to the left of his kit preceding the high rack tom, claiming that it encourages him to be more creative with his fills. His previous endorsements were Yamaha Drums, DW Drums, Vic Firth drumsticks Remo drumheads and Zildjian cymbals.

Drums: Tama Starclassic Performer Bubinga in blue nebula blaze:

  • 22"x18" bass drum
  • 8"x6" rack tom
  • 10"x6.5" rack tom
  • 12"x7" rack tom
  • 14"x12" floor tom
  • 16"x14" floor tom
  • 13"x7" starphonic steel snare.[7]

Cymbals: Paiste:

  • RUDE 14" hi-hats
  • Formula 602 Modern Essentials 10" splash
  • 2002 5.5" cup chime
  • Masters 17" dark crash
  • Masters 18" dark crash
  • Signature 6" splash
  • Signature Dark Energy 8" mark 1 splash
  • RUDE 20" mega bell ride (custom made in purple colorsound finish)
  • PST X 14" swiss flanger stack
  • Formula 602 Modern Essentials 19" crash
  • 2002 19" wild china.[8]

Cymbals circa 2019:

  • RUDE 14" hi-hats
  • Signature Dark Energy 8" mark l splash
  • Signature 6" splash
  • Signature Dark Energy 17" mark l crash
  • Signature Dark Energy 18" mark l crash
  • 2002 5.5" cup chime
  • 2002 6" cup chime
  • Signature 22" blue bell ride
  • PST X 14" swiss flanger stack
  • Signature Dark Energy 19" mark l crash
  • Masters 22" swish.[9]

Discography

With Breaking Benjamin

With Black Label Society

With Switched

With Forever Oeuvre

  • EP Unfinished (2008)

With Casey Honig

  • Tragic Uprise EP (2016)[10]

With Black Star Riders

References

  1. ^ "BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Recruits BREAKING BENJAMIN Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. September 14, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  2. ^ "Chad Szeliga Video Audition for Breaking Benjamin So Cold Elyria Ohio". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  3. ^ "Breaking Benjamin Underground". The Shallow Bay. Archived from the original on 2007-11-10. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  4. ^ "Breaking Benjamin – Chad Szeliga". Archived from the original on 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  5. ^ "Black Star Riders joined by ex-Black Label Society drummer Chad Szeliga". Blabbermouth. 5 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Chad Szeliga July 28, 2020". facebook.com. 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  7. ^ "Chad Szeliga June 2017". www.tama.com. June 2017. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  8. ^ "Chad Szeliga June 14, 2021". www.instagram.com. 2021-06-14.
  9. ^ "Chad Szeliga November 15, 2019". www.paiste.com. 2019-11-15.
  10. ^ Casey Honig - Tragic Uprise - Amazon.com Music
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