John Stanier (drummer)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = John Stanier

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Img_capt = John Stanier playing with Battles
Img_size =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1968|8|2
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died =
Instrument = Drums
Genre = Alternative metal, alternative rock, experimental rock

Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1989–present
Label = Ipecac Warp Records BMG
Associated_acts = Helmet Tomahawk The Mark of Cain Battles
URL =
Notable_instruments =

John Stanier (born 2 August 1968 in Baltimore, Maryland) first came into the spotlight in 1989 as the drummer for the band Helmet.

Stanier grew up in Florida and is a veteran of the local hardcore music scene. He is known for having a drum corps background, but never actually marched a summer season. He played tenor drums for the Florida Wave through a few years of their winter/spring camps. He studied orchestral percussion at the University of South Florida, but never took formal drumset lessons. Stanier cites Neil Peart as his biggest influence, though he hates double bass drumming. He has also been influenced by drummers such as John Bonham, Billy Cobham, Bill Bruford, Terry Bozzio, Carl Palmer, and Lenny White. Stanier's drumming with Helmet has been cited as a big influence on a new generation of rock drummers. He endorses Tama drums, and is also well-known for his Zildjian "K" ride cymbal perched as high as it can go when playing with Battles.

The break up of Helmet in 1998 was supposedly amicable, though Stanier offers few details beyond: "There's no big story or anything. It was just... time to call it a day. We'd been around for 10 years... no drama or fights or anything like that." Stanier has not kept in contact with former band mates Page Hamilton and Henry Bogdan, and Hamilton has commented that Stanier ignored attempts to communicate. With Helmet firmly in the past, Stanier wanted to get involved with other projects after taking some time off. A big fan of hip-hop music, he "accidentally" became a professional DJ for a year and a half. The length of his drumming inactivity was in part due to a broken wrist, as well as because he simply could not find a band he wanted to play with. Since 2000, Stanier has been much more active with drumming. He is currently a member of three bands: Battles, Tomahawk, and The Mark of Cain.

Discography

As a band member

* Helmet — "Strap It On" (1990)
* Helmet — "Meantime" (1992)
* Helmet — "Betty" (1994)
* Helmet — "Born Annoying" (1995)
* Helmet — "Aftertaste" (1997)
* Helmet — "" (2004)

* The Mark of Cain — "This is This" (2001)

* Tomahawk — "Tomahawk" (2001)
* Tomahawk — "Mit Gas" (2003)
* Tomahawk — "Anonymous" (2007)

* Battles — "EP C / B EP" (2006)
* Battles - "Tras EP"
* Battles — "Mirrored" (2007)

As a studio contributor

* Pitchshifter — "Deviant" (2000)
* Primer 55 — "The New Release" (2001)
* Align — "Some Breaking News" (2001)
* Cage — "Weatherproof" (2003)
* Melissa Auf der Maur — "Auf der Maur" (2004)
* Primer 55 — "Family for Life" (2007)
* Prefuse 73 — "Preparations" (2007)

References

* Micallef, Ken "Up and Coming: John Stanier of Helmet", Modern Drummer, October 1994. [http://www.bluecricket.com/helmet/interviews/drummer1094.html]
* Farmilo, Troy "band bio", The Helmet Home Page (defunct), August 2001. [http://web.archive.org/web/20010803025544/helmet.org/bio.htm]
* "Interview with Tomahawk (Ex Helmet) drummer John Stanier" (audio), toazted.com, February 2002. [http://www.toazted.com/playinterview/652/Interview-with-Tomahawk-Ex-Helmet-drummer-John-Stanier.html]
* Worley, Gail "Weapon of Choice: An Interview with John Stanier of Tomahawk", Ink 19, January 2004. [http://www.ink19.com/issues/january2004/interviews/johnStanier.html]