Atom Willard | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Adam David Willard |
Born | San Diego, California, U.S. | August 15, 1973
Genres | |
Occupation | Drummer |
Years active | 1990–present |
Member of |
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Formerly of | |
Website | alkalinetrio |
Adam David "Atom" Willard (August 15, 1973) is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. His career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt, with whom he remained until 2000. Subsequently, he joined the Special Goodness, the Offspring, and in 2005 became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves. In 2007 Willard departed from the Offspring to focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves, and in April 2009 he also joined Social Distortion, but left the following March. In June 2011, he joined the band Danko Jones and in October 2011 amicably left Angels & Airwaves. From 2013 to 2020, he was the drummer for Against Me! until their indefinite hiatus. Currently he is playing in the bands Worriers, Plosivs, Lektron, and Alkaline Trio.
Willard joined the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt in 1990, after their original drummer Sean had moved away from San Diego. [1] In a 2006 interview Willard recalled of the experience:
It was crazy, man. I was just 16, I would drive down to this kind of sketchy, strange rehearsal space in this part of town I'd never been, and there were people living in some of the spaces. It was just weird, and everybody was older than me. But the sound was rad. It was a lot of soul, a lot of Otis Redding, James Brown–but it was up against a serious punk-rock influence, and just regular rock 'n' roll. Every song had four personalities! [1]
Willard performed on Rocket from the Crypt's second album Circa: Now! (1992) and subsequent albums Hot Charity (1995), Scream, Dracula, Scream! (1995), and RFTC (1998), as well as numerous EPs and singles. During his years with the band he toured the United States, and Europe. Willard recalls several wild tour experiences with the group such as touring in a box truck and an airport shuttle, both at his suggestion. [1] [2] In 2000, however, he decided to leave the group due to disagreements with the other members over the band's direction:
I was getting disillusioned with the way we were doing business. It was getting harder and harder to survive–those tours where you'd come home with no money, that was getting less cool. [Laughs.] I didn't just want to get some temp job to survive and go on tour anymore. I wanted to play the drums; I wanted to play music and make a living off of it. And I thought I could. And we all could. I wanted some changes and Speedo and I were kind of at odds on that stuff; we disagreed on how we should go about it. [3]
Willard was replaced in Rocket from the Crypt's lineup by Mario Rubalcaba.
In October 2011, he reunited with Rocket From the Crypt to perform the song "He's a Chef" on the children's television show Yo Gabba Gabba. [4] In September 2013 he played 3 shows with the band for Riot Fest.[ citation needed ] In November 2014 he played with the band at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas.[ citation needed ]
After leaving Rocket from the Crypt Willard served as a drum technician for Weezer. In 2000 he filled in as a touring drummer for Alkaline Trio and appeared with them in the music video for the single "Private Eye".[ citation needed ] He soon joined Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson in his side project the Special Goodness, in which Willard drummed while Wilson sang and played guitar. Willard also filled in with Moth in 2002 for tours in support of their third album Provisions, Fiction and Gear [5] and appeared in their music video for "I See Sound". Willard's first recorded output with the Special Goodness was 2003's Land Air Sea . The band have not released an album since then. [6] Willard also recorded drum tracks for the songs "Head Unbound" and "Would If I Could" on Melissa Auf der Maur's debut solo album Auf der Maur (2004). [7]
In 2003 Willard became an official member of the Offspring, replacing long-time drummer Ron Welty who had left the group earlier that year. [8] During Willard's tenure with the group he performed on numerous tours but only performed on one song. Professional drummer Josh Freese had recorded the drum tracks for the band's 2003 album Splinter after Welty left the group. [9] Willard joined shortly before the album's release and appeared with them in the music video for the single "(Can't Get My) Head Around You". However, in 2005 he became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves (see below), and his commitments to the new group began to draw him away from the Offspring. The Offspring released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2005 including two new songs, "Can't Repeat" and a cover of The Police's "Next to You". [10] Willard appeared with the band in the "Can't Repeat" music video and recorded the drum tracks for "Next to You". In July 2007 it was officially announced he had left The Offspring to focus on Angels & Airwaves. [11] Freese again recorded drum tracks for the Offspring for Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (2008) before he was permanently replaced by former Face to Face drummer Pete Parada. [12] [13] Offspring singer Dexter Holland later commented:
The simple truth is that Atom had been working on a few of his own projects during our down time, including Angels & Airwaves but other things too. We think that's great. Unfortunately, in order for him to see those things through he isn't left with enough time to devote to future Offspring stuff. It was a tough choice, but we understand. Atom's been a great drummer for us and we're sure Pete will be great too! [13]
Later it became known that Willard also partly left because he wasn't happy in the band because he couldn't get creatively fulfilled. [14]
While the Offspring took a "touring hiatus" in 2006, Willard joined Tom DeLonge in his new group Angels & Airwaves. [15] In an interview with Shave Magazine, he said that felt the collective experience of all the members of the band made joining very easy for him. "There's nobody trying to figure out what is and what isn't going to work, not just for themselves but for music and for a band, what life's going to be like on the road and all that kind of stuff. Everybody had enough experience to just buckle down and do the work. It really has made it easier than anything else." [16] DeLonge remarked that Willard "has always felt to me like the single largest score in music. He is a loyal, honest and humble friend, but an even better showman." [17] The band, which also included former Box Car Racer/Hazen Street guitarist David Kennedy and former Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn, released their debut album We Don't Need to Whisper in May 2006. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 [18] and spawned several successful singles including "The Adventure", "It Hurts", "Do It for Me Now", and "The War", and Willard toured extensively with the group in support of the album. In July 2007, during production of the band's second album I-Empire , Willard left the Offspring to focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves. The album was released in November 2007 and went on to sell over 200,000 copies in the United States.[ citation needed ] Singles from I-Empire included "Everything's Magic", "Secret Crowds", and "Breathe". He also played on Angels & Airwaves third album, Love , released in February 2010. Willard toured with Angels & Airwaves in support of the album in May and July. On October 4, 2011, Willard officially left from Angels & Airwaves. The split is said to have been "amicable" with the rest of the band. [19] Prior to his split with Angels & Airwaves, Willard had completed recording all drum tracks for the group's fourth studio album Love: Part Two released in November 2011.
In April 2009 Willard replaced Charlie Quintana in Social Distortion. [20] [21] He toured Europe and the United States with Social Distortion in 2009, was scheduled to tour South America with them in April 2010, and had been in the studio recording their seventh studio album. [22] On March 8, 2010, due to scheduling conflicts with Angels & Airwaves, Willard departed from Social Distortion. [23] He was replaced by Fu Manchu drummer Scott Reeder for their South American tour. [24]
In February 2011 Willard joined Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio for a side project called theHELL. [25] Their debut EP, Sauves les Requines, was released in January 2012. theHell put out another EP titled Southern Medicine in 2013.
In June 2011 he became the drummer for Canadian group Danko Jones. [26] As of July 2013 he is no longer in Danko Jones.
Willard filled in with Against Me! for the band's 2013 Australian tour dates. [27] On July 31, 2013, Willard officially announced on his Twitter page that he was the full-time drummer for Against Me!, led by Laura Jane Grace [28] In 2018, he also became a member of Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers. [29]
In early 2023, Willard reunited with Skiba to form a new band, Lektron, alongside AFI bassist Hunter Burgan, and SpiritWorld guitarist Randy Moore. [30] In the coming weeks, he was also announced to be reuniting with Alkaline Trio, this time as their full-time drummer following the departure of Derek Grant. [31]
When performing with Angels and Airwaves his drum kit consists of two snare drums (6.5"x14" and 7"x12"), two tom-toms (6"x6" and 8"x12"), two floor toms (14"x16" and 16"x18"), and a bass drum (18"x26"). For cymbals he uses Zildjian K custom session hi-hats (14"), an A custom EFX crash cymbal (20"), one A custom projection crash (20"), a K custom ride cymbal (22"), and a K custom medium ride cymbal (20"). Since 2010, Atom has been an official Drum Workshop endorser, both for hardware and drums. [32] [33]
This section lists albums and EPs on which Willard has performed. For complete listings of releases by each act, see their individual articles.
Year | Act | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Rocket from the Crypt | Circa: Now! | Drums on all tracks |
1995 | The State of Art is on Fire | ||
Hot Charity | |||
Scream, Dracula, Scream! | |||
1998 | RFTC | ||
1999 | Cut Carefully and Play Loud | ||
2003 | The Special Goodness | Land Air Sea | |
2004 | Melissa Auf der Maur | Auf der Maur | Drums on the tracks "Head Unbound" and "Would If I Could" |
2005 | The Offspring | Greatest Hits | Drums on the track "Next to You" [34] |
2006 | Angels & Airwaves | We Don't Need to Whisper | Drums on all tracks |
2007 | I-Empire | ||
2010 | Love | ||
2011 | Love: Part Two | ||
2012 | theHELL | Sauve Les Requins EP | |
Danko Jones | Rock and Roll Is Black and Blue | ||
2013 | theHELL | Southern Medicine EP | |
2014 | Against Me! | Transgender Dysphoria Blues | |
2015 | 23 Live Sex Acts | ||
2016 | Shape Shift with Me | ||
2018 | Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers | Bought to Rot [29] | |
2022 | PLOSIVS | PLOSIVS | |
2023 | Lektron | Lektron | |
Year | Act | Title | Album |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Rocket from the Crypt | "Ditchdigger" | Circa: Now! |
"Sturdy Wrist" | |||
1995 | "On a Rope" | Scream, Dracula, Scream! | |
"Born in '69" | |||
"Young Livers" | |||
1998 | "Break It Up" | RFTC | |
2000 | Alkaline Trio | "Private Eye" | From Here to Infirmary |
2002 | Moth | "I See Sound" | Provisions, Fiction and Gear |
2003 | The Special Goodness | "Life Goes By" | Land Air Sea |
"N.F.A." | |||
2004 | The Offspring | "(Can't Get My) Head Around You" | Splinter |
2005 | "Can't Repeat" | Greatest Hits | |
2006 | Angels & Airwaves | "The Adventure" | We Don't Need to Whisper |
"It Hurts" | |||
"Do It for Me Now" | |||
"The War" | |||
"The Gift" | |||
2007 | "Everything's Magic" | I-Empire | |
2008 | "Secret Crowds" | ||
"Breathe" | |||
2010 | "Hallucinations" | Love | |
2011 | "Anxiety" | Love: Part Two | |
2012 | Danko Jones | "Just a Beautiful Day" | Rock and Roll Is Black and Blue |
2016 | Against Me! | "Crash" | Shape Shift with Me |
2023 | Alkaline Trio | "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs" | Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs |
"Bad Time" | |||
2024 | "Break" | ||
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy and drummer Brandon Pertzborn. The Offspring is often credited for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the 1990s. During their 40-year career, the Offspring has eleven studio albums and sold more than 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling punk rock bands.
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band from Chicago. The band's current members are Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano, and Atom Willard (drums).
Against Me! is an American punk rock band, formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida, by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. That same year, Grace moved to Gainesville, Florida, which is considered the band's hometown. Since 2001, the band's lineup has also included guitarist James Bowman. After releasing three studio albums through independent record labels, Against Me! moved to Sire Records for 2007's New Wave, which reached no. 57 on the Billboard 200. In 2011, the band launched the record label Total Treble.
Rocket from the Crypt is an American punk rock band from San Diego, California, originally active from 1990 to 2005, then active during 2011 and again from 2013 to the present.
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness, Jonny Wickersham, Brent Harding, David Hidalgo Jr. (drums), and David Kalish (keyboards).
From Here to Infirmary is the third studio album by American punk rock band Alkaline Trio. It was their first album for Vagrant and their only album with Mike Felumlee, who replaced their previous drummer, Glenn Porter. When Felumlee left the band shortly after the album's release, Atom Willard filled in on tour and appeared in the music video for "Private Eye", before Derek Grant became their new permanent drummer.
Good Mourning is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released May 13, 2003 on Vagrant Records.
Hot Snakes were an American rock band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1999 in San Diego, California. Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, after which Reis found international success with Rocket from the Crypt. Hot Snakes disbanded in 2005 but reunited in 2011, remaining active until Froberg's death in 2023.
Greatest Hits is a 2005 compilation album by the American punk rock band The Offspring, compiling hit singles from five of their first seven studio albums along with the previously unreleased songs "Can't Repeat" and "Next to You", the latter a cover version of The Police song included as a hidden track at the end of the album. Greatest Hits peaked at no. 8 on the Billboard 200, with 70,000 copies sold in its first week of release, and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Matthew Thomas Skiba is an American musician. He is best known as the co-lead vocalist and guitarist of the punk rock band Alkaline Trio, and served as the co-lead vocalist and guitarist of Blink-182 from 2015 to 2022. Skiba's lyrical content commonly involves dark romantic themes.
The Sultans were an American rock and roll band led by John Reis, formed in 2000 in San Diego, California. Over the course of the band's lifespan they released two full-length albums on Reis' Swami Records label. The band took pride in their "stripped down" rock and roll approach, using a simple guitar/bass/drum structure and recording quickly using pre-used equipment and borrowed instruments in order to maintain a loose, spontaneous feel.
Mario Rubalcaba is an American drummer from San Diego, notable as a member of numerous rock bands including Clikatat Ikatowi, Thingy, Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Earthless, the Sultans, and Off! He has also played on albums by The Black Heart Procession and Pinback and was formerly a professional skateboarder.
Peter Parada is an American musician who has been a member of several bands. Parada's drumming career began in 1995 when he joined L.A. band World In Pain on a recommendation from future Korn drummer Ray Luzier and then Steel Prophet in 1996 with whom he recorded one album a year later. Subsequently he joined Face to Face, Saves the Day and the Offspring, where he was a member from 2007 to 2021 and served as the band's second longest-serving drummer, behind Ron Welty. Parada was also associated with the metal band Engine and Rob Halford's solo project Halford, and briefly played drums in the punk band Alkaline Trio. He has also toured with My Chemical Romance, Devo and The Bronx. Parada joined YouTuber Tim Pool's band Timcast for their songs "Only Ever Wanted" and "Genocide" and in 2023 co-founded the band the Defiant.
Angels & Airwaves is an American rock band, comprising lead vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge, guitarist David Kennedy, drummer Ilan Rubin, and bassist Matt Rubano.
Agony & Irony is the sixth studio album and major label debut by American punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released July 1, 2008, on Epic Records. Produced by Josh Abraham, the album was preceded by the single "Help Me".
All Systems Go 3 is a compilation album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released by Vagrant Records and Swami Records August 28, 2008, nearly three years following the band's breakup. It collects songs recorded from 1997 to 2000 on 8-track in the band's practice space. Many of the tracks were previously unreleased and became available for the first time on this album. All Systems Go 3 includes contributions from original drummer Atom Willard as well as Chris Prescott and Tony DiPrima, both of whom filled in after Willard left the group in 1999.
This Addiction is the seventh studio album by Chicago-based rock band Alkaline Trio, released February 23, 2010 as the first release by their newly formed record label Heart & Skull, a joint venture with Epitaph Records. Described as a return to the band's punk rock roots, it was recorded at Atlas Studios in their hometown of Chicago with Matt Allison, the same location and producer used for much of their early material. The album draws lyrical inspiration from the band members' personal lives, addressing themes such as love, addiction, death, divorce, grief, suicide, politics, and war. It became the highest-charting album of the band's career, debuting on the Billboard 200 at #11 and also reaching #1 on the Rock, Independent, and Alternative Albums charts.
Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs is the tenth studio album by American punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released on January 26, 2024, on Rise Records. It is the band's final album with longtime drummer Derek Grant, who departed from the group prior to the album's announcement.
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: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)Filling Charlie's big shoes is none other than Atom Willard. You've probably seen Atom wailing on the skins with Rocket from the Crypt, the Offspring, or his most recent band Angels & Airwaves. We couldn't be more thrilled to welcome such a great talent and individual into the band. Atom's first show with Social D will be the Jay Thomas benefit on May 18 at the House of Blues Anaheim.