Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American musician, best-known as a founding member and the longtime drummer of heavy metal band Lamb of God from 1994 to 2019.
He was also a Grammy Award winning member of Megadeth from 2015 to 2016, appearing on their fifteenth album, Dystopia. He performed some touring-dates in support of that album, as well as adhering to the touring and creative obligations of Lamb of God. Adler played in several local bands including Calibra, Jettison Charlie, Grouser, and Darker Days before founding Lamb of God in 1994.
Adler is well-recognized for his open-handed technique, his use of the heel-toe technique, and his unusual approach to the drum kit as a left-handed player on a right-handed kit.
In an interview with DRUM! magazine, Adler describes his first drum kit as a disaster:
"The bass drum legs were different lengths so they wouldn't touch the ground at the same time. Every time I would hit it, it would wobble from left to right. The cymbal stands were duct taped together, and I think after two or three times playing the kit, the pedalboard actually broke in half because it was made of that crappy old fake metal."[5]
Career
In 2014, he contributed several drum tracks to the Testament album Dark Roots of Earth. The same year, he said that he could neither "confirm nor deny" whether he had performed on the Slipknot single "The Negative One". He dismissed this in a later interview.[6]
Adler performing with Lamb of God at Rock am Ring 2015
On July 19, 2019, after a year in which he did not tour with the band, Adler parted ways with Lamb of God.
Shortly after leaving Lamb of God, Adler was hired at The Home Depot in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia, providing warehouse and management services.[8][non-primary source needed]
In early May 2025, Adler revealed that his dismissal from Lamb of God was partly due to "developing Musician's Dystonia, a neurological condition that causes nerve deterioration in limbs most frequently used by musicians", in Adler's case his right foot. After years of growing tensions within the band, particularly after his time serving as Megadeth's drummer and in tandem with his condition, Lamb of God eventually told Adler "that his services were no longer required" despite being aware of his MD.[9]
Personal life
In February 2019, Adler announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend.[10] Adler is interested in animal rights and is a vegetarian.[11][12]
Equipment
Current tour kit
Drums - Mapex Saturn in Satin Black Maple Burl[13]
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