Jon Theodore

Last updated

Jon Theodore
Queens of the Stone Age - Southside Festival 2023 - DSC04579.jpg
Background information
Birth nameJon Philip Theodore
Born (1973-12-30) December 30, 1973 (age 50)
Origin Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres Progressive rock, experimental rock, stoner rock, rap rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1989–present
Member of
Formerly of

Jon Philip Theodore (born December 30, 1973) is an American drummer. He has been the current drummer for Queens of the Stone Age since 2013, and is also known for being the drummer for the Mars Volta from 2001 to 2006.

Contents

Known for his explosive, multi-textural playing style, Theodore was a member of both Golden and Royal Trux before joining The Mars Volta in 2001. Theodore remained within the band for five years, recording the band's first three studio albums, De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003), Frances the Mute (2005) and Amputechture (2006), before departing at the request of guitarist and bandleader Omar Rodríguez-López.

Theodore subsequently formed a collaboration with Rage Against the Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha, entitled One Day as a Lion, and performed on Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd's solo album, The Wild Trapeze (2010). In 2012, Theodore replaced his Mars Volta successor Thomas Pridgen in the supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, though by 2015 the lineup had reverted to Pridgen on drums. [1]

In 2013, Theodore joined Queens of the Stone Age, replacing longtime drummer Joey Castillo after he was fired by Josh Homme. [2] After contributing to the closing track on the band's sixth studio album, ...Like Clockwork (2013), Theodore become a full member of Queens of the Stone Age for the album's accompanying tour. He has since recorded the albums, Villains (2017) and In Times New Roman... (2023).

Theodore performed the drums on Bright Eyes' 2020 album Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was , and toured with them until 2022. [3] [4]

Biography

Theodore grew up in the Baltimore area. His father is of Haitian descent, which influenced his drumming patterns. [5] He first started playing drums at the age of 15. He was soon involved with his high school concert band at Gilman School in Baltimore, and took lessons on a full kit shortly after. It was at this point that he studied percussion and learned how to map arrangements; dedicated practice had already become a habit. He also listened to a great variety of music, growing to love the likes of Billy Cobham, Elvin Jones and John Bonham. He studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio.

Around the end of his time in high school, he joined the band Golden and recorded and toured with them for ten years. He also played with Royal Trux for a year and a half. It was during this time that he met Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López, who were performing their first gig with their experimental dub band De Facto in El Paso, TX. They became friends and the former At the Drive-In duo would later invite Theodore to join their Latin-tinged progressive rock band, The Mars Volta.

Theodore was The Mars Volta's drummer from 2001 to 2006. On July 30, 2006, it was announced that Jon Theodore would be permanently replaced. He was quoted in Modern Drummer : "It was long overdue and unquestionably the best thing for everyone involved. We had a great run of things, made some decent records, blew it up for a minute, and had some really great times. But the life ran out of it. I'm currently working on some pretty sweet tunes for a new project. The details will follow once it takes shape."[ This quote needs a citation ] In 2012, Mars Volta bassist Juan Alderete stated, "I love Jon, and I do keep in touch with him. Jon was unhappy and when someone is unhappy, someone has to pull the trigger; and it's Omar's band so he did just that. [...] They had to let him go because he wasn't into it as much as they wanted him to be." [6]

Theodore has also completed a collaboration with Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine entitled One Day as a Lion. Their first EP was released on July 22, 2008. [7] In January 2012, he joined Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, replacing fellow former Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen. [8] He recently played as Dam Funk's touring drummer during his Fall 2012 US Tour.

A press release from the band Queens of the Stone Age revealed that Theodore would contribute drums on their upcoming album ...Like Clockwork . He played on the title track on the album, which was the first Queens album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. It also reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album. Following the release of the album in 2013, he became the permanent drummer of Queens of the Stone Age. [9]

In 2018, Theodore performed drums on certain sections of the score for the video game Red Dead Redemption 2 . His Queens of the Stone Age bandmates Josh Homme and Michael Shuman also are featured on the score.

In 2024, Theodore made his 7th appearance as a guest performer with The 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers. [10]

Influences

Theodore draws inspiration from many different forms of music but those most prevalent in his playing are jazz, fusion, and rock. He has also touched upon another factor which adds to his individual style – "Then there's a whole bunch of stuff from Haiti because my dad's Haitian. My favorite Haitian drummer is this guy called Azor... The Haitian music that moves me has the drumming from the voodoo rituals. It moves me because the patterns are connected to different spirits; it's a spiritual thing that is interconnected with dancing, sacrifice and devotion. It's fully passionate. There is nothing contrived about it."

In interviews he regularly cites Billy Cobham of The Mahavishnu Orchestra as his main drumming influence: "My all-time favorite drummer is Billy Cobham. I love the way he plays ... [his] playing is so natural, powerful and dynamic at the same time. I pattern a lot of stuff after him." [11] He has also been heavily inspired by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin: "He had one of the best feels in the history of rock ... because [of him] I try and play with as much bombast as I possibly can." [11]

Theodore has also mentioned the following drummers and musicians as influences: Elvin Jones, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Phil Rudd, Tony Williams, Sebastian Thomson, Tim Soete, Herbie Hancock, Doug Scharin, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, Mitchell Feldstein, Damon Che, Dale Crover, John McEntire, Ryan Rapsys and Brann Dailor.[ citation needed ]

Discography

With Golden
With HiM
With Hikaru Utada
With Royal Trux
With Will Oldham
With Trans Am
With The Fucking Am
With The Mars Volta
With SaberTooth Tiger
With Omar Rodríguez-López
With One Day as a Lion
With Holloys
With Brandon Boyd
With Puscifer
With Queens of the Stone Age
With Life Coach
With Mini Mansions
With Bright Eyes
With Kirk Hammett

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens of the Stone Age</span> American rock band

Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band formed in 1996 in Seattle, Washington. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme, who has been the only constant member throughout multiple lineup changes. Since 2013, the lineup has consisted of Homme alongside Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita, and Jon Theodore. The band also has a large pool of contributors and collaborators. Queens of the Stone Age are known for their blues, Krautrock and electronica-influenced style of riff-oriented and rhythmic hard rock music, coupled with Homme's distinct falsetto vocals and unorthodox guitar scales.

<i>De-Loused in the Comatorium</i> 2003 studio album by The Mars Volta

De-Loused in the Comatorium is the debut studio album by American progressive rock band the Mars Volta, released on June 24, 2003, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records. Based on a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and sound manipulation artist Jeremy Ward, the concept album is an hour-long tale of Cerpin Taxt, a man who enters a week-long coma after overdosing on a mixture of morphine and rat poison. The story of Cerpin Taxt alludes to the death of El Paso, Texas artist—and Bixler-Zavala's friend—Julio Venegas (1972–1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mars Volta</span> American rock band

The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock band from El Paso, formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, whose partnership forms the core of the band. The band's current line-up also includes founding member Eva Gardner (bass), Omar's brother Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Leo Genovese and Linda-Philomène Tsoungui (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omar Rodríguez-López</span> Puerto Rican guitarist and songwriter

Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López is a Puerto Rican guitarist and songwriter. He has formed or played in several bands, including The Mars Volta, At the Drive-In, Antemasque, and Bosnian Rainbows. He was the bassist for the dub band De Facto. He has embarked on a solo career, both in studio and in concert, frequently described as experimental, avant-garde, or progressive. He has also collaborated with numerous artists, such as Damo Suzuki, John Frusciante, El-P, Mon Laferte and Calle 13.

<i>Frances the Mute</i> 2005 studio album by The Mars Volta

Frances the Mute is the second studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in February 2005 on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album incorporates dub, ambient, Latin and jazz influences, and is the first to feature bassist Juan Alderete and percussionist Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez. The album also includes contributions from future saxophonist Adrián Terrazas-González, who joined the band during its subsequent tour.

<i>Tremulant</i> (EP) 2002 EP by The Mars Volta

Tremulant is the debut EP release by progressive rock band The Mars Volta, released on April 2, 2002, on Gold Standard Labs. Produced by Alex Newport, the EP marks the only appearance of founding bassist Eva Gardner until the release of The Mars Volta's self-titled album in 2022. A remastered version of the EP was released on April 16, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedric Bixler-Zavala</span> American singer

Cedric Bixler-Zavala is an American musician. He is the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-hardcore group At the Drive-In, the lead singer of the band Antemasque, and singer and guitarist in the band Zavalaz.

<i>Amputechture</i> 2006 studio album by The Mars Volta

Amputechture is the third studio album by American progressive rock band the Mars Volta, released on September 12, 2006, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album marks the final appearance of drummer Jon Theodore, and is the first studio album to feature guitarist and sound manipulator Paul Hinojos, formerly of At the Drive-In and Sparta.

Blake Fleming is an American drummer known for his involvement with several influential experimental bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Pridgen</span> American drummer (born 1983)

Thomas Armon Pridgen is an American drummer, best known for his role as the drummer of The Mars Volta from 2006 until 2009. He is touring with rapper Residente and is the drummer for hardcore punk band Trash Talk, as well as his own project The Memorials. In 2023 he joined Fever 333.

<i>Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo</i> 2007 studio album by Omar Rodríguez-López

Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo is the third studio album by Omar Rodríguez-López and the second in the "Amsterdam series". It was written and recorded in 2005 in California and Amsterdam, and was released May 29, 2007 by Gold Standard Labs on both vinyl and CD. A limited edition, brown marble vinyl was also available. 750 were made to fulfill pre-orders through April 30.

<i>The Bedlam in Goliath</i> 2008 studio album by The Mars Volta

The Bedlam in Goliath is the fourth studio album by American progressive rock band the Mars Volta, released on January 29, 2008, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Motown Records. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodríguez-López, the album's creation was fraught with strange occurrences after an experience with a ouija that Rodriguez-Lopez bought as a gift for vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala. The album is their first to feature drummer Thomas Pridgen, and the last to include guitarist and sound manipulator Paul Hinojos, wind multi-instrumentalist Adrián Terrazas-González, and keyboardist Isaiah "Ikey" Owens.

The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group is an American experimental rock band, and the main side project of Omar Rodríguez-López. Featuring an ever-changing lineup of musicians alongside Rodriguez-Lopez, the group is most often a live entity to perform the various outlets of his solo music aside from the Mars Volta. After the dissolution of the Mars Volta in 2012, Omar completed a few more solo records until 2013 before deciding to pursue only collaborative efforts with groups At the Drive-In, Bosnian Rainbows, Antemasque, and Crystal Fairy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Day as a Lion</span> American alternative rock band

One Day as a Lion was an alternative rock supergroup that was started in 2008 by Zack de la Rocha, the vocalist of Rage Against the Machine, and Jon Theodore, former drummer of The Mars Volta and current drummer of Queens of the Stone Age. The duo blended elements of rock and hip hop. One Day as a Lion released their eponymous debut EP in July 2008 on the Anti- label. The band's name comes from a quote by Benito Mussolini: "It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep."

<i>Old Money</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Omar Rodríguez-López

Old Money is the eighth studio album by American guitarist and composer Omar Rodríguez-López, his first with Stones Throw Records who released CD and MP3 versions on November 10, 2008 and a vinyl version in February 2009. Rodríguez-López explained that the album is "loosely based on the concept of exploitative industrialists and, well, their old money."

<i>...Like Clockwork</i> 2013 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

...Like Clockwork is the sixth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on June 3, 2013, on Matador Records in the UK, and on June 4 in the United States. Self-produced by the band, it is the first Queens of the Stone Age album to feature full contributions from bassist Michael Shuman and keyboardist and guitarist Dean Fertita, who both joined the band in 2007 to tour in support of the band's fifth studio album, Era Vulgaris, and record its bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My God Is the Sun</span> 2013 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"My God Is the Sun" is the first single by Queens of the Stone Age from their sixth studio album, ...Like Clockwork (2013). The band debuted the song at Lollapalooza Brazil on March 30, 2013. The studio version of the single debuted on BBC Radio 1 on April 8, 2013, and became available for download with preorders of the album.

<i>...Like Cologne</i> 2013 live album / EP by Queens of the Stone Age

...Like Cologne is a live EP release by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It was released on November 22, 2013, exclusively on Spotify.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giraffe Tongue Orchestra</span> American rock supergroup

Giraffe Tongue Orchestra is an American rock supergroup. It consists of Alice in Chains vocalist William DuVall, guitarist Brent Hinds of Mastodon, lead guitarist Ben Weinman of the Dillinger Escape Plan, drummer Thomas Pridgen of the Mars Volta, and bassist Pete Griffin of Dethklok and Zappa Plays Zappa. The band released their debut LP, Broken Lines, on September 23, 2016.

References

  1. ↑ "Interview: Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman Talks Party Smasher Inc., Side Projects, and More with Jose Mangin – Revolvermag.com". NewBay Media, LLC. March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  2. ↑ Whitehouse, David (June 1, 2013). "Queens Of The Stone Age: Josh Homme comes back from the brink". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Flea & Jon Theodore team up with Bright Eyes for new track". Mixdown Magazine. April 22, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Hear how indie rock band Bright Eyes is reinventing classic hits at Providence show". The Providence Journal. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ s.r.l, Rockol com. "√ Chi è Jon Theodore, il nuovo batterista live dei Queens of the Stone Age". Rockol (in Italian). Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  6. ↑ "[Table] IAmA: Bassist for The Mars Volta – Juan Alderete : tabled". Reddit.com. August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ Archived December 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "Ex The Mars Volta Drummer Joins Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan Members In G.T.O. - Blabbermouth.net". Roadrunnerrecords.com. January 3, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ Britton, Luke Morgan (July 15, 2016). "Queens Of The Stone Age tease what to expect from next album". NME. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ Late Night with Seth Meyers (May 16, 2024). Late Night's 8G Band Made Jon Theodore a Five-Timers Award . Retrieved May 17, 2024– via YouTube.
  11. 1 2 Worley, Gail (June 23, 2004). "My Favorite Martian: An Interview with Jon Theodore of The Mars Volta". Ink19.com. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.