Wackerman's father Chuck, also a drummer, started teaching him how to play drums as early as five years old and was also his jazz band teacher at Los Alamitos High School, winning Most Outstanding Musician at the Reno Jazz Festival in 1993.[2] Wackerman started his musical career as a teen with a group called Bad4Good in 1991. The band released one album in 1992 called Refugee, produced by Steve Vai.
Career
Infectious Grooves (1993–present)
From 1993 to 2000, Wackerman was a member of Infectious Grooves, playing drums on the albums Groove Family Cyco in 1994 and Mas Borracho in 2000 as well as touring with the band. He returned to the band when they resumed activities and did a show in Brazil in November 2019.[3]
In 2001, he became the drummer for Bad Religion by replacing Bobby Schayer, who left the band due to a shoulder injury. He appeared on five albums with them (The Process of Belief, The Empire Strikes First, New Maps of Hell, The Dissent of Man and True North) as well as their 2013 EP Christmas Songs. On October 27, 2015, Brooks left Bad Religion after deciding it was time to pursue another path.[4] At the time of his departure, Wackerman was Bad Religion's all-time longest standing drummer, surpassing Bobby Schayer, who was in the band for ten years. He was also the youngest member of the band, with all of the other members being at least ten years his senior. Wackerman was replaced by Jamie Miller.
Tenacious D (2006–2015)
In 2006, for The Pick of Destiny tour, Wackerman was selected to feature as the drummer for Tenacious D due to his previous work on the Vandals' Look What I Almost Stepped In... album, which both Jack Black and Kyle Gass cameo on. He would go on to play for Tenacious D at various festivals as well as support act and benefit concerts throughout 2008 to 2011. in 2012, Wackerman played with Tenacious D again on their Rize of the Fenix tour where he got the nickname "Thunderskin" from Jack Black for comical remark, making appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. They also performed at the 2012 Rock am Ring Festival. Wackerman also appeared in the music videos for their songs "Roadie" and "Rize of the Fenix". He would perform on their 2012 EP Tenacious D Jazz and their 2015 live album Tenacious D Live.
Avenged Sevenfold (2015–present)
On November 4, 2015, it was revealed that Wackerman was the new drummer for Avenged Sevenfold.[5] Brooks was working with the band one year prior to the official announcement because the band wanted to "fit in" with the new drummer. Like his predecessors Mike Portnoy and Arin Ilejay, but unlike the rest of the band members, he doesn't have a stage name. His first full-length album with the band was their October 2016 release The Stage, which showcased his progressive metal style of drumming, often using fast double kicks and blast beats.
Wackerman formerly fronted Kidneys alongside fellow Tenacious D band member John Spiker. Initially, his brother, John Wackerman played with Kidneys, but he would later be replaced by Todd Hennig (Death By Stereo). A full-length self-titled album was released in 2007, and another album in 2012, entitled Hold Your Fire, is available for digital download. The band parted ways in 2012.
Wackerman appeared in The Suicide Machines "S.O.S." music video in place of drummer Derek Grant, due to Grant's refusal to appear in photos or videos.[9]
Gear
Wackerman currently endorses Drum Workshop drums, Remo drumheads and also uses Innovative Percussion drumsticks. Additionally, in 2021, after many years of using and endorsing Zildjian cymbals Wackerman officially signed on as an Istanbul Agop artist. He also once had a signature line of drumsticks manufactured by Zildjian as well.
Drum setup circa 2015 (Avenged Sevenfold tour): Drum Workshop drums, Evans drumheads and Zildjian cymbals and sticks:
Drums: Drum Workshop collector's series w/ maple/mahogany shells in black ice finish:
22"x16" bass drums (x2)
6"x12" rata drums (x2)
10"x8" rack tom
12"x9" rack tom
13"x9" rack tom
15"x13" floor tom
16"x14" floor tom
14"x6.5" nickel over brass snare
Drumheads: Evans:
Snare: ST dry/300 snare side
Toms: G2 clear/G1 clear
Bass: EQ4 clear/EQ3 reso black
Cymbals: Zildjian:
21" A mega bell ride (left side)
15" A Custom hi-hats
20" A Custom EFX
19" A Custom crash
14" FX Oriental china "trash"/12" K splash (stacked)
19" A Custom crash
22" S rock ride or 22" S medium ride
15" A Custom hi-hats
20" S trash crash
19" A ultra-hammered china
Sticks:
Zildjian Brooks Wackerman signature
Drum setup 2021 (current): Drum Workshop drums, Remo drumheads, Innovative Percussion drumsticks and Istanbul Agop cymbals:
Drums: Drum Workshop collector's series w/ maple shells in black ice or cherry finish:
22"x18" bass drums (x2)
10"x8" rack toms (x2)
12"x10" rack tom
14"x12" floor tom
16"x14" floor tom
14"x5.5" bronze snare
14"x7" maple snare
Drumheads: Remo:
Snare: Powerstroke 77 clear/Ambassador hazy snare side
Toms: Controlled Sound clear black dot or Emperor coated/Ambassador clear
Bass: Powerstroke P3 clear
Cymbals: Istanbul Agop:
18" Xist china or 20" Xist china
15" Mantra hi-hats
8" Xist Brilliant bell
19" Xist Brilliant crash
14" Traditional trash hit stack
19" Xist Brilliant crash or 20" Traditional heavy crash
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