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Chad Szeliga
Szeliga performing with Black Star Riders at Nova Rock 2017
Szeliga performing with Black Star Riders at Nova Rock 2017
Background information
Born (1976-12-23) December 23, 1976 (age 47)[citation needed]
Genres
Occupation(s)Drummer
Years active1999–present
LabelsHollywood

Chad Szeliga (born December 23, 1976) is an American drummer from Elyria, Ohio. Formerly the drummer of rock band Breaking Benjamin, he joined Black Label Society in 2013, replacing Mike Froedge.[1] In 2017, Szeliga replaced Jimmy DeGrasso in Black Star Riders, leaving the band in 2021. Szeliga cites Vinnie Colaiuta, John Bonham, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers, Tony Williams, Manu Katche, Stewart Copeland and Neil Peart as his main influences.

Career

Breaking Benjamin

While with Another Path, Szeliga recorded an audition video for Breaking Benjamin playing drums for the song "So Cold".[2] The video submitted happened to be the only VHS tape submitted. Ben Burnley was forced to borrow a VCR from his neighbor to view the tape. After Burnley reviewed the tape, the band decided he was the right guy for the job.[3] His first official recording with the band was for the full-band version of the song "Rain" from We Are Not Alone in mid-2005, which was sent to modern radio, and later appeared on the band's cover of Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever". He recorded with Breaking Benjamin on their 2006 album Phobia, which was released August 8, 2006. He also joined the band on their tour supporting that album.[4]

Szeliga left Breaking Benjamin in April 2013 due to creative differences with Frontman Ben Burnley and notified his fans via a Facebook post on April 22, 2013.

Other ventures

He went on to drum with Black Label Society until 2014 and also recorded and toured briefly with Creed front man Scott Stapp.

On May 5, 2017, Szeliga was announced as the new drummer for Black Star Riders, replacing Jimmy DeGrasso.[5]

In 2018, Szeliga announced the start of a new project, Walking with Lions, in collaboration with guitarist Kevin Hicklin of 3 By Design.[citation needed] In 2020, it was announced that Szeliga had joined rock act Weapons of Anew sometime after the release of their debut album, replacing Chris Manfre.[citation needed]

Szeliga currently plays with the band Turning The Tide.[6]

Equipment

[7]

As of July 2020, Szeliga endorses Tama Drums, Evans drumheads, Paiste cymbals, Vater Percussion drumsticks, and Audimute. He largely uses the Starclassic Performer Bubinga series as well as the new line of Tama's S.L.P Dynamic Kapur kit and has a tendency to put the mid rack tom to the left of his kit preceding the high rack tom, claiming that it encourages him to be more creative with his fills. His previous endorsements were Yamaha Drums, DW Drums, Vic Firth drumsticks Remo drumheads and Zildjian cymbals.

Drums: Tama Starclassic Performer Bubinga in blue nebula blaze:

Cymbals: Paiste:

Cymbals circa 2019:

Discography

With Breaking Benjamin

With Black Label Society

With Switched

With Forever Oeuvre

With Casey Honig

With Black Star Riders

References

  1. ^ "BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Recruits BREAKING BENJAMIN Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. September 14, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  2. ^ "Chad Szeliga Video Audition for Breaking Benjamin So Cold Elyria Ohio". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  3. ^ "Breaking Benjamin Underground". The Shallow Bay. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  4. ^ "Breaking Benjamin – Chad Szeliga". Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  5. ^ "Black Star Riders joined by ex-Black Label Society drummer Chad Szeliga". Blabbermouth. May 5, 2017.
  6. ^ https://www.turningthetideband.com/. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ "Chad Szeliga July 28, 2020". facebook.com. July 28, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Chad Szeliga June 2017". www.tama.com. June 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  9. ^ "Chad Szeliga June 14, 2021". www.instagram.com. June 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "Chad Szeliga November 15, 2019". www.paiste.com. November 15, 2019.
  11. ^ Casey Honig – Tragic Uprise – Amazon.com Music
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