Abe Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Abe Cunningham, is an American musician
, he is the drummer of the alternative metal
band Deftones
. He is known for his use of ghost note
s and other technical drumming techniques.
. When he was young, his family moved to Sacramento
. He first started drumming in his early teens playing the drums for his band Phallucy
in the early 90s. During this time, he also drummed for the Deftones
on the side, when the band was having problems landing a permanent and dedicated drummer. At the time when he started learning drums, he also learned how to play guitar, but growing up with a stepfather (Neil) who played the drums, he took a deeper passion with the drums. Abe's father, Sid, was also a musician and an early influence for Abe before his untimely passing. His influences include Stewart Copeland
, Ginger Baker
and Mitch Mitchell
.
Cunningham is known for his frantic, pounding rhythms on such songs as "Knife Party" and clever usage of tempo ("Mein"), while at the same time refusing to indulge in the double bass drum setup of many metal traditionalists. However, he does use a double bass pedal as part of his kit, as seen in various drum magazines. A BBC reviewer has praised his style for displaying " the assured expressiveness of a musician whose abilities stretch further than most metal-scene sticksmen".http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jd28
Cunningham has been a long time endorser of Tama Drums and Zildjian Cymbals, and for most of his career, has played the same setup. He has been featured in various ads for Tama and Zildjian and most recently, has become and endorsee of Pro-Mark
drumsticks. He has his own signature model; the Abe Cunningham TX916W Autograph Model.
Abe lives in Sacramento
, California
with his family. He has two sons with his ex-wife, Annalynn Seal; Sidney & Daniel. Annalynn made a guest appearance on "MX" singing along with Chino Moreno
.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, he is the drummer of the alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
. He is known for his use of ghost note
Ghost note
Ghost notes are musical notes occurring in a rhythmic figure which are purposely deemphasized, often to the point of near silence. In popular music drumming these notes are played, "very softly between the 'main' notes," most often on the snare drum in a drum kit.A rhythmic figure may be punctuated...
s and other technical drumming techniques.
Biography
Abe Cunningham was born in Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. When he was young, his family moved to Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
. He first started drumming in his early teens playing the drums for his band Phallucy
Phallucy
Phallucy was a rock/alternative metal band from Sacramento, California. The band's drummer, Abe Cunningham, later became the drummer with the band Deftones, which is now a worldwide success...
in the early 90s. During this time, he also drummed for the Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
on the side, when the band was having problems landing a permanent and dedicated drummer. At the time when he started learning drums, he also learned how to play guitar, but growing up with a stepfather (Neil) who played the drums, he took a deeper passion with the drums. Abe's father, Sid, was also a musician and an early influence for Abe before his untimely passing. His influences include Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
, Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
and Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell
John Ronald "Mitch" Mitchell was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience:...
.
Cunningham is known for his frantic, pounding rhythms on such songs as "Knife Party" and clever usage of tempo ("Mein"), while at the same time refusing to indulge in the double bass drum setup of many metal traditionalists. However, he does use a double bass pedal as part of his kit, as seen in various drum magazines. A BBC reviewer has praised his style for displaying " the assured expressiveness of a musician whose abilities stretch further than most metal-scene sticksmen".http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jd28
Cunningham has been a long time endorser of Tama Drums and Zildjian Cymbals, and for most of his career, has played the same setup. He has been featured in various ads for Tama and Zildjian and most recently, has become and endorsee of Pro-Mark
Pro-Mark
Pro-Mark is a Houston, Texas-based American drumstick company owned by founder Herb Brochstein. It is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.-History:...
drumsticks. He has his own signature model; the Abe Cunningham TX916W Autograph Model.
Abe lives in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with his family. He has two sons with his ex-wife, Annalynn Seal; Sidney & Daniel. Annalynn made a guest appearance on "MX" singing along with Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and contributing guitarist of Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project bands Team Sleep and Crosses....
.
Current tour kit (2009-present):
- Tama Starclassic Bubinga Drums & Zildjian Cymbals:
- Drums – Sky Blue Sparkle Finish
- 12x8" Tom
- 14x9" Tom
- 16x15" Floor Tom
- 18x16" Floor Tom
- 24x18" Bass Drum
- 14x6.5" Starphonic Brass (main)
- 14x8 TAMA Bubinga Starclassic Snare
- Cymbals – Zildjian
- 15" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats
- 22" A Custom Ride
- 20" A Custom Brilliant Crash
- 19" A Custom Brilliant Crash
- 20" A Custom MediumThin crash
- 20" Oriental China Trash
- 22" K Crashride
- 8" A Custom Splash
- 10" A Custom Splash
- Drum heads - RemoRemoRemo is a male given name of Latin origin - see Romulus and Remus.Remo may also refer to:* Remo, an American drum skin company* Remo , another name for the German wine grape Riesling* Remo language, a Panoan language of Brazil and Peru...
- Toms: (10", 12", 16", 18") Clear Ambassadors — top, Clear Ambassadors — bottom
- Bass Drums: (22") PowerStroke 4 (w/Remo FalamSlam) - back, Standard Tama Head — front
- Snare: (14") Coated Emperors — top, Clear Ambassadors — bottom
- Sticks - Pro-MarkPro-MarkPro-Mark is a Houston, Texas-based American drumstick company owned by founder Herb Brochstein. It is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.-History:...
- Abe Cunningham TX916W Autograph Model
With Deftones
- AdrenalineAdrenaline (album)-Personnel:Deftones*Chino Moreno – vocals*Stephen Carpenter – guitars*Chi Cheng – bass guitar, backing vocals*Abe Cunningham – drumsProduction*Kim Biggs – art direction*Victor Bracke – cover photo...
(1995, Maverick Records/Warner Bros. Records) - Around the FurAround the Fur-Band members:*Stephen Carpenter – guitar*Chi Cheng – bass guitar, backing vocals*Abe Cunningham – drums*Chino Moreno – vocals-Additional personnel:...
(1997, Maverick Records/Warner Bros. Records) - White PonyWhite PonyWhite Pony is the third studio album by American alternative metal band Deftones. Released in 2000, it marks a significant growth in the band's sound, incorporating New Wave and shoegaze influences with the alternative metal edge the group had become known for...
(2000, Maverick Records) - DeftonesDeftones (album)Deftones was well received by critics earning an aggregate rating of 74 on Metacritic. The music website Sputnikmusic gave it a perfect score and praised the band for have returned to their heavy sound without leaving behind their experimental side, lauding also Moreno's abstract lyrics and the...
(2003, Maverick Records) - Saturday Night WristSaturday Night WristSaturday Night Wrist is the fifth studio album by American metal band Deftones. It was released on Maverick Records on October 31, 2006. Despite early contributions that were later scrapped, Saturday Night Wrist marks the departure of mainstay Deftones producer Terry Date.The band's fifth album...
(2006, Maverick Records) - Diamond EyesDiamond EyesDiamond Eyes is the sixth album by American Alternative metal band Deftones, released worldwide on May 4, 2010 through Warner Bros. and Reprise Records...
(2010, Warner Bros. Records/Reprise Records) - Eros (currently unreleased)