Atom Willard
Encyclopedia
Adam David Willard known professionally by the pseudonym
Atom, is an American
drummer
who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Willard's drumming career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt
, whom he remained with until 2000. Subsequently he joined The Special Goodness
and The Offspring
, and in 2005 became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves
. In 2007 Willard announced his departure from The Offspring to focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves, and in April 2009 he also joined Social Distortion
, but left the following March. In June 2011 he joined the band Danko Jones
and in the following October he announced his "amicable" departure from Angels & Airwaves.
rock
band Rocket from the Crypt
in 1990, after their original drummer Sean had moved away from San Diego. In a 2006 interview Willard recalled of the experience:
Willard performed on Rocket from the Crypt's second album Circa: Now!
(1992) and subsequent albums Hot Charity
(1995), Scream, Dracula, Scream!
(1995), and RFTC
(1998), as well as numerous EP
s and singles. During his years with the band he toured the United States
and Europe
. Willard recalls several wild tour experiences with the group such as touring in a box truck
and an airport shuttle
, both at his suggestion. In 2000, however, he decided to leave the group due to disagreements with the other members over the band's direction:
Willard was replaced in Rocket from the Crypt's lineup by Mario Rubalcaba
.
. In 2000 he filled in as a touring drummer for the Alkaline Trio
and appeared with them in the music video
for the single "Private Eye". He soon joined Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson
in his side project The Special Goodness
, in which Willard drummed while Wilson sang and played guitar
. Willard also filled in with Moth
in 2002 for tours in support of their third album Provisions, Fiction and Gear
and appeared in their music video for "I See Sound". Willard's first recorded output with The Special Goodness was 2003's Land Air Sea
. The band have not released an album since then, but announced in November 2007 that they would be entering a studio to record new material for a future album. Willard also recorded drum tracks for the songs "Head Unbound" and "Would If I Could" on Melissa Auf der Maur
's debut solo album Auf der Maur
(2004).
, replacing long-time drummer Ron Welty
who had left the group earlier that year. During Willard's tenure with the group he performed on numerous tours but did not perform on any officially released studio recordings. Professional drummer Josh Freese
had recorded the drum tracks for the band's 2003 album Splinter
after Welty left the group. Willard joined shortly before the album's release and appeared with them in the music video
for the single "(Can't Get My) Head Around You
". However, in 2005 he became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves
(see below), and his commitments to the new group began to draw him away from The Offspring. The Offspring released a Greatest Hits
compilation in 2005 including two new songs, "Can't Repeat
" and a cover of The Police
's "Next to You". Drum tracks on both songs were again credited to Freese, though Willard appeared with the band in the "Can't Repeat" music video. In July 2007 Willard officially announced that he was leaving The Offspring to focus on Angels & Airwaves. Freese again recorded drum tracks for The Offspring for Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (2008) before it was officially announced that Willard's permanent replacement would be former Face to Face
drummer Pete Parada
. Offspring singer Dexter Holland
later commented:
in his new group Angels & Airwaves. DeLonge remarked that Willard "has always felt to me like the single largest score in music. He is a loyal, honest and humble friend, but an even better showman." The band, which also included former Box Car Racer
/Hazen Street
guitarist David Kennedy
and former Distillers
bassist
Ryan Sinn
, released their debut album We Don't Need to Whisper
in May 2006. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200
and spawned several successful singles including "The Adventure
", "It Hurts
", "Do It for Me Now", and "The War", and Willard toured extensively with the group in support of the album. In July 2007, during production of the band's second album I-Empire
, Willard officially announced that he was leaving The Offspring to focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves. The album was released in November 2007 and went on to sell over 200,000 copies in the United States. Singles from I-Empire included "Everything's Magic", "Secret Crowds", and "Breathe". He also played on Angels & Airwaves third album, Love
, released in February 2010. Willard toured with Angels & Airwaves in support of the album in May and July. He has recorded drum tracks for Angels & Airwaves fourth studio album Love: Part Two
set for release on November 11, 2011. On October 4, 2011, Atom officially announced he is no longer a member of Angels & Airwaves. The split is said to have been "amicable" with the rest of the band.
in Social Distortion
. He toured Europe and the United States with Social Distortion in 2009, was scheduled to tour South America with them in April 2010, and had been in the studio recording their seventh studio album. As of March 8, 2010, due to scheduling conflicts with Angels & Airwaves, Willard is no longer in Social Distortion. He was replaced by Fu Manchu
drummer Scott Reeder
for their South American tour.
In February 2011 Atom joined Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio on the side project The Hell. It was reported in November 2011 that The Hell has recorded 4 tracks and are working on more.
On June 8, 2011, it was announced that Atom Willard has joined Canadian group Danko Jones
.
consists of two snare drum
s (6.5"x14" and 7"x12"), two tom-toms
(6"x6" and 9"x13"), two floor tom
s (14"x16" and 16"x18"), and a bass drum
(18"x26"). For cymbal
s he uses Zildjian
K custom session hi-hat
s (14"), an A custom EFX crash cymbal
(18"), two A custom projection crashes (19" and 20"), a K custom ride cymbal
(22"), and a K custom medium ride cymbal (20"). As of March 20, 2011, Atom is an official Drum Workshop endorser, both for hardware and drums.
s on which Willard has performed. For complete listings of releases by each act, see their individual articles.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Atom, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Willard's drumming career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
, whom he remained with until 2000. Subsequently he joined The Special Goodness
The Special Goodness
The Special Goodness is the side project of Weezer’s drummer Patrick Wilson. It currently features Wilson on guitar and vocals, and Atom Willard on drums...
and The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, and in 2005 became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
. In 2007 Willard announced his departure from The Offspring to focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves, and in April 2009 he also joined Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
, but left the following March. In June 2011 he joined the band Danko Jones
Danko Jones
Danko Jones is a Canadian rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Danko Jones and JC...
and in the following October he announced his "amicable" departure from Angels & Airwaves.
1990–2000: Rocket from the Crypt
Willard joined the San Diego, CaliforniaCalifornia
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...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
in 1990, after their original drummer Sean had moved away from San Diego. In a 2006 interview Willard recalled of the experience:
It was crazy, man. I was just 16, I would drive down to this kind of sketchy, strange rehearsal space in this part of town I'd never been, and there were people living in some of the spaces. It was just weird, and everybody was older than me. But the sound was rad. It was a lot of soulSoul musicSoul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, a lot of Otis ReddingOtis ReddingOtis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
, James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
–but it was up against a serious punk-rockPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
influence, and just regular rock 'n' rollRock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
. Every song had four personalities!
Willard performed on Rocket from the Crypt's second album Circa: Now!
Circa: Now!
Circa: Now! is the second album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1992 by Cargo Music and Headhunter Records. It was the band's first album to include drummer Atom and saxophone player Apollo 9...
(1992) and subsequent albums Hot Charity
Hot Charity
Hot Charity is an LP by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 on the fictitious record label Perfect Sound Records...
(1995), Scream, Dracula, Scream!
Scream, Dracula, Scream!
Scream, Dracula, Scream! is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 by Interscope Records. It was the band's first major-label release. Music videos were filmed for the singles "On a Rope," "Born in '69" and "Young Livers," and the band embarked on...
(1995), and RFTC
RFTC
RFTC is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1998 by Interscope Records. It was the band's second major-label release...
(1998), as well as numerous EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s and singles. During his years with the band he toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Willard recalls several wild tour experiences with the group such as touring in a box truck
Box truck
A box truck, also known as a cube truck, cube van, bob truck, box van, or straight truck, is a truck with a cuboid-shaped cargo area.-Road vehicles:...
and an airport shuttle
Airport bus
An airport bus, or airport shuttle bus or airport shuttle is a bus or coach used to transport people to/from, or within airports. These vehicles will usually be equipped with larger luggage space, and incorporate special branding....
, both at his suggestion. In 2000, however, he decided to leave the group due to disagreements with the other members over the band's direction:
I was getting disillusioned with the way we were doing business. It was getting harder and harder to survive–those tours where you'd come home with no money, that was getting less cool. [Laughs.] I didn't just want to get some temp job to survive and go on tour anymore. I wanted to play the drums; I wanted to play music and make a living off of it. And I thought I could. And we all could. I wanted some changes and SpeedoJohn ReisJohn Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
and I were kind of at odds on that stuff; we disagreed on how we should go about it.
Willard was replaced in Rocket from the Crypt's lineup by Mario Rubalcaba
Mario Rubalcaba
Mario Rubalcaba is an American drummer from San Diego, notable as a member of numerous rock bands including Thingy, Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Earthless, the Sultans, and Off! He has also played on albums by The Black Heart Procession and Pinback and was formerly a professional...
.
2000–2003: The Special Goodness and temporary acts
After leaving Rocket from the Crypt Willard served as a drum technician for WeezerWeezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
. In 2000 he filled in as a touring drummer for the Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
and appeared with them in the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the single "Private Eye". He soon joined Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson
Patrick Wilson (musician)
Patrick "Pat" George Wilson is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Weezer. He joined the band in 1992. In addition to his work in Weezer, he also fronts his own band, The Special Goodness....
in his side project The Special Goodness
The Special Goodness
The Special Goodness is the side project of Weezer’s drummer Patrick Wilson. It currently features Wilson on guitar and vocals, and Atom Willard on drums...
, in which Willard drummed while Wilson sang and played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. Willard also filled in with Moth
Moth (band)
Moth is a U.S. alternative rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio formed in 1989. The band has released five albums including a major label release on Virgin Records. They have done live performances on The Late Late Show, AOL, and Mancow's Morning Madhouse, numerous national tours and a UK tour...
in 2002 for tours in support of their third album Provisions, Fiction and Gear
Provisions, Fiction and Gear
Provisions, Fiction and Gear is the third album and major label debut by the American alternative rock band MOTH.-Track listing:# I See Sound – 3:10# Thinkin' Please – 3:36# Hearing Things – 3:17# Burning Down My Sanity – 4:08...
and appeared in their music video for "I See Sound". Willard's first recorded output with The Special Goodness was 2003's Land Air Sea
Land Air Sea
Land Air Sea, is the third album by The Special Goodness. It originally released in February 2003 by N.O.S. Recordings and then a remastered, remixed, and re-ordered edition was released on Epitaph Records on January 20, 2004. The original N.O.S. version had three different covers while the Epitaph...
. The band have not released an album since then, but announced in November 2007 that they would be entering a studio to record new material for a future album. Willard also recorded drum tracks for the songs "Head Unbound" and "Would If I Could" on Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur is a Canadian rock musician from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her career has included 5 years as bassist with the band Hole and she later toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour. Her second solo album, Out of Our Minds, was released on March 30, 2010. She is also a...
's debut solo album Auf der Maur
Auf der Maur (album)
Auf der Maur is the debut album from former Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur.Formed following her successful stints as bassist for both Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Auf der Maur's solo project Auf der Maur released their self-titled debut album after Melissa's...
(2004).
2003–2007: The Offspring
In 2003 Willard became an official member of The OffspringThe Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, replacing long-time drummer Ron Welty
Ron Welty
Ronald "Ron" Welty is the former drummer for the American punk rock band The Offspring. Of all the band's drummers, Welty's tenure was the longest, as he was in the band from July 1987 to March 2003. He had replaced their original drummer James Lilja, and was only 16 at the time of his joining...
who had left the group earlier that year. During Willard's tenure with the group he performed on numerous tours but did not perform on any officially released studio recordings. Professional drummer Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
had recorded the drum tracks for the band's 2003 album Splinter
Splinter (The Offspring album)
-Enhanced version:The Enhanced CD portion of the CD contains the following:* Da Hui Video* Da Hui Video * Demo Studio Tour* 4 wallpapers* 2 MP3 tracks:*"The Kids Aren't Alright" *"When You're in Prison"...
after Welty left the group. Willard joined shortly before the album's release and appeared with them in the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the single "(Can't Get My) Head Around You
(Can't Get My) Head Around You
-Version 2:-Music video:A music video was released in support of the single. The video clip features the band playing in a dome lit by fluorescent lights and was shot with over 125 cameras, in what the band's website calls 'the ultimate performance video'...
". However, in 2005 he became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
(see below), and his commitments to the new group began to draw him away from The Offspring. The Offspring released a Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (The Offspring album)
-International bonus tracks:*On each edition, "Next to You" appears as a hidden track on track 15.-DualDisc edition:The DualDisc edition of the album has the standard 14 track album on the CD side...
compilation in 2005 including two new songs, "Can't Repeat
Can't Repeat
-Music video:The music video for the song simply featured the band playing in a derelict room, and it received little airtime on MTV. An alternate version was made showing actors looking back on photographs and memories, reflecting the song's subject matter, though this was very rarely shown...
" and a cover of The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
's "Next to You". Drum tracks on both songs were again credited to Freese, though Willard appeared with the band in the "Can't Repeat" music video. In July 2007 Willard officially announced that he was leaving The Offspring to focus on Angels & Airwaves. Freese again recorded drum tracks for The Offspring for Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (2008) before it was officially announced that Willard's permanent replacement would be former Face to Face
Face to Face (punk band)
Face to Face is an American pop punk band from Victorville, California formed in 1991 by frontman Trever Keith. Originally known as "Zero Tolerance", Keith had been the only constant member of the band during their years of touring and recording albums. The group was initially signed by Dr. Strange...
drummer Pete Parada
Pete Parada
Peter "Pete" Parada is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Parada's drumming career began in 1996 when he joined Steel Prophet and recorded one album with them a year later. Subsequently he joined Face to Face and Saves the Day, and in 2007 became the new...
. Offspring singer Dexter Holland
Dexter Holland
Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland is the singer and rhythm guitarist for the California punk rock band The Offspring...
later commented:
The simple truth is that Atom had been working on a few of his own projects during our down time, including Angels & Airwaves but other things too. We think that's great. Unfortunately, in order for him to see those things through he isn't left with enough time to devote to future Offspring stuff. It was a tough choice, but we understand. Atom's been a great drummer for us and we're sure Pete will be great too!
2005–2011: Angels & Airwaves
While The Offspring took a "touring hiatus" in 2006 Willard joined Tom DeLongeTom DeLonge
Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr. is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves...
in his new group Angels & Airwaves. DeLonge remarked that Willard "has always felt to me like the single largest score in music. He is a loyal, honest and humble friend, but an even better showman." The band, which also included former Box Car Racer
Box Car Racer
Box Car Racer was a short-lived American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California, formed in 2002. The band was a side-project of guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker of Blink-182, along with lead guitarist David Kennedy of Hazen Street, and touring bassist Anthony Celestino...
/Hazen Street
Hazen Street
Hazen Street is a supergroup that formed in early 2004.The band features Freddy Cricien and Hoya of New York hardcore band Madball; Toby Morse of hardcore band H2O; David Kennedy of post-hardcore band Box Car Racer, hardcore punk band Over My Dead Body, and later neo-progressive rock band Angels &...
guitarist David Kennedy
David Kennedy (guitarist)
David James Kennedy is an American guitarist, songwriter and performer. He currently plays guitar for the alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves....
and former Distillers
The Distillers
The Distillers were an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1998. They released their first two albums on Hellcat Records/Epitaph Records before moving to Sire, part of the Warner Music Group. The Distillers were originally formed by Australian-born Brody Armstrong , a woman with a...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Ryan Sinn
Ryan Sinn
Ryan Sinn is the former bassist for the alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves and The Distillers, but has joined Love Equals Death, after Dominic Davi's departure...
, released their debut album We Don't Need to Whisper
We Don't Need to Whisper
We Don't Need to Whisper is the debut album by American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on May 20, 2006 in Australia, on May 22 in the UK, and on May 23 in North America....
in May 2006. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and spawned several successful singles including "The Adventure
The Adventure
"The Adventure" is a song by American alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves and the lead single from their 2006 debut album, We Don't Need to Whisper. It was also the first full song to be heard by fans. "The Adventure" entered the UK singles chart at its peak position, #20.The song received...
", "It Hurts
It Hurts
"It Hurts" is the second single in Europe by Angels & Airwaves' from the debut album We Don't Need to Whisper. A short-film for this song was released on April 18 on the Angels & Airwaves official website, which continues where the video for "The Adventure" left off. During the time of its first...
", "Do It for Me Now", and "The War", and Willard toured extensively with the group in support of the album. In July 2007, during production of the band's second album I-Empire
I-Empire
I-Empire is the second studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was officially released worldwide on November 6, 2007 from the Angels & Airwaves website, where it was available for download...
, Willard officially announced that he was leaving The Offspring to focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves. The album was released in November 2007 and went on to sell over 200,000 copies in the United States. Singles from I-Empire included "Everything's Magic", "Secret Crowds", and "Breathe". He also played on Angels & Airwaves third album, Love
Love (Angels & Airwaves album)
Love is the third studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on February 12, 2010 on Fuel TV, and on February 14 on Modlife. The album was released free of charge due to "corporate underwriting". A "special edition" hard copy version of the album was scheduled for...
, released in February 2010. Willard toured with Angels & Airwaves in support of the album in May and July. He has recorded drum tracks for Angels & Airwaves fourth studio album Love: Part Two
Love: Part Two
-Personnel:Band*Tom DeLonge – vocals, rhythm guitar, producer*David Kennedy – lead guitar*Matt Wachter – bass, synthesizers*Atom Willard – drums, percussion, programming-Charts:...
set for release on November 11, 2011. On October 4, 2011, Atom officially announced he is no longer a member of Angels & Airwaves. The split is said to have been "amicable" with the rest of the band.
2009-present: Social Distortion, Danko Jones, and The Hell
In April 2009 Willard replaced Charlie QuintanaCharlie Quintana
Charlie Quintana was born in 1962, in El Paso, TX. Quintana was A drummer for the old school punk band Social Distortion, who joined in 2000 as the replacement of Chuck Biscuits , following the death of the band's former guitarist Dennis Danell...
in Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
. He toured Europe and the United States with Social Distortion in 2009, was scheduled to tour South America with them in April 2010, and had been in the studio recording their seventh studio album. As of March 8, 2010, due to scheduling conflicts with Angels & Airwaves, Willard is no longer in Social Distortion. He was replaced by Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu (band)
Fu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990. They have been featured on compilations put together by Tony Hawk and ESPN's X Games, and invited to perform on the US television program Monster Garage...
drummer Scott Reeder
Scott Reeder (drummer)
Scott Reeder is a drummer, who joined southern Californian stoner rockers Fu Manchu in 2002.Scott is known for his heavy drumming style, and refers to John Bonham of Led Zeppelin as one of his great influences....
for their South American tour.
In February 2011 Atom joined Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio on the side project The Hell. It was reported in November 2011 that The Hell has recorded 4 tracks and are working on more.
On June 8, 2011, it was announced that Atom Willard has joined Canadian group Danko Jones
Danko Jones
Danko Jones is a Canadian rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Danko Jones and JC...
.
Musical equipment
Willard was endorsed by Orange County Drums and Percussion until March 2011. When performing with Angels and Airwaves his drum kitDrum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
consists of two snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
s (6.5"x14" and 7"x12"), two tom-toms
Tom-tom drum
A tom-tom drum is a cylindrical drum with no snare.Although "tom-tom" is the British term for a child's toy drum, the name came originally from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala; the tom-tom itself comes from Asian or Native American cultures...
(6"x6" and 9"x13"), two floor tom
Floor tom
A floor tom is a double-headed tom-tom drum which usually stands on the floor on three legs. However, they can also be attached to a cymbal stand with a drum clamp....
s (14"x16" and 16"x18"), and a bass drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
(18"x26"). For cymbal
Cymbal
Cymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
s he uses Zildjian
Avedis Zildjian Company
The Avedis Zildjian Company is a cymbal manufacturer founded in Istanbul by Armenian Avedis Zildjian in the 17th century during the Ottoman Empire. At nearly 400 years old, Zildjian is one of the oldest companies in the world...
K custom session hi-hat
Hi-hat
A hi-hat, or hihat, is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in R&B, hip-hop, disco, jazz, rock and roll, house, reggae and other forms of contemporary popular music.- Operation :...
s (14"), an A custom EFX crash cymbal
Crash cymbal
A crash cymbal is a type of cymbal that produces a loud, sharp "crash" and is used mainly for occasional accents, as opposed to in ostinato. The term "crash" may have been first used by Zildjian in 1928....
(18"), two A custom projection crashes (19" and 20"), a K custom ride cymbal
Ride cymbal
The ride cymbal is a standard cymbal in most drum kits. It maintains a steady rhythmic pattern, sometimes called a ride pattern, rather than the accent of a crash...
(22"), and a K custom medium ride cymbal (20"). As of March 20, 2011, Atom is an official Drum Workshop endorser, both for hardware and drums.
Discography
This section lists albums and EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s on which Willard has performed. For complete listings of releases by each act, see their individual articles.
| Year | Act | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Rocket from the Crypt Rocket from the Crypt Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope... |
Circa: Now! Circa: Now! Circa: Now! is the second album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1992 by Cargo Music and Headhunter Records. It was the band's first album to include drummer Atom and saxophone player Apollo 9... |
Drums Drum kit A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... on all tracks |
| 1995 | The State of Art is on Fire The State of Art is on Fire The State of Art is on Fire is an EP by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 by Sympathy for the Record Industry. It was the band's first release to include trumpet player JC 2000.... |
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| Hot Charity Hot Charity Hot Charity is an LP by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 on the fictitious record label Perfect Sound Records... |
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| Scream, Dracula, Scream! Scream, Dracula, Scream! Scream, Dracula, Scream! is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 by Interscope Records. It was the band's first major-label release. Music videos were filmed for the singles "On a Rope," "Born in '69" and "Young Livers," and the band embarked on... |
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| 1998 | RFTC RFTC RFTC is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1998 by Interscope Records. It was the band's second major-label release... |
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| 1999 | Cut Carefully and Play Loud Cut Carefully and Play Loud Cut Carefully and Play Loud is an EP by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1999 by Flapping Jet Records. It was the band's last recording with drummer Atom, who left the group shortly thereafter due to disagreements over the professional direction of the band.The... |
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| 2003 | The Special Goodness The Special Goodness The Special Goodness is the side project of Weezer’s drummer Patrick Wilson. It currently features Wilson on guitar and vocals, and Atom Willard on drums... |
Land Air Sea Land Air Sea Land Air Sea, is the third album by The Special Goodness. It originally released in February 2003 by N.O.S. Recordings and then a remastered, remixed, and re-ordered edition was released on Epitaph Records on January 20, 2004. The original N.O.S. version had three different covers while the Epitaph... |
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| 2004 | Melissa Auf der Maur Melissa Auf der Maur Melissa Auf der Maur is a Canadian rock musician from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her career has included 5 years as bassist with the band Hole and she later toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour. Her second solo album, Out of Our Minds, was released on March 30, 2010. She is also a... |
Auf der Maur Auf der Maur (album) Auf der Maur is the debut album from former Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur.Formed following her successful stints as bassist for both Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Auf der Maur's solo project Auf der Maur released their self-titled debut album after Melissa's... |
Drums on the tracks "Head Unbound" and "Would If I Could" |
| 2006 | Angels & Airwaves Angels & Airwaves Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch... |
We Don't Need to Whisper We Don't Need to Whisper We Don't Need to Whisper is the debut album by American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on May 20, 2006 in Australia, on May 22 in the UK, and on May 23 in North America.... |
Drums on all tracks |
| 2007 | I-Empire I-Empire I-Empire is the second studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was officially released worldwide on November 6, 2007 from the Angels & Airwaves website, where it was available for download... |
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| 2010 | Love Love (Angels & Airwaves album) Love is the third studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on February 12, 2010 on Fuel TV, and on February 14 on Modlife. The album was released free of charge due to "corporate underwriting". A "special edition" hard copy version of the album was scheduled for... |
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| 2011 | Love: Part Two Love: Part Two -Personnel:Band*Tom DeLonge – vocals, rhythm guitar, producer*David Kennedy – lead guitar*Matt Wachter – bass, synthesizers*Atom Willard – drums, percussion, programming-Charts:... |
Music video appearances
| Year | Act | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Rocket from the Crypt Rocket from the Crypt Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope... |
"Ditchdigger" | Circa: Now! Circa: Now! Circa: Now! is the second album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1992 by Cargo Music and Headhunter Records. It was the band's first album to include drummer Atom and saxophone player Apollo 9... |
| "Sturdy Wrist" | |||
| 1995 | "On a Rope" | Scream, Dracula, Scream! Scream, Dracula, Scream! Scream, Dracula, Scream! is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 by Interscope Records. It was the band's first major-label release. Music videos were filmed for the singles "On a Rope," "Born in '69" and "Young Livers," and the band embarked on... |
|
| "Born in '69" | |||
| "Young Livers" | |||
| 1998 | "Break it Up" | RFTC RFTC RFTC is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1998 by Interscope Records. It was the band's second major-label release... |
|
| 2000 | Alkaline Trio Alkaline Trio Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant... |
"Private Eye" | From Here to Infirmary From Here to Infirmary From Here to Infirmary is the third album by the Chicago-based punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released April 3, 2001 through Vagrant Records. It was their first album for Vagrant and their only album with drummer Mike Felumlee, who replaced previous drummer Glenn Porter. It was also their first... |
| 2002 | Moth Moth (band) Moth is a U.S. alternative rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio formed in 1989. The band has released five albums including a major label release on Virgin Records. They have done live performances on The Late Late Show, AOL, and Mancow's Morning Madhouse, numerous national tours and a UK tour... |
"I See Sound" | Provisions, Fiction and Gear Provisions, Fiction and Gear Provisions, Fiction and Gear is the third album and major label debut by the American alternative rock band MOTH.-Track listing:# I See Sound – 3:10# Thinkin' Please – 3:36# Hearing Things – 3:17# Burning Down My Sanity – 4:08... |
| 2003 | The Special Goodness The Special Goodness The Special Goodness is the side project of Weezer’s drummer Patrick Wilson. It currently features Wilson on guitar and vocals, and Atom Willard on drums... |
"Life Goes By" | Land Air Sea Land Air Sea Land Air Sea, is the third album by The Special Goodness. It originally released in February 2003 by N.O.S. Recordings and then a remastered, remixed, and re-ordered edition was released on Epitaph Records on January 20, 2004. The original N.O.S. version had three different covers while the Epitaph... |
| "N.F.A." | |||
| 2004 | The Offspring The Offspring The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada... |
"(Can't Get My) Head Around You (Can't Get My) Head Around You -Version 2:-Music video:A music video was released in support of the single. The video clip features the band playing in a dome lit by fluorescent lights and was shot with over 125 cameras, in what the band's website calls 'the ultimate performance video'... " |
Splinter Splinter (The Offspring album) -Enhanced version:The Enhanced CD portion of the CD contains the following:* Da Hui Video* Da Hui Video * Demo Studio Tour* 4 wallpapers* 2 MP3 tracks:*"The Kids Aren't Alright" *"When You're in Prison"... |
| 2005 | "Can't Repeat Can't Repeat -Music video:The music video for the song simply featured the band playing in a derelict room, and it received little airtime on MTV. An alternate version was made showing actors looking back on photographs and memories, reflecting the song's subject matter, though this was very rarely shown... " |
Greatest Hits Greatest Hits (The Offspring album) -International bonus tracks:*On each edition, "Next to You" appears as a hidden track on track 15.-DualDisc edition:The DualDisc edition of the album has the standard 14 track album on the CD side... |
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| 2006 | Angels & Airwaves Angels & Airwaves Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch... |
"The Adventure The Adventure "The Adventure" is a song by American alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves and the lead single from their 2006 debut album, We Don't Need to Whisper. It was also the first full song to be heard by fans. "The Adventure" entered the UK singles chart at its peak position, #20.The song received... " |
We Don't Need to Whisper We Don't Need to Whisper We Don't Need to Whisper is the debut album by American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on May 20, 2006 in Australia, on May 22 in the UK, and on May 23 in North America.... |
| "It Hurts It Hurts "It Hurts" is the second single in Europe by Angels & Airwaves' from the debut album We Don't Need to Whisper. A short-film for this song was released on April 18 on the Angels & Airwaves official website, which continues where the video for "The Adventure" left off. During the time of its first... " |
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| "Do It for Me Now" | |||
| "The War" | |||
| "The Gift" | |||
| 2007 | "Everything's Magic" | I-Empire I-Empire I-Empire is the second studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was officially released worldwide on November 6, 2007 from the Angels & Airwaves website, where it was available for download... |
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| 2008 | "Secret Crowds" | ||
| "Breathe" | |||
| 2010 | "Hallucinations" | Love Love (Angels & Airwaves album) Love is the third studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on February 12, 2010 on Fuel TV, and on February 14 on Modlife. The album was released free of charge due to "corporate underwriting". A "special edition" hard copy version of the album was scheduled for... |
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| 2011 | "Anxiety" | Love: Part Two Love: Part Two -Personnel:Band*Tom DeLonge – vocals, rhythm guitar, producer*David Kennedy – lead guitar*Matt Wachter – bass, synthesizers*Atom Willard – drums, percussion, programming-Charts:... |