Randy Black
Encyclopedia
Randy Black is a Canadian-born rock drummer and recording artist known best for his stints as the drummer for Bif Naked
, Annihilator
, and Primal Fear
. Although Black's actual acoustic drum configuration is not unique to the field of drumming, Randy's playing style is notable for his ability to play ambidextrously
with a symmetrical set of cymbal
s, specifically a dual set of remote hi-hats
and ride cymbal
s to his right and to his left respectively.
, Canada
. He got his first professional start in 1980 with a band called "The Edge". He did not start touring to any large degree until he joined the band "The Kaotics" in 1982. He then joined the band Click in 1984, who were known for their covers of material by bands such as Journey
and Rush
. The four members of Click stayed together and toured for nine years without a personnel change.
In 1993, Black moved to Vancouver
, Canada
and joined Annihilator
. Randy’s bandmates were astonished at his technical precision and even dubbed him the “human drum machine
".
In 1998, Black did some recording work with Bif Naked
on the album I Bificus
. It was shortly after this that Randy moved to Germany. He also did some more recording with Annihilator. In 2003, Randy joined the German heavy metal band Primal Fear
, replacing original drummer Klaus Sperling.
In June 2011, Randy announced that he would be officially endorsing Pearl Drums
.
Bif Naked
Bif Naked is a Juno Award-winning, Indian-born American-Canadian multi-platinum record selling, rock singer, writer, poet, motivational speaker and actress.-Personal life:...
, Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
, and Primal Fear
Primal Fear (band)
Primal Fear is a German power metal and speed metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner . Sinner & Scheepers formed the band after Ralf was not hired as Rob Halford's replacement in Judas Priest...
. Although Black's actual acoustic drum configuration is not unique to the field of drumming, Randy's playing style is notable for his ability to play ambidextrously
Ambidexterity
Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both left and right appendages . It is one of the most famous varieties of cross-dominance. People that are naturally ambidextrous are rare, with only one out of one hundred people being naturally ambidextrous...
with a symmetrical set of 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, specifically a dual set of remote hi-hats
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 :...
and 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...
s to his right and to his left respectively.
Biography
Black is a native of Moose Jaw, SaskatchewanSaskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He got his first professional start in 1980 with a band called "The Edge". He did not start touring to any large degree until he joined the band "The Kaotics" in 1982. He then joined the band Click in 1984, who were known for their covers of material by bands such as Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
and Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
. The four members of Click stayed together and toured for nine years without a personnel change.
In 1993, Black moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and joined Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
. Randy’s bandmates were astonished at his technical precision and even dubbed him the “human drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
".
In 1998, Black did some recording work with Bif Naked
Bif Naked
Bif Naked is a Juno Award-winning, Indian-born American-Canadian multi-platinum record selling, rock singer, writer, poet, motivational speaker and actress.-Personal life:...
on the album I Bificus
I Bificus
I Bificus is the third album by singer/songwriter Bif Naked, released in 1998 . It features her best known songs "Moment of Weakness," "Spaceman," "Lucky," and "Chotee."-Canadian Release - March 1998 :...
. It was shortly after this that Randy moved to Germany. He also did some more recording with Annihilator. In 2003, Randy joined the German heavy metal band Primal Fear
Primal Fear (band)
Primal Fear is a German power metal and speed metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner . Sinner & Scheepers formed the band after Ralf was not hired as Rob Halford's replacement in Judas Priest...
, replacing original drummer Klaus Sperling.
In June 2011, Randy announced that he would be officially endorsing Pearl Drums
Pearl Drums
Founded in 1952, the is a multinational corporation based in Japan with a wide range of products, predominately percussion instruments.-History:Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa, who began manufacturing music stands in Sumida, Tokyo on April 2, 1946...
.