Thomas Pridgen
Encyclopedia
Thomas Armon Pridgen is an American drummer, best known for his role as the drummer of The Mars Volta
from October 31, 2006 until October 23, 2009, and currently the drummer for his own project The Memorials
as well as hard rock supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra.
Drum-Off at age 9 and at age 10 was the youngest recipient for a Zildjian endorsement in the nearly 400 year history of the company. Pridgen is also naturally left-handed, but plays the drum kit as if he is a right-hander with his kit set-up right-handed. Thomas has studied with David Garibaldi, Walfredo Reyes Sr, Troy Lucketta, and Curtis Nutall. He endorses DW Drums
, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads
, Audix Microphones, and ProMark Drumsticks. Thomas was also the recipient of a 4 year scholarship to Berklee College of Music
in 1999 at the age of 15; he was the youngest musician to ever receive this scholarship. He has played in clinics with Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and Dennis Chambers
. By his teenage years he had already done studio sessions with many Bay Area Gospel artists.
In 2006, Pridgen received a call from Omar Rodríguez-López
of The Mars Volta
:
In 2007, Pridgen became the new permanent drummer for The Mars Volta. Pridgen's first appearance was at the March 12th show in New Zealand, where the band debuted the song "Idle Tooth" which was later renamed "Wax Simulacra
" for the forthcoming album. After shows in New Zealand and Australia, The Mars Volta toured a few West Coast venues as the headliner, then entered the studio to record their fourth LP, The Bedlam in Goliath
. Pridgen's style on Bedlam in Goliath used "blistering 32nd-note full-set combinations, stunning single-stroke rolls, and blazing single bass drum patterns" along with creative and precise paradiddle technique.
Thomas Pridgen has been voted as Best Up and Coming Drummer by Modern Drummer magazine.
Besides his work with The Mars Volta, he has also been involved with Christian Scott
and Wicked Wisdom
. Thomas, for some time, was working with singer Keyshia Cole
as her live and session drummer and being her music director. He also was featured alongside with Tony Royster Jr.
, Eric Moore, and others in drumming DVD entitled "Shed Sessions", a Gospel Chops DVD.
Thomas was also featured on the Modern Drummer 2008 DVD with footage from his performance at the festival.
On one of the last dates of the Bedlam Tour in Mexico, Thomas and the band 'wrecked' the kit and cracked the 20"x24" acrylic bass drum. After this Thomas was seen only using DW maple jazz kits live, but he now uses his Acrylic kit again with his new band The Memorials.
.
with friends and former students from Berklee College of Music
- Viveca Hawkins (vocals) and Nick Brewer (guitars).
The band's self titled album was released on January 18, 2011.
vocalist and guitarist Brent Hinds
, the Dillinger Escape Plan
guitarist Ben Weinman
, and former Jane's Addiction
bassist Eric Avery
.
On November 10, 2011, it was revealed that the band had decided upon a name, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and that the supergroup was working on writing songs.
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
from October 31, 2006 until October 23, 2009, and currently the drummer for his own project The Memorials
The Memorials
The Memorials is an American hard rock band from Berkeley, California that formed in December 2009. The current line-up consists of Thomas Pridgen, Viveca Hawkins and Nick Brewer.The Memorials was formed after Thomas' exit from The Mars Volta.-History:...
as well as hard rock supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra.
Biography
Pridgen won the Guitar CenterGuitar Center
Guitar Center is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in the world with 223 locations throughout the United States. Its headquarters is in Westlake Village, California....
Drum-Off at age 9 and at age 10 was the youngest recipient for a Zildjian endorsement in the nearly 400 year history of the company. Pridgen is also naturally left-handed, but plays the drum kit as if he is a right-hander with his kit set-up right-handed. Thomas has studied with David Garibaldi, Walfredo Reyes Sr, Troy Lucketta, and Curtis Nutall. He endorses DW Drums
Drum Workshop
Drum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads
D'Addario
D'Addario is a manufacturer of musical instrument strings, primarily guitar strings, currently headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York...
, Audix Microphones, and ProMark Drumsticks. Thomas was also the recipient of a 4 year scholarship to Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in 1999 at the age of 15; he was the youngest musician to ever receive this scholarship. He has played in clinics with Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and Dennis Chambers
Dennis Chambers
Dennis Chambers is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, George Duke, Brecker Brothers, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, Greg Howe, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well known among...
. By his teenage years he had already done studio sessions with many Bay Area Gospel artists.
In 2006, Pridgen received a call from Omar Rodríguez-López
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, writer, actor and film director who was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico...
of The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
:
In 2007, Pridgen became the new permanent drummer for The Mars Volta. Pridgen's first appearance was at the March 12th show in New Zealand, where the band debuted the song "Idle Tooth" which was later renamed "Wax Simulacra
Wax Simulacra
"Wax Simulacra" is a single from the album The Bedlam in Goliath by The Mars Volta. The single debuted November 18, 2007 on San Francisco's Live 105 FM...
" for the forthcoming album. After shows in New Zealand and Australia, The Mars Volta toured a few West Coast venues as the headliner, then entered the studio to record their fourth LP, The Bedlam in Goliath
The Bedlam in Goliath
The Bedlam in Goliath is the fourth full-length studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta. It was released on January 29, 2008, and January 26, 2008 in Australia through Universal Motown Records...
. Pridgen's style on Bedlam in Goliath used "blistering 32nd-note full-set combinations, stunning single-stroke rolls, and blazing single bass drum patterns" along with creative and precise paradiddle technique.
Thomas Pridgen has been voted as Best Up and Coming Drummer by Modern Drummer magazine.
Besides his work with The Mars Volta, he has also been involved with Christian Scott
Christian Scott
Christian Scott, born March 31, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the 2010 Edison Award winner for Best International Jazz Artist and a Grammy Award-nominated jazz trumpeter, composer and producer. He has been heralded by JazzTimes magazine as "the Architect of a new commercially viable fusion"...
and Wicked Wisdom
Wicked Wisdom
Wicked Wisdom is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California formed by Jada Koren in 2002.-History:Under the stage name Jada Koren, Jada Pinkett Smith formed the band in 2002. The band consists of Pinkett Smith performing lead vocals, Pocket Honore , Cameron "Wirm" Graves , and Rio...
. Thomas, for some time, was working with singer Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
as her live and session drummer and being her music director. He also was featured alongside with Tony Royster Jr.
Tony Royster Jr.
Tony Royster, Jr is a German born, American drummer. He was raised in Hinesville, Georgia and graduated from Liberty County High School class of 2002. At the age of 3, he began to learn how to play the drums from his father. Son of Tony Royster Sr...
, Eric Moore, and others in drumming DVD entitled "Shed Sessions", a Gospel Chops DVD.
Thomas was also featured on the Modern Drummer 2008 DVD with footage from his performance at the festival.
On one of the last dates of the Bedlam Tour in Mexico, Thomas and the band 'wrecked' the kit and cracked the 20"x24" acrylic bass drum. After this Thomas was seen only using DW maple jazz kits live, but he now uses his Acrylic kit again with his new band The Memorials.
Exit from The Mars Volta (2009)
In October 2009, Pridgen left The Mars Volta. To this day, the band has made no official statement as to the reason for the departure. Dave Elitch subsequently filled in the drummer position for the remainder of the tour. Pridgen's permanent replacement in the band has been confirmed as Deantoni ParksDeantoni Parks
Deantoni Parks is a new wave/avant-garde/experimental drummer, songwriter, film director, actor and record producer born in Newnan, Georgia. He is the founder; producer and drummer of the New York band, KUDU, and one-half of the writing duo, Dark Angels with producer and keyboardist Nick Kasper,...
.
The Memorials (December, 2009)
In December 2009, Thomas Pridgen formed another band called The MemorialsThe Memorials
The Memorials is an American hard rock band from Berkeley, California that formed in December 2009. The current line-up consists of Thomas Pridgen, Viveca Hawkins and Nick Brewer.The Memorials was formed after Thomas' exit from The Mars Volta.-History:...
with friends and former students from Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
- Viveca Hawkins (vocals) and Nick Brewer (guitars).
The band's self titled album was released on January 18, 2011.
Giraffe Tongue Orchestra (2011-present)
Over the summer of 2011 it was announced that Pridgen was working on a new group with MastodonMastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
vocalist and guitarist Brent Hinds
Brent Hinds
Brent Hinds is an American guitarist/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he shares guitar duties with Bill Kelliher and vocal duties with Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor....
, the Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
guitarist Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman is an American musician, who is most notable for being the lead guitarist for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is the founder and only original member remaining in the band....
, and former Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
bassist Eric Avery
Eric Avery
Eric Adam Avery is an American musician and is the former bass player for the rock band Jane's Addiction. Avery played in Jane's Addiction initially from 1985 to 1991, and rejoined the band in 2008 before departing again in 2010....
.
On November 10, 2011, it was revealed that the band had decided upon a name, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and that the supergroup was working on writing songs.
Bedlam Tour Kit (2007 - 2008)
- DWDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
Collector's Series & Zildjian Cymbals: - Drums - Clear Acrylic
- 12x8" Tom
- 13x9" Tom
- 15x13" Floor Tom
- 16x14" Floor Tom
- 18x16" Floor Tom
- 24x20" Bass Drum
- 14x6.5" DWDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
Copper Snare
- Cymbals - Zildjian
- 18" [x2] A Crashes used as Hi-Hats
- 24" A Medium Ride
- 20" A Armand Ride
- 20" A Custom Crash
- 20" Oriental Crash Of Doom
- 18" A Custom EFX Crash, 9" Oriental Splash, 16" Oriental China (x2) (cymbals stacked)
- 19" K Custom Hybrid China
Octahedron Tour Kit (2009)
- DWDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
Jazz Series & Zildjian Cymbals: - Drums - Maple & Gum
- 12x12" Tom
- 13x13" Tom
- 15x13" Floor Tom
- 16x14" Floor Tom
- 18x16" Floor Tom
- 24x20" Bass Drum
- 14x7 Red Maple Snare
- Cymbals - Zildjian
- 18" A Crashes [x2] used as Hi-Hats
- 24" A Medium Ride
- 24" K Custom Ride [x2]
- 18" A Custom EFX Crash, 9" Oriental Splash, 16" Oriental China (x2) (cymbals stacked)
- 20" A Custom China
- 20" Crash of Doom
With The Memorials
- DWDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
Collector's Series & Zildjian Cymbals: - Drums - Clear Acrylic
- 12x8" Tom
- 13x9" Tom
- 15x13" Floor Tom
- 16x14" Floor Tom
- 24x20" Bass Drum
- 14x6.5" DWDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
Stainless steel snare
- Cymbals - Zildjian
- 19" [x2] Z3 Custom Crashes used as Hi-Hats
- 24" A Medium Ride
- 20" A Custom Crash
- 20" Z3 Crash
- 18" A Custom EFX Crash, 9" Oriental Splash, 16" Oriental China (x2) (cymbals stacked)
- 20" A Custom China
- Wind Chimes
- Drum Heads - EvansD'AddarioD'Addario is a manufacturer of musical instrument strings, primarily guitar strings, currently headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York...
- Toms: (12", 13", 15", 16") Clear G2s (top), Clear Resonants (bottom)
- Bass Drum: (24") Clear EQ3 (batter), Clear EQ3 (with small hole) (resonant)
- Snares : (14") Clear G2 (top), 300 Hazy (bottom)
- Thomas also used DWDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
9000 Series Hardware and Pedals, 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:...
TX510 Thomas Pridgen Autograph drumsticks, & Shure Microphones. - Thomas has recently been seen using a kit made from resin by a company based out of Ventura, CA Thump Drums.
Discography
For a more complete discography, see Thomas Pridgen's entry on Album Credits.With The Mars Volta
- The Bedlam in GoliathThe Bedlam in GoliathThe Bedlam in Goliath is the fourth full-length studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta. It was released on January 29, 2008, and January 26, 2008 in Australia through Universal Motown Records...
(2008) - OctahedronOctahedron (album)Octahedron is the fifth full-length studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta, released on June 23, 2009. The album was released by Warner Bros. Records in North America and Mercury Records worldwide...
(2009)
With Omar Rodríguez-López
- Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far)Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far)Calibration is the fifth studio album by Omar Rodríguez-López, and the fourth released in the "Amsterdam series". The album was released in Japan on December 15, 2007 with a following U.S. release later on February 5, 2008, merely a week after The Mars Volta's The Bedlam in Goliath...
(2007) - Los Sueños de un Higado (2009)
- XenophanesXenophanes (Omar Rodriguez-Lopez album)-Release history:...
(2009)