Ray Luzier

Ray Luzier
Background information
Birth name Raymond Lee Luzier
Born (1970-06-14) June 14, 1970
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Origin West Newton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Heavy metal, alternative metal, nu metal, industrial metal, hard rock, funk
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums, percussion
Years active 1997–present
Labels Columbia, Roadrunner
Associated acts Korn, KXM, Jonathan Davis and the SFA, Army of Anyone, Jake E. Lee, Stone Temple Pilots, David Lee Roth, The Nixons, Tracy G, Billy Sheehan, Steel Panther
Website www.rayluzier.com
Notable instruments
Pearl Drums
Sabian Cymbals
Remo Drumheads
Vic Firth Drumsticks

Raymond Lee "Ray" Luzier (born June 14, 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American drummer. He is the drummer of the nu metal band Korn, becoming a full-time member of the band in April 2009.[1]

Life and career

Ray Luzier was raised in West Newton, Pennsylvania, a small town an hour outside of Pittsburgh on a 180-acre farm . He began playing drums at age five, and although basically self-taught, he participated in high school jazz, concert, and marching bands. After graduating in 1988, Luzier moved to Hollywood, California to pursue an education at the Musicians Institute. He graduated in 1989 with a degree from MI's Percussion Institute of Technology. Luzier later returned as an instructor at Musicians Institute (19922001), where he taught rock-style drumming classes and gave private lessons.

Luzier is well known for his work with David Lee Roth, whom he played drums for from 19972005. Luzier has also played with The Hideous Sun Demons, a progressive-rock/fusion trio formed with DLR bandmembers Toshi Hiketa (guitar) and James LoMenzo (bass). Luzier became the drummer for Steel Panther shortly after the band formed in 1997. He remained with Steel Panther for six years until he was let go by the band when Luzier refused to stop touring with David Lee Roth. In 2004, Luzier released an instructional DVD. It features a wide variety of lessons, including double-bass technique, drum fills, motion exercises, and warm-ups. It was released through Hal Leonard Publishing Co.

In January 2006, Luzier appeared at the NAMM in Anaheim, California with Billy Sheehan and Toshi Hiketa. Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots appeared at the same NAMM venue as part of an impromptu band put together by Steve Ferrone. After seeing Luzier’s performance, the DeLeo brothers invited Luzier to join Army of Anyone, the band they were putting together with vocalist Richard Patrick of the band Filter.

In 2007, after original drummer David Silveria had left (in 2006), Korn hired many touring drummers including Joey Jordison of Slipknot. Jordison left due to preparation for the recording of Slipknot’s new album All Hope Is Gone. Consequently, Korn was then looking for a new drummer; and Luzier reportedly flew to Seattle to audition for Korn with Munky and Fieldy. When told to learn only five of their songs, Luzier learned 30. After an amazing audition, Ray was immediately invited to join Korn.[2]

Luzier played his first show with Korn on January 13, 2008 in Dublin, Ireland and played with the band throughout 2008. Korn recorded their ninth studio album together with Ray and their original producer Ross Robinson. Korn frontman Jonathan Davis revealed that Luzier is now an official member of the band.[3] Ray made "UltimateRockGods" Artist Of The Month for July.[4]

Luzier also played live with Stone Temple Pilots for a couple of the band’s shows on their reunion tour in October filling in for drummer Eric Kretz, who took time off due to the death of his father. In November 2010, Ray played drums for the immensely popular Japanese band, Kat-Tun on their song “Change UR World”. It was Kat-Tun‘s thirteenth number one single on the Oricon charts.

In 2014, He released the self-titled CD,"KXM" with his side project KXM, which consisted of Luzier, ex-Dokken and Lynch Mob guitarist George Lynch, and King's X vocalist and bassist dUg Pinnick.

Luzier has two sons: Hudson Ray Luzier (born February 15, 2011) and Beck Jagger Luzier (born March 17, 2015)

Equipment

Ray Luzier's kit is often changed slightly to fit the style of the artist he performs or records with. He currently endorses Pearl Drums, Sabian cymbals, Remo drumheads, DW hardware, Vic Firth drumsticks, and Factory Metal Percussion Cymbals. Despite the fact he endorses Pearl, he has been spotted playing ddrum and Orange County Drum and Percussion (OCDP), companies he has previously endorsed.

Drums: Pearl Drums Reference Series Granite Sparkle[5]

  • 24x16" Bass Drum
  • 24x16" Bass Drum
  • 7x14" Brass Snare Drum
  • 12" Aux Snare
  • 12x8" Tom
  • 13x9" Tom

  • 14x14" Floor Tom (mounted as gong drum)
  • 16x16" Floor Tom (left)
  • 18x16" Floor Tom

The Paradigm Shift Tour Kit: Pearl Reference Series (Natural Maple with Black Hardware)

Cymbals:[6]

  • 19" Sabian AAXplosion Crash
  • 18" Sabian APX O-zone Crash
  • 14" Sabian AA Regular or HHX Groove Hats
  • 18" Sabian AAX Chinese
  • 20" Sabian AA China
  • 14" Sabian Vault Crash
  • 10" Sabian Glennie's Garbage Splash
  • 19" Paragon China

  • 14" Sabian HHX China
  • 21" Sabian AA Rock Ride
  • 18" Sabian HHX O-zone Crash
  • 20" Sabian HH Xplosion Crash
  • 12" Sabian Radia Cup Chime
  • 10" Factory Metal Percussion Celtic Bell
  • 12" Factory Metal Percussion Cross Chrasherz
  • 2 Custom Sabian "Trash" Spiral Cymbals
  • 3 Home-made Stacks*
  • Sabian Radia chinas mounted over assorted hi-hats, 14", 12", 10"

Percussion:

Drumheads:

Drumsticks:

Hardware

Others:

Discography

Korn

Studio Albums

EPs

Compilation Albums

Other Releases

See also

References

  1. "What's Up: Front". Whatsuppub.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  2. Ray Luzier audition Youtube.com Retrieved:2009-04-04
  3. "The order of Korn". Star-ecentral.com. 2009-03-13. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  4. Archived February 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. "Pearl Drums - All Artists". Pearldrum.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  6. "Ray Luzier | SABIAN Cymbals". Sabian.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
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