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 Much has been spoken of the entry of Joey Castillo into the band Queens of the Stone Age, following, as he did in 2002, on the heels of legendary Nirvana/Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl. The latter recorded the Queens’ album Songs for the Deaf and did a tour with the band. But Castillo was no novice to be intimidated. He’d completed an eight-year tenure with Danzig, preceded by stints with Wasted Youth, Sugartooth, and Mark Lanegan. In fact, Castillo slipped into Queens of the Stone Age without so much as an audition, playing through half a song at an informal rehearsal before being offered the gig.
A native of southern California, Joey began playing drums at age fifteen, influenced by War, Al Green, Led Zeppelin, and Black Flag. In the absence of formal instruction he watched drummers closely and aspired to catch their energy, taking particularly to the freedom exhibited by punk drummers.
Joey’s vision of drumset was greatly affected by the punk ethic of breaking barriers—and by the rigors of punk live performances. He expanded his kit to include various alternative sound sources and, in doing so, required gear that projected and was extremely durable. This led him to LP, a company that embodies those concerns. In addition, LP’s clever mounting systems enabled Joey to integrate percussion easily into nooks and crannies of his drumset. The Cyclops
Tambourine, various cowbells, and blocks are all
examples of LP
percussion, built with clear tone and durability
in mind, which were appropriated by Joey into his kit.
In fact, the penetrating tone of the LP
Jam Block appears
solo at the outset of the Queens of the Stone Age hit ìLittle
Sisterî from the album Lullabies to Paralyze,
Castilloís first album with the band.
To celebrate his style and influence, LP has introduced
the Joey
Castillo Drum Kit Pack (900JC) includes the
LP1207
LP Jam Block made from tough Jenigor, LP160
Cyclops Tambourine, SC-AM11 Gibraltar Mounting Bracket—and with the Grammy nominated CD, “Little Sister along with the bonus track Mexicola”!
Castillo’s drum set style has been alternately described as spare and exciting. At the center is a tenet that no stroke or fill is wasted; all serve the song, making Castillo the perfect drummer for QOTSA. He shows the economy and power, if not the stadium body language, of Dave Grohl. In addition, he introduces a slightly funkier element to the time feel that makes the music breathe.
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