ERIC SINGER BIO

Eric Doyle Mensinger (born May 12, 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio), better known as Eric Singer, is a Hard rock and Heavy Metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and singer Alice Cooper. Over the past two decades Eric has appeared on over 50 albums.

Singer began playing drums from an early age, and was inspired by bands such as Humble Pie, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Beatles and Queen and drummers such as John Bonham, Cozy Powell, Roger Taylor, Bill Ward and Buddy Rich.

Early career

Singer's first professional drumming job was as Lita Ford's touring drummer in 1984. In 1985 he joined Black Sabbath, replacing original drummer Bill Ward, who had left the band after the Live Aid reunion. Singer would participate in the recording of the albums Seventh Star and The Eternal Idol and was invited by his Black Sabbath colleague Ray Gillen to join the latter's new formed band Badlands. Singer accepted and played on the band's self-titled debut album. Singer left the group in 1989 as he would join Paul Stanley as his touring drummer on his solo tour of America and Canada.

Career with Kiss

In 1991, Eric Singer auditioned for Kiss, after the tragic death of their previous drummer Eric Carr. Singer, who had toured with Paul Stanley on his club tour along with Bob Kulick two years earlier, was hired and debuted with the band on the album Revenge. He would record and tour with Kiss until 1996, when the band reunited with original drummer Peter Criss.

After five relatively quiet years, during which Singer toured with Queen guitarist Brian May, he was asked to rejoin Kiss in 2001 after Criss' departure shortly before the Australian and Japanese leg of Kiss' Farewell tour. Singer debuted in full Catman make-up and costume for the first time on the tour. Singer was replaced again by Criss in 2003 but returned to the band by the end of the year after Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley opted not to renew Criss' contract. Since then he has been playing with Kiss as their permanent drummer.

Career with Alice Cooper and other projects

Besides his work with Kiss, Singer has also been a permanent member of Alice Cooper's band since the release of the album Brutal Planet in 2000. Singer had already performed with Cooper years earlier, during the tour for the album Hey Stoopid. He has also occasionally performed and recorded with his own Eric Singer Project, featuring a.o. his former Kiss bandmate Bruce Kulick and singer John Corabi. Three releases result from this collaboration: the studio album Lost And Spaced (1998), consisting completely of covers from classic rock songs; the live album Live In Japan (2006) and the DVD Live At The Marquee (2006).

Singer has also played in the band Avantasia replacing drummer Alex Holzwarth after a guest performance in the song "Into the Unknown" from album "The Metal Opera Part II". Two EPs and one full album have been released with Singer's performance on the drums: "Lost in Space Part I", "Lost in Space Part II", and "The Scarecrow".

Currently

From March 2008, Singer toured with Kiss on the KISS Alive/35 World Tour playing in Australia, Europe and four dates in America. The tour is expected to continue in 2009.

Eric also joined Alice Cooper in July for the 2008 leg of the Psycho-Drama World Tour where it is to continue for the remainder of the year.

Equipment

Eric chooses a variety of different drum and cymbal setups for each situation and band he works with. However he is a loyal endorser of Pearl drums, hardware and pedals (Eliminators), Attack drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals and Ddrum acoustic drum triggers.

Eric also has his own Signature Series snare drum and artist series drumsticks, "Pearl Signature Series Eric Singer" snare drum and Zildjian "Eric Singer Artist Series" drumsticks. He has also been known to use custom made 2B Hickory sticks.

Eric's cymbal setups can include up to 8 of the same 19” Z Custom Rock crash cymbal. He also uses a mixture of clear and coated Attack drumheads which he uses mainly the Terry Bozzio models. Eric uses a variety of Pearl snares live and in the studio, including his own Signature model.