Back in September 2023, I had the opportunity to meet with Brooks Wackerman during AVENGED SEVENFOLD’s “Life Is But A Dream…” North American tour. During our conversation, Brooks graciously showcased his DW acrylic drums and shared valuable insights into his practice and performance routines. You can watch the informative 11-minute video report below.
Brooks kickstarted his musical journey as a teenager with the band BAD4GOOD, a project mentored and produced by the renowned guitarist Steve Vai. Over the years, he collaborated with bands like INFECTIOUS GROOVES and THE VANDALS. In 2001, he assumed the role of drummer for BAD RELIGION, contributing to five albums and participating in international tours. Concurrently, Brooks also joined forces with TENACIOUS D, the comedic rock duo comprising actor/musician Jack Black and Kyle Glass, for their “Pick Of Destiny” tour. Balancing responsibilities between both bands, Brooks graced numerous festivals and prominent TV shows such as “Late Night With David Letterman”, “The Tonight Show”, and “The Daily Show”, in addition to recording multiple albums with each group. Noteworthy collaborations in his career include projects with KORN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, MASS MENTAL, THE INNOCENT, Avril Lavigne, and BLINK-182. Furthermore, he has made notable contributions to major soundtracks like “Team America”, “Doom”, and “50 First Dates”. In 2015, Brooks joined the highly successful band AVENGED SEVENFOLD, where he continues to record and tour with them.
The 2024 segment of AVENGED SEVENFOLD’s acclaimed “Life Is But A Dream…” North American tour commenced on March 6 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
This year, AVENGED SEVENFOLD is set to perform in new locations including Manchester, New Hampshire; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Newark, New Jersey. The band will also return to cities like Des Moines, Iowa after 18 years, and make appearances in Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after significant gaps of 15 years.
The ongoing tour is in support of AVENGED SEVENFOLD’s latest album, “Life Is But A Dream…”, which debuted impressively by selling 36,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during its first week, securing the 13th spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
After a five-year hiatus, AVENGED SEVENFOLD made a comeback at Welcome To Rockville on May 19, 2023, held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The band’s first live performance since June 2018 took place on May 12, 2023, at AREA15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The second leg of AVENGED SEVENFOLD’s extensive “Life is But A Dream…” North American tour included stops in Nashville, Denver, Austin, and more, culminating at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena on October 15, 2023. This tour, produced by Live Nation, featured support from FALLING IN REVERSE.
To date, AVENGED SEVENFOLD has achieved remarkable success, selling over 10 million albums worldwide and securing two consecutive No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart with “Nightmare” in 2010 and “Hail To The King” in 2013. The band has also amassed over a billion video views, a billion-plus Spotify streams, and multiple No. 1 singles on rock radio.