Abe Cunningham

Abe Cunningham
Abe Cunningham performing with Deftones in 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Abraham Cunningham
Born	July 27, 1973 (1973-07-27) Long Beach, California, US
Genres	Alternative metal, heavy metal, nu metal, experimental rock
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Warner Bros., Maverick
Associated acts	Deftones, Phallucy, Daycare, Far, Team Sleep

Abe Cunningham, (born July 27, 1973), is an American musician, he is the drummer of the alternative metal band Deftones. He is known for his use of ghost notes and other technical drumming techniques.^{[citation needed]}

Biography

Abe Cunningham was born in Long Beach, California. When he was young, his family moved to Sacramento. He first started drumming in his early teens playing the drums for his band Phallucy in the early 90s. During this time, he also drummed for the Deftones on the side, when the band was having problems landing a permanent and dedicated drummer. At the time when he started learning drums, he also learned how to play guitar, but growing up with a stepfather (Neil) who played the drums, he took a deeper passion with the drums. Abe's father, Sid, was also a musician and an early influence for Abe before his untimely passing. His influences include Stewart Copeland, Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell.

Cunningham is known for his frantic, pounding rhythms on such songs as "Knife Party" and clever usage of tempo ("Mein"), while at the same time refusing to indulge in the double bass drum setup of many metal traditionalists. However, he does use a double bass pedal as part of his kit, as seen in various drum magazines. A BBC reviewer has praised his style for displaying " the assured expressiveness of a musician whose abilities stretch further than most metal-scene sticksmen".[1]

Cunningham has been a long time endorser of Tama Drums and Zildjian Cymbals, and for most of his career, has played the same setup. He has been featured in various ads for Tama and Zildjian and most recently, has become and endorsee of Pro-Mark drumsticks. He has his own signature model; the Abe Cunningham TX916W Autograph Model.

Abe lives in Sacramento, California with his family. He has two sons with his ex-wife, Annalynn Seal; Sidney & Daniel. Annalynn made a guest appearance on "MX" singing along with Chino Moreno.

Equipment

Current tour kit (2009-present):

• Tama Starclassic Bubinga Drums & Zildjian Cymbals:
• Drums – Sky Blue Sparkle Finish
  • 12x8" Tom
  • 14x9" Tom
  • 16x15" Floor Tom
  • 18x16" Floor Tom
  • 24x18" Bass Drum
  • 14x6.5" Starphonic Brass (main)
  • 14x8 TAMA Bubinga Starclassic Snare

• Cymbals – Zildjian
  • 15" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats
  • 22" A Custom Ride
  • 20" A Custom Brilliant Crash
  • 19" A Custom Brilliant Crash
  • 20" A Custom MediumThin crash
  • 20" Oriental China Trash
  • 22" K Crashride
  • 8" A Custom Splash
  • 10" A Custom Splash

• Drum heads - Remo
  • Toms: (10", 12", 16", 18") Clear Ambassadors — top, Clear Ambassadors — bottom
  • Bass Drums: (22") PowerStroke 4 (w/Remo FalamSlam) - back, Standard Tama Head — front
  • Snare: (14") Coated Emperors — top, Clear Ambassadors — bottom

• Sticks - Pro-Mark
  • Abe Cunningham TX916W Autograph Model

Discography

With Deftones

• Adrenaline (1995, Maverick Records/Warner Bros. Records)
• Around the Fur (1997, Maverick Records/Warner Bros. Records)
• White Pony (2000, Maverick Records)
• Deftones (2003, Maverick Records)
• Saturday Night Wrist (2006, Maverick Records)
• Diamond Eyes (2010, Warner Bros. Records/Reprise Records)
• Eros (currently unreleased)

External links

• Official website
• Deftones Interview With Abe Cunningham and Frank Delgado