Brad Wilk

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This article's lead section may not adequately summarize key points of its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (May 2013) This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2013) Bradley J. "Brad" Wilk (born September 5, 1968) is an American musician, actor, and activist, best known as the drummer of the American rock bands Rage Against the Machine (1991-2000; 2007-present) and the now-defunct Audioslave (2001-2007). Recently, he has established himself as a session drummer, performing for English metal band Black Sabbath on their upcoming 2013 album 13. Biography: Early life: This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2013) Bradley J. Wilk was born on September 5, 1968, in Portland, Oregon to a family of Polish Jewish descent. He was raised in Chicago, Illinois, and settled in Southern California as a young adult. He started to play the drums when he was thirteen years old. He has named John Bonham, Keith Moon, and Elvin Jones as his greatest influences. Wilk is also a fan of Van Halen in his youth, having seen the band live when he was thirteen. Musical career: Rage Against the Machine This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: The first paragraph of section needs to be clarified: paragraph states states that Wilk auditioned for Lock-Up while playing in Greta, yet Lock-Up disbanded in 1990, one year before Greta was formed (1991). Please help improve this article if you can. (May 2013) Wilk's success as the drummer of Rage Against the Machine came from the failure of a different band; he once auditioned for a band called Lock Up, who released one album (titled Something Bitchin' This Way Comes) through Geffen records in 1989 and broke up when the album received little media attention upon release. Former Lock Up guitarist Tom Morello was looking to pick up where Lock Up left off and start a new band, and contacted Wilk, who was playing with the band Greta, to see if he was interested in playing the drums. A short while after, the duo met Zack de la Rocha while he was rapping freestyle in a club, and through him, bassist Tim Commerford (a childhood friend of Zack's). The band played two shows in 1991, and spent 1992 frequenting the L.A. club circuit, during which they signed a record deal with Epic Records, and released their self-titled debut album that November. They quickly achieved commercial success and would go on to release three more studio albums-Evil Empire in 1996, The Battle of Los Angeles in 1999, and Renegades in 2000- before disbanding in October 2000. Rage Against the Machine reunion This section is outdated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2013) Rage Against The Machine reunited to play at the Coachella Music Festival in Coachella, California on January 22, 2007. On April 29, 2007, Rage Against The Machine reunited at the Coachella Music Festival (see Rage Against the Machine reunion tour). The band played in front of an EZLN backdrop to the largest crowds of the festival. Initially thought to be a one-time event, the band played seven more shows that year in the United States (including their first non-festival concert in seven years at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin), and in January 2008, they played their first shows outside of the U.S. as part of the Big Day Out Festival in Australia and New Zealand. The band has since continued to tour around the world, headlining many large festivals in Europe and the United States, including Lollapalooza in Chicago. Audioslave The remaining members formed Audioslave with former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. The band released their self-titled debut album in 2002, which was followed by Out of Exile in 2005, and Revelations in 2006. Audioslave formally disbanded in February 2007 when Cornell left to focus on his solo career. Other projects This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2013) Wilk and bandmate Tom Morello joined with Maynard James Keenan of Tool and Billy Gould of Faith No More-in a lineup that was billed as Sandi's Addiction-to record the song "Calling Dr. Love" for the 1994 Kiss tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved. Wilk and bandmate Tim Commerford contributed in Keenan's side project Puscifer and his album "V" Is for Vagina on the track "Momma Sed". Wilk also contributed drums to rap group Cypress Hill's album Skull and Bones. In addition, Wilk composed the song "Snoop Bounce (Roc N Roll Remix)" for Snoop Dogg's Death Row's Greatest Hits CD. In 2005, Wilk played the lead role in the independent short movie Sleeping Dogs Lie by writer Chumahan Bowen and director Stuart Lessner. The film also features Tool lead singer Maynard James Keenan as Deputy Lance. Wilk played drums on Josh Homme's tracks on the soundtrack to Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. Wilk has also performed live with Tom Morello's side project, Street Sweeper Social Club, at the 2010 Coachella music and arts festival. In 2013, Wilk and Commerford contributed drums and bass, respectively, for Dave Grohl's 'Sound City Movie' Soundtrack, and played several shows with the Sound City Players. Having established himself as a session musician, Wilk has also contributed drums on the upcoming Black Sabbath album 13, which will be released on June 11, 2013. Personal life: Wilk met his current wife, Selene Vigil (who was the lead vocalist of the now-defunct band, 7 Year Bitch), in 1993, on the set of Rage Against The Machine's Funkdoobiest tour with Cypress Hill. They married in 2005 and have two sons, Luka (born 2005) and Alex (born 2007). Wilk has mentioned a weird connection to the number three throughout his life, and little "3"'s are plastered all over his drumkit, and as well as in the liner notes for Rage Against the Machine's third album, The Battle of Los Angeles. In an interview with Modern Drummer Wilk said "Ever since I was eight or nine I've gravitated to the number three. It's something that has always been a really heavy number for me. It's tattooed on my arm, and I count in threes. Everyone in school was taught two, four, six, eight, ten- I'd count in threes in the way I'd walk, even in the decisions I'd make. It was all based on threes," and also incorporates 3 into his playing. Wilk was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1997, and is active in raising money for diabetes awareness. He has donated about $12,000 to the Orange County chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Unable to find an all natural, sugar-free lemonade that would fit with his diet management and exercise plan, Wilk began formulating his own lemonade in his kitchen, using stevia in the place of sugar. After receiving positive feedback from friends and family, Wilk launched Olade. Since December 2009, the Food and Drug Administration has approved Olade to be put into the market as a non-dietary supplement, meaning anyone with or without diabetes can consume it. Wilk is a practicing Buddhist and a vegetarian. Equipment: The following are the drum kits used by Brad Wilk during his musical career: Rage Against the Machine (1991-2000) era Premier Signia Marquis Drums and Zildjian Cymbals 12x9" Tom, 16x16" Floor Tom, 14x6.5 Tama Bell Brass Snare or 14x5.5" Pork Pie Snare, 22x18" Bass Drum, LP Cowbell (x2), 14" New Beat Hi-Hats, 20" A Medium Ride, 18" Z Custom Crash, 19" A Custom Projection Crash, 18" Zildjian China or 19" Zildjian Crash (Only used until 1995), Audioslave (2002-2006) era Gretsch USA Maple Custom Drums and Paiste Cymbals 12x10" Tom, 16x16" Floor Tom, 18x16" Floor Tom, 14x6.5" Tama Bell Brass Snare, 22x18" Bass Drum, LP Cowbell, 14" Paiste Signature Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 18" Paiste Signature Power Crash, 19" Paiste Signature Power Crash, 19" Dimensions Power Crash, 22" Paiste 2002 Ride, Rage Against the Machine (2007-present) era Gretsch USA Maple Custom Drums and Paiste Cymbals 12x10" Tom, 16x16" Floor Tom, 14x6.5" Tama Bell Brass Snare, 22x18" Bass Drum, LP Cowbell[x2, 14" Paiste Signature Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 18" Paiste Signature Power Crash, 19" Dimensions Power Crash, 22" Paiste 2002 Ride, Wilk also uses DW Hardware (9000 Series), Remo drum heads (Emperors & Ambassadors) and Vic Firth 5B sticks (hickory with wood tips).

Source: Wikipedia

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