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Dave Abbruzzese

David James Abbruzzese (born May 17, 1968 in Stamford, Connecticut) is an American drummer. He was the drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam from 1991 to 1994. He replaced drummer Matt Chamberlain in 1991, shortly before the release of the band's first album Ten. Abbruzzese played on the band's next two records, Vs. and Vitalogy.

Biography

Early life

Dave Abbruzzese was born in Stamford, Connecticut, but grew up in Mesquite, Texas, where he attended Vanston Jr. High. Abbruzzese grew up drumming on his dad's tackle boxes. While living at home the only thing in his bedroom (besides a bed) was his drum set. He dropped out of North Mesquite High School at an early age and began to focus on playing more than ever. Along the way, Abbruzzese formed a band called Dr. Tongue, a three-piece, funk-influenced band that gigged in the Dallas and Denton area.

Musical career

Pearl Jam

In 1991, Abbruzzese got a call from drummer friend Matt Chamberlain, whom Abbruzzese knew through the Texas music scene, in regards to filling in for him in the band Pearl Jam when he left. Chamberlain had his eyes set on G. E. Smith's band on Saturday Night Live. Abbruzzese left for Seattle, Washington to meet and become acquainted with Pearl Jam. Although his musical tastes were far diverse from Pearl Jam, Abbruzzese chose to fill the hot seat behind a DW drum kit on August 23, 1991. At first Abbruzzese was reluctant to join the band full-time. Then after his second show with Pearl Jam, Abbruzzese went straight down to his local tattoo parlor and had Jeff Ament's stick figure drawing from the sleeve of the "Alive" single tattooed onto his left shoulder.

Abbruzzese played with Pearl Jam through April 17, 1994. He played on both the Vs. and Vitalogy albums, performed on MTV Unplugged, two Saturday Night Live appearances, and the "Even Flow" video, and toured extensively for both the Ten and Vs. albums. Abbruzzese wrote the music for the Pearl Jam songs "Angel" and "Go". Although Abbruzzese performed on the album Vitalogy, he was fired in August 1994, four months before the album was released.

Other musical projects

On September 30, 1997, Abbruzzese's newly formed band, the Green Romance Orchestra, released Play Parts I & V. The album saw Abbruzzese bring his own songs to the drawing board, as well as play the role of a producer. Play Parts I & V is a release of Free Association Records, which was formed by Abbruzzese in 1996.

Afterward, Abbruzzese worked with HairyApesBMX. He mixed, produced and engineered the band's 2000 album, entitled, Out Demons. Abbruzzese also lent the band a hand behind his drum kit on its Midwestern tour.

Style and influences

Abbruzzese's trademarks include heavy use of splash cymbals, the double-stroke roll, and a fast right foot. Abbruzzese refused to use two bass drums or a double-kick pedal, instead concentrating on playing the best he could with a single pedal. Abbruzzese is also known to be a particularly hard hitter, which may be reflected in him having had carpal tunnel syndrome at one time. Abbruzzese has cited John Bonham, Sly & the Family Stone, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as influences.

Gear

On his earlier, pre-Vs. Pearl Jam recordings, such as the tracks recorded for the Singles soundtrack and the video version of "Even Flow", Abbruzzese is known to have used Ludwig drums. As of the Vs. record, he endorsed and used Drum Workshop drums, Sabian cymbals, and seemed to favor an 8x12 Brady snare drum. Abbruzzese also has his own line of signature drum sticks, manufactured and marketed by Pro-Mark.

Personal life

Abbruzzese married his childhood sweetheart, Laura Whisman, on September 2, 2006. He currently lives in Texas, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Discography

Pearl Jam

Year	Title	Label	Track(s)
1992	Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack	Epic	"Breath" and "State of Love and Trust"
1993	Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams	Thirsty Ear/Chaos	"Crazy Mary" (with Victoria Williams)
	Judgment Night: Music From The Motion Picture	Epic	"Real Thing" (with Cypress Hill)
	Vs.	Epic	All
1994	Vitalogy	Epic	All except "Bugs", "Satan's Bed", and "Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me"
1998	Chicago Cab: Soundtrack	Loosegroove	"Hard to Imagine"
1999	Movie Music: The Definitive Performances (Also part of the box set, Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a Century.)	Columbia/Epic/Legacy	"State of Love and Trust"
2000	Wild and Wooly: The Northwest Rock Collection	Sub Pop	"Even Flow" (live)
2003	Lost Dogs	Epic	"Hard to Imagine" and "Dirty Frank"
2004	Riding Giants: Soundtrack	Milan	"Go"
2004	rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991–2003	Epic	"Even Flow", "State of Love and Trust", "Animal", "Go", "Dissident", "Rearviewmirror", "Spin the Black Circle", "Corduroy", "Not for You", "Breath", "Daughter", "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town", "Immortality", "Better Man", and "Nothingman"

Green Romance Orchestra

Year	Title	Label
1997	Play Parts I & V	Free Association Records

Contributions and collaborations

Year	Group	Title	Label	Track(s)
1992	Course of Empire	Course of Empire	Volcano	"God's Jig"
1995	Corey Glover, Eric Schenkman, Billy Cox, and Dave Abbruzzese	In From the Storm: Jimi Hendrix Tribute	RCA	"In From the Storm"
1995	Doug Pinnick, Eric Schenkman, Noel Redding, and Dave Abbruzzese	In From the Storm: Jimi Hendrix Tribute	RCA	"Burning of the Midnight Lamp"
1996	Nicklebag	12 Hits and a Bump	Iguana	"Sweet Thang"
1997	Stevie Salas	Alter Native Gold	Pony Canyon	All
1997	Nicklebag	Mas Feedback	Lizard Group	"Sweet Thang"
1998	Stevie Salas	The Sometimes Almost Never Was	Pony Canyon	Some
2000	HairyApesBMX	Out Demons	Free Association/We Sell Soul	Some
2006	Bernard Fowler	Friends With Privileges	Peregrine	"Pop That Thang"
2006	Stevie Salas	Be What It Is	R&C Ltd.	Some
2007	Stevie Salas	The Sun and the Earth, Vol. 1	Arbor	Some