Chad Szeliga
July 2, 20124. Chad Szeliga
Chad Szeliga is an American professional drummer born in Elyria, Ohio and now residing in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He is best known for being the drummer for the bands Breaking Benjamin, OurAfter, and Black Label Society.
Switched
Chad Szeliga started out with Switched, a hard rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. He was released from the band sometime during 2001. After his release from Switched, Chad played drums for another Cleveland band called Another Path. Chad now plays in Black Label Society, alongside Zakk Wylde, Nick Catanese, and John Deservio.
Breaking Benjamin
While with Another Path, Chad recorded an audition video for Breaking Benjamin playing drums for the song "So Cold".[1] The video submitted happened to be the only VHS tape submitted. Ben Burnley was forced to borrow a VCR from his neighbor to view the tape. After Ben reviewed the tape, the band decided he was the right guy for the job.[2] His first official recording with the band was for the full-band version of the song "Rain" from We Are Not Alone in mid 2005, which was sent to modern radio, and later appeared on the band's cover of Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever". He recorded with Breaking Benjamin on their 2006 album Phobia, which was released August 8, 2006. He also joined the band on their tour supporting that album.[3]
He is still with Breaking Benjamin at this point, and was the full-time drummer on their fourth album entitled Dear Agony, which released on September 29, 2009. Due to multiple personnel changes and other issues however, Breaking Benjamin is currently inactive.
OurAfter
December 2009, Chad started filling in for drums with Scranton based band OurAfter due to their drummer Eli Hludzik's departure. Chad filled in with several shows while opening for rock band Red. This caused a lot of speculation that Chad was quitting Breaking Benjamin or the band was breaking up. Chad said on his MySpace that he had no intention of leaving the band and that OurAfter was a side project.
OurAfter is currently writing new material for their next album and plan on recording a new album May 2011.
Hourcast
In Spring 2011, after a lineup change, Chad was asked by lead singer Patrick McBride to join Los Angeles rockers Hourcast as their fill-in drummer on the Inked Magazine Tour for the summer. The band was on the tour supporting headliners The Damned Things. Chad joined the group for the stint, though the tour was cut short by the promoters after the August 26th New York City date, for fears of problems in the northeastern US from incoming Hurricane Irene.
Chad was asked by Drummer and founding member of Hourcast Jerry Clews to fill in for him on Inked Magazine Tour.
Black Label Society
On September 14, 2011, in a hand-written letter, Zakk Wylde introduced Chad as Black Label Society's new drummer, replacing Mike Froedge.
Avenged Sevenfold rumors
In the summer of 2010 there were rumors circulating on the internet regarding Chad joining Avenged Sevenfold. Chad denied these rumors on his official Facebook stating:
| “ | ...The thought of drumming for them has occurred to me and I have briefly discussed it with the members of A7X this past summer. But I believe they may stick with Mike Portnoy who's a great fit for the band."[4] | ” |
Later that day Mike Portnoy announced that he is no longer working for Avenged Sevenfold. When asked again about joining, Chad had no comment.
Instructional DVD
Chad posted in the summer of 2010 that he was planning on recording a drum DVD. In Late March 2011 Chad recorded the drum DVD in California with DW Drums.
Chad was endorsed by Yamaha Drums for many years. All of the "Sw1tched" albums were recorded using various models of Yamaha drums, as well as Breaking Benjamin's "Rain" (full band version), the entire "Phobia" album, as well as "Dear Agony", in its entirety. Chad switched to DW Drums, pedals, and hardware in the middle of the "D.A." Tour. The DW kit is in a "regal to royal fade" lacquer finish.
Posted by Breaking Benjamin Indo.
