Canadian drummer
Musical artist
Shawn Drover
(born May 5, 1966) is a Canadian drummer, best known for his work with the American heavy metal band
Megadeth
.
He began playing the drums at the age of 13. In 1993 he founded the
power metal
band
Eidolon
with his brother
Glen
. He uses
Sabian
cymbals and
Yamaha drums
,
Pro-mark
drum sticks, Toca Percussion,
Evans Drumheads
and Extreme Isolation headphones.
After ten years in Megadeth, Drover along with guitarist
Chris Broderick
announced their departures from the band in November 2014.
[1]
The pair formed the
extreme metal
supergroup
Act of Defiance
together in late 2014.
After releasing 2 records with Act of Defiance, shawn started his new band WITHERING SCORN and re-united with his brother and EX-Megadeth bandmate Glen Drover to release their first record “Prophets of Demise” in July of 2023. They are currently working on their 2nd record which is slated for release in 2025.
Notes
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While in rehearsal for "Blackmail the Universe Tour" in October 2004, six days before the first show, Shawn replaced newly returned drummer
Nick Menza
in
thrash metal
band
Megadeth
, who was unable to prepare for the physical demands of a full US tour.
Shawn also has been playing guitar since 1980, which he learned from watching his brother, Glen Drover play. Shawn wrote most of the music for all 6 Eidolon records as well as all of the lyrics for all Eidolon records except "The Parallel Otherworld". He was playing guitar during Megadeth's "Blackmail The Universe Tour" in Kawasaki, Japan (April 3, 2005). Shawn and his brother
Glen Drover
switched instruments playing "Paranoid" and the second half of "Peace Sells".
[2]
Glen sat at the drums, and Shawn played the guitar, during
Gigantour
show in
Toronto
on September 3, 2005. Shawn co-wrote the Grammy Nominated song "
Head Crusher
" from 2009's
Endgame
, as well as "Built for War" from 2013's
Super Collider
.
While on the
Gigantour
in 2005, Shawn became the third Megadeth guitarist on stage during "Peace Sells" while
Mike Portnoy
previously of
Dream Theater
played the drums. Shawn also did one solo of the song. The night after the statements were released that Shawn's brother Glen had quit Megadeth, Shawn and Glen recommended
Chris Broderick
as a possible replacement. Shawn then proceeded to show Dave a video of Chris playing both classical and electric guitar. Dave was immediately won over and soon managed to get in contact with Chris. Two weeks later, Broderick was officially declared the new guitarist for Megadeth.
As opposed to many drummers, who cross over their sticks to play the hi-hat with their right hand and snare with their left hand, Shawn instead keeps time with his left hand, keeps a ride cymbal on the left side of his set, and relegates his right hand for snare drum hits (similar to
Gene Hoglan
and
Simon Phillips
). Although the role of each hand is reversed. This is known as "
Open handed drumming
". Shawn Drover is himself left-handed.
As of 2015, Shawn Drover was Megadeth's longest-serving drummer, having been a member of the band for just over 10 years, and had the third-longest tenure in the band after only bass guitarist
David Ellefson
and guitarist and frontman Dave Mustaine.
[3]
On November 25, 2014, Drover announced his departure from Megadeth, wanting to pursue his own musical interests.
[4]
Following his departure from Megadeth, Drover teamed up with Chris Broderick, who left Megadeth the same day as him, to form
Act of Defiance
with vocalist Henry Derek and bassist
Matt Bachand
.
[5]
In July 2023, Drover stated the band had come to a point of close after Broderick joined
In Flames
.
[6]
Personal life
[
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]
He currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia, has a wife, a daughter, a son, and grandson. On May 5, the same date as his birthday, 2010, his first grandson was born.
[7]
Shawn is a huge fan of the
NFL
, and College Football. His favorite team is the
Pittsburgh Steelers
. He is also a huge NHL fan citing favorite teams such as the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning,
Pittsburgh Penguins
, and the Calgary Flames. Shawn is an avid golfer as well, and participates in several charitable golf events each year.
Gear
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]
Shawn Drover endorses
Yamaha Drums
,
Sabian
,
Evans Drumheads
, Toca percussion, Extreme Isolation headphones and
Pro-Mark
Drumsticks. The "MegaKit" used on tours from 2004 through 2010 was manufactured by Ferguson Fabrication out of
Tempe
,
Arizona
. The structure was revised and redesigned making the cage lighter and easier to assemble. Shawn formerly from October 2006 to February 2014 endorsed the
DDRUM
maple kit and electronic DDRUM triggers with Sabian cymbals.
[8]
Bands
[
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]
Discography
[
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]
Eidolon
[
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]
- Zero Hour
(1996)
- Seven Spirits
(1997)
- Nightmare World
(2000)
- Hallowed Apparition
(2001)
- Coma Nation
(2002)
- Apostles of Defiance
(2003)
- The Parallel Otherworld
(2006)
Megadeth
[
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]
Act of Defiance
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Shawn Drover Quits MEGADETH"
. braveworlds. October 25, 2014
. Retrieved
October 25,
2014
.
- ^
"Megadeth Forums"
. Forums.megadeth.com
. Retrieved
October 12,
2011
.
- ^
"Megadeth's Ellefson: Mustaine and I are 'Working Diligently' to Find Replacements for Drover, Broderick"
.
Blabbermouth.net
. January 10, 2015
. Retrieved
January 11,
2015
.
- ^
Kaufman, Spencer.
"DRUMMER SHAWN DROVER EXITS MEGADETH"
.
loudwire.com
. loudwire
. Retrieved
November 26,
2014
.
- ^
"New Band Featuring Former Megadeth and Scar the Martyr Members Settle on Name"
.
Blabbermouth.net
. January 10, 2015
. Retrieved
January 11,
2015
.
- ^
"Ex-MEGADETH Drummer SHAWN DROVER Says ACT OF DEFIANCE 'Broke Up' After CHRIS BRODERICK Joined IN FLAMES"
.
Blabbermouth
. July 29, 2023
. Retrieved
August 3,
2023
.
- ^
"Megadeth Forums"
. Forums.megadeth.com
. Retrieved
October 12,
2011
.
- ^
"ddrum - DDRUM SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS 2013"
.
www.ddrum.com
. Archived from
the original
on September 26, 2013.
External links
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Singles
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Video albums
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Tours
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International
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