Eric Singer
| Eric Singer | |
|---|---|
Eric Singer, Hollywood on March 20, 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eric Doyle Mensinger |
| Born |
May 12, 1958 Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician songwriter |
| Instruments | Drums, vocals |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Associated acts |
Kiss Alice Cooper ESP Avantasia Lita Ford Gary Moore Black Sabbath Badlands Brian May Seventh Wonder Gilby Clarke The Cult Warren DeMartini |
Eric Singer (born Eric Doyle Mensinger; May 12, 1958) is an American hard rock and heavy metal drummer, best known as a member of Kiss, portraying The Catman originally played by Peter Criss. He has also performed with artists such as Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Lita Ford, Badlands, and Gary Moore as well as his own band ESP. In his career, Singer has appeared on over 75 albums and 11 EPs.
Singer was born Eric Doyle Mensinger in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in Euclid, Ohio. His father, Johnny Mensinger, was of German descent and was a local big band leader who played around the area as well as on cruise ships from the States to Europe and back. . Young Eric began playing drums from an early age, and was inspired by bands such as Humble Pie, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Beatles and Queen and drummers such as John Bonham, Keith Moon, Cozy Powell, Roger Taylor, Bill Ward, and Buddy Rich.
Eric worked at King Musical instruments before becoming a professional drummer.
Singer's first professional drumming job was in the Cleveland band Beau Coup then as Lita Ford's touring drummer in 1984. In 1985 he joined Black Sabbath, replacing original drummer Bill Ward, who had left the band after the Live Aid reunion. Singer would participate in the recording of the albums Seventh Star and The Eternal Idol and was invited by his Black Sabbath colleague Ray Gillen to join the latter's new formed band Badlands. Singer accepted and played on the band's self-titled debut album. Singer left the group in 1989 as he would join Paul Stanley as his touring drummer on his solo tour of the United States and Canada. Singer played with Olivia Newton-John in the music video for "Culture Shock". He later revealed in an interview that he obtained that gig because he was working for Lita Ford at the time.
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