John Otto Drum Setup: Limp Bizkit's 'Chocolate Starfish' (2000) Gear Breakdown | MetalForge
John Otto recorded Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000) on a OCDP Custom Kit kit with a OCDP Custom Snare snare.
Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear John Otto used on Limp Bizkit's record-breaking 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water' (2000) — o...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit did John Otto use on Chocolate Starfish?
On Limp Bizkit's 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water' (2000, Flip Records/Interscope), John Otto played his Orange County Drum and Percussion (OCDP) custom kit with maple/birch hybrid shell construction — the same gear platform he adopted for 'Significant Other' (1999). The configuration included a single 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. Cymbals were Zildjian A and A Custom series. For the Significant Other setup (same gear era): [Significant Other drum setup](/articles/significant-other-drum-setup). Full drummer profile: [John Otto at MetalForge](/drummer/john-otto).
What was Limp Bizkit's fastest-selling album?
'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water' (2000) set a US record at the time with 1.05 million copies sold in its first week — the fastest-selling album in US chart history when released. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and achieved 6× Platinum certification. This surpassed 'Significant Other' (1999), which sold 645,000 copies in its first week but went on to a higher total US certification at 15× Platinum. Both albums debuted at #1 Billboard 200. See also: [Significant Other drum setup](/articles/significant-other-drum-setup).
What is the drum pattern on 'Rollin'' by Limp Bizkit?
'Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)' features one of nu-metal's most recognized drum patterns — a groove-locked, hip-hop-influenced 4/4 pattern at approximately 86 BPM with deliberate, minimal kick placement. The pattern's defining characteristic is John Otto's hi-hat open/closed articulation, which creates the track's rhythmic pocket in dialogue with DJ Lethal's turntable work. The kick placement is hip-hop-informed rather than metal-standard — each hit is placed for groove feel rather than density. Otto plays the pattern on his OCDP custom kit with Zildjian A hi-hats. For a complete breakdown of Otto's groove technique: [John Otto at MetalForge](/drummer/john-otto).
What cymbals did John Otto use on Chocolate Starfish?
John Otto used Zildjian A and A Custom series cymbals on 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water' (2000). The setup included 14" hi-hats, 16" and 18" crashes, a 20" ride, and an 18" China — the same Zildjian configuration he used on 'Significant Other' (1999). The A Series is cast from B20 bronze, characterized by high projection and cutting tone that served Limp Bizkit's dense production. The hi-hat work on 'Rollin'' is particularly associated with the 14" A Series hi-hats. Otto remains a Zildjian endorser today. See: [John Otto at MetalForge](/drummer/john-otto).
Why did John Otto use a single kick drum on Chocolate Starfish?
John Otto's jazz and hip-hop background led him to prioritize groove over density — and a single kick drum forces rhythmic intentionality rather than allowing double-bass runs to substitute for musical placement. On 'Chocolate Starfish,' this philosophy produced 'Rollin'' — one of nu-metal's most iconic drum tracks, built entirely on a minimal, hip-hop-groove single-kick pattern. Otto's choice of single kick while contemporaries used double bass demonstrates his compositional confidence: the groove serves the song first. Full technique overview: [John Otto at MetalForge](/drummer/john-otto). Context: [nu-metal drummers top 10](/top10/nu-metal-drummers).