John Otto Drum Setup: Limp Bizkit's 'Chocolate Starfish' (2000) Gear Breakdown | MetalForge

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 a Sonor Force 3007 drum kit with beech shell construction — the same gear platform he used on 'Significant Other' (1999). The configuration included a single 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. Cymbals were Paiste 2002 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 a Sonor Force 3007 with Paiste 2002 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 Paiste 2002 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, an 18" China, and a 10" splash — the same Paiste 2002 configuration he used on 'Significant Other' (1999). The 2002 series is cast from CuSn8 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" 2002 hi-hats. He is currently a Zildjian endorser. 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).