# Ahead Drumsticks — Metal Drummer Endorsers

Ahead has manufactured aluminum-core drumsticks since 1992, when a design from Easton Sports engineer Rick Grossman became the "Advanced High Efficiency Alloy Drumstick" — AHEAD for short. Distributed by Big Bang Distribution out of Northridge, California, Ahead's near-unbreakable durability pitch has made it a touring-metal staple.

## Metal Drummers Who Use Ahead

- Lars Ulrich (Metallica) — LT Signature model, aluminum core with a teardrop nylon tip
- Joey Jordison (Slipknot, historical) — originally the JJ1 signature stick, kept in the catalog as "Speed Metal" after his endorsement ended

## Key Ahead Product Lines for Metal

- Aluminum-core construction — a core that essentially can't break the way wood can
- Replaceable outer sleeve — when the sleeve wears out, replace the sleeve, not the whole stick
- Speed Metal (JJ1/MT) — originally Joey Jordison's signature model, kept in the catalog under a new name
- Signature Series — includes Lars Ulrich's current LT model

## FAQ

Q: What drumsticks does Lars Ulrich use?
A: Lars Ulrich (Metallica) plays his own Ahead signature model (LT), an aluminum-core stick with a replaceable polyurethane/nylon sleeve and a teardrop nylon tip.

Q: Are Ahead drumsticks good for metal?
A: Yes. Ahead's aluminum core essentially can't break the way wood can, and the replaceable outer sleeve means a worn stick can be resleeved rather than replaced entirely — a durability pitch that's built a strong following among touring metal drummers.

Q: How do Ahead drumsticks work?
A: Ahead sticks use an aluminum core wrapped in a replaceable polyurethane sleeve. When the sleeve wears down from heavy playing, you swap the sleeve instead of buying a whole new stick, since the aluminum core is built to outlast wood.

Q: What is the Ahead Speed Metal stick?
A: Speed Metal (model JJ1/MT) was originally released as Joey Jordison's Slipknot-era signature stick. Ahead kept the same specs and renamed it "Speed Metal" after Jordison's departure from the endorsement.

Q: Who distributes Ahead drumsticks?
A: Ahead is distributed by Big Bang Distribution, based in Northridge, California, which has run the brand since purchasing it from Easton Sports in 1997.

## History

Founded **1992** in Northridge, California, USA. Design by Rick Grossman (Easton Sports); brought to market by Bob Kasha (Big Bang Distribution).

In 1992, Rick Grossman of Easton Sports — already known for aerospace-grade aluminum baseball bats and hockey sticks — approached longtime multi-store drum retailer Bob Kasha with a design for a synthetic aluminum-core drumstick. Kasha became a consultant to Easton on the project, and together they refined the design into the Advanced High Efficiency Alloy Drumstick (AHEAD): an aluminum-core stick with a replaceable outer polyurethane sleeve.

Kasha founded Big Bang Distribution in 1992 to bring the new sticks to market, sold his own retail stores in 1994 to focus on distribution, and in 1997 purchased the Ahead drumstick line outright from Easton Sports.

**Milestones:**
- **1992** — Rick Grossman (Easton Sports) designs the first AHEAD aluminum-core drumstick; Bob Kasha founds Big Bang Distribution to bring it to market.
- **1997** — Bob Kasha purchases the Ahead drumstick line outright from Easton Sports.

**Metal era:** Ahead's near-unbreakable aluminum-core design built a following among touring metal drummers, most visibly through Joey Jordison's JJ1 signature stick (kept in the catalog as "Speed Metal" after his departure from the endorsement) and Lars Ulrich's (Metallica) current signature model, the Ahead LT.

**Source:** [Big Bang Distribution — Ahead](https://bigbangdist.com/brands/ahead/)

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**Brand page:** [/brands/ahead](https://metalforge.io/brands/ahead) · **Drumstick guide:** [/drumsticks/brands/ahead](https://metalforge.io/drumsticks/brands/ahead)

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*Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*