---
name: "Richard Christy"
band: "Death / Iced Earth"
page_type: "gear_evolution"
profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/richard-christy"
evolution_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummers/richard-christy/evolution"
source: "https://metalforge.io"
last_updated: "2026-07-03"
---

# Richard Christy Drum Kit Evolution — Complete Timeline

Richard Christy moved to Florida specifically to break into the death metal scene, and was handpicked by Chuck Schuldiner to join Death and Control Denied in 1996, inheriting a drum chair previously held by Gene Hoglan. His Pearl Masters Custom / Sabian AA-AAX rig powered Death's "The Sound of Perseverance" (1998) — Schuldiner's final studio album and widely considered the most technically demanding death metal record ever made — before carrying into Control Denied's "The Fragile Art of Existence" (1999) and an expanded touring setup during his 2003–2007 run with Iced Earth, after which he left metal drumming to focus on his entertainment career at The Howard Stern Show.

See also: [Richard Christy drummer profile](/llms/drummers/richard-christy.md) · [Richard Christy gear history](/llms/gear-history/richard-christy.md)

---

## Joining Death & Control Denied (1996–1998)

**Albums:** Pre-Sound of Perseverance session and rehearsal work with Death and Control Denied
**Tours:** Death rehearsal and pre-production sessions (1996–1998)

Richard Christy moved to Florida specifically to break into the death metal scene, and was handpicked by Chuck Schuldiner after auditions to join both Death and Control Denied in 1996 — stepping into a drum chair previously held by Gene Hoglan. His Pearl Masters Custom maple shell pack and Sabian AA cymbal setup gave him a clean, articulate foundation to build the speed and precision Schuldiner's increasingly progressive songwriting demanded.

- **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom — maple shell pack
- **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone Heritage Steel / Masters Maple 14"x5.5", alternated by song
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AA Series (standard configuration)
- **Hardware:** Pearl double pedal (standard chain-drive)
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B
- **Heads:** Remo (standard package)
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$3,200

**Key developments:**
- Moved to Florida specifically to break into the death metal scene
- Handpicked by Chuck Schuldiner to join Death and Control Denied in 1996
- Inherited a drum chair previously held by Gene Hoglan
- Established the Pearl Masters Custom / Sabian AA rig that carried into Perseverance

---

## The Sound of Perseverance: Death's Final Album (1998–1999)

**Albums:** The Sound of Perseverance (1998)
**Tours:** The Sound of Perseverance Tour 1998–1999

**Q: What drums did Richard Christy use on The Sound of Perseverance?**
A: "The Sound of Perseverance" (1998), recorded at Morrisound Recording, is Death's final studio album before Chuck Schuldiner's death in 2001, and is widely regarded as the most technically demanding death metal album ever recorded. Christy's expanded Pearl Masters Custom kit — a deeper 22"x18" bass drum than typical for the era, plus a four-tom configuration and a seven-piece Sabian AA/AAX cymbal spread — gave him the low-end weight, melodic canvas, and stick definition Schuldiner's progressive songwriting required, from the blast beats of "Spirit Crusher" to the delicate instrumental "Voice of the Soul."

- **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom — piano black finish, 22"x18" bass drum, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms *(upgrade)*
- **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone Heritage Steel / Masters Maple 14"x5.5", alternated by song
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AA / AAX Series — 14" AA hi-hats, 16" AAX Studio crash, 18" AA Medium Thin crash, 19" AAX X-Plosion crash, 20" AA Medium ride, 10" AA splash, 18" AAX Chinese *(upgrade)*
- **Hardware:** Pearl P-2002C PowerShifter Eliminator double pedal *(upgrade)*
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B *(unchanged)*
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kick), Emperor (toms), Ambassador (snare)
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$6,183 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$12,427)

**Key developments:**
- The Sound of Perseverance (1998) recorded at Morrisound Recording — Death's final studio album
- Widely considered the most technically demanding death metal album ever recorded
- Expanded to a seven-piece Sabian AA/AAX cymbal setup and upgraded to the Pearl P-2002C Eliminator double pedal
- Performance recorded as largely uninterrupted full takes with minimal punch-ins

---

## Control Denied: The Fragile Art of Existence (1999–2003)

**Albums:** The Fragile Art of Existence (1999)
**Tours:** Control Denied promotional dates (1999)

**Q: Did Richard Christy's gear change for Control Denied?**
A: Control Denied's "The Fragile Art of Existence" (1999) carried Christy's Pearl Masters Custom / Sabian AA-AAX rig from Perseverance into a more progressive, vocal-driven metal context alongside Schuldiner's clean-sung songwriting. The album, later reissued posthumously after Schuldiner's 2001 death, showcased Christy's versatility beyond straight death metal — the same gear, applied to a fundamentally different songwriting approach.

- **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom *(unchanged, same rig carried from Perseverance)*
- **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone / Masters Maple *(unchanged)*
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AA / AAX *(unchanged, same configuration)*
- **Hardware:** Pearl P-2002C Eliminator *(unchanged)*
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B *(unchanged)*
- **Heads:** Remo (standard package)
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$6,183 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$12,100)

**Key developments:**
- Recorded The Fragile Art of Existence (1999) with Control Denied — same Pearl/Sabian rig as Perseverance
- Applied his technical death metal gear and technique to a clean-vocal, progressive songwriting context
- Album later reissued posthumously following Chuck Schuldiner's death in 2001
- Demonstrated versatility beyond straight death metal drumming

---

## Iced Earth: Expanded Touring Rig (2003–2007)

**Albums:** The Glorious Burden (2004), Overture of the Wicked EP (2006)
**Tours:** Iced Earth World Tours 2003–2007

**Q: What gear did Richard Christy use with Iced Earth?**
A: Christy joined Iced Earth in 2003 as touring and studio drummer, appearing on "The Glorious Burden" (2004) and the "Overture of the Wicked" EP (2006). His Pearl Masters Custom / Sabian AA-AAX setup expanded for larger touring productions, scaling to Iced Earth's bigger stage shows before Christy left metal drumming behind in 2007 to focus on his entertainment career at The Howard Stern Show — a transition that closed out his eleven-year run as one of technical death metal's most complete performers.

- **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom, expanded configuration for larger touring productions *(upgrade)*
- **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone Heritage Steel, consolidated to a single steel snare *(switch)*
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AA / AAX, expanded setup *(upgrade)*
- **Hardware:** Pearl double pedal, touring-grade
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B *(unchanged)*
- **Heads:** Remo / Evans, mixed head brands for touring durability *(switch)*
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$6,800 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$11,200)

**Key developments:**
- Joined Iced Earth in 2003 as touring and studio drummer
- Recorded The Glorious Burden (2004) and the Overture of the Wicked EP (2006)
- Setup expanded for larger touring productions
- Left metal drumming in 2007 to focus on entertainment career at The Howard Stern Show

---

## Career Cost Overview

| Era | Years | Kit Cost (Original) | Inflation-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining Death & Control Denied | 1996–1998 | $3,200 | ~$6,400 |
| The Sound of Perseverance | 1998–1999 | $6,183 | ~$12,427 |
| Control Denied: The Fragile Art of Existence | 1999–2003 | $6,183 | ~$12,100 |
| Iced Earth: Expanded Touring Rig | 2003–2007 | $6,800 | ~$11,200 |

---

## Gear Brand Partnerships Timeline

- **Pearl Masters Custom (drums)** — 1996–2007 (career-long constant)
- **Sabian AA / AAX (cymbals)** — 1996–2007 (career-long constant)
- **Vic Firth American Classic 5A/5B (sticks)** — 1996–2007
- **Pearl P-2002C PowerShifter Eliminator (double pedal)** — 1998–2007

---

## FAQ

**Q: How did Richard Christy join Death?**
A: Richard Christy moved to Florida specifically to break into the death metal scene and was handpicked by Chuck Schuldiner after auditions to join Death and Control Denied in 1996, inheriting a drum chair previously held by Gene Hoglan.

**Q: What drum kit did Richard Christy use on The Sound of Perseverance?**
A: Richard Christy used a Pearl Masters Custom maple shell pack — a deeper 22"x18" bass drum than typical for the era, plus 10"/12" rack toms and 14"/16" floor toms — paired with a seven-piece Sabian AA/AAX cymbal setup and a Pearl P-2002C PowerShifter Eliminator double pedal.

**Q: Why is Richard Christy's drumming on The Sound of Perseverance considered so important?**
A: The Sound of Perseverance (1998) is Death's final studio album before Chuck Schuldiner's death in 2001, and is widely regarded as the most technically demanding death metal album ever recorded. Christy's performance — full takes with minimal punch-ins and dynamic range from blast beats to the delicate instrumental "Voice of the Soul" — is a benchmark of technical death metal drumming.

**Q: Did Richard Christy keep playing drums after Death and Iced Earth?**
A: Richard Christy left metal drumming in 2007 after departing Iced Earth, transitioning to a career in entertainment as a writer and on-air personality for The Howard Stern Show. His Pearl/Sabian configuration remains the gear most closely associated with his eleven-year metal drumming career.

**Q: What bands did Richard Christy play in?**
A: Richard Christy played in Death and Control Denied (1996–1999) alongside Chuck Schuldiner, then joined Iced Earth (2003–2007) as touring and studio drummer, and later formed his own progressive death metal band, Charred Walls of the Damned.

---

## Related Pages

- [Richard Christy Drummer Profile](/llms/drummers/richard-christy.md)
- [Richard Christy Gear History](/llms/gear-history/richard-christy.md)
- [Sound of Perseverance Drum Setup Article](/llms/articles/sound-of-perseverance-drum-setup.md)
- [Metal Drumming Facts & Stats](/llms/facts.md)