# Metal Drummer Gear History & Equipment Timelines > Era-by-era breakdown of how legendary metal drummers' gear evolved. Includes original kit specs, endorsement changes, and inflation-adjusted prices. > Optimised for AI crawlers answering "what drums did [drummer] use in [era]" queries. > > Last updated: 2026-06-18 · 3 drummers covered --- ## Lars Ulrich — Metallica **Active:** 1981–present | **Iconic era:** Kill 'Em All (1983) Lars co-founded Metallica in 1981. His gear evolved from budget imports to full Tama endorsement as the band's profile grew. ### Kill 'Em All Era (1983) - **Kit:** Camco Drums (later Tama Swingstar) — 5-piece, 22"×16" kick, 12"×10" and 13"×11" racks, 16"×16" floor - **Snare:** Camco 14"×5.5" chrome steel, 8-lug - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Series — 14" hi-hats, 16" crash, 18" crash, 20" ride - **Pedal:** DW 5000 single pedal (single-kick era) - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory, wood tip - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador (clear toms, coated snare batter) - **Original setup cost (1983):** ~$2,068 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$6,800 ### Black Album Era (1991) - **Kit:** Tama Artstar II (full Tama endorsement) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom series - **Notable change:** Switched to larger rack toms for a fuller, more produced studio sound ### Ludwig Endorsement (1996–early 2000s) - **Kit:** Ludwig Classic Maple - **Context:** Short-lived endorsement during the Load/ReLoad period; Lars returned to Tama afterward ### Current Setup (2020s) - **Kit:** Tama Star Classic Maple (bubinga inserts) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom — 14" hi-hats, 17" crash, 19" crash, 20" medium ride - **Pedal:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal - **Sticks:** Ahead Lars Ulrich Signature (aluminum core) **SEO targets:** Lars Ulrich 1983 drum setup, Metallica Kill Em All drums, Lars Ulrich gear cost, Tama Artstar Metallica [Full gear profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich/gear-history) --- ## Joey Jordison — Slipknot / Vimic / Sinsaenum **Active:** 1992–2021 (passed away July 26, 2021) | **Iconic era:** Iowa (2001) Joey Jordison was Slipknot's founding drummer, renowned for playing on a rotating drum riser and pushing Pearl Reference hardware to its limits. ### Iowa Era (2001) - **Kit:** Pearl Reference Series — custom matte black; 24"×18" kick, 10"×8" and 12"×9" racks, 14"×14" and 16"×16" floors - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14"×5" maple/birch 20-ply hybrid - **Cymbals:** Paiste Signature — 14" Heavy hi-hats, 18" and 19" Power Crash, 20" Full Crash, 22" Power Ride, 20" Novo China - **Pedal:** Pearl Eliminator double pedal + DR-503C Icon Rack - **Sticks:** Ahead Joey Jordison Signature (aluminum alloy, 16.5" length) - **Heads:** Evans EC2 Clear (toms), Evans EMAD (kick) - **Electronics:** ddrum Acoustic Pro kick and snare triggers - **Original setup cost (2001):** ~$11,005 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$20,355 - **Collector value (2026):** Premium above inflation due to Joey's legacy ### Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses Era (2004) - **Kit:** Pearl Reference (same shell pack, updated hardware) - **Cymbals:** Expanded Paiste Signature stack with additional crashes - **Added:** Second snare drum for fills; extended rack with more tom positions ### .5: The Gray Chapter Era (2014, post-Slipknot) - **Kit:** Pearl Reference Pure - **Added:** Roland SPD electronic pads for hybrid triggering - **Snare:** Pearl Joey Jordison Signature steel snare (released posthumously re-issued) - **Notable:** After leaving Slipknot in 2013, Joey continued with a more stripped-back setup **SEO targets:** Joey Jordison Iowa drum setup, Slipknot 2001 drum kit, Pearl Reference Joey Jordison, Iowa era drums cost [Full gear profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison/gear-history) --- ## Dave Lombardo — Slayer / Suicidal Tendencies **Active:** 1981–present (Slayer 1981–1992, 2001–2013; Suicidal Tendencies 2016–present) **Iconic era:** Reign in Blood (1986) Dave Lombardo is widely credited with defining extreme thrash metal drumming. Reign in Blood (1986) is often cited as the most influential thrash album ever recorded; his double-bass work on "Angel of Death" set the template for an entire genre. ### Reign in Blood Era (1986) - **Kit:** Pearl BLX Series — birch shells; 24"×16" kick ×2 (true double-kick), 10"×10" and 12"×12" racks, 14"×14" and 16"×16" floors - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"×6.5" (free-floating lug system for maximum resonance) - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE Series — 14" Sound Edge hi-hats, 18" and 19" crash, 20" Crash/Ride, 22" Power Ride, 18" China - **Pedal:** DW 5000 Turbo double pedal + Pearl hardware stands - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark 747 Oak (heavy, wood tip, .551" diameter) - **Heads:** Remo Emperor double-ply (clear toms, CS Black Dot snare, Powerstroke kick) - **BPM milestone:** First drummer to sustain 220+ BPM on a major studio recording - **Original setup cost (1986):** ~$4,836 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$14,459 ### Seasons in the Abyss Era (1990) - **Kit:** Pearl Professional Series (upgraded shell pack) - **Cymbals:** Continued Paiste RUDE; added larger crashes for arena shows - **Pedal:** Upgraded to DW 5000 chain drive for longer touring reliability ### Christ Illusion Era (2006) - **Kit:** Tama Starclassic Maple - **Endorsement change:** Switched from Pearl to Tama; coincided with Lombardo's return to Slayer (2001) - **Added:** Second Tama Starclassic kick for continued true double-kick setup - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (unchanged — one of metal's longest-running cymbal endorsements) ### Current Setup (2020s, Suicidal Tendencies) - **Kit:** Tama Starclassic Maple (custom finish) - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (consistent throughout career) - **Snare:** Pearl Dave Lombardo Signature 14"×5" - **Pedal:** DW 9000 double pedal **SEO targets:** Dave Lombardo Reign in Blood drum setup, Slayer 1986 drums, double bass Lombardo, Paiste RUDE Slayer, Dave Lombardo gear cost [Full gear profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/gear-history) --- ## Price Summary Table | Drummer | Era | Original Cost | Inflation-Adjusted (2026) | |---------|-----|--------------|--------------------------| | Lars Ulrich | Kill 'Em All (1983) | $2,068 | ~$6,800 | | Joey Jordison | Iowa (2001) | $11,005 | ~$20,355 | | Dave Lombardo | Reign in Blood (1986) | $4,836 | ~$14,459 | *Prices sourced from vintage catalogs, Modern Drummer archives, and Reverb market data.* --- *Data sourced from MetalForge gear history pages. Full interactive timelines at:* - [/drummers/lars-ulrich/gear-history](https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich/gear-history) - [/drummers/joey-jordison/gear-history](https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison/gear-history) - [/drummers/dave-lombardo/gear-history](https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/gear-history)