# Richard Christy Drum Kit Gear History — Death / Iced Earth **Drummer:** Richard Christy **Band:** Death (1996–2001) / Control Denied (1996–2001) / Iced Earth (2003–2007) **Active:** 1993–2007 (metal drumming career) **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/richard-christy/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Richard Christy's drum kit evolution, from joining Death and Control Denied in 1996 on a Pearl Masters Custom kit through the setup behind The Sound of Perseverance (1998) — Chuck Schuldiner's final album — to his expanded Iced Earth-era rig. Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Richard Christy use" and "how much does Richard Christy's drum setup cost" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Joined Death / Control Denied (1996) - **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom — maple shell pack - **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone Heritage Steel / Masters Maple 14"x5.5" - **Cymbals:** Sabian AA Series - **Pedal:** Pearl double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B - **Heads:** Remo - **Estimated cost (1996):** ~$3,200 - **Notable:** Christy moved to Florida specifically to break into the death metal scene and was handpicked by Chuck Schuldiner to join Death and Control Denied, stepping into a drum chair previously held by Gene Hoglan. ### The Sound of Perseverance Era (1998) - **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom — piano black, 22"x18" kick, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms - **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 - **Pedal:** Pearl P-2002C PowerShifter Eliminator double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B - **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kick), Emperor (toms), Ambassador (snare) - **Original setup cost (1998):** ~$6,183 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$12,427 - **Notable:** The Sound of Perseverance is Death's final studio album — Chuck Schuldiner's swan song — and is widely considered the most technically demanding death metal record ever recorded, showcasing Christy's speed, precision, and musicality on tracks like "Spirit Crusher" and "Flesh and the Power It Holds." ### The Fragile Art of Existence Era (1999) - **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom (same rig) - **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone / Masters Maple - **Cymbals:** Sabian AA / AAX (same configuration) - **Pedal:** Pearl P-2002C Eliminator - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B - **Heads:** Remo - **Estimated cost (1999):** ~$6,183 - **Notable:** Control Denied's The Fragile Art of Existence carried the same Pearl/Sabian rig into a more progressive metal context, showcasing Christy's versatility beyond straight death metal. ### Iced Earth Era (2003–2007) - **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom, expanded configuration - **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone Heritage Steel - **Cymbals:** Sabian AA / AAX, expanded setup - **Pedal:** Pearl double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A / 5B - **Heads:** Remo / Evans - **Estimated cost (2003–2007):** ~$6,800 - **Notable:** 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), scaling his setup for larger touring productions before leaving metal drumming in 2007 to focus on his entertainment career at The Howard Stern Show. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **1996:** Joins Death and Control Denied, handpicked by Chuck Schuldiner, establishing a Pearl Masters Custom / Sabian AA rig - **1998:** The Sound of Perseverance recorded at Morrisound Recording — full Pearl Masters Custom / Sabian AA-AAX setup documented in detail - **1999:** Same rig carries into Control Denied's The Fragile Art of Existence - **2003:** Joins Iced Earth; setup expands for larger touring productions - **2007:** Leaves metal drumming to focus on entertainment career; Pearl/Sabian configuration remains his defining metal-era gear --- ## FAQ **Q: How much does Richard Christy's drum kit cost?** A: Richard Christy's 1998 The Sound of Perseverance-era Pearl Masters Custom setup cost approximately $6,183. Adjusted for 2026 inflation, that's equivalent to roughly $12,427. **Q: What drums did Richard Christy use on The Sound of Perseverance?** A: Christy used a Pearl Masters Custom maple shell pack — 22"x18" bass drum, 10"/12" rack toms, and 14"/16" floor toms — chosen for the clarity, attack, and projection Death's most technically complex album demanded. **Q: What cymbals did Richard Christy use with Death?** A: Christy used a Sabian AA and AAX combination — including 14" AA hi-hats, multiple AA/AAX crashes, a 20" AA Medium ride, an AA splash, and an AAX Chinese cymbal — chosen for brightness and stick definition at extreme tempos. **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, exceptional internal timing, and dynamic range from blast beats to the delicate instrumental "Voice of the Soul" — is considered 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. He has occasionally returned to drumming for tribute performances, including with Death To All in 2012. --- ## Related - [Richard Christy drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/richard-christy) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/richard-christy/gear-history) - [What's In Richard Christy's Kit](https://metalforge.io/articles/whats-in-richard-christys-kit) - [The Sound of Perseverance drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/sound-of-perseverance-drum-setup) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)