Joey Castillo

Joey Castillo
Joey Castillo playing with Queens of the Stone Age at the Eurockéennes de Belfort 2011
Background information
Birth name	Joseph William Castillo
Also known as	The Sexy Mexi, Joey C
Born	(1966-03-30) March 30, 1966
Origin	Gardena, California, U.S.A
Genres	Alternative rock, hard rock, punk rock, heavy metal, stoner rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, violin, theremin
Years active	1984–present
Associated acts	Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Mark Lanegan, Zilch, Wasted Youth, Goatsnake, Danzig, Sugartooth, Mark Lanegan Band, Desert Sessions, Son of Sam
Notable instruments
DW Drums Zildjian Cymbals Vic Firth Drum sticks Latin Percussion Remo Drum Skins

Joseph Willam "Joey" Castillo (born March 30, 1966, in Gardena, California) is an American drummer. He is best known for his ten-year tenure in hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age, from 2002 to 2012. Castillo has also been a member of both Danzig and Eagles of Death Metal.

Castillo joined Queens of the Stone Age in 2002, following the departure of temporary drummer Dave Grohl. Castillo remained within the band for over ten years, recording two studio albums, Lullabies to Paralyze (2005) and Era Vulgaris (2007), before being asked to leave by founding member Josh Homme during the recording of the band's sixth studio album, ...Like Clockwork (2013). ^{[citation needed]}

Musical career

A native of southern California, Castillo began playing drums at age fifteen, when his grandmother loaned him the money to buy a drum kit. Castillo's playing is influenced by War, Al Green, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones and Black Flag. He started off his drumming career by joining the Los Angeles punk band, Wasted Youth, in 1984. After recording two albums and several tours, he left Wasted Youth and joined Sugartooth in 1991. During the summer of 1994, he formed a short-lived punk rock band called Chronic Halitosis.^[1] They played punk covers of bands like Misfits and Black Flag.^[2] In 1994 Joey officially left Sugartooth and joined Danzig, having turned down previous offers from Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies.^[3] In 1996, he was featured on Robert Trujillo's solo album, and in 1998 he joined Zilch.^[4] He replaced Goatsnake's original drummer after his departure in 2001, but that was short lived when they split up shortly after.^[5] In 2001 he did backing vocals and drums for some tracks on Son of Sam's album Songs From The Earth. Castillo joined Queens of the Stone Age without an audition, playing through half a song at an informal rehearsal before frontman Josh Homme walked out of the room, returned saying "I just fired the drummer. The tour starts tomorrow," and offered Castillo the gig. Castillo also played on Mark Lanegan's solo album Bubblegum and Eagles of Death Metal's second album Death by Sexy.^[6]

Personal life

Castillo has two drumkits which belonged to Chuck Biscuits and considers them his most prized possessions. Castillo currently resides in Silver Lake, California.^[7]

As of April 2011, he has become engaged to longtime girlfriend, Pixie Acia, who formerly starred on TLC's hit show, L.A. Ink.

Joey Castillo and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age performing at the Southside Festival near Tuttlingen, southern Germany, June 24, 2007

Equipment

Castillo uses DW drums with acrylic OCDP shells, DW pedals and hardware, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and LP equipment. Castillo is famous for his use of the LP Jam block. The tone of the jam block appears solo at the outset of the Queens of the Stone Age single "Little Sister" from the album Lullabies to Paralyze, Castillo’s first studio album with the band. However pre-Sugartooth he was known to use Tama drums, Paiste cymbals and Easton sticks.^[8]

After Era Vulgaris tour equipment

DW Drums

• 24"x16" Bass Drum
• 14"x10" Mounted Tom
• 18"x16" Floor Tom
• 14"x8" Steel Sonor belonged to Chuck Biscuits

DW Hardware

• DW 6710 straight cymbal stands (3x)
• DW 6500 Hi-Hat Stand
• DW 9000 bass pedal

Zildjian Cymbals

• Zildjian 24-inch K Light ride
• Zildjian 21-inch Prototype K crash
• Zildjian 19-inch K Hybrid crash
• Zildjian 14-inch Mastersound hi-hats

Vic Firth Sticks

• Vic Firth Super 5B sticks

Remo Heads

• Snare: Remo Controlled Sound Clear
• Toms: Remo Controlled Sound
• Bass: Remo Clear Powerstroke III with Falam Slam

Latin Percussion

• LP160 Cyclops Tambourine
• LP1208-K Stealth Jam Block

Era Vulgaris tour equipment

Castillo used larger sized tom drums than ever before, while using the smallest bass drum he has used yet. He has continued using Vic Firth drum sticks, DW drums with acrylic OCDP shells, DW pedals and hardware and has switched from using Paiste cymbals to Zildjian cymbals for the Era Vulgaris tour.

Lullabies To Paralyze tour equipment

For the Lullabies tour, Castillo continued to use DW drums, Paiste cymbals and Remo heads. Though during this tour he started using Vic Firth sticks instead of Vater sticks. Joey also dropped his second floor tom and LP bongos during this tour and added on a LP jamblock to his drumkit. From this tour and on, he would use the toms to play "Better Living Through Chemistry" during the verses.

Songs For The Deaf tour equipment

Castillo used DW drums and hardware, Paiste cymbals and Remo heads during the Songs For The Deaf tour.

Discography

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joey Castillo.

• LPmusic.com - LP Music page of Joey Castillo