Chris Lee (musician)
Christopher B. Lee, also known as Krasp born 27 January 1975, is an American musician, and the drummer from Rapcore band CutThroat as well as reggae-rock band Jodoh and has performed in downset., Misrule, Filth Rotten, Social Justice, Drunk With Power, Adema, and others.
History
Born in Torrance, California, Ca. and raised in Sylmar, Los Angeles, Ca. Chris started on pots, pans, boxes, and air drums as early as 3. At age 5 his late father saw interest and bought him a Toys R Us drum kit for Christmas. The kit did not last long, but a passion for drumming did. Taking some snare lessons in fifth grade and getting his first real kit in the summer of '86 so he could start a band, His motivation drove him to be on a performing level and joined a local band from Sylmar, Los Angeles called Social Justice in April 1991 that had started up in the late 80s, and at the time he was also playing in a band with current Death By Stereo guitarist Dan Palmer called Bottom Line. Social Justice morphed into downset. and a buzz began. downset. caught the attention of PolyGram/Mercury Records and released their self-titled debut in 1994 and sophomore release in 1996.
Upon a temporary departure in the summer of 1998 from downset., Chris began getting involved in numerous side projects including Adema, Drunk With Power, and his own, Jodoh, a blend of edgy rock and reggae.
Chris returned to downset. in October 2001 and recorded "Universal", released in 2004 on Seattle-based Hawino Records, and worked on a project called Filth Rotten with Doug "Fado" from Crazytown on Bass in 2008.
In 2009 Chris and Jodoh recorded the album "Eavesdrop Assembly" at Kushhouse Studio in Thousand Oaks, Ca. with guest vocals by Steve Ewing of The Urge and Son Doobie of Funkdoobiest. The album was mixed by John Flannery of Too Rude and mastered by Matt Hyde. The album is slated for a for 2014 physical/digital release on MNO Records.
In 2011, Chris delved into the percussion world picking up the Cajon drum for future recordings and live performances in an acoustic setting.
Also, in 2011, Chris began work on a new Hardcore punk band named Misrule with fellow Social Justice and downset. members, Roy Lozano and James Morris, with Juan "JR5150" Udave from Northeast L.A. hardcore outfit Countime on vocals. A 2 song E.P. was recorded in July and August 2012, yet never released. January 2013 saw a lineup change with Udave and Morris being replaced by Neil Roemer and J.D. Manhart. The same songs were redone with new vocals, but never released.
2013 also saw the return of Chris in downset. with the same lineup as Misrule. downset. performed at Rock Al Parque in Bogota, Colombia in June 2013 and a brief European tour took place in August 2013 hitting several countries and performing new material. The tour was cut short due to Chris suffering a severe hernia while performing.
In 2014, upon a second departure from downset. Chris and fellow Misrule band mates Roemer and Manhart launched their newest band, CutThroat. CutThroat picks up right where Misrule left off with the classic Southern California feel. The first single, Forgotten, features guest appearances by Sen_Dog from Cypress_Hill on vocals and George_Lynch_(musician) of Dokken fame on guitar..[1][2]
Influences
Chris claims influences of 70s heavy rock, through the Metal stages of the mid eighties on to the punk and hardcore of the eighties and early nineties, as well as rocksteady, reggae, dancehall, dub, hip hop, and some thrash. Artists he credits include the following in no particular order; John Bonham, Bill Ward, Chad Sexton, Neil Peart, Josh Freese, Stephen Perkins, Sly Dunbar, Carlton Barrett, Leroy Wallace, and countless others!
Equipment
drums: Drum Workshop
12x10 tom
14x12 tom
16x16 floor tom
22x18 bass drum
14X"x" snare drums
cymbals: Zildjian cymbals.
Like most artists the setup varies somewhat over time.
Hardware:
DW 5500 Hi-hat stand, 5000 kick pedal and DW 9900 cymbal stands.
Heads:
Remo coated Ambassador on snare batter, clear Ambassadors on bottoms of toms and on front of bass drum.
He has also used Powerstroke 3 bass batters (and, on occasion, as resonant heads, too) with a falam pad.
Sticks:
Various 7a and 5b sticks
Percussion:
Meinl HCAJ1NT Headliner Rubber Wood Cajon
Discography
With CutThroat
- Forgotten (2014) (Single)[3]
- Blind (2014) (Single)
With downset.
- Downset. (1994)
- Do We Speak A Dead Language? (1996)
- Universal (2004)
With Social Justice
- I Refuse To Lose (1992)
With Jodoh
- Sundown to Sunup (featuring Son Doobie) (2009) (Single)
- Eavesdrop Assembly (slated for 2014 release)