Josh Eppard

Josh Eric Eppard (born December 6, 1979) is an American musician and drummer from Kingston, New York, best known as the original drummer and a longtime member of the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria.^[1] He began playing drums at age ten, influenced by his musically inclined family, and by his early teens had co-founded the experimental rock band 3 alongside his brother Joey Eppard and bassist Chris Bittner in 1994.^[2][3][4] Eppard joined Coheed and Cambria in 2000, contributing to the band's signature complex rhythms and to albums such as The Second Stage Turbine Blade (2002) and In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003).^[2] He departed the group in 2006 amid struggles with substance abuse, later sought treatment, and achieved sobriety around 2008, during which time he pursued other musical endeavors.^[5] Following a brief stint with drummer Chris Pennie, Eppard rejoined Coheed and Cambria in November 2011, recording subsequent albums like The Afterman: Ascension (2012) and The Color Before the Sun (2015), and has remained with the band since, including tours and releases up to their ongoing conceptual series Vaxis.^[6][5][7] Beyond Coheed and Cambria, Eppard has explored diverse projects, including the hip-hop alias Weerd Science, under which he released albums like The Ill Mind of Josh Eppard (2004) and Sick Kids... Stick Figures (2008), blending rap with personal storytelling.^[8] He also drummed for the supergroup Terrible Things from 2007 to 2011, featuring former Taking Back Sunday guitarist Fred Mascherino, contributing to their self-titled debut album (2009).^[5][9] In recent years, Eppard has focused on recovery advocacy through his multimedia project Drum Set Confessional, sharing his experiences with addiction and sobriety to support others facing similar challenges.^[10] Married, he continues to emphasize physical fitness and musical innovation in his performances.^[2][7]

Early life

Childhood and family

Josh Eppard was born on December 6, 1979, in Kingston, New York, a small city in the Hudson Valley known for its proximity to the historic Woodstock music festival site and its own vibrant local arts scene.^[11][12] Eppard's family was deeply immersed in music, providing a formative environment rich with artistic influences. His father, Jimmy Eppard, was a local rocker and guitarist based in nearby Woodstock, who performed with notable figures from the region's folk-rock legacy, including frequent jams with Levon Helm of The Band.^[13][14] As a child, Josh often sat on the living room floor absorbing these sessions, where the blend of rock, folk, and improvisational sounds filled the home.^[14] His older brother, Joey Eppard, shared this passion and pursued music as a vocation, later co-founding the band 3 alongside Josh.^[4] This familial emphasis on music exposed the young Eppard to diverse genres early on, including funk through records by Sly & the Family Stone and rock rooted in the Hudson Valley's countercultural heritage.^[11] From a young age, Eppard's hobbies revolved around rhythm and percussion, reflecting the household's creative energy. He began mimicking drummers on family albums, drawn to the dynamic grooves of funk and the steady pulses of rock, which mirrored the eclectic jams he witnessed at home.^[11] Kingston's cultural landscape, with its community events and lingering Woodstock ethos, further nurtured this interest, offering a backdrop of live music venues and local performers that made artistic expression accessible even in modest circumstances.^[15]

Musical beginnings

Josh Eppard began exploring music in his early teens, starting to play drums at age 11 in a self-taught manner using an assortment of pieces from his father's collection, including a yellow kick drum and a 1969 Ludwig Acrolite snare.^[16] At age 12, he acquired his first complete drum kit, a Pearl Export set, which he still owns today.^[16] His initial influences drew heavily from funk and rock drummers, particularly Gregg Errico of Sly & the Family Stone, whose grooves he emulated by prioritizing footwork and pocket over flashy hand techniques; he also admired the rhythmic style of The Cars' drum work.^[11] Coming from a musical family—his brother Joey was a professional musician who played alongside him—Eppard received daily guidance from relatives rather than formal lessons, fostering an intuitive approach to the instrument.^[16] During his teenage years in Kingston, New York, Eppard immersed himself in the local music scene, which provided early opportunities for performance and connection with other musicians.^[1] A Kingston High School graduate, his high school experience was largely ordinary, though it included growing involvement in music activities that exposed him to regional events, such as performing at the Woodstock '94 festival at age 14.^[15] Self-taught persistence defined his practice routines; by age 15, he had logged hundreds of hours in studios, refining his skills through repetition and informal mentorship from local figures like drummer Robert "Chicken" Burke, who emphasized melodic playing and solid timekeeping.^[3] This period marked a shift from casual experimentation to a more profound engagement, as Eppard described age 15 as when he "really started playing" with greater intentionality.^[3] By his late teens, around age 16, Eppard's dedication evolved into a serious pursuit, leading him to collaborate actively in musical projects and solidifying drumming as a core passion.^[16] This transition was bolstered by his family's support, including his father's role in managing early endeavors and building a home studio.^[16][12]

Solo work

Studio albums

• Friends and Nervous Breakdowns (March 22, 2005, Equal Vision Records, 15 tracks)^[17][18][19]
• Sick Kids (May 17, 2011, self-released via Bandcamp, 15 tracks)^[20][21][22]

Extended plays

• From the Grave (2006, internet release, 9 tracks including remixes and demos such as "Blood is Funner than Water" and "Plague Days")^[23]
• Red Light Juliet (May 21, 2013, self-released via Bandcamp, 8 tracks)^[24][25][26]
• Red Light Juliet Broadcast 2: Steady Straight Lights / Sudden Dark Turns (February 7, 2014, self-released, 11 tracks)^[27][28][29]
• Red Light Juliet Broadcast 3: The Seer (December 24, 2015, self-released, 15 tracks)^[30][31][32]

Mixtapes

• Weekend at Dirty's (January 2011, internet release via SoundCloud, 9 tracks including "The Spawn of Lies Spun" and "Therapy Session")^[33][34]

Collaborations

• Holes (with Cage, 2005, featured on Cage's album Hell's Winter, 1 track)^[8]
• "Stray Bullets" (featured on The Prize Fighter Inferno's Stray Bullets EP, July 10, 2020, Evil Ink Records, 1 track)^[35]
• "Further Down The Rabbit Hole" (with Upgrade HipHop, featured on Upgrade HipHop's album, November 16, 2015, Equal Vision Records, 1 track)^[36]
• "Can't Find My Way" (featured on Pugs' release, circa 2013, 1 track)^[37]
• "Beyond These Years" (with Bobby Delicious featuring Joey Eppard, 1999, on Newborn, 1 track)^[38]

Drum Set Confessional and recent ventures

In 2023, Josh Eppard launched Drum Set Confessional, a platform designed to share personal stories of addiction and recovery, drawing from his own experiences as a musician to foster awareness and support for those affected by substance abuse.^[10] The project emphasizes anonymous submissions and responses from Eppard, creating a confessional space that addresses inner "demons" through narrative reflection tied to his drumming background.^[39] By 2025, Drum Set Confessional expanded into broader mental health initiatives, including a collaboration with HeartSupport announced in June, aimed at providing resources for the metal music community grappling with addiction and emotional challenges.^[40] This partnership underscores a therapeutic approach to storytelling, evolving the project beyond personal anecdotes to community-driven support. Eppard's sobriety has enabled this return to creative expression, allowing him to integrate recovery themes into his ongoing artistic endeavors. Throughout 2025, Eppard balanced these ventures with active drumming work, including Coheed and Cambria's Infinite Arc Tour alongside Mastodon, featuring performances in May such as at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.^[41] He also contributed to the band's Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe, released on March 14, 2025, highlighting his intricate drumming on tracks that explore introspective narratives.^[42] In interviews, such as an August AltWire podcast, Eppard reflected on the evolution of Coheed and Cambria's sound, noting shifts toward more personal and layered compositions informed by life experiences.^[43] Eppard's recent drumming-centric activities include detailed playthroughs and breakdowns for Drumeo in 2024 and 2025, where he demonstrated techniques on Coheed classics like "The Suffering" and "Gravity's Union," emphasizing open-handed playing and emotional delivery as therapeutic outlets.^[44] These sessions reflect a broader shift in his solo-adjacent work toward confessional songwriting and performance, using the drum set as a medium for processing and sharing vulnerability. He has also referenced past tours with Incubus in 2024 as influential for his collaborative mindset, influencing subsequent creative ventures.^[43]

Personal life

Addiction and recovery

Eppard's struggles with substance abuse began in the mid-2000s, intensifying during intensive touring schedules with Coheed and Cambria. His heroin use escalated notably during the 2004 Vans Warped Tour, where access to funds allowed for heavy consumption, reaching up to $1,000 worth of the drug daily and nearly resulting in severe health complications like an arm abscess from injection.^[45] This period of addiction was closely tied to the relentless pressures of life on the road, contributing to a downward spiral that affected his personal and professional stability.^[1] By 2006, the addiction had profoundly impacted his career, leading to his departure from Coheed and Cambria. He left the band in November of that year specifically to address his substance abuse issues, amid escalating use of painkillers and heroin that rendered continued participation untenable.^{[5] [46]} Following this exit, Eppard faced deepened isolation, including bouts of homelessness while living transiently, such as on his parents' floor, as his dependency persisted unchecked.^{[1] [47]} Eppard entered rehabilitation around 2006, though prior attempts had faltered due to relapses and lack of full commitment, often undermined by lingering selfishness and emotional turmoil. A turning point came with enrollment in a treatment program in Albany, New York, where he received support from his then-girlfriend (now wife) and medication-assisted therapy using Suboxone to manage withdrawal and cravings.^[1] Early recovery remained fraught with challenges, including repeated setbacks and profound feelings of darkness, but steady progress culminated in a significant milestone of nearly two years sober by 2011.^[15] This phase of active addiction and nascent recovery enforced a prolonged hiatus from his established musical endeavors.^[47]

Return to music and sobriety

Following his departure from Coheed and Cambria in 2006 amid personal struggles, Eppard achieved lasting sobriety around 2009 and rejoined the band in November 2011, initiating a period of sustained recovery that has defined his professional resurgence. By 2023, he had maintained sobriety for approximately 14 years, a milestone he attributed to consistent personal discipline and external aids like Suboxone prescribed by a supportive doctor. In 2024, he confirmed 15 years sober, emphasizing the ongoing nature of recovery as a daily commitment that has allowed him to thrive both personally and in his music career.^[10][48] Family played a pivotal role in Eppard's long-term stability, with his wife, Tamara, credited as the key figure who intervened during his crisis by transporting him to a treatment program in Albany and later relocating them away from environmental triggers in his hometown. Bandmates provided essential encouragement upon his return, offering second chances that reinforced his accountability. These support systems, combined with peer networks, have been instrumental in preventing relapse and fostering a stable home life. Music has served as a profound therapeutic force in Eppard's healing, offering a sense of purpose and emotional outlet that helped transport him beyond his challenges and rebuild his identity. He has described it as a vital mechanism for processing trauma and maintaining mental equilibrium, without which his recovery would have been far more arduous. In recent interviews, Eppard has publicly expressed deep gratitude for his life's turnaround, stating he feels "blessed and lucky" to like the person he sees in the mirror and to have a supportive circle that values his honesty. As of 2025, he continues advocacy efforts by partnering with mental health organizations to share recovery insights and inspire others, underscoring that "if we can help one human being stay on planet Earth, then it’s worth it."^[49]

Drumming

Technique and style

Josh Eppard's drumming is characterized by his open-handed technique, which he developed naturally as a child without formal instruction, leading with his left hand on the hi-hat and ride cymbal while keeping his right hand on the snare and toms to maintain fluidity and avoid crossing his arms.^[50] This approach, which he has refined over decades, allows for seamless transitions and a relaxed posture, setting him apart in progressive rock by enabling expressive ghost notes and high-hat work even in complex passages.^[51] His setup, including angled cymbals, supports this style by providing ergonomic access without strain.^[52] Eppard's style integrates elements of funk, progressive rock, and hip-hop rhythms, creating grooves that lock into the music like a breakbeat producer while serving the song's narrative structure.^[52] Influenced by drummers such as John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, and Jerry Marotta, he emphasizes pocket and backbeat propulsion, often incorporating syncopated funk patterns and hip-hop-inspired phrasing to add tension and humanity to progressive compositions.^[50] In Coheed and Cambria tracks, this manifests in dynamic phrasing where fills and grooves weave around vocals for emotional impact, using subtle variations to build intensity without overpowering the arrangement.^[51] He prefers a single bass drum pedal, which he credits for enhancing groove authenticity and control in live and studio settings.^[16] Eppard's technique has evolved from his time with the alternative rock band 3, where his playing was more straightforward and groove-focused, to the intricate, progressive demands of Coheed and Cambria, adapting to heavier and more layered parts while prioritizing restraint over flash.^[50] Following his return to the band in November 2011 and ongoing sobriety, his style has matured toward greater emotional depth and patience, as seen in recent recordings and tours.^[43] In 2025, amid tours supporting albums like Vaxis II, he continues to refine this approach, sticking with his single kick setup to foster direct, fan-engaging performances that balance complexity with accessibility.^[53]

Equipment and gear

Josh Eppard primarily uses a Tama Starclassic Performer B/B drum kit in Champagne Sparkle finish, consisting of a 22x16-inch bass drum, 12x8-inch tom, 16x16-inch floor tom, and two 14x5.5-inch snares: an SLP Dynamic Bronze (model LBZ1455) and a Vintage Poplar Maple (model LMPM1455FNFM).^[54] This setup reflects his endorsement with Tama Drums, which he joined in 2016 and has maintained as of 2025.^[55] For cymbals, as of 2025, Eppard endorses Zildjian and uses A and A Custom series cymbals.^[52][56] His hardware includes the Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide single pedal (model HP900PN), which supports his open-handed style by emphasizing groove over speed; the Iron Cobra Lever Glide hi-hat stand (model HH905N); Roadpro cymbal and snare stands (models HC83BW and HS800W); STAR single tom stand (model HTS108W); and 1st Chair Ergo-Rider throne (model HT730B).^[54][11] As of 2025, Eppard uses ProMark drumsticks and Evans drumheads.^[56] In the 2000s, prior to his Tama endorsement, he played C&C Custom Drums, including a red sparkle kit with a 24x16-inch bass drum, 8x10-inch rack tom, 16x16-inch floor tom, and 14x6.5-inch snare, before transitioning to Tama around 2017.^[57]

Discography

Studio albums

• Friends and Nervous Breakdowns (March 22, 2005, Equal Vision Records, 15 tracks)^[17][18][19]
• Sick Kids (May 17, 2011, self-released via Bandcamp, 15 tracks)^[20][21][22]

Extended plays

• From the Grave (2006, internet release, 9 tracks including remixes and demos such as "Blood is Funner than Water" and "Plague Days")^[23]
• Red Light Juliet (May 21, 2013, self-released via Bandcamp, 8 tracks)^[24][25][26]
• Red Light Juliet Broadcast 2: Steady Straight Lights / Sudden Dark Turns (February 7, 2014, self-released, 11 tracks)^[27][28][29]
• Red Light Juliet Broadcast 3: The Seer (December 24, 2015, self-released, 15 tracks)^[30][31][32]

Mixtapes

• Weekend at Dirty's (January 2011, internet release via SoundCloud, 9 tracks including "The Spawn of Lies Spun" and "Therapy Session")^[33][34]

Collaborations

• Holes (with Cage, 2005, featured on Cage's album Hell's Winter, 1 track)^[8]
• Stray Bullets EP (with The Prize Fighter Inferno, featuring Weerd Science, July 10, 2020, Evil Ink Records, 5 tracks)^[58]
• "Further Down The Rabbit Hole" (with Upgrade HipHop, featured on Upgrade HipHop's album, November 16, 2015, Equal Vision Records, 1 track)^[36]
• "Can't Find My Way" (featured on Pugs' release, date unknown, 1 track)^[38]
• "Beyond These Years" (with Bobby Delicious featuring Joey Eppard, date unknown, 1 track)^[38]

With 3

Josh Eppard co-founded the progressive rock band 3 in 1994 in Woodstock, New York, alongside his brother Joey Eppard on guitar and lead vocals, and bassist Chris Bittner, taking on the role of the band's original drummer and contributing backing vocals.^[59][60] The band's debut studio album, Paint by Number, released in 1999 on Planet Noise Records, featured Eppard on drums and backing vocals for 12 of its 13 tracks, providing a foundation of intricate rhythms and percussion that supported the album's blend of alternative rock and progressive elements.^[61][62][63] The record, produced by Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner, highlighted Eppard's versatile drumming, including open-handed techniques and dynamic fills that enhanced tracks like "You've Been Shot" and "Paint by Number," establishing 3's early sound rooted in complex song structures and emotive melodies.^[61][64] No singles, EPs, live recordings, or compilations crediting Eppard's drumming with 3 have been released during his tenure, as his involvement concluded with the debut album when he departed in 1999 to join Coheed and Cambria.^[59][65]

With Coheed and Cambria

Josh Eppard joined Coheed and Cambria as their drummer in late 1999, contributing to the band's early releases and helping shape their progressive rock sound. His initial involvement included the debut studio album The Second Stage Turbine Blade (2002), featuring dynamic percussion that supported the album's narrative-driven songs.^[66] Eppard continued drumming on the band's second studio album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003), delivering complex rhythms that complemented the evolving concept storyline, and the third album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005), where his performances on tracks like "Welcome Home" highlighted his technical prowess and integration with the band's layered arrangements. He also contributed to live recordings during this period, including the 2005 live album Live at the Starland Ballroom, captured during a performance that showcased the band's high-energy stage presence. These efforts supported extensive touring, including headlining slots and festival appearances that built the band's fanbase in the mid-2000s.^[67][68][7] Eppard departed the band in 2006 amid personal challenges but rejoined in 2011, resuming his role on subsequent releases. His return marked contributions to The Afterman: Ascension (2012) and its companion The Afterman: Descension (2013), where his drumming added emotional depth to the double-album's sci-fi narrative. He played on The Color Before the Sun (2015), the band's first non-concept album, providing versatile grooves that shifted toward alternative rock influences, and Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures (2018), emphasizing progressive elements in the ongoing saga. Eppard also drummed on Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind (2022), contributing to its ambitious structures and supporting tours that revisited classic material. Most recently, he performed on the band's tenth studio album, Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe (March 14, 2025), delivering marching rhythms and dynamic fills that advanced the series' culmination. Throughout his post-2011 tenure, Eppard has been integral to major tours, including album-specific runs like the 2017 Neverender series replaying Good Apollo, Volume One in full and the 2025 summer tour with dates across North America featuring sets blending new and archival songs.^{[16][67][69][70]}

Terrible Things

Eppard served as the drummer for the alternative rock supergroup Terrible Things, formed in 2009 by former Taking Back Sunday guitarist Fred Mascherino and others. The band released their self-titled debut album on August 31, 2010, via independent label The End Records, featuring Eppard's drumming throughout the record, which explores themes of arson and personal turmoil inspired by real events in Mascherino's hometown. No further full-length releases followed, as the band went on hiatus after lineup changes in 2012.

Fire Deuce

Eppard contributed drums to the instrumental rock side project Fire Deuce, led by Coheed and Cambria guitarist Travis Stever's brother Cleveland Stever. On the 2005 EP Children of the Deuce, released via Evil Ink Records, Eppard performed drums on tracks blending classic rock and funk influences. He also played drums on select songs from the 2020 EP Lords of Diesel, including "Mobile Home Momma," which incorporates saxophone and trumpet for a raw, garage-rock sound.^[71]

Blondie

In 2011, Eppard provided background vocals on Blondie's album Panic of Girls, their ninth studio release and first in nearly a decade, produced by Supreme Beings of Leisure. He collaborated alongside his brother Joey Eppard and father John Eppard on tracks such as "What I Heard" and "The End the End," adding layered harmonies to the pop-rock and new wave elements. The album was released on June 14, 2011, via Eleven Seven Music in North America.^[72][73]

The White Mandingos

Eppard performed drums on the 2013 album The Ghetto Is Tryna Kill Me by hip-hop/rock collective The White Mandingos, founded by Murs and Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains. Released on June 11, 2013, via Strange Life Records, the record fuses punk, hip-hop, and jazz, with Eppard's contributions on tracks addressing social issues like police brutality and urban struggle. He shared drum duties with Nick Overhauser, and the album was mixed by Chris Bittner and Michael Birnbaum.^[74]