"When Max and I started talking early in the year, he explained to me the importance of the feel that he was trying to get out of the drumsticks when he played. Kudos to Vater's production manager, Billy Clark, and the guys in our factory, who quickly turned Max's thoughts into a design that perfectly met what he had been searching for. We're thrilled that Max's stadium filling sounds now start with Vater sticks in his hands."

Watch Vater's welcome video below: filmed by Against Me drummer Jay Weinberg, Max's son and also a Vater Percussion artist:

About Max Weinberg
In 1974, Max Weinberg was playing in pit bands for theatrical productions when he answered the Village Voice advertisement that requested a drummer capable of playing R&B and jazz for an immediate audition. Weinberg had never seen the E Street Band and was unfamiliar with most of their material.

He was, however, a talented drummer and possessed superior instincts. Legend has it that Max's performance on Let the Four Winds Blow during his audition won him the job. Weinberg could easily play the beat for the song, but it was his ability to take cues from Springsteen - specifically, playing a rim shot when Bruce held up his hand to stop the band and then starting back into the song - that was most impressive.

With Max in their new lineup, the E Street Band went on to record some of Bruce Springsteen's best selling and most highly regarded albums.

Following the band's breakup in 1989, Max Weinberg would find great success as the musical director and band leader for Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

When the E Street Band reunited and proceeded to tour regularly in the 2000s, NBC allowed a special dispensation, permitting Max to take leaves of absence from the show in order to go on tour. When scheduling difficulties associated with O'Brien's move to the Tonight Show forced Max to miss several E Street Band shows in 2009, Bruce chose Max's son, Jay Weinberg, to serve as a temporary replacement.

Max is currently on an arena tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in support of their new release, 'Wrecking Ball'.

Some words from Max's peers
Modern Drummer Magazine dubbed Max "The King of the Big Beat". Rancid drummer Branden Steineckert calls Max a true mentor and role model:

"Such raw, powerful, positive energy while maintaining an unsurpassed level of integrity and class. Sums him up both on and off stage. He's been such a great influence on my life as a drummer and human being."

John Fred Young of Black Stone Cherry states:

"Max is a drummer who's determination, incredible playing and charisma has led an amazing example of how to stand out from behind the kit and grasp many different opportunities in the world of music and show business"

And Sean Winchester of Everclear/Something Bot Metro has the following to say about Max:

"When I see a drummer go from being a cooperative, solid backbone of one group, to being a fun, outspoken leader of another group in a totally different style, I'm really impressed and humble myself to the guy. This dude does it well."