Great footage of Roy Mayorga, drummer for Stone Sour playing Gone Sovereign and Absolute Zero Live in Bologna!

Instinct initially attracted Roy Mayorga to the drums. As a result, his playing remains primal, passionate, and powerful.

The Stone Sour drummer became inexplicably drawn to the instrument almost in tandem with taking his first steps. He recalls pounding away on his mother's pots and pans as a child, developing a natural concept of rhythm at a very young age. At the same time, he also immersed himself in the work of luminaries such as John Bonham and Neil Peart, learning the ins and outs of their playing organically as he found his own style.

While in his teens, he joined New York punk legends Nausea. It would provide his first real recording experience and inaugural international tour in 1989. He soon became an in-demand presence behind the kit in the East Coast hardcore and metal scene drumming for the likes of both Shelter and Crisis. However, everything changed for him in 1997. Mayorga teamed up with legendary Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera to cut Soulfly's landmark gold-selling titled debut. He went on to tour with the group until 1999, heading out on OZZfest 1998 and crisscrossing the globe.

After recording Soulfly's 3, stints in both Medication and ABLOOM followed. Then, he got a call from producer Nick Raskulinecz [Rush, Alice In Chains] to drum on Stone Sour's second full-length album, Come What(ever) May in early 2006. He instantly connected with the band, recording and becoming a full-time member. As the quintet destroyed the road alongside everyone from Korn to Deftones, the sophomore set would eventually surpass Gold status and solidify Stone Sour as one of hard rock's leading contenders.

Now, Mayorga stands out as an integral part of the group, adding intense grooves and potent panache to the songs both live and in the studio. To date, he's been a driving force of Audio Secrecy [2010] and House of Gold & Bones Parts 1 & 2 [2012, 2013] as well. In Stone Sour, he's also played and programmed synthesizers and penned certain songs including "Threadbare".

26174_artistMoreover, his talents extend to multiple instruments as well as songwriting. Whether it's guitar, keyboards, or drums, Mayorga approaches each with the same intuitive energy. As a producer and engineer, he's equally adept working out of his own L.A. studio, helping other artists achieve an optimum style and sound. Still, he's simultaneously evolving. As this dynamic and diverse musician delves further into penning songs and cinematic projects, he's continually challenging himself and everyone around him.