The article titled "Drummer Chris Adler Unveils the Circumstances Behind His Dismissal from Lamb of God" initially graced the pages of Consequence, capturing the attention of metalheads worldwide. Renowned as one of modern metal's elite drummers, Chris Adler's departure from Lamb of God in 2019 stunned long-standing fans. Six years hence, Adler has at last shed light on the events that led to his exit from the band he co-founded in 1994.
In the year preceding his dismissal, Adler had been sidelined from performances due to a motorcycle accident that severely injured his collarbone and right shoulder. Art Cruz stepped in to fill the void during Lamb of God's tour dates and ultimately assumed the role of the band's permanent drummer following Adler's termination in July 2019.
Unbeknownst to many, Adler had been grappling with musician's dystonia, a condition that impaired his drumming abilities, even before the fateful motorcycle crash. Around this time, he also contributed to Megadeth's Grammy-winning 2016 album 'Dystopia', a few years after his stint on Protest the Hero's 2013 LP 'Volition'.
In a revealing interview with Loaded Radio, Adler expressed that his limited physical capabilities and collaborations with other bands created friction with his Lamb of God bandmates. He recounted being unceremoniously dismissed via email.
"Dystonia is a neurological condition where the nerve controlling a specific body part deteriorates, rendering the motion impossible," elaborated Adler, as transcribed by Blabbermouth. "It often strikes individuals who perform repetitive actions for decades, such as golfers, quarterbacks, lead violinists, and, in my case, drummers. My right foot was affected. While playing, instead of pressing the pedal as intended, it would shoot off to the side or back. I'd leave the stage dejected over my performance."
He continued, "I believe the band was frustrated with my performances. I provided them with medical documentation, outlining the issue and suggesting adjustments to certain songs. But at the time, I had also joined Megadeth, which heightened tensions. Lamb of God has never been the most cohesive group on tour. When not in the same room, members tended to criticize each other behind their backs. The culmination of these factors reached a breaking point where they no longer wanted to deal with it, and I was dissatisfied with my performances. An email stating 'services are no longer required' ended it all, devastating me because Lamb of God was my baby, my project, and I had poured my life into it."
After two years of intense physical therapy, Adler reclaimed his drumsticks and formed the band Firstborne with guitarist Myrone and vocalist Girish. Their debut album, 'Lucky', is set for release on July 18th.
