Jason Bittner is a 2-Time Grammy-nominated drummer primarily known for his career with the Massachusetts metal band Shadows Fall and as the drummer for New Jersey thrash legends Overkill. Bittner attended Berklee College of Music in the late 80s before establishing himself in metal/hardcore bands along the East Coast – primarily Stigmata, Crisis, and Burning Human. Playing in these specific bands for over next 10 years would eventually lead him to Shadows Fall in late 2001 – where he toured the world extensively, released 7 albums with the band, did drum clinics around the world, released instructional books and Dvd’s, and was nominated for 2 Grammy awards.
Shadows Fall went on hiatus in 2014 – Bittner then moved on to play in the bands Toxik and Flotsam & Jetsam before landing in Overkill in early 2017, where he has held the drum chair ever since. Outside of his own bands, Bittner has also spent time on the road as a touring member of Anthrax (2006, 2008, 2012), live drummer for DD Verni and the Cadillac Band ( a swing/rock/jazz ensemble 2020-23) as well as a touring member of NYC’s Prong (2023).
2021 brought the reunion of Shadows Fall, followed by select festival appearances through 2023 and a new record scheduled for 2024. Bittner’s playing style is rooted in double bass, rock, and metal, but he has a large command of the drumset, including many other different styles of music ranging from Latin to jazz to Afro-Cuban rhythms. He has also been a private drum instructor and clinician for over 25 years.
Jason’s Links:
Direct email for lessons/session work – jbittnerdrums [at] gmail [dot] com.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/jasonbittner
September 2023 Live Round Table Interview with Derek Roddy, Matt Thompson, Gus Rios, and Co-Hosted by Raanen Bozzio: https://www.youtube.com/live/iV6NbWPY0t0?si=Rw33YHF7HnFLPlxg
Socials:
http://www.facebook.com/therealjasonbittner
http://www.instagram.com/jasonbittner
http://www.twitter.com/jbittnerdrums
Websites:
https://downrightmerch.com/collections/shadows-fall
*ALL PHOTOS – ROBB DUCHEMIN
Jason Bittner Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Jason: Banging on pots, pans, and garbage cans as early as 3 and started drum lessons at 8.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Jason: Yes, all of the above: middle school band and jazz band, HS jazz band, Concert band, Orchestra, and Marching Band. Then, on to Berklee College of Music.
SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
Jason: 1 and 1 because they are equally as important, and I can’t put one before the other.
Charlie Benante and Dave Lombardo – I am the thrash drummer/double bass player I am today because of them.
(honorable mention to Lars for my first “hearing” of fast db kick), I wanted to be both guys for my whole teen and early adult playing career… years later, I DID get to be Charlie (quite a bit, actually, which was another of my childhood dreams coming true).
3. Mark Zonder – Prog metal genius and the next-gen of Neil Peart for me.
4. Pete Sandoval – Blast beat king
5. Sean, Gene, Richard – I shouldn’t have to put the last names… any album Human and Beyond by Death was always a benchmark of drumming for me – sorry Bill… and also let’s not forget anything Sean did in Cynic too – but esp ” Focus” – I spent many hours “trying” to play to those songs… emphasis on ” trying” – he was one of a kind and a dear friend and we miss him dearly!
SDM: Who are some of your other favorites?
Jason: Nick Barker, Horgh, Derek Roddy, and of course Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain and the godfather Bill Ward… even though Neil is my favorite drummer ever, and also, IMO, that Buddy was the greatest drummer to walk the Earth! I also want to give a shout-out to some younger guys who are just awesome, like Eloy Casagrande, Krimh, and Dariusz Brzozowski from Dimmu Borgir.
*ALL PHOTOS – ROBB DUCHEMIN
SDM: Let us know 5 bands in your current personal rotation.
Jason: Immortal, Darkthrone, Malevolence, Ratt, new Shadows Fall demos – some selection, huh?
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Jason: Plenty of stretching and yoga (30-40 min), followed by 15-25 min on a pad, depending on how I feel that day after soundcheck.
SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have affected your playing.
Jason: YES – 100 percent an asset to my career… easier to write ideas, easier to chart material you are learning, easier to learn written material for performance, etc.
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Jason: I am proudly endorsed by Pearl Drums (since 2013), Zildjian Cymbals (2011), Pro-Mark sticks (2002), Remo drumheads (2007), Gator Cases (2005), DW pedals and hardware (2007), Cympad cymbal felts (2017).
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…
Jason: Stop watching YouTube and play your drums… not EVERYONE can be as good as the phenoms you see on YouTube – those drummers are few and far between, and they are great, but can be discouraging to younger players – the most important thing is to ENJOY playing your drums, not feel like you are in a constant contest!
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Jason: Neil Peart, Steve Smith, Gavin Harrison (with Pat M and Jeremy S all in King Crimson), Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Terry Bozzio – note ALL of my fave metal guys fall in this category too, but these, to me , were “utterly jaw-dropping.”
SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
Jason: Yoga, Working out, walking, collecting drums, spending time with my Wife and cats.
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