Michael Wengren (born September 3, 1971) is an American drummer, best known for his work with heavy metal band Disturbed. He is one of the founding members of the band, which was formed in 1994. Wengren is known for his bass drum techniques that have become a staple of Disturbed's music.
Mike Wengren | |
|---|---|
 Wengren performing with Disturbed in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 3, 1971 |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Drummer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Member of | Disturbed |
| Formerly of | Fight or Flight |
| Website | disturbed1 |
Biography
editBorn and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Wengren has been playing drums since around the age of 10. He attended Curie High School on the Southwest side of Chicago.
He has been quoted as saying that Metallica, Slayer, Judas Priest, Testament, Mötley Crüe, Pantera, Iron Maiden, and Racer X were his strongest influences.[citation needed]
On August 31, 2005, before the set closed, frontman David Draiman handed the microphone to Wengren, who invited his girlfriend onstage and proposed marriage to her.[1]
In 2013, Wengren pursued a side project band, Fight or Flight, in collaboration with Disturbed member Dan Donegan.[2] In 2020, Wengren became a partial owner of Steel Tank Brewing Company in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Endorsements
editIn recent years, Wengren has appeared in advertisements for Pearl Drums, since the Masters Series was his first professional kit purchased from Midwest Percussion the early 1990s. Wengren uses Evans Hydraulic Glass drumheads on all toms and EQ3 heads on both bass drums. He has been added to the Vater Signature line of drumsticks, which now has a Mike Wengren model. Additionally, he uses Sabian cymbals.
His previous tour kit was a 'cranberry fade' Pearl MRX Masters Series drumset with black hardware. Wengren's tour kit in support of the album Ten Thousand Fists was a 'vintage sunburst' variation of the same drumset, also with black hardware.
Discography
edit
Brawl
edit- Demo Tape (1994)
Disturbed
edit- The Sickness (2000)
- Believe (2002)
- Ten Thousand Fists (2005)
- Indestructible (2008)
- Asylum (2010)
- The Lost Children (2011)
- Immortalized (2015)
- Evolution (2018)
- Divisive (2022)
Fight or Flight
edit- A Life by Design? (2013)
Other appearances
edit- "Let the Truth Be Known" (2008)
- "A Song for Chi" (2009)
Awards and nominations
editLoudwire Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Mike Wengren | Best Drummer | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Disturbed Drummer's Onstage Proposal". Blabbermouth. September 1, 2005. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ^ "News – Fight or Flight". Disturbed.