AQUILES PRIESTER

Aquiles Priester has consistently ranked high in readers' polls in the "Favorite Metal Drummer" categories of various drum magazines. In 2020, to his credit and obvious delight, he won First Place in the "Double-Bass Drum Set" category of a readers' poll conducted by Modern Drummer Magazine. "This has been the biggest dream that I've accomplished since moving to Los Angeles in July of 2016!" exclaimed Aquiles. YouTube also presented him with a plaque acknowledging 100,000 hits to his YouTube Channel; the actual figure stands at 165,000 and counting!

Although born in South Africa, Aquiles' family moved to Brazil while he was still a child. There, he formed his earliest musical memories and bands including Hangar, where he began developing the aggressive, no-holds-barred drumming style that would become his signature. He was subsequently considered Brazil's best heavy metal drummer for twelve years in a row by many percussion magazines and websites.

Aquiles' best-selling percussion books and videos include a textbook on the study of the double-bass drum set called Inside My PsychoBook - 100 Double Bass Patterns (Mel Bay 22151BCD) and his acclaimed DVD, Aquiles Priester's Top 100 Drum Fills (MB30398DVD), nominated as the "Best Educational DVD of the Year" in the 2014 Modern Drummer Readers Poll. In addition to his education publishing efforts, Aquiles Priester has presented more than 300 drum clinics and participated in major drum festivals world-wide.

Mapex Drums created the Mapex Limited Edition Aquiles Priester Drum Kit followed by a signature snare drum, Aquiles Priester's PsychOctopus Black Panther Snare. Paiste Cymbals released the PST5 Limited Edition Aquiles Priester Cymbal in the Brazilian market and the signature 2002 PsychOctopus Giga Bell Ride 18" worldwide. Together with his signature percussion items, Aquiles plays one of the largest arrays of percussion instruments ever assembled in a single drum kit.