Christoph Schneider

Christoph Schneider

Schneider (2005)

Christoph "Doom" Schneider (born May 11, 1966) is the drummer of Rammstein.

Biography

Early life

Schneider was born in Berlin, East Germany, and has a sister who is younger by 2 years. His interest in playing music started at school, where he played the trumpet. While playing for the trumphet he couldn't help but notice the percussion section and thus his passion for the drums began. He would pretend play the drums with cans and sticks until he got his first set around 14 years old. Schneider left high school at age 16 and went to work as a telecommunications assistant. In 1984, he served his national service with the East German Army; He and Till Lindemann are the only ones to have served in the army out of all of the Rammstein members.

Career

In 1985, Schneider quit his telecommunication job to pursue his musical ambitions by studying music at university, but failed to get into university twice. His father disapproved of Schneider's learning to play the drums, preferring the trumpet. Schneider tried consistently from 1985 until 1990 to get into bands as a drummer, finally being successful with Die Firma.

In 1994, he joined Richard Kruspe and Oliver Riedel in forming an early version of Rammstein. After Till Lindemann joined the band, they entered the Berlin Senate Metrobeat contest, winning the chance to record a professional demo with four tracks. A previous band of Schneider's, Feeling B, provided two other members of Rammstein, Paul Landers and keyboardist Christian Lorenz.

Personal life

Schneider values his privacy, so little is known about his private life. He married Regina Gizatulina from Russia in May 2005, but they are currently divorced. He has 3 sons with Ulrike Schmidt. They married July of 2014.

He is nicknamed after his favorite computer game, Doom. Funnily enough, he said if he knew this nickname would be put on all of the records he wouldn't have chosen it.

Schneider has also claimed in an interview with Thomas Lang he was influenced by Phil Rudd - drummer of AC/DC, Ian Paice - drummer of Deep Purple, Vinnie Paul - drummer of Pantera, and Chad Smith - drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Current Equipment

Drums

• DW Collector's Series
  • 2x 24x18" Bass drums
  • 2x DW Design Series Concert Toms 6x5", 10x5"
  • DW Gong Drum 21"x16"
  • 16"x16" Floor Tom
  • 18"x16" Floor Tom
  • 14"x10" Mounted Tom
  • 14x6" Collector's Edge Snare
  • 12x5" Side Snare

Cymbals

After 12 years of collaboration, Christoph Schneider decided in May 2009 to break his contract with Meinl, who provided him his cymbals since September 10, 1997. He is now equipped with Sabian.

• Sabian
  • HHX Evolution Splash 12"
  • HH China Kang Chinese 10"
  • AAX X-Celerator Hats 14"
  • HH Power Bell Ride 22"
  • AAX Prototype Omni Crash 18"
  • HHX X-Plosion Crash 20"
  • AAX X-Plosion Crash 19"
  • HHX X-Treme Crash 19"
  • HHX Chinese 18"
  • HHX Chinese 20"
  • Vault Fierce Hats 14"
  • AAX X-Celerator Hats 14"
  • HHX Evolution Splash 12"
  • AAX X-Plosion Crash 20"
  • Paragon Chinese 19"
  • APX O-Zone Crash 18"
• Current Set Up:
  • 15" Groove Hats (main)
  • 15" Artisan Hats (auxiliary)
  • 22" AAX Heavy Ride
  • 20" AAX Medium Crash
  • 20" AAX X-Plosion Crash
  • 20" HHX X-Plosion Crash
  • 19" AAX X-Plosion Fast Crash
  • 21" AA Holy China
  • 12" AAX Aero Splash over 12" AA Mini Holy China stack

Drumheads

Doom uses Remo drumheads.

Bass Drums: 2x Powerstroke 3

Toms: Pinstripe Clear Top, Diplomat clear reso

Snare: Controlled Sound Coated

Side Snare; Coated Ambasador

Gong Drum: Powerstroke 3

Concert Toms: Controlled Sound Clear

Drumsticks

Since 2009, Christoph uses Vic Firth sticks with his own custom signature and a Rammstein logo at the base of the sticks.

• Diameter: .645" | 1.64cm
• Length: 16.25" | 41.28cm
• Taper : Short

Former Equipment

Drums

• Tama Starclassic Performer EFX
  • 2x 22"x18" Bass Drums
  • 10x8" Tom
  • 12x9" Tom
  • 16x14" Floor Tom
  • 18x16" Floor Tom
  • 14x6" Bill Bruford Signature Snare
  • 10x5" or 10x4" Snare
• Sonor SQ2
  • 2x 24x19" Bass Drums
  • 14x13" Rack Tom
  • 20x15" Gong Drum
  • 16x15" Floor Tom
  • 18x17" Floor Tom
  • 12x5" Snare Drum avec un 'Heavy Birch shell'
  • 14x6" Snare Artist Series Bell Bronze model

Cymbals

Although endorsing Meinl during the Reise, Reise period, Schneider used a Zildjian 14" K Hi-hat as his main Hi-hat. A Meinl 14" Soundcaster Custom Hi-hat was used on the scaled down kit when "Los" was performed.

• • Meinl:
  • 18" Custom Shop China
  • 14" Soundcaster Custom Medium Hi-hat/Zildjian 14" K Hi-hat
  • 18" Byzance Medium Thin Crash
  • 18" Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash
  • 18" Byzance Medium Crash
  • 18" Soundcaster Custom Powerful Crash
  • 14" Soundcaster Custom Powerful Hi-hat
  • 22" Soundcaster Custom Powerful Ride
  • 20" Amun China

Skins

• Evans, now owned by D'Addario

Sticks

• Pro-Mark 2S (used in this live video of Du Hast, you can see the iconic Promark stripes in some parts)

Electronics During his Herzeleid ("Heartache") period:

• • 5 ddrum triggers
  • 1 PD-7 2 zone Roland pad
  • 1 Drum tech 2 zone Pole pad
  • 1 Alesis D4 module , then he added a ddrum3 module
  • 1 unidentified sound and kit controller
  • Sequencer (unconfirmed)

During Sehnsucht ("Longing") period:

• • 1 Ddrum3 module
  • 1 Alesis D4 module
  • 2 ddrum3 Cast Presicion Pads
  • 1 PD-5 Roland pad
  • 1 dual zone Drum Tech Pole Pad
  • 5 ddrum triggers
  • 1 ddrum RCI kit selector
  • Sequencer (unconfirmed)

During Mutter ("Mother") period:

• • 1 Roland PD-5 pad
  • 1 2 zone Rod pad
  • 2 Simmons pads then he changed to a pair of PD-31 Roland pads
  • 5 ddrum triggers
  • 1 ddrum3 module
  • 1 ddrum kit selector

During Reise, Reise ("Travel, Travel")or ("Journey, Journey")period:

• • 2 ddrum4 mesh pads
  • 1 ddrum3 module