Aquiles Priester is one of the most recognized Brazilian drummers, both for his work and for the extensive equipment that makes up his drum kit.
In an interview with The Wikimetal Happy Hour, Priester revealed that the process of setting up his drum kit usually involves about five people and takes around 3 hours on occasions involving large events. The complexity of the process, however, can be a problem when opening for other bands, in which case, according to the drummer, he is notified in advance.
“When Hangar opened for Dream Theater in 2008 in São Paulo, they warned us beforehand,” he says. “They said, ‘Aquiles, we know your drum kit is big, but our space on stage is small.’ Usually, when people know it’s me, they let them know. When it’s a big band, the arrangement is very professional.”
It then falls to Achilles and his team to adapt the instrument to fit on stage and facilitate its removal at the end of the show. When in the studio, however, Priester reveals that he likes to set aside a day just for setup so he can “enjoy” the process.
“I’m in no hurry to set it up because I’m in contact with the instrument and that gives me immense pleasure. When I’m setting up the drum kit, I’m cleaning it, changing the drumheads, I’m having an intimate relationship with my equipment,” he says.
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