Matt Nicholls
Matt Nicholls | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Matthew Stephen Nicholls[1] |
Also known as | Mat Nicholls[2] |
Born | [3] Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England | 22 March 1986
Origin | Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | 2000–present |
Member of | Bring Me the Horizon |
Matthew Stephen "Matt" Nicholls (born 22 March 1986) is a British musician. He is best known as the drummer of the British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Nicholls is featured on all six of the band's studio releases.
Early life
Nicholls was born and raised in
Career
Bring Me the Horizon formed in March 2004, and the band released their debut EP,
In 2019,
Equipment
Nicholls owned a Pearl Export drum kit, which he used for recording on their first album Count Your Blessings. Following the release of that album, he bought a Tama Starclassic, which he used for recording on the group's next four albums.[23] While performing live, Nicholls uses a SJC drum set, which he has been playing since 2008. His double pedal kit consists of a Joey Jordison Signature Export kit and the Speed Cobra brand.[2] Nicholls owns a Roland drum kit that he uses to play and learn stuff on at home. He also had a gong drum which SJC made for him. Nicholls owns a variety of snares, including his main Vinnie Paul snare, a Pearl snare and an SJC snare.[23] He also has a 14" Black Brass and a 13" G Maple.[2]
Nicholls has a 16" and 18" floor toms, as well as a 22"x16" kick drum to fit the "faster metal stuff" the band plays. He has a pair of closed hats that is a part of his set up on the right side of his kit.
Playing style and technique
At first, Nicholls didn't learn "the proper way to drum," such as playing chops or grooves.[24][2] When the band recorded Count Your Blessings, he considered himself to be "really frantic and trying to be as metal as possible," doing things he couldn't pull off at the time. His style consisted of fast playing, influenced by Swedish metal.[25] Throughout the years, Nicholls developed a more solid technique, playing "more controlled, more chilled, more complimenting of the music," giving a complex and diverse style.[25] Speaking more about his technique, he considers his right hand to be good but his left hand a bit stiff. He bought a Korg Beatlab to build on his left hand, practicing single strokes to get used to playing like his right hand. Nicholls also uses an Ez drummer software to work on fills and other drum parts. In the early years he would play over a lick and add a beat and fill over it.[25] Nicholls "hated" playing to a click at first as he couldn't figure out how to play along with it, but decided to give it another chance on the band's third studio album, There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. He credits the click on him playing better on drums.[24] On the band's 2019 album Amo, his style focused on more grooves and more hi-hat work.[2]
Personal life
Nicholls revealed that he was diagnosed with ADD.[6] He is a football fan and supports EFL Championship club Rotherham United.[4]
Discography
Bring Me the Horizon
- Count Your Blessings (2006)
- Suicide Season (2008)
- There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. (2010)
- Sempiternal (2013)
- That's the Spirit (2015)
- Amo (2019)
Accolades
Publication | Accolade | Year | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
MusicRadar | Best Rock Drummer | 2019 | 10 | [21] |
References
- ^ "Artist: Matt Nicholls". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Music Radar. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Tony Banh (25 March 2023). "Bring Me The Horizon Brochure". Issuu. p. 12-13. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Premier League predictions: Lawro v rock band Bring Me The Horizon". BBC. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Andrew Lentz (October 2010). "Matt Nicholls of Bring Me the Horizon". DRUM!. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ a b "SJC Artist Profile - Mat Nicholls - Bring Me The Horizon". YouTube. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Shahlin Graves (22 June 2009). "Interview: Caution! Bring Me The Horizon". Coup de Main. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Sebastian Kessler (19 March 2009). "Bring Me The Horizon Interview". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ISSN 1465-0185.
- ISBN 978-1784189860.
- ^ a b c d e "Bring Me the Horizon - Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Bring Me The Horizon Signs With Epitaph". Epitaph Records. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Bring Me the Horizon: New Album Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Bring Me The Horizon drummer breaks hand". Alternative Press. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Chris Epting (7 September 2011). "Bring Me the Horizon's Matt Nicholls on Returning to Tour After Breaking His Arm". Noisecreep. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Martin Kielty (1 March 2013). "Hear The Whole New Bring Me The Horizon Album Sempiternal". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Bring Me the Horizon To Release 'That's The Spirit' Album In September". Blabbermouth.net. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Keith Caulfield (20 September 2015). "The Weeknd Earns Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Connick, Tom (22 August 2018). "Bring Me The Horizon's new album – release date, tour dates and everything we know so far". NME. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Bring Me The Horizon score first No. 1 album with 'amo'". Alternative Press. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ a b David West (28 December 2019). "The 10 best rock drummers in the world right now". MusicRadar. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Damian Jones (22 October 2021). "Bring Me The Horizon's Mat Nicholls makes surprise appearance on BBC Breakfast". NME. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Music Radar. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Why You Should Play Drums to a Click". My Drum Lesson. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Music Radar. Drum Expo. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2024.