Guns N' Roses Announce Departure Of Longtime Drummer, Name Replacement
After 19 years with the band, Frank Ferrer has parted ways with Guns N' Roses, though his replacement boasts an impressive musical pedigree.
Guns N' Roses (Credit: Josh Groom)
There’s movement in the Guns N’ Roses camp, with the band announcing both the departure of their longest-serving drummer, and his nascent replacement.
The band announced on Thursday that Frank Ferrer would be leaving the band after 19 years, citing his departure as “amicable.”
“The band thanks Frank for his friendship, creativity and sturdy presence over the past 19 years, and they wish him success in the next chapter of his musical journey,” their statement read.
Ferrer joined Guns N' Roses in 2006, taking over from Bryan 'Brain' Mantia, who had sat behind the kit since 2000. Previous drummers to have held the beat during the band's career included Josh Freese (1997 – 2000), Matt Sorum (1990 – 1997), Steven Adler (1985 – 1990), and Rob Gardner in 1985.
Ferrer’s contributions to the band outside of the live side of things were relatively small, however. He appeared on a few tracks on their 2008 album Chinese Democracy, but didn’t appear on any studio releases since. While he would appear on the live tracks for their Hard Skool EP in 2022, Mantia handled the studio drums, as he would with their 2023 singles Perhaps and The General.
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Currently, Guns N’ Roses haven’t performed live since November 2023, but with their awkwardly-titled Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things Tour launching in May, they’ve now revealed the identity of their new drummer to be Isaac Carpenter.
Though some fans would likely have hoped for Adler or Sorum to take their place behind the kit again, Carpenter boasts an impressive pedigree.
Having launched his musical career in 1995 as the drummer for Loudermilk (which initially began as a Guns N' Roses cover band), he's since performed with the likes of The Exies, Ours, and more. Between 2009 and 2011, he was a member of Loaded with then-former (and now-current) Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, he’s performed as the drummer of Adam Lambert’s live band, and he most recently spent a decade as the drummer for AWOLNATION.
Currently, Guns N’ Roses upcoming tour dates feature shows in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, but there’s no word as to whether Carpenter will be joining the band on an Australian trek in the near future.
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