Former Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler revealed the medical condition behind his departure from the band in a recent interview with Loaded Radio.
He disclosed his battle with musician’s dystonia for the first time. This neurological condition significantly impacted his drumming abilities, particularly affecting his right foot during performances.
“I haven’t talked about this before, but at the same time, in like the end of 2016, I was diagnosed with something called musicians dystonia,” Adler revealed. “I didn’t want to talk about it at the time because I felt like it would really hinder my career, but I’ve gone through an incredible amount of work to be able to come back from it. For drummer, or really for anybody that plays an instrument, it’s kind of a death sentence.”
“So mine was with my right foot. It is basically a neurological condition where the nerve that controls the movement of any particular body part. Basically deteriorates to the point where that motion becomes impossible. So, people that repeat the same repetitive motion for decades at a time, this happens to them,” he added.
The condition severely affected his ability to perform with the band. This led to mounting frustrations for everyone involved.
“This happened to me with my right foot. So I would be playing a song and my foot, when I intended it to depress the pedal, would shoot off to the side or shoot back,” he explained. “I was coming off stage, just so depressed with my performance. I think the band was very frustrated with my performance. I did give them, you know, the medical paperwork saying here’s what it is, here’s what we can do, there’s just a couple songs that are really aggravating this. The rest I can get through if you’re willing to change them.”
External factors further complicated the situation. These complications ultimately led to his departure from the band.
“I think at the time I had also joined Megadeth. Tensions were really high, and we were never like the most functional group of people traveling around the world if you know anything about the band,” Adler said. “I think the combination of things got to the point where they didn’t want to deal with it, and I wasn’t happy with my performances. So that kind of stopped the train. It was you know, one of those emails, you know, service is no longer required kind of thing. And that was devastating because I felt like it was my baby. It was my project.”
This revelation sheds new light on Adler’s departure from Lamb of God. It finally clarifies the circumstances that ended his tenure with the band.
Multiple challenges marked the period leading up to Adler’s departure. These extended beyond his medical condition.
A report from Metal Master Kingdom detailed Adler’s involvement in a serious motorcycle accident in 2017. The incident forced him to pause touring activities. This hiatus created uncertainty about his role in the band.
His official exit came in 2019. Ultimate Metal noted that Adler did not choose to leave the band. This detail suggests the decision came from other members.
Louder Sound later published Adler’s description of the band environment as “toxic.” This atmosphere significantly influenced the circumstances of his departure.
Adler found a new creative direction after leaving Lamb of God. He formed the band Firstborne with James Lomenzo, Hugh Myrone, and Girish Pradhan. This project marked the beginning of a fresh chapter in his musical career.
