Chris Kontos - Drums

Chris Kontos was born on June 25, 1968, in New York City, USA.

Although born in New York, Kontos became closely associated with the San Francisco Bay Area punk, hardcore and metal scenes and developed a distinctive drumming style combining elements of thrash metal, hardcore, funk and hip-hop.

Attitude Adjustment

Kontos became a founding member of Bay Area crossover band Attitude Adjustment in 1984.

He played drums during several periods with the band, initially from 1984 to 1986 and again from 1987 into the early 1990s.

Kontos appeared on releases including American Paranoia (1986), No More Mr. Nice Guy (1988) and Out of Hand (1991).

He would eventually return to Attitude Adjustment many years later.

Verbal Abuse and Death Angel

In 1989, Kontos joined influential punk/hardcore band Verbal Abuse.

He performed on Passport: Verbal Abuse of America, released in 1990, and later appeared on Red, White & Violent, released in 1995.

Kontos also had a brief period with Bay Area thrash metal band Death Angel around 1991.

The Beginning of Machine Head

When Robb Flynn began developing Machine Head with bassist Adam Duce, Kontos was one of the musicians Flynn wanted for the new project.

Kontos played drums on Machine Head's very first demo around June 1992.

However, he moved to New York shortly afterwards and was unable to commit to the developing band.

Machine Head therefore recruited Las Vegas drummer Tony Costanza, who relocated to the Bay Area and became the band's first regular drummer.

Costanza played Machine Head's earliest concerts and helped Flynn, Duce and Logan Mader develop much of the material that would eventually appear on Burn My Eyes.

Returning to Machine Head

Kontos returned to the Bay Area in October 1992.

In an unusual twist, he initially became Costanza's drum technician for several Machine Head shows.

Having already played on the band's earliest demo, Kontos became increasingly interested in Machine Head as the group continued developing.

At the same time, Costanza became aware that the band was considering Kontos for the drum position and eventually left.

Kontos then became Machine Head's second drummer.

His first live performance as a member took place at first show at Mayday Malone's in Pleasant Hill, California, on November 21, 1992.

Burn My Eyes

With Kontos behind the drums, Machine Head continued developing the material that would become their debut album.

The band signed with Roadrunner Records and recorded Burn My Eyes, which was released in 1994.

Kontos' drumming became a defining element of the album.

Rather than relying exclusively on conventional thrash metal techniques, he incorporated grooves influenced by hardcore, funk and hip-hop.

This approach can be heard particularly clearly on songs such as "Old" and "A Thousand Lies".

Alongside Flynn, Duce and Mader, Kontos helped establish the rhythmic identity that became one of the defining characteristics of early Machine Head.

Burn My Eyes became a major success, particularly in Europe, and Machine Head embarked on extensive touring.

Exodus

While still a member of Machine Head, Kontos temporarily performed with fellow Bay Area thrash band Exodus during a South American tour in 1993.

His involvement was a temporary live role rather than a permanent membership.

Leaving Machine Head

By 1995, tensions had developed surrounding Machine Head's increasingly demanding touring schedule.

Accounts of the circumstances differ. Contemporary Machine Head statements emphasized Kontos' unwillingness or inability to commit to certain touring plans, while Kontos later explained that health problems, including a serious viral illness, contributed to the situation.

Whatever the precise combination of circumstances, Kontos became unavailable for portions of Machine Head's 1995 touring schedule.

Walter "Monsta" Ryan was recruited as a temporary drummer for a short series of Australian and European dates, including Machine Head's major Donington appearance in August 1995.

Will Carroll subsequently handled drums during the band's North American headline tour.

Machine Head continued searching for a permanent drummer and eventually recruited former Sacred Reich drummer Dave McClain in December 1995.

Kontos' original tenure with Machine Head had therefore come to an end, but his performance on Burn My Eyes remained an important part of the band's musical identity.

Testament

Following Machine Head, Kontos became involved with another major Bay Area thrash band, Testament.

He played with Testament during 1995 and 1996 and performed on the band's recording of Judas Priest's "Rapid Fire".

Konkhra and Other Projects

Kontos continued working with numerous metal and hardcore projects.

He joined Danish death metal band Konkhra and performed on their 1997 album Weed Out the Weak, contributing drums and songwriting to several tracks.

The album also featured guitarist James Murphy.

Kontos later contributed percussion to Murphy's 1998 solo album Feeding the Machine.

His extensive résumé has also included projects and bands such as Grinch, Hell's Kitchen, The Servants, Anti-Trust, Custard Pie and Sangre Eterna.

Return to Attitude Adjustment

In 2007, Kontos returned to Attitude Adjustment.

The reunited band released No Way Back in 2011, reconnecting Kontos with the crossover scene in which his career had begun.

He remained involved with Attitude Adjustment until approximately 2013.

Burn My Eyes 25th Anniversary

More than two decades after leaving Machine Head, Kontos reunited with Flynn and original guitarist Logan Mader to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Burn My Eyes.

Beginning in 2019, Machine Head presented special concerts divided into two sections.

The first featured Flynn, Jared MacEachern, Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka and Matt Alston performing later Machine Head material.

For the second section, Mader and Kontos joined Flynn and MacEachern to perform Burn My Eyes in its entirety.

Kontos and Mader also participated in a special live-in-the-studio re-recording of the complete album.

The reunion allowed Kontos to perform the material he had helped create more than twenty-five years earlier and continued through the anniversary touring cycle.

His participation was a special reunion rather than a permanent return to Machine Head.

The Boneless Ones and Forbidden

Kontos has remained active in the Bay Area music scene.

He became involved with veteran skate-rock/crossover band The Boneless Ones and continued performing and recording with the group.

In April 2023, Kontos was announced as the drummer for the reactivated Bay Area thrash metal band Forbidden.

The move reunited him with another band from the same Bay Area thrash scene that had surrounded Machine Head's early history.

Current Career

Chris Kontos has spent more than four decades performing across punk, hardcore, crossover, thrash and death metal.

His career has included Attitude Adjustment, Verbal Abuse, Machine Head, Death Angel, Exodus, Testament, Konkhra, The Boneless Ones and Forbidden.

His original period with Machine Head was relatively short, but his contribution was substantial. His distinctive drumming became an essential part of Burn My Eyes, and his later reunion with Flynn and Mader allowed one of Machine Head's most celebrated early lineups to perform together again more than two decades later.