Shawn Drover

Shawn Drover was born on May 5, 1966. He began playing drums at the age of 13 and shortly after, at 14, also started playing guitar, a skill he learned from his brother, Glen Drover. This foundational experience with both instruments proved crucial for his future musical endeavors, as he wrote most of the music for all six Eidolon records and approximately 40% of the music for Act of Defiance. His early musical development included playing in high school bands, gaining experience with cover tunes and collaborating with other young musicians, which he considered an essential part of his growth as a musician. This consistent engagement with music from a young age established a strong basis for his professional career.

In 1993, Shawn Drover co-founded the power metal band Eidolon with his brother Glen. He contributed to seven studio albums with Eidolon: “Zero Hour” (1996), “Seven Spirits” (1997), “Nightmare World” (2000), “Hallowed Apparition” (2001), “Coma Nation” (2002), “Apostles of Defiance” (2003), and “The Parallel Otherworld” (2006). In 2004, Drover joined the thrash metal band Megadeth after a recommendation from his brother Glen, who had also joined the band. Shawn replaced Nick Menza six days before the “Blackmail the Universe Tour,” a period described as a rapid and unexpected transition. During his decade with Megadeth, he performed on several major releases including “United Abominations” (2007), “Endgame” (2009), “Thirteen” (2011), and “Super Collider” (2013), and was credited with co-writing the Grammy-nominated song “Head Crusher” from “Endgame.

After ten years with Megadeth, Shawn Drover departed in November 2014, seeking to pursue different musical interests. He then co-founded the extreme metal supergroup Act of Defiance with former Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick, releasing “Birth and the Burial” (2015) and “Old Scars, New Wounds” (2017). Following the eventual disbandment of Act of Defiance, Drover formed a new band, Withering Scorn, and reunited with Glen Drover. They released their debut record, “Prophets of Demise,” in July 2023, and are currently working on a second record slated for 2025. Drover is known for his distinctive open-handed drumming style, having maintained this technique since he began playing, a characteristic stemming from his left-handedness. He uses Sabian cymbals, Yamaha drums, Pro-Mark drum sticks, Toca Percussion, and Evans Drumheads, and was previously associated with DDRUM.