Aquiles Priester is the drummer for the Brazilian power-metal band Angra. In 2006 he participated in Fábio Laguna's Freakeys project and currently is focused on his other band, Hangar.
Biography
Aquiles Priester was born in Otjo, South Africa. His first exposure to the instrument was at age four, while watching a jazz ensemble perform on television.
Aquiles had moved to Brazil in 1977, and played professional soccer until 1985. In 1985 he attended the "Rock in Rio" festival, and decided to become a drummer. Although he began playing on cans, he had assembled a set consisting of a snare, tom (which he had borrowed from his school), bassdrum, hihat, and a cymbal which hung from his roof. He was strongly inspired by Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). A local television band named "The Tropical Band", had seen him play, and invited him to play a couple of songs. Later a band by the name of "Stylo Livre" (free style) had seen him play and recruited him. He would have struggled for years to come, but he found success with metal outfits throughout Brazil, and eventually got the audition for Angra.
Equipment
Aquiles endorses: Paiste, Mapex, Evans (as of 2006), Pro-Mark, Audio-Technica, Staff Drum, Santo Angelo, Urban Boards, and Ciclotron.
Aquiles has led various drum clinics throughout the Americas, especially the ones in Santiago, Viña del Mar, and Concepción (cities of Chile) with great acceptance and technique.
