Igor Cavalera

Infobox musical artist
Name = Igor Cavalera


Img_capt = Igor Cavalera (left)
Img_size =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Igor Graziano Cavalera
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1970|9|4|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Brazil
Instrument = Drums
Genre = Thrash metal
Death metal
Groove metal
Hardcore punk
Electronic music
Occupation = Musician
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts = Sepultura
Cavalera Conspiracy
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Igor Cavalera (born Igor Graziano Cavalera on September 4, 1970) was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and was the drummer and founding member of the Brazilian Thrash metal/Death metal band Sepultura.

He is the younger brother of Max Cavalera. He played in bands besides Sepultura as well, including Nailbomb, Strife, and Titãs. As his hip-hop influences grew stronger he began to DJ. Cavalera is one half of DJ duo Mixhell, a project he founded with his wife, Laima Leyton.

In 2006 with the release of Dante XXI, he began spelling his name "Iggor", saying there is no special meaning to this, he just prefers the way it looks. However, this could be to avoid confusion with his nephew Igor, also a drummer, and who has also played onstage with Cavalera Conspiracy.

Life and career

Igor started playing drums at a very early age. When Sepultura was formed, Igor was the youngest member at the age of 13. Sepultura was a pretty big success and gave Igor an early start. On April 21, 1984, Igor played, for the first time, on a real drum kit, which was borrowed from Helinho of the band Overdose, that also played that night.

In the first albums his drum playing was chaotic following the thrash norms of the 80s. This style he had mastered by 1988-1991 (in the "Beneath the Remains" and "Arise" albums). However, the era when he created a new school of drumming began after 1993. His innovative style in the album "Chaos AD" brought tribal elements, with excessive use of double bass drum and toms, incorporated in the songs. One classic example of his contribution to extreme music is the introduction of the song "Territory" (1993, "Chaos AD"). He went on to take this style to a new level in the 1996 "Roots" album, adding more tribal elements to Sepultura's music.

After the band split with his brother Max (lead vocals/rhythm guitar) in 1996 their relationship underwent a crisis. In recent times their relationship has improved, with Max stating in an interview that a reunion with Sepultura was possible. Igor even joined Max's current band Soulfly on stage at the 2006 tenth annual D-Low Memorial Show, to play the Sepultura classics "Roots Bloody Roots" and "Attitude". It was the first time the brothers had played together in ten years.

On 13 January 2006, it was announced that Igor was taking a break due to his becoming a father for the fourth time. He left the ranks of Sepultura temporarily. On 12 June 2006 with the release of Dante XXI, Igor announced that he was quitting Sepultura due to "artistic incompatibility." Igor was scheduled to collaborate with Underground Hip Hop artist Necro, on a project described by Necro as "old-school '80s thrash/death metal type of shit". [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=53776] However, Necro mentioned later that the project will not go ahead. In 2008 he released an album called Inflikted together with his brother Max in a project named Cavalera Conspiracy. In 2008 he also apperead on Violent J's Untitled Violent J album on a track called Fight Club also featuring Necro.

He is also credited as having made a guest appearance on Biohazard's 2001 release "Uncivilization" on the track "Gone".

Personal life

Besides his worldwide success with Sepultura, Igor collects toys and soccer jerseys and has many hobbies, including jiu-jitsu, snowboarding, surfing, and drawing. He also admires his father, Graziano Cavalera, as his role model. He has three children: Joanna Bass Cavalera, November 7, 1996, Raissa Bass Cavalera, April 26, 2000, and Icaro Bass Cavalera November 26, 2002, all of whom were born in Brazil.

In 1996 he started the fashion label "Cavalera" [http://www.cavalera.com.br/src/cavalera_intro.html]