Johnny Kelly career is a testament to perseverance in the ever-evolving world of rock and metal. Tapped by Type O Negative in 1994 to replace Sal Abruscato, Kelly stayed behind the drum kit until the untimely death of frontman Peter Steele in 2010. This tragic event marked the end of an era for the band, but for Kelly, it opened up new avenues and challenges that would define his career in the years to come.
After Steele’s death, the impossibility of replacing the frontman led Kelly to continue with his other gig with Danzig. The veteran drummer found additional work by stepping in for the ailing Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot in 2019 and 2020, a position he holds to this day. Despite Banali’s passing in 2020, Kelly’s connection to the band remains strong.
But Kelly didn’t stop there. His career is marked by numerous collaborations, including his work with Eye Am, a project that brings together members from Crowbar, Kill Devil Hill, and Silvertomb, among others. The diversity of these gigs speaks to Kelly’s adaptability and his commitment to his craft.
One of Kelly’s notable recent endeavors is with the doom-oriented studio project Patriarchs in Black, co-founded in 2021 by Hades/Non-Fiction guitarist Dan Lorenzo. The band, already on its third studio album “Visioning,” showcases Kelly’s powerful drumming alongside a roster of impressive guest vocalists, including Karl Agell (ex-Corrosion of Conformity) and Jason McMaster (Watchtower).
In an interview, Kelly reflected on his journey, expressing how he managed to juggle multiple projects while maintaining a balance. Between Danzig, Quiet Riot, and his other gigs, Kelly revealed that he surprisingly found himself with ample downtime. This flexibility allowed him to continue pursuing new opportunities, even during the pandemic, when many bands were on hiatus. He credits his persistence and refusal to leave the music scene as key factors in his enduring career.
Kelly’s story is one of resilience and adaptability. Even when faced with the end of Type O Negative, he forged ahead, embracing new challenges and collaborations. His journey is far from over, and with upcoming projects like the next album from Patriarchs in Black, Johnny Kelly continues to prove that persistence, indeed, pays off.