Tri-City native joins Guns N’ Roses as new drummer

The ’80s rock band known for the hits “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” has hired one of the Tri-Cities’ own as its new drummer.

Guns N’ Roses announced that Isaac Carpenter joined the band on March 20, just in time for its upcoming world tour.

Carpenter, who grew up in the Tri-Cities and attended Kamiakin High School in Kennewick, is the former drummer for the alternative rock group Gosling, as well as its previous incarnation Loudermilk, made up of Tri-Citians Davey Ingersoll, Mark Watrous and Shane Middleton.

Loudermilk was originally formed as a Guns N’ Roses cover band, according to Carpenter’s Wikipedia page.

Loudermilk’s Facebook fan page shared the news, and the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership, among many others, offered a “Congrats bud!” message in response.

This photo of Isaac Carpenter was taken when he was a junior and appears in the 1997 Kamiakin High School yearbook.

| Photo by Judy Schilling

Carpenter’s most recently been drumming for the alternative rock band Awolnation. He also previously played with Duff McKagan’s Loaded band and toured with Adam Lambert on the Glam Nation tour in 2010. McKagan is the bassist for Guns N’ Roses.

Carpenter replaces Guns N’ Roses drummer Frank Ferrer after his nearly two decades with the band, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

Guns N’ Roses’ current line-up consists of singer Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, guitarist Richard Fortus, McKagan and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese.

The band kicks off a world tour, called the Because What You Want and What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things, in South Korea in May. The tour continues through July, with concerts in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Special tour guests include Public Enemy, Rival Sons and Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter on select dates.