Born in Las Vegas Nevada, and was heavily influenced by his father Gus Gustofson who was a Jazz drummer and Roger’s drum endorser who played in many famous band’s, Kris grew up in the San Francisco bay area. Before receiving a real set of drums, He practiced with all the kitchen pot’s and pan’s and played along to Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Woody Herman, and many other great Jazz band;s because they all had the best drummer’s playing in them. Music played nonstop at home. Kris got his 1st set of ludwig drum’s as a gift at age 8. He would go and sit in sometime’s at some of his Dad’s gig’s. This was sometimes a practice of the nerves since some of Gus’s friend’s came from band’s like Duke Ellington’s, Woody Herman’s, Benny Goodman’s and so on. Kris was told at a young age to “Learn it All” and don’t limit yourself. Kris studied with bay area drummer Bill Nawrocki who was a known drummer for playing all the show’s that required heavy reading of drum charts and also sometime’s with drummer John Markham, Sinatra’s 1st call drummer when Sinatra performed in San Francisco. Kris like’s listening and studying all type’s of music and drumming styles. Genre’s Kris has played include, New Wave, Punk Rock, Blues, Country, Funk, Bluegrass, Electronic, Metal, Hard Rock. Kris has toured the world with many band;s and continue’s to do so. He has played drums on many charting records as well. Some of the artists/band’s he has worked for include: Trauma, Mike Onesco, Phil Sauson, John Dunmore, Frank Hannon, Moon Dog Mane, Krokus, Mark Kohler, Jon Handy, THREAT , Don Prell, Claude Williamson, St Elmo’s Fire, Dito Godwin, Mark Needham, Bruce Kaphan, Mike Varney, Josh Ramo’s, Jeff Jones, Mechanizm, Richard Grieco and many other’s. Kris has shared the stage with Slayer, Y&T, Pat Travers, Elvin Bishop, Dio, Linda Perry, Third Eye Blind, Exodus, Anvil, Loudness, Motley Crue, Dokken, The Outlaws, Ratt, George Clinton, Tyger’s of Pan Tang, Grand Magus, Riot and many many other’s. Kris has been mentioned many time’s in major music publications from around the world. currently endorsing Sonor drums,Paiste cymbals,Regaltip drumsticks, Axis Percussion products, Danmar, Aquarian drumheads, Porter& Davies, Vk Custom drums.
http://www.metalforcesmagazine.com/site/news-trauma-tour-united-states-in-april-2018/
http://www.mia.org.uk/2017/09/porter-davies-welcome-royal-bloods-ben-thatcher-tony-royster-jnr-and-more/
I was just added to the Family of endorsers of Regal Tip drumsticks.
http://www.regaltip.com/artist-roster/kris-gustofson
Trauma writing new material for a new album to be released in 2017.
Sonor Artist Kris Gustofson and his legendary band Trauma are honored to be performing on the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise in early February 2017 with many of the best bands in this genre of music.
http://www.sonor.com/news/trauma-on-70000-tons-of-metal-cruise/
http://www.robynflans.podbean.com/category/kris-gustofson/
Axis Percussion
Here is an interview Kris Gustofson did with Robyn Flans.
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-vdvvq-5ecd78…
http://www.robynflansdrummerinterviews.com/e/chris-gustav…/…
Kris Gustofson
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ROBYNFLANS.PODBEAN.COM|BY PODBEAN DEVELOPMENT
Alpha Omega Management has announced the signing of the legendary Bay Area thrashers Trauma to its roster family.
Trauma was formed in 1980, having in their original line-up the iconic Cliff Burton on bass guitar, before joining Metallica in 1982. The band quickly became well known throughout California, playing at all the legendary venues, and their first ever recorded track “Such A Shame” was included on Metal Blade Records, Metal Massacre II album in 1982. Their Scratch And Scream (1984) album has long been considered a classic heavy metal collector’s item. Shrapnel Records remastered and re-released the album in October 2013, and Trauma reformed with a new lineup for the album re-release. In July 2014 Trauma played at the Headbangers Open Air Festival, furthermore the same year Trauma signed a worldwide contract with Pure Steel Records. Their latest effort Rapture And Wrath was released on February 27th, 2015. The band released a video of one of the new songs, “When I Die”, in February 2015. Trauma is currently writing material for a new album and is in the process of securing live touring dates.
http://sailawaytomorrow.blogspot.com/2015/10/interview-kris-gustofson-from-trauma.html
Pure Steel Records recording artists St. Elmos Fire announced that the writing for the next album is just about wrapped up. The California based melodic metal band has been working on the new material since late last year. It will mark the first new material since "Desperate Years" was issued on Black Dragon Records in 1992, 23 years ago.
According to guitarist Jeff Jones, the album will contain between 10 to 12 new songs: "We are extremely excited to be releasing our new music on Pure Steel. They are one of the best metal labels around and we are thrilled to be part of their metal family!"
The album will feature original band members drummer Kris Gustofson and guitarist Jeff Jones. Mike Palombi who joined the band last year will be handling the lead vocals.
Pre-production and recording for the as of now untitled new record will begin soon in the band's studio in Sacramento. More information is expected soon. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=111284
St. Elmo's Fire are finishing up writing songs for their next studio album, their first since 1992's 'Desperate Years'.
The California based metal band have been working on new material since late last year. The upcoming album on Pure Steel Records will be the band's fifth album, dating back to 1986, and will feature original members Kris Gustofson (drums) and Jeff Jones (guitar). Mike Palombi, who joined the band last year, will be handling the lead vocals. Pre-production and recording for the currently untitled new record will begin soon in the group's Sacramento studio.
According to Jones the album will contain between 10 to 12 new songs, "We are extremely excited to be releasing our new music on Pure Steel," says Jones. "They are one of the best metal labels around and we are thrilled to be part of their metal family!"
St. Elmo's Fire was originally formed in 1980 and released the albums 'St. Elmo's Fire', 'Warning From The Sky', 'Powerdrive' and 'Desperate Years' before calling it quits after playing their final tour in 1992 (including dates in Mexico). Gustofson went on to record with several other bands (including Frank Hannons' Moondog Mane) and Jones had a short lived stint in Vamp Le Stat. In 2012 Jones and Gustofson started performing together again and St. Elmo's Fire reformed. http://www.sleazeroxx.com/news/02869.shtml
Axis percussion
New Album from TRAUMA “Rapture And Wrath”
Kris Gustofson’s new album with TRAUMA “Rapture And Wrath” to be released worldwide February 27th. Check out the video release “When I Die”. For more, go to PURE STEEL. Read more about Kris Gustofson on our Artist page. http://www.axispercussion.com/2015/02/19/new-album-from-trauma-rapture-and-wrath/
Aquarian Drumheads
New album release featuring Kris Gustofson
FEBRUARY 16, 2015 0
New release from TRAUMA called “Rapture and Wrath” set to drop of February 27th with Kris Gustofson on drums. http://www.aquariandrumheads.com/2015/02/16/new-album-release-featuring-kris-gustofson/