In a recent interview, legendary drummer Igor “Iggor” Cavalera, best known for his work with SEPULTURA and currently active in multiple musical projects, opened up about the musicians who influenced his drumming career. When asked to name his ultimate drum hero, Igor did not hesitate.
“My main drum hero has always been Bill Ward from [BLACK] SABBATH,” Igor said, as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET. “He’s my man. I have many drum heroes, but if I have to pick one person that defines for me all those things that I’m talking about — being creative in a studio, performing live with such energy — [it is Bill].”
Igor recalled seeing Ward live multiple times and cherishes a personal memento from the legendary drummer. “I have one of his bandanas that he gave me after he performed with SABBATH. So I keep that as a treasure for all my life,” he said.
Igor praised Ward’s inventiveness and fearless musicality. “He’s just such a creative force. And he was doing things that inspire us as Brazilians, like doing congas, doing overdubs with percussion with SABBATH,” he explained. “People say, like, ‘Oh, you pretty much created this whole tribal thing [mixed with metal],’ and I’m, like, ‘No, there’s many other people doing things that led me to that path,’ and Bill Ward is definitely one of those guys.”
For Igor, Ward represents more than just technical skill — he symbolizes fun and expressive freedom in drumming. “Bill pushed forward drumming,” Igor noted. “The technique, of course, it’s a beautiful thing, but pushing drumming to become like a fun thing to do… I wanna have fun in my drums. And I can see Bill had that pleasure when he was playing. He’s hitting things, and it’s just pure energy.”
According to Igor, that unfiltered energy trumps robotic technical mastery. “I like that over just the technical thing of being so stressed that you can see the person’s not really enjoying themselves when they’re playing.”
While Bill Ward holds the top spot, Igor also cited Stewart Copeland of THE POLICE as another major influence. “Of course Stewart Copeland is a huge influence as well,” Igor said. Growing up surrounded by Latin rhythms like samba, he found Copeland’s genre-blending style — mixing Jamaican elements with punk energy — revolutionary.
“To see someone like him bringing that into pop world — we’re talking someone that [had] a number one hit — and doing crazy stuff on his drums… he’s also another innovator, in my view, that really influenced me in many ways.”
Igor has continuously explored diverse musical avenues throughout his career. In February, he launched a solo UK tour performing electronic music influenced by avant-garde, drone, industrial, and harsh noise genres. His solo discography reflects this experimental approach.
In addition to his role as co-founder of SEPULTURA with older brother Max Cavalera, Igor remains active in several bands and projects, including CAVALERA, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SOULWAX, and PETBRICK. He also collaborates with his wife Laima Leyton in the electronic duo MIXHELL, founded in 2006.
With MIXHELL, Igor has toured internationally and performed at major festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival, and Reading, showcasing his versatility and passion for electronic music.
Since relocating to London in 2013, Igor has delved deeper into experimental music. In 2016, he joined Belgian band SOULWAX, recording drums for their album From Deewee and touring as part of the Transient Program For Drums And Machinery. Shortly after, he co-founded PETBRICK with Wayne Adams, a project combining harsh noise with electronic and industrial sounds.
Igor now performs with analog modular gear, drum pads, and visuals at intimate experimental venues and festivals, including Dio Drone in Florence and London’s Cafe Oto and Iklectik. His most recent releases include Aural Manifestations on Damian Records (US), Deepthroat Records (Europe), and Alucinações Sônicas on Hospital Productions.
Igor departed SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to “artistic differences.” This came five months after he announced a break from touring to spend time with his family. His second son had just been born in January that year.
The Cavalera brothers had already undergone a major change in 1996 when Max left SEPULTURA after the band parted ways with Max’s wife Gloria as their manager.
Through his powerful performances and relentless exploration of music genres, Igor Cavalera continues to influence and innovate in the global music scene. Still, he remains rooted in the inspiration he drew from icons like Bill Ward — a drummer who, in Igor’s words, made playing drums not just an art but a joyful, liberating experience.
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