Drummer’s Review host Ollie Winiberg meets John Otto one of the drumming world’s most influential performers…
It’s a crisp evening in March 2025, and the energy backstage at BP Pulse LIVE is electric. Limp Bizkit are about to hit the stage for the third show of their Looserville tour, and there’s a buzz that only comes when you know an arena is about to erupt. I’m greeted by the ever-animated Gabe Karon—John Otto’s drum tech—who wastes no time whisking me through the corridor straight into John’s dressing room.
Despite being just a couple of hours from a sell-out show infront of 12,000 fans (many of who are sporting red baseball caps, worn backwards), John welcomes me with the kind of warmth you don’t expect from a man whose band has sold over 40 million records. Instantly humble, effortlessly grounded—Otto is the definition of a drummer’s drummer.
00:37 – Intro
01:05 – Approaching Rollin’
02:50 – Sight reading
07:00 – Johns legacy
08:20 – Rollin’ live (drum cam)
What’s always fascinated me about John’s playing is his signature fusion of nu-metal groove and hip hop swing. It’s a balance few have mastered, but he’s long made it his own. We spoke about that defining beat behind Rollin’—a song that, like it or not, still gets people bouncing two decades on. To John, it wasn’t about chasing commercial success; it was about feel. He told me plainly, “you don’t need sight reading to become a drummer – that’s how I started, but it does add to your value as a drummer” It’s a sentiment that perfectly sums up his approach: musical intuition first, theory as a tool, not a crutch.
He opened up about legacy—something more and more drummers of his generation are starting to reflect on. “I’m grateful to be here. I love drums and I love music” he said, “and hopefully I can be remembered for my own take on drums.” It’s clear he understands the weight of his influence, yet he carries it with grace, never ego.
For the gear heads, his stadium setup for this tour is a mirror image of what fans might’ve caught at NAMM in January: his famous Orange County kit – one kick, six toms, and an arsenal of Zildjian cymbals. Precision meets personality—just like his playing.
And just when I thought the evening couldn’t get more surreal, Gabe appears again during the show from stage right. “John wants you behind him for Rollin’,” he says. Seconds later, I’m crouched behind the kit as Otto locks into that instantly recognisable groove, the crowd bouncing in time. To witness that beat from that angle—it’s something I’ll never forget.
John Otto remains one of the most quietly influential drummers of his era. Not just for the records, or the tours, or even the iconic beats—but for the way he continues to show up: passionate, thankful, and forever Rollin’.
John Proudly Uses…
Orange County Drums & Percussion (OCDP)
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