Few bands in modern rock have built a world as distinct and devoted as Coheed and Cambria. At the heart of it is drummer Josh Eppard, whose playing has driven the band’s sound for more than two decades. In a recent conversation with Derek Oswald, Josh spoke candidly about life on tour, the band’s evolution, and the personal lessons he’s carried along the way.
Touring With Incubus and the Dream of Headlining Arenas
Josh recalls the band’s run with Incubus as a milestone, both exciting and humbling. Playing shorter opening sets could feel limiting, but the experience of stepping onto stages like Madison Square Garden outweighed the frustrations. It was a reminder of how far Coheed had come since the small clubs of their early days. “That’s the dream,” he says, noting that headlining arenas outright remains one of the band’s biggest goals. Even after years of touring, the hunger for those moments hasn’t gone away.
How Coheed and Cambria Fans Shape the Music
Coheed and Cambria’s fanbase has always been a unique one, and Josh lights up when describing it. He frames the live shows as an exchange of energy: the band gives, the crowd gives back, and the cycle feeds the performance. Over time, that dynamic has built not just an audience but a creative community around the band, one that continues to push them forward. He points out how fans often bring their own art, comics, or even tattoos inspired by the music, and that passion reinforces the band’s sense of purpose every time they take the stage.
Josh Eppard on the Evolution of Coheed and Cambria’s Sound
The band’s latest work reflects how far they’ve come musically, and Josh’s drumming is no exception. The parts are more demanding and more layered, yet he’s stayed true to his roots by sticking with a single kick pedal. It’s an intentional choice, proof that growth doesn’t always mean adding more, but often doing more with less. For Josh, that restraint is part of the band’s identity: pushing technical boundaries without losing the directness that made their music connect in the first place.
Revisiting Good Apollo and the Classics
With the twentieth anniversary of Good Apollo on the horizon, Josh admits that revisiting older material has stirred up a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. The idea of re-recording classics isn’t off the table, a thought that longtime fans will no doubt latch onto. Performing those songs now carries a different weight than it did in 2005. “The music grows up with you,” Josh reflects, noting how lyrics and arrangements take on new shades of meaning when revisited years later. For both band and audience, it becomes less about a snapshot in time and more about a shared history that continues to evolve.
Life on the Road With Mastodon and Taking Back Sunday
Touring remains one of Josh’s favorite aspects of the job, especially when it means sharing bills with friends like Mastodon and Taking Back Sunday. Years of crossing paths have turned into genuine camaraderie, and Josh speaks warmly about the memories built along the way. Late-night hangs, inside jokes, and the rhythm of long drives all shape the touring life just as much as the shows themselves. What was once a nerve-wracking part of the career has become a source of joy and stability, a place where the grind of travel is outweighed by the connections made.
Finding Balance Through Drum Set Confessional
The conversation also turned deeply personal. Josh was open about the struggles he’s faced and how finding peace has been a process of vulnerability and connection. His project Drum Set Confessional gave fans a window into that side of him, and in turn gave him a sense of grounding. For Josh, it wasn’t just about performing but about breaking down walls, showing that even someone who’s spent years on big stages has their own battles. It’s a reminder that growth as a musician often runs parallel to growth as a person, and that honesty can be just as impactful as technical skill.
What’s Next for Josh Eppard and Coheed and Cambria
Josh closes the conversation with the kind of perspective only years of experience can bring. He’s proud of what Coheed and Cambria have built, but he’s equally focused on what lies ahead. Whether it’s on stage, in the studio, or through personal projects, he remains committed to creating moments that last. And as long as he’s behind the kit, the story of Coheed and Cambria is still being written. Fans who have followed the band for decades will recognize that determination as the same drive that fueled their earliest work, only now backed by wisdom and perspective.