Claude Coleman Jr. (born August 29, 1974)[1] is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock group Ween.[2] He has also worked with Eagles of Death Metal, Chocolate Genius, the Wooden Soldiers, Elysian Fields and 3 Input Woman. Coleman has also served as a touring member of Mike Dillon's band on multiple occasions.
A multi-instrumentalist, Coleman is also the singer/songwriter for his own group Amandla. In 2006, he released his second album as Amandla, titled The Full Catastrophe.
Coleman survived a near-fatal car crash on August 7, 2002, in which he suffered multiple pelvic fractures and brain injuries.[3] During his extensive and difficult recovery, members of Ween organized a series of benefit concerts on October 7 and 8, 2002, hosted at New York's Bowery Ballroom. Josh Freese performed with Ween in Coleman's place. Coleman eventually recovered, and remained an active member of Ween until their dissolution in 2012 and since their reunion in 2016[4]
Coleman is also active in music education through the Paul Green School of Rock, and through the New York City music program Music Ascension.[5]
Since 2017, he has co-owned and actively managed SoundSpace@Rabbit's, a music rehearsal and art studio facility inside of a 1947 Black-owned tourist court and soul food café known as Rabbit's Motel, in the historically African-American district of Southside, Asheville, North Carolina.[6]
