Five Finger Death Punch has officially unveiled their new drummer. In their latest studio diary video, the
band introduces fans to Charlie Engen (Scale The Summit) as their new member, discussing how they
met him and his impressive skills behind the kit.
Engen has been playing with Five Finger Death Punch on tour since 2018 when original drummer Jeremy
Spencer was sidelined due to a back injury and subsequent surgery that ultimately led to his exit from
the band.
In the video, the band reveals that they found Engen through his profile on Instagram.
Guitarist Jason Hook said in the video’s opening seconds:
“It was actually Jeremy that found Charlie. Jeremy reached out to you through Instagram. And so when Jeremy told us that he was thinking about hanging it up, he’d gone through a couple of surgeries and really thought that he wasn’t going to be able to play drums up to his standards, we understood. ‘But the good news is I found a guy.’ He said ‘It’s this fellow on Instagram named Charlie.’”
At Spencer’s suggestion, Hook checked out Engen’s work and immediately contacted him for an audition. From the video, the rest of the band look to be in complete agreement with Engen’s inclusion, praising his amazing beats and timing. Five Finger Death Punch are currently in the studio recording their as-yet-untitled eighth album. The
band released their last album, And Justice For None, in 2018. In July, the band will embark on a short
North American headlining tour with In This Moment opening all non-festival dates.
In related news, Jeremy Spencer has been sworn in as a reserve member of the Rockport, IN police
department. Despite his injury, he was able to pass the pre-basic course required to become an officer.
“I was recently sworn in as a Reserve Police Officer of the Rockport, Indiana Police Department by city
Mayor Gay Ann Harney,” said Spencer in a statement made to his Instagram Sunday (9). “I’m still a
resident of Las Vegas, NV, but it’s an honor to be able to come back to this area when I can and serve
the community as a reserve police officer and help out my brothers.” Spencer graduated high school in a
neighboring county to Rockport.
Spencer’s former bandmates also shared the news, saying in a statement on their social media Monday (10th):
“It’s pretty much public knowledge by now that we have been supporting 1st Responders, Vets and
active members of the military since day one, and continuously donating to organizations taking care of
the families of the fallen. So, of course, it brings us great joy and makes us very proud to see that our
brother and former drummer Jeremy Spencer keeps walking the walk !!!! After he couldn't continue
with the band he has chosen to become a (for now reserve) Police Officer.”
Recently, Five Finger Death Punch donated the proceeds from their last single, a rerecording of the
band’s cover of Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue On Black” featuring Shepherd, Brantley Gilbert and Brian
May, went to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which benefits “America’s defenders, veterans, first
responders, their families and those in need.”
