George Kollias

Born in August 1977 in Korinthos, Greece, George Kollias began his musical journey as a guitarist at the age of 10 before transitioning to drums one year later. By 1990, he was studying under Vasilis Baxevanakis and later with renowned Greek jazz drummer Yannis Stavropoulos, laying the foundation for his dynamic and versatile playing style.

George formed his first band, Extremity Obsession, in the early 1990s, taking on dual roles as a drummer and co-writer. The group played numerous local shows and recorded two official demos, marking his early contributions to the Greek metal scene.

Relocating to Athens, George joined the legendary metal band Nightfall, contributing to the albums I Am Jesus and Lyssa: Rural Gods and Astonish Punishments. Around the same time, he formed his own death metal band, Sickening Horror, recording a promo and their debut album When Landscapes Bled Backwards. These projects gained him international attention, particularly within the drumming community, as his technical mastery and stylistic range began turning heads.

In August 2004, George took a major leap in his career by joining the iconic death metal band Nile. He relocated to the United States and immediately began work on Annihilation of the Wicked, kicking off a massive world tour that included performances at premier metal festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting, Hellfest, Loudpark (Japan), and Ozzfest (USA). George has remained Nile’s drummer from 2004 until today, recording seven of the band’s classic albums and completing several world tours over 21 years. His drumming left an indelible mark on the band and elevated his status as one of the world’s top metal drummers.

Beyond the stage, George has become a leading educator and clinician. He is a faculty member at LAB Music Education in Greece and Modern Music School in Germany and the U.S., while also conducting clinics and masterclasses worldwide. He has performed at major drum festivals including the London Drum Show, Australia’s Ultimate Drummers Weekend, Adams Drumfest, and the International Percussion Festival, among many others. He has toured extensively for clinics in Europe, Australia, and Japan, and has been featured at major expos like Musikmesse (Germany) and Palm Expo (India). George also runs his own George Kollias Drum Camp, held in various locations across Europe, Australia, and the U.S.

In 2008, George released his first instructional DVD Intense Metal Drumming, followed by Intense Metal Drumming II in 2012—both receiving widespread acclaim. These educational efforts expanded further with the launch of his Online School in 2009, which continues today with hundreds of students worldwide. In 2013, he announced a groundbreaking three-part instructional book series, The Odyssey of Double Bass Drumming, creating a strong impact in the world of drumming education.

George showcased his full creative spectrum in 2015 with the release of his solo album Invictus, where he wrote all music and lyrics and performed every instrument and vocal track. The album was met with rave reviews and opened a new chapter in his musical career, revealing his talents beyond drumming. Following that, his Brass Project is ready to kick off, with George exploring more musical directions than ever before.

George proudly endorses Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Evans drumheads, Soundhoops mics & hoops, footBlaster triggers & pads, Soundz In-Ear Monitoring, M-Live B.Beat, Kicker2, SkyGel damper pads, Serial Drummer clothing, Alpinestars apparel, Jackson guitars, and D’Addario strings.