Lucky Lehrer

Who is Lucky Lehrer?

Lucky Lehrer is a drummer from Los Angeles, California who was voted the best punk drummer of all-time by fanzine, Flipside. He was originally trained in jazz but most famously played in LA punk rock bands, particularly the Circle Jerks, Redd Kross, Bad Religion, Darby Crash Band and LA's Wasted Youth, among others. Lehrer also appeared in three notable documentary films charting the punk rock music scene. He is the brother of LA's Wasted Youth guitarist Chett Lehrer. Lehrer also teaches drums, with notable students being future Bad Religion drummers Pete Finestone and Bobby Schayer.

Lucky credits his early music start to his mom, who passed away of cancer. “I quit guitar after 6 weeks and she let me try the drums. Years later, she said that all the racket in the house from hours of practicing drums never bothered her,” Lucky remembers. Early birthdays were spent at venues like Shelly’s Manne Hole watching Louie Billson, or at the Brass Ring, where young Lucky got so close to his idol, Buddy Rich, he quipped “get outta here kid, you bother me.” They visited jazz clubs until his mother died, such as Jaxx, Vibrato and La Ve Lee, where Lucky met his mentor, Los Angeles session drummer Joey Heredia.