Javier Andrés Weyler is a drummer, best known as a former member of Stereophonics. Despite being born in Argentina, Weyler lived most of his life in Caracas, Venezuela, and now resides in London, England. He was drummer in the Venezuelan band Claroscuro for over nine years, until he left the country in 2001 to study audio engineering in London. In 2008 he released his first solo album, Lagrima, under the pseudonym of Capitan Melao.
Career
1992–2004: Claroscuro and audio engineering
Weyler was given his first drum kit at the age of thirteen by his father's band drummer, and was taught how to play them by Venezuelan drummer Jose Mato. In January 1992 he set up his first band, Claroscuro, consisting of himself on drums, Carlos Eduardo Reyes on lead guitar and vocals, and Miguel Delgado on bass guitar. In February of the same year they played their first gig in a venue named 'Dark Hole' in Caracas. At seventeen he was already playing professionally in Venezuela and neighbouring countries with Claroscuro, releasing an EP and two albums with them. In March 1997 they became the first Venezuelan band to be in regular rotation on MTV, with the music video for their single "Mantarraya". In October 2001 he left the band to move to London to study audio engineering at the SAE Institute. He was consequently replaced by Javier del Castillo on drums, with Claroscuro officially breaking up not long after in 2002 anyway. He then went on to work in several recording studios as an audio engineer/session drummer.
2004–2012: Stereophonics and Capitan Melao
It was at one recording studio, where Weyler was working as an Audio Engineer in 2003, that he met Stereophonics whilst they were recording their fourth studio album for which he played percussion and programmed drums. Weyler later met the band again when they were arrested at a party in Buenos Aires, aiding their release with his ability to speak Spanish. In April 2004, Weyler assisted in recording demos for Stereophonics' next studio album, and later on that year Kelly Jones and Richard Jones wrote to Weyler inviting him to drum permanently within the band as Stuart Cable's replacement. Weyler accepted the offer and met up with the rest of the band to make Stereophonics' fifth studio album Language. Sex. Violence. Other?. He described learning the band's back catalogue ready for touring as "More challenging than difficult" and his favourite songs from the band's first four albums are "Local Boy in the Photograph", "The Bartender and the Thief" and "Mr. Writer". Weyler recorded a solo album, Lagrima, under the persona of Capitan Melao, which was released on April 2, 2007. The project includes contributions from Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music and Natalia Lafourcade, with Weyler describing it as having "dreamy and poetic" lyrics and Latin rhythms. Weyler's alter-ego translates as 'Capitan' being the Spanish for 'Captain' and 'Melao' Latin American slang for "swing, rhythm or soul". In July 2012, it was announced that Weyler had left Stereophonics, ending an 8-year long collaboration. The band released a statement saying "Hi folks. We wanted to letyou know Javier and the band will no longer be working together. The band enjoyed playing with Javier over the last 8 years and his company was enjoyed by everyone in the Stereophonics family. We wish Javier every success going forward in his new creative endeavours and personal life.. We look forward to seeing you at the shows."
Current equipment
Slingerland Drums - 24x14" kick, 14x12" tom, 18x16" floor tom.
Brady - 14x6½" block snare.
Zildjian cymbals - 15" A rock hi-hats, 19" K Medium crash, 20" A Medium crash, 22" A Medium ride & 20" 1970's pang.
Slingerland hardware.
Remo heads.
Vater 5A sticks.
DW 9000 pedal.
During the world tour to promote the release of Stereophonics' 6th album Pull the Pin Javier switched from Slingerland to using Ludwig Custom Maple drums out on the road. He is using a 22x14 bass drum, 14x10 tom, 16x16 and 18x16 floor toms and a 14x61/2 Brady Jarrah block snare with all Ludwig hardware apart from a DW 9000 kick pedal and hi-hat stand. His cymbals are all Zildjian, with a 15" K/A hat mix, 22" K custom crash ride, 22" K custom ride and a prototype 21" A custom crash ride. He also uses Remo drumheads and Zildjian Super 5B sticks.
