The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney Fills In As Cleveland Indians’ Drummer

Patrick Carney filled in as the stadium drummer for the Cleveland Indians season opener against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday.

Carney, one half of the rock duo, The Black Keys, filled in for the stadium’s regular drummer, John Adams, who is recovering from heart surgery. This is the first home opener Adams has missed since 1973.

“I’m stoked to be here for John,” Carney said. “It’s the best seat in the house and I wish John could be here, obviously. When I heard he wasn’t healthy enough to make it, I thought it was good way to pay some respect to him and show him some love.”

Adams gave Carney his blessing during a video presentation during the first inning.

Carney said he attended his first Indians game in Cleveland when he was 5 or 6 years old. He added that one of his friends who went to that first game with him was in attendance that day.

This was the first concert Carney has played since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he said.

“This is my first show since last January,” Carney said. “Crazy. This is gonna be fun.”

He said he looks forward to concerts resuming and hinted that The Black Keys might have some exciting news coming up. The Black Keys’ last studio album, Let’s Rock, was released in June 2019.