Claude Coleman

Claude Coleman, Jr is a veteran professional drummer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, engineer producer, teacher, web and graphic designer, carpenter-builder and business owner. He is familiarly known as versatile drummer for the group Ween. His thirty – plus year tenure of dexterous and dynamic drumming with the group has helped elevate the group to a place of legendary status. His work outside of Ween ranges wildly and eclectically across a large discography and live performance history.

A near-fatal car accident survivor, Claude underwent extensive cognitive and physical therapies, doubling up his rehabilitation efforts to perform a miraculous recovery and turnaround back to the stage that was featured by NPR and New York Times. Living with brain injuries, he performs with paralysis, sensation loss and chronic pain - unknown to mostly everyone - a testament to his musicianship.

Claude has resided in Asheville since 2013, embedded in the scene as a player, and in service of its creative community and industry. In 2020, Claude opened Soundspace@Rabbit’s, a music rehearsal and artist’s studio facility inside of a 1947 Black owned tourist court and soul-food restaurant known as Rabbit’s Motel. Along with this critically needed arts resource of creative workspace, the project is to include a new soul-food café and murals project, reconnecting us to rich and overshadowed Black Asheville history.

SoundSpace@Rabbit’s has a multi-dimensional mission and purpose: to support our arts culture and its recovery post-Helene; to create Black entrepreneurship, opportunity and equity; to create a cultural and community hub, bonded by food, arts and history.