# Dean Butterworth
**Dean Butterworth** (born 1966) is an English drummer based in the United States, best known as the longtime drummer of the pop-punk band [Good Charlotte](https://www.edgepedia.org/good-charlotte), which he joined in 2005, and as a session musician whose credits run from [Ben Harper](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-harper) and [Morrissey](https://www.edgepedia.org/morrissey) to Hilary Duff and Hollywood Undead.[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/dean-butterworth.html) • [2](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) • [13](https://drummerszone.com/artists/dean-butterworth/448/profile/) He is also a member of Sugar Ray and Ezra Ray Hart and served as band leader on the NBC game show *Hollywood Game Night*.[2](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966, Rochdale, England; moved to the United States at age ten[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/dean-butterworth.html) • [13](https://drummerszone.com/artists/dean-butterworth/448/profile/) |
| Main bands | Good Charlotte (drummer from 2005)[4](https://www.classicrockhistory.com/complete-list-of-good-charlotte-band-members/); Sugar Ray and Ezra Ray Hart[2](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth) |
| Good Charlotte albums | Good Morning Revival (2007), Cardiology (2010), Youth Authority (2016), Generation Rx (2018)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) |
| Earlier affiliations | Long stint with Ben Harper's Innocent Criminals; toured with Morrissey[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) • [6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/) |
| Co-writes | "She's Only Happy in the Sun" with Ben Harper; "War" on Goldfinger's *Hello Destiny* (2008) with John Feldmann[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) |
| Television | House drummer and band leader on NBC's *Hollywood Game Night*[2](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth) • [6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/) |
| Endorsements | Paiste cymbals since September 1993; Tama Starclassic Performer B/B kit; Promark SD9 signature stick[2](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth) • [7](https://www.tama.com/jp/artists/detail/127.html) • [6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/) |
## Early life and start in sessions
Butterworth was born in Rochdale, England, and moved to America when he was ten years old.[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/dean-butterworth.html) He took up the drums at twelve, heavily inspired by Stewart Copeland of The Police;[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/dean-butterworth.html) in a later interview he said his stepfather was the one who inspired him to drum.[8](https://www.altpress.com/good_charlotte_musicians_institute_episode_1)
His professional life began in Los Angeles. He entered the city's session scene at 18, and his first major-label session was for [MCA Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/mca-records).[6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/) From there he built a career as a hired drummer across pop, rock, and punk projects, listing his hometown as Los Angeles and his previous bands as Ben Harper and Morrissey.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/)
## Ben Harper and Morrissey years
Before Good Charlotte, Butterworth spent a long stint with Ben Harper's Innocent Criminals.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) AllMusic credits place him on Harper's *The Will to Live* (1997), *Burn to Shine* (1999), *Live from Mars* (2001), and *Diamonds on the Inside* (2003), with composer credits on the latter two.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) His writing with Harper produced "She's Only Happy in the Sun", the closing track of *Diamonds on the Inside*, which Butterworth wrote on guitar with Harper contributing lyrics.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/)
The same period included a wide spread of session credits: [John Lee Hooker](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-lee-hooker)'s *The Best of Friends* (1998, main personnel on drums), Donavon Frankenreiter's self-titled 2004 album, [Hilary Duff](https://www.edgepedia.org/hilary-duff)'s *Most Wanted* (2005), and [Missy Higgins](https://www.edgepedia.org/missy-higgins)' *The Sound of White* (2005).[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) With Morrissey he played on *You Are the Quarry* (2004), *Live at Earls Court* (2005), and *Irish Blood English Heart* (2006), listed as main personnel on drums.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715)
## Good Charlotte
Butterworth joined Good Charlotte in 2005, after the departures of the band's earlier drummers.[4](https://www.classicrockhistory.com/complete-list-of-good-charlotte-band-members/) His first album with the band was *Good Morning Revival* (2007), recorded in Vancouver; the album was more varied and keyboard-heavy than its predecessors and was spearheaded by the single "The River".[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) • [9](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/good-charlotte-mn0000665908) He next appeared on *Cardiology* (2010), after which the band went on a four-year hiatus announced in 2011.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) • [6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/)
When Good Charlotte reunited, Butterworth returned for *Youth Authority* (2016) and *Generation Rx* (2018), the band's seventh studio album and second release after the hiatus.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) • [10](https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/november-2018-dean-butterworth-on-good-charlottes-generation-rx/) A 2018 Kerrang! feature described him as part of the lineup of Benji and [Joel Madden](https://www.edgepedia.org/joel-madden), guitarist [Billy Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-martin), bassist Paul Thomas, and Butterworth on drums.[11](https://www.kerrang.com/good-charlotte-this-band-isnt-for-sale) A Boston Globe profile of the reunited band likewise listed him among the five members.[12](https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/04/22/reactivated-good-charlotte-brings-authority-paradise/WAp6vZIGXMTW52iiDdQfpK/story.html)
Within the band, songwriting stayed with the Madden brothers. Butterworth said the *Youth Authority* songs were already demoed to a click by the time he came in, and that in this context the Maddens did all the writing.[6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/)
## Session work and other bands
**Sugar Ray and television.** A dep gig, a substitute booking, with the 1990s pop-rock band [Sugar Ray](https://www.edgepedia.org/sugar-ray) turned into a permanent position.[6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/) He is credited on Sugar Ray's *Little Yachty* (2019) as composer, drummer, percussionist, programmer, and backing vocalist.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) During the Good Charlotte hiatus he also took a musical-director position for a high-profile [Boy George](https://www.edgepedia.org/boy-george) show and became house drummer on the NBC game show *Hollywood Game Night*, then in its fourth season; Paiste lists him as the show's band leader.[6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/) • [2](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth)
**Producer collaborations.** Much of his session work has come through producer [John Feldmann](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-feldmann), frontman of Goldfinger and a collaborator of more than 15 years. Butterworth estimated he had played on 30 or 40 of Feldmann's records, including Goldfinger, The Used, and [Escape the Fate](https://www.edgepedia.org/escape-the-fate).[6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/) He co-wrote "War" on Goldfinger's 2008 album *Hello Destiny* with Feldmann.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) His credits under Feldmann's circle include [The Used](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-used)'s *Lies for the Liars* (2007), The Veronicas' *Hook Me Up* (2007), and Andy Black's *The Shadow Side* (2016).[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) • [6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/)
**Breadth of credits.** AllMusic lists him on [Hollywood Undead](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-undead)'s *American Tragedy* (2011) and *Five* (2017), Adam Lambert's *For Your Entertainment* (2009), *Transformers: The Album* (2007), and records by Allstar Weekend, Automatic Loveletter, and Anthony Green, among many others.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715) Famous Birthdays notes his performance on The Cab's album *Symphony Soldier*.[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/dean-butterworth.html) In 2009 he described weekly television session work from home, playing drums for the CBS sitcom *The New Adventures of Old Christine*, the ABC Family sitcom *Rita Rocks*, and upcoming work on Kelsey Grammer's ABC sitcom *Hank* and Nickelodeon's *The Jump Arounds*.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) He has also written songs for television and film, though he said he is hired mostly as a drummer.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/)
## Recording approach
Butterworth's studio method is fast and prepared. For *Cardiology*, recorded with producer Howard Benson, he tracked twenty drum songs in 11 hours spread over a couple of days, recording to a click track while the rest of the band continued tracking for another month.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) For *Youth Authority* with Feldmann, he went in for three days, recording six songs a day from early afternoon to early evening, an efficiency he attributed to a working relationship built over 15 years.[6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/)
His kit philosophy is economical in both settings: a 4- or 5-piece kit in the studio and usually the same live, with a pool of cymbals and snare drums swapped from song to song depending on the vibe of the track.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) Onstage he may change a few fills, but the grooves stay as recorded, and he changes drumheads every four or five shows, or sooner if they sound dead.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/)
## Equipment
Butterworth has been a Paiste artist since September 1993. His listed setup comprises a 14" Signature Reflector Heavy Full Hi-Hat, 17", 18", 19", and 20" Signature Full Crashes, and a 22" Signature Dark Energy Ride Mark I.[2](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth) Tama lists him playing a Starclassic Performer B/B in Red Sparkle Fade with a 14"x6" Starphonic brass snare, Iron Cobra Power Glide twin pedal, and Iron Cobra Lever Glide hi-hat stand.[7](https://www.tama.com/jp/artists/detail/127.html) A 2009 profile additionally listed Tama Starclassic B/B drums, Iron Cobra pedals, Promark TXR5BW sticks, and Evans drumheads.[5](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/) He later received a Promark SD9 Dean Butterworth signature model stick, and uses Gorilla Ears in-ear monitors and DrumTacs Sound Control Pads.[6](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/)
## References
1. [Dean Butterworth - Age, Bio, Family, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/dean-butterworth.html)
2. [Paiste Artist: Dean Butterworth, Paiste](https://www.paiste.com/en/musicians/dean-butterworth)
3. [Dean Butterworth - Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dean-butterworth-mn0000804715)
4. [Complete List Of Good Charlotte Band Members, ClassicRockHistory.com](https://www.classicrockhistory.com/complete-list-of-good-charlotte-band-members/)
5. [Dean Butterworth of Good Charlotte, DRUM! Magazine (September 10, 2009)](https://drummagazine.com/dean-butterworth-of-good-charlotte/)
6. [Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth talks pop punk sessions, having a hit TV show and GC's return, My Drum Lessons (September 26, 2016)](https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2016/09/good-charlotte-drummer-dean-butterworth-talks-pop-punk-sessions-having-a-hit-tv-show-and-gcs-return/)
7. [Dean Butterworth, TAMA Drums artist page](https://www.tama.com/jp/artists/detail/127.html)
8. [Good Charlotte discuss their inspirations, origins and rise to fame, AltPress](https://www.altpress.com/good_charlotte_musicians_institute_episode_1)
9. [Good Charlotte - Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/good-charlotte-mn0000665908)
10. [Dean Butterworth on Good Charlotte's Generation Rx, Modern Drummer Magazine (November 2018)](https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/november-2018-dean-butterworth-on-good-charlottes-generation-rx/)
11. [Good Charlotte: "This band isn't for sale. We protect it...", Kerrang!](https://www.kerrang.com/good-charlotte-this-band-isnt-for-sale)
12. [Reactivated Good Charlotte brings 'Authority' to Paradise, The Boston Globe (April 22, 2016)](https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/04/22/reactivated-good-charlotte-brings-authority-paradise/WAp6vZIGXMTW52iiDdQfpK/story.html)
13. [Drummerszone - Dean Butterworth](https://drummerszone.com/artists/dean-butterworth/448/profile/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Punk rock › Pop-punk and modern band musicians*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license