Ryland Steen
Ryland Steen is an American drummer who was drummer for ska punk band Reel Big Fish from 2005 to 2014 and is the current drummer for soft rock band America since 2014. He has also performed with Maroon 5, Kris Allen, and Phantom Planet.
Biography
Steen was born in Lincoln Nebraska on August 31, 1980. His father is Dave Steen, a former member of the 1980s power pop band Hawks and brother to drummer Drew Steen.Steen began playing piano at the age of 6 and drums at 13. He moved to Orange County, California at age 19 in 2000, with pop/fusion group Square, which also featured vocalist/keyboardist Sean Beste and future Maroon 5 guitarist, James Valentine. Square entered and won an Ernie Ball-sponsored band competition, where Steen met the ska punk band Reel Big Fish.
While in Orange County, Steen worked with various artists, including Audiovent, between 2003 and 2004, and their subsequent spin off band Agent Sparks. He also played with The Elected, The Summer Obsession, Start Trouble, Phantom Planet, Suburban Legends, Mt. Egypt, and TEA. He also briefly performed with Maroon 5 in 2004 as a touring substitute for Ryan Dusick.
In 2005, Steen joined Reel Big Fish, leaving Agent Sparks to do so. He played on three studio albums with Reel Big Fish. He started touring with the band America in 2014, going on hiatus from Reel Big Fish to do so. Steen has stayed with America to the present day with his position in Reel Big Fish being filled by Edward Beach of Suburban Legends.