The Sword Name Santiago ‘Jimmy’ Vela III as Permanent Drummer

Texas metal terrors the Sword have tapped Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III as the band's new full-time drummer, officially taking over the skins from Kevin Fender, who had acted as a temporary drummer for the band since early 2010.

Founding Sword drummer Trivett Wingo (pictured above) quit the band in the fall of 2009, just five dates into the band's 'Warp Riders' headlining tour of North America (and immediately following the Sword's stint opening for Metallica in Australia, New Zealand and Japan). He cited exhaustion as the reason for his departure but left the door open to one say rejoining his bandmates.

Wingo commented that he was "physically and emotionally unable to continue on as part of [the band]" and later revealed that he had predicted that he would leave the band for "probably a couple of years." But with Vela's admission, it seems like Wingo's hope of a comeback is no longer in the cards.

The Sword recently wrapped up the first leg of their North American tour with Kyuss Lives! and kick off the second leg Nov. 17 in San Diego. Four more dates have been added to the trek, which now runs through a Dec. 10 gig in Montclair, N.J.

The Sword's Fall 2011 North American Tour Dates With Kyuss Lives!:

11/17 — San Diego, Calif.
10/19 — San Francisco, Calif.
10/21 — Portland, Ore.
10/22 — Seattle, Wash.
10/23 — Vancouver, British Columbia
10/26 — Calgary, Alberta
10/27 — Edmonton, Alberta
10/29 — Winnipeg, Manitoba
10/30 — Minneapolis, Minn.
12/1 — Milwaukee, Wis.
12/2 — Chicago, Ill.
12/3 — Pontiac, Mich.
12/5 — Greensburg, Pa.
12/6 — Buffalo, N.Y.
12/7 -- Baltimore, M.D.
12/8 -- New Haven, Conn.
12/9 -- Huntington, N.Y.
12/10 -- Montclair, N.J.