I love happy endings.

Well-known New Jersey-based drummer needs a band, big time New Jersey-based band needs a drummer.

And the two came together in 2006, when Chris Pennie grew tired of providing the relentlessly aggressive beats for metallic hard-core band Dillinger Escape Plan, which he had done for over a decade.

At the same time, progressive rock band and sci-fi comic creators Coheed and Cambria was dealing with its own disgruntled employee, departing long-time drummer Josh Eppard.

“I got a call from Coheed and auditioned for them,” recalled Pennie at his Jersey home as he helped his mom recover from an injured foot. “It was amazing. We all felt that we hit it off real nice.”

Pennie had long been a fan of Coheed, which co-headlines this Sunday’s Pointfest at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Joining them gave him the opportunity to diversify his drumming style and embrace complex rhythms.

“We draw a lot from Led Zeppelin, Rush and stuff like that. But we also draw from much more than that,” said Pennie. “Travis is big into Fleetwood Mac, contemporary bands like Muse and even into jazz, blues, DJ Shadow and other electronic stuff. We all have good listening diets.”

Pennie also plays a key role in the songwriting and helped write the latest album, though he wasn’t able to play on it for legal reasons. He was still chained to Dillinger.

Pennie said one benefit of playing for the bigger drawing Coheed has been writing material for their next release while on the road.

“The dressing rooms are so big that I was able to bring in an electronic drum kit at one venue and we jammed on some stuff,” said Pennie, who also plays guitar, bass and piano. “We made some headway.”

Though he enjoys the higher profile, Pennie said he wouldn’t rule out playing the smaller clubs again someday.

“It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s 25,000, 2,500 or 25 people attending. Pack us into a f– car and I’ll play with the same intensity, it doesn’t matter to me!”

Coheed and Cambria

Pointfest — “29 bands for 29 bucks”

Sunday, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Maryland Heights

Doors and show: 10 am

www.kpnt.com/Pointfest/pf22.aspx