Aaron A. Brooks

AARON A. BROOKS

DRUMS AND PERCUSSION

Aaron's playing has been aptly described as: "rhythmically graceful" "emotionally raw" "explosively powerful" "dynamically provocative" - Billboard-Metal Edge-Rolling Stone-NME

AARON has been playing drums professionally for 20 years and had his first drum lesson with JOHN BONHAM, whom he counted along with Keith Moon, Mick Fleetwood, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams, as his early mentors, friends and influences. Aaron's father is legendary Grammy winning jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger FRANK FOSTER and his mother is influential 60's and 70's rock publicist CHRISTINE "SUNSHINE" BROOKS. Aaron currently lives in New York City.
Aaron is presently playing drums and collaborating with multi-platinum recording artist, musician and pop icon MOBY and THE LITTLE DEATH with LAURA DAWN MURPHY and DARON MURPHY. THE LITTLE DEATH is currently preparing to release their debut album "THE LITTLE DEATH" exclusively on TOPSPIN RECORDS sometime in the fall of 2009, while developing a major Broadway rock musical with best selling pulp/noir author MEGAN ABBOTT, as well as, performing continuously sold-out shows in NYC and abroad, including critically acclaimed performances at 2008's SXSW, 2008's Sundance Festival, The Box, The Guggenheim Museum and most recently at Radio City Music Hall with PAUL MCCARTNEY and MOBY. Aaron is also playing with the legandary guitarist/producer CARLOS ALOMAR in the ARTHUR LYNN fronted rock band ANGIESCREAMS, as well as, pounding the skins for soulful rocker JOEY DEGRAW, up and coming popist and Sony artist Joe Chiafalo's Baldwin Drive, superstar cover band's THE COCKY SPARROWS and ADONIS, solo artist Mike Tate, uber hip rock upstarts The Shandy's, the sensational ALESIA GUARNERA and Irish folk-rock bard Allen Gogarty.
Aaron has spent a good part of the last decade playing, recording and touring internationally with critically acclaimed Sony/Extasyrecording artist LAURA DAWN, supporting her debut album "Believer" while opening for The Calling on their breakthrough tour of 2003, and performing/recording with her other alt-rock band FLUFFER, performing alongside seminal rock bands such as The Melvins, Ben Folds Five and Train. During that time, Aaron also recorded and toured stateside and in Japan with ERIN EVERMORE. In support of her notorious MIKE CHAPMAN produced album "Love Wounds", they were the opening act for legendary pop tarts DURAN DURAN on the U.S. leg of their "Pop Life" 2000-2001 world tour. Simultaneously, Aaron worked with producers Clive Davis, Steve Greenwall, David Beal, John Eaton, Jason Corsaro, Mike Clink, Anthony Esposito, Philipe Seabra, Aaron Comess and Alfredo Scotti as a session drummer for K5/Liquid, Brazil's Daybreak Gentlemen, Trixie Reese, En Esch, Barely Legal, The Tijuana Bibles, Bad Bad Barbie, The NY No Stars, Jesse Gage, The Shrieking Violets, Lucy Woodward, P-DIDDY'S Bad Boy Entertainment and Ricky Valente.
Aaron started his musical career in the thriving 90's rock scene of Los Angeles, drumming with his band, CIRCLE OF SOUL. Soon after, the band embarked on a world tour in support of their WADDY WACHTEL produced debut albums "Hand's Of Faith" and "One Man's Poison." (Hollywood/Capital Records). Circle of Soul performed to sold-out audiences, playing alongside The Smashing Pumpkins, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Winger and Alice In Chains. They also received steady video airplay on MTV, critical accolades in the global press and respectable radio airplay in the states and abroad, breaking through with their single "Shattered Faith" to 30 on BILLBOARDS "TOP 100" rock chart and 10 on Billboard Europe "Top 100" rock chart.
Aaron's next gig was in as the drummer for a solo DUFF MCKAGEN of Guns N Roses/Velvet Revolver, touring alongside heavy metal icons THE SCORPIONS on their 1993-95 world tour. During this time, he had the opportunity to perform with Duff on the first live simulcast of MTV'S HEADBANGERS BALL, shoot two videos for the singles "I Still Love You" and "Believe In Me", rock millions of fans from Tokyo to Lisbon, destroying multiple 4-star hotel rooms and effectively build his chops, reputation and ability. All the while, he recorded, performed, played and collaborated with LENNY KRAVITZ, Trace Devai, Gene Loves Jezebel/Edith Grove, Kari Wuhrer, The Apples, JAKOB DYLAN and Luther Russell.
In 2005, Aaron was the co-musical director and drummer for the off-Broadway, Big Gorilla production of THE PENNY4EYES ROCK N ROLL SHOW, a rock and roll musical starring Christianna Anbri from the Broadway productions of Les Miserables and Annie. The show garnered critical acclaim and was consistently sold-out since opening in August of 2005. Aaron was also playing, recording and mixing tracks with producers Brian McGee, JIMI K. BONES and BUMBLEFOOT for the debut albums of Yowza, Manufactured Youth and solo artist Nefertiti Jones. JonesBones, as well as, for the 2nd album of singer/songwriter and guitar prodigy RICKY VALENTE. Aaron, as a founding member, also performed with the infamous Led Zeppelin cover band TIME OF DYING, culminating in a yearlong stint as the house band at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN for the New York City Hawks arena football team. Time of Dying was also the main focus of the award winning, independent rockcumentary "For The Kid's," a film about the fanaticism and devotion of Led Zep fans towards their tribute bands.
AARON is in constant demand as a session/live drummer and regularly performs internationally. Aaron has played a wide variety of venues from Nippon's BUDOKAN to New York's CBGB'S. His range of experience adds a theatrical depth and intensity to his playing and live performances. Having lived in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Aaron has played and collaborated with some of the world's most notorious and renowned musicians, including BRIAN MAY, Dizzy Reed, CARLOS ALOMAR, Mitch Mitchell, Ronnie Sweetheart, RONNIE WOOD, Waddy Wachtel, Brett Bass, SLASH, Kenny Aronson, Sean Koos, Jerry Cantrell, Jimi K. Bones, TONY BRUNO, Gilby Clark, Rick James, KEITH GOLDEN, Leo LeBlanc, SAMI YAFFA, BERNARD FOWLER, Rob Bailey, RICHARD FORTIS, Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis, Hunt Sales, Sasha, TOMMY STINSON, KREG ROSS, James H. Ashhurst IV, Mike Doman, LOU REED, Kiyanu Kim, Mark Ford, THOMMY PRYCE and KEVIN PATRICK
Aaron Plays: Pacific, DW and Creation Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks.
*His nicknames have been numerous, logical, sad, funny and apt: Sexual Chocolate, Thunder Ape, Terre Moto, Aaroneous, Big A and Thor...so, you F$%@ pick one!