Aaron Solowoniuk
Encyclopedia
Aaron Solowoniuk (21 November 1974 Streetsville, Ontario
, Canada
), is the drummer for the Canadian band Billy Talent
.
and began drumming at a young age, his first set being a gift from his parents. Solowoniuk is of Polish
descent.
As he grew up, Aaron continued drumming and eventually met Benjamin Kowalewicz
and Jon Gallant at their high school, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Secondary School where they started a band called "To Each His Own". A few years later, the band met Ian D'Sa
who was playing in "Dragon Flower". The four later joined up together and became "The Other One" then later "Pezz". Aaron continued to play in Pezz and after high school, he got his auto body certificate and worked at a Chrysler
factory as an assembly line worker. In 1999, Aaron helped record 2 demo tapes, and Watoosh!
, Pezz's first full-length album. Pezz would later become "Billy Talent".
In March 2006, he wrote a letter to the bands' fans in which he told them that he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
. The Billy Talent song This Is How It Goes is written about Solowoniuk's battle with the illness. He had kept it secret in an attempt to avoid unwanted pity, but decided to reveal his condition after discovering some MS cases are diagnosed as early as three years of age. Since then Aaron has become an advocate for finding a cure for MS. An example of his dedication for fighting MS, Aaron helped organize F.U.M.S, a concert benefit on Boxing Day
2006 which Billy Talent, Moneen
and Alexisonfire
performed at The Opera House
in Toronto
. All proceeds from the show went to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
.
For now, Aaron just finished promoting Billy Talent III
. Aaron is married and has a daughter named Willow, and a dog named Roxy. His wife is a tattoo artist.
, most often the 'Masters' Kit, with tom sizes of 12" and 16", along with a 22" Bass drum. He also uses the HHX and AAX lines of Sabian cymbals.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
), is the drummer for the Canadian band Billy Talent
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
.
Background
Solowoniuk was born and raised in Streetsville, OntarioStreetsville, Ontario
Streetsville is an established community located in the northwestern corner of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on the Credit River...
and began drumming at a young age, his first set being a gift from his parents. Solowoniuk is of Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
descent.
As he grew up, Aaron continued drumming and eventually met Benjamin Kowalewicz
Benjamin Kowalewicz
Benjamin Kowalewicz is the lead singer of the Canadian rock band Billy Talent.-Biography:Kowalewicz, of Polish descent, was born December 16, 1975 in Montreal, Quebec. He was raised in Streetsville, Ontario, but now lives in downtown Toronto. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary...
and Jon Gallant at their high school, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Secondary School where they started a band called "To Each His Own". A few years later, the band met Ian D'Sa
Ian D'Sa
Ian Michael D'Sa is the guitarist for the Canadian band Billy Talent.-Early life and career:Ian's family moved from the UK to Canada when he was 3 years old. He is of Indian Goan descent and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario learning guitar at the age of 13...
who was playing in "Dragon Flower". The four later joined up together and became "The Other One" then later "Pezz". Aaron continued to play in Pezz and after high school, he got his auto body certificate and worked at a Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
factory as an assembly line worker. In 1999, Aaron helped record 2 demo tapes, and Watoosh!
Watoosh!
* Track 13 is an instrumental, while tracks 11, 12 and 14-16 are blank.* The track "M & M" is about a group of gothic kids that used to come into the HMV where Kowalewicz worked.-Personnel:*Benjamin Kowalewicz - lead vocals...
, Pezz's first full-length album. Pezz would later become "Billy Talent".
In March 2006, he wrote a letter to the bands' fans in which he told them that he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. The Billy Talent song This Is How It Goes is written about Solowoniuk's battle with the illness. He had kept it secret in an attempt to avoid unwanted pity, but decided to reveal his condition after discovering some MS cases are diagnosed as early as three years of age. Since then Aaron has become an advocate for finding a cure for MS. An example of his dedication for fighting MS, Aaron helped organize F.U.M.S, a concert benefit on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
2006 which Billy Talent, Moneen
Moneen
Moneen is an indie rock band from Brampton, Ontario, Canada.-History:The band formed in 1999 after the dissolution of another band, called Perfectly Normal. Moneen's original bass player, Mark Bowser, was replaced by Chris Slorach, who left the band after the release of The Theory of Harmonial Value...
and Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...
performed at The Opera House
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. All proceeds from the show went to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Founded in 1948, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada promotes multiple sclerosis research and provides education and services to people with MS and their families and caregivers...
.
For now, Aaron just finished promoting Billy Talent III
Billy Talent III
-Special Guitar Villain edition second CD:In addition to having the entire album featured without guitars plus a Guitar Tab of the whole album, the Guitar Villain second disc also features four demo tracks:...
. Aaron is married and has a daughter named Willow, and a dog named Roxy. His wife is a tattoo artist.
Equipment
Aaron has been known to play Pearl DrumsPearl Drums
Founded in 1952, the is a multinational corporation based in Japan with a wide range of products, predominately percussion instruments.-History:Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa, who began manufacturing music stands in Sumida, Tokyo on April 2, 1946...
, most often the 'Masters' Kit, with tom sizes of 12" and 16", along with a 22" Bass drum. He also uses the HHX and AAX lines of Sabian cymbals.