Ara Babajian
Encyclopedia
Ara Babajian is an American
drummer
who has been a member of such bands as Leftöver Crack
and The Slackers
. Ara is of Armenian descent, and is named after Ara
, an Armenian king.
Together with Dunia Best, Jay Nugent
and Alec Baillie
he started the third wave ska band Agent 99 in the early nineties. In 1998 they released the compilation album Little Pieces 1993-1995.
In April 2000, Babajian joined Baillie to play drums in Leftöver Crack
under the pseudonym "Ara Crack" until 2002. In early 2003 Ara joined The Slackers
. In 2005, he rejoined Leftover Crack and currently plays in both bands, along with being an active member of The World/Inferno Friendship Society
.
Ara Babajian has played in a number of other bands, including King Django
, Ruder Than You
, The Trick Babys, Skandalous All Stars (a ska
supergroup
featuring several members of the Slackers), and Sic & Mad.
He is an endorser of Pro-Mark Drumstickshttp://www.promark.com/endorsers/endorser.cfm?endorser_id=8d7820a2-85d6-4fd6-88bf-e94934601dd4.
He was also the original drummer of the Star Fucking Hipsters
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
who has been a member of such bands as Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
and The Slackers
The Slackers
The Slackers are a New York City band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band's sound is a mix of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul, garage rock, and jazz...
. Ara is of Armenian descent, and is named after Ara
Aramu
Aramu or Arame was the first known king of Urartu.Living at the time of Shalmaneser III , Aram united the Nairi tribe against the threat of the Assyrian Empire...
, an Armenian king.
Together with Dunia Best, Jay Nugent
Jay Nugent
Jayson Nugent is a guitarist and DJ from New York who plays in the style of several Jamaican music genres....
and Alec Baillie
Alec Baillie
Alec Baillie is an American bassist currently residing in Sacramento, California. Alec grew up in Manhattan and attended the same high school as future band mate Scott "Stza" Sturgeon. In the early nineties, Baillie, Dunia Best, Jay Nugent and Ara Babajian formed the third wave ska band, Agent 99...
he started the third wave ska band Agent 99 in the early nineties. In 1998 they released the compilation album Little Pieces 1993-1995.
In April 2000, Babajian joined Baillie to play drums in Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
under the pseudonym "Ara Crack" until 2002. In early 2003 Ara joined The Slackers
The Slackers
The Slackers are a New York City band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band's sound is a mix of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul, garage rock, and jazz...
. In 2005, he rejoined Leftover Crack and currently plays in both bands, along with being an active member of The World/Inferno Friendship Society
The World/Inferno Friendship Society
The World/Inferno Friendship Society is a band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merges punk, soul, klezmer and jazz, while its collective membership features horns, piano and guitar. The ensemble has over 30 members, including a former member of Dexys Midnight Runners. About nine or ten members...
.
Ara Babajian has played in a number of other bands, including King Django
King Django
Jeff Baker, better known as King Django, is a New Brunswick, NJ-based ska musician. He was the leader of Skinnerbox and Stubborn All-Stars....
, Ruder Than You
Ruder Than You
Ruder Than You is an American ska band that was founded in 1989 at Penn State University and, in 1991, the group relocated to Philadelphia. While ska and reggae stylings have always provided the common musical thread, over the past 15 plus years Ruder Than You has been mixing in dancehall, hip hop,...
, The Trick Babys, Skandalous All Stars (a ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
featuring several members of the Slackers), and Sic & Mad.
He is an endorser of Pro-Mark Drumstickshttp://www.promark.com/endorsers/endorser.cfm?endorser_id=8d7820a2-85d6-4fd6-88bf-e94934601dd4.
He was also the original drummer of the Star Fucking Hipsters
Star Fucking Hipsters
Star Fucking Hipsters is a punk rock band from New York City who have released albums on Fat Wreck Chords and Alternative Tentacles records. They have been called a "punk supergroup" and feature members from numerous notable bands including Leftöver Crack, Ensign, and The Ergs!-Initial formation...
.
External links
- [ Allmusic]
- Pro-Mark Drumsticks
- [ Allmusic Entry]