Aaron Harris (Isis Drummer)

Aaron Harris (Isis Drummer)

Aaron Harris (born November 11, 1977) is an American drummer, best known for his career with Los Angeles, California-based post-metal band Isis. He was with the band from its inception in 1997 to its dissolution in 2010. Since Isis' demise, Harris has become increasingly involved in his career as a Producer/ Mixer, working with such acts as Pelican, Mental Architects, Crone, Jakob, The Jezabels, Mothra, and more. He is also a part-time drum tech for Danny Carey of Tool, and Abe Cunningham of the Deftones. Harris has also toured mixing live sound for Pelican, Jakob, Melvins, and The Jezabels.

His early experience in drumming came from his father, who is also a drummer. Harris would play along to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and The Police, and has reached his current level of proficiency without any lessons or formal training. He has, however, received some tuition with the tabla, from Aloke Dutta, at the recommendation of Tool's Danny Carey. Melvins and Neurosis are also direct influences on his and Isis' sound. He cites Bill Bruford as an influence on his later material, having been introduced to his work through Danny Carey.

Harris' first band was in a band named Loga, which he joined whilst in high school. He was given a cassette of Melvins by the band members and asked to emulate the style of their drummer, Dale Crover. His material, he says, “changed life it really shaped me into a whole new drummer.”

In October 2006 Harris began endorsing Paiste cymbals. In 2009, Harris also signed an endorsement deal with Sonor drums. He is also sponsored by Evans Drumheads and Vater. Harris is also endorsed by Vater drumsticks, and Heil microphones.

Since Isis' split in 2010, Harris has moved towards the technical side of music; this shift has encompassed stints as a drum tech for Tool and Deftones, as well as production, recording and mixing credits for a number of musical projects. Alongside former Isis members Jeff Caxide and Bryant Clifford Meyer, he announced in May 2011 that he has plans to form a new band.

In April 2012 it was announced that Harris had joined Chino Moreno of Deftones, along with former bandmates Jeff Caxide and Clifford Meyer, in a side project by the name of Palms. Their first album was originally slated for release in 2012 on Ipecac Records, but is now expected to be released in early 2013.

Outside music, Harris is a keen cyclist, and before the formation of Isis, used to race.