Aaron Solowoniuk
Aaron Solowoniuk (pronounced Solo-won-uk), born November 21, 1975, is the drummer for the Toronto-based punk rock band Billy Talent. Of Polish descent, he was raised in Streetsville, Ontario and began drumming at a young age, his first set being a gift from his parents.
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 worker. In 1999, Aaron helped record 2 demo tapes, and Watoosh!, Pezz's first full-length album. Pezz would later become "Billy Talent".[1]
In March 2006, he wrote a letter to the bands' fans in which he told them that he had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, [2]. 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. For now, Aaron continues to tour with Billy Talent promoting Billy Talent II.
References
- ^ The Ongoing History of New Music. "Before They Were Famous" Original Broadcast date: 13-11-05 on CFNY.
- ^ Aaron Solowoniuk letter to fans regarding his battle with Multiple Sclerosis