 Aaron Johnson: Drums and vocals, songwriter..... The man behind the drums for the Payin’ Dues Blues Band is Aaron Johnson. Aaron grew up in Danville, KY, where he started playing “anything that vaguely resembled a drum or made noise” at the age of 9. “If I had a nickel for every time I got in trouble for drumming on my desk during school, I’d be retired today,” says Aaron. Aaron has a diverse musical background and love of music. He played the tenor drums in the Boyle County High School Marching Band, and is a former percussion instructor for the Estill County High School Marching Band, as well as a private instructor. He has played with the William Sutherland Reid Pipes and Drums, including soloing and performing at the Scottish Highland Games in Carrollton, Ky. He has also played and performed with several bands and musicians in the Louisville and Lexington area-playing all types of music ranging from oldies to heavy metal. But Aaron calls his relationship with Payin’ Dues band leader D.J. Rice “just like home, both musically and personally. It’s a lot of fun being in this band. We’re not out there trying to be rock stars, we just love to play music and perform. D.J., Joe and I enjoy playing together, and the music we play is fun. That’s what its all about.” Aaron cites Brian Mason, Neil Peart, Alex Van Halen, and “Animal” from the Muppets as his biggest drumming influences. In addition to his drumming and vocal duties in the Payin’ Dues Band, Aaron also plays the guitar, is a songwriter, and a session drummer in Mr. Rice’s home studio. He wrote, co-produced and performed all the instruments and vocals on an 11-song demo of original material in 1998, and is he currently finishing new material for an album titled “Something To Say” that he plans to record this year. Aaron and his wife Dani have two children, Allison and Sam, who are “everything to me,” and who have both inherited their Daddy’s love of music. Aaron plays Ludwig drums, Evans drumheads, Zildjian and Sabian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks. |
