Aaron Barrett

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Aaron Barrett


Img_capt = Aaron Barrett on stage.
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Aaron Asher Barrett
Born = birth date and age|1974|8|30
Instrument = Vocals, guitar, trombone
Genre = Third wave ska, ska punk, alternative rock, pop punk, punk rock
Occupation = Musician, vocalist, songwriter
Associated_acts = Reel Big Fish The Scholars The Forces Of Evil

Aaron Asher Barrett (born August 30, 1974) is an American musician. He is the lead singer, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter for the ska-punk band Reel Big Fish. Prior to forming with Reel Big Fish, Barrett played trombone in another ska-punk act, The Scholars, along with future Reel Big Fish bandmates Scott Klopfenstein and Grant Barry. More recently he formed The Forces of Evil with former members of Jeffries Fan Club, The Scholars and Lone Raspberry. In terms of sound, The Forces of Evil sounded similar to Barrett's main band although lyrically, were much more negative and pessimistic. The Forces Of Evil appeared to cease touring and playing in early 2005, although members have gone on to play with Reel Big Fish.

Barrett is also featured in "Serious Awesomeness", a DVD by The Aquabats, interviewing attendees of an Aquabats show outside of The Glass House in Pomona, California, calling himself "Joe Famous" and is also seen briefly on stage with the band. He also did backing vocals on "Irie", a song by The Hippos featured on their album "Forget the World." He made a cameo appearance in the music video for "Come Back Home" by Suburban Legends.

Barrett gained notoriety in 2004 when he appeared onstage with Reel Big Fish at a concert in Syracuse, apparently intoxicated. After around 45 minutes, Barrett flew into a frenzy mid-song, destroying equipment onstage and leaving the venue. Barrett later referenced the incident in a blog entry. The show was also reviewed by [http://www.punknews.org/review/3468 Punknews.org] .

Personal information

Born in San Bernardino County, California, Barrett married actress [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1484303/ Molly Torrence] in Las Vegas in July 2004.

He has a tattoo of a skull and crossbones on the back of his arms.

tage equipment

Barrett plays a variety of guitars. Of his more famous guitars are his white Gibson Les Paul with a black pick guard, complete with a decal of the devil smoking a cigar on the body (this guitar is now owned by Brian Klemm of Suburban Legends); his black, sticker slapped Gibson SG; his U.K. made Gordon Smith Graduate. In a fan interview he stated that the reason he currently, as of 2007, plays a student-level Epiphone Les Paul was because he broke the headstock off of his Gibson and was not able to come up with the money fast enough for the tour. On their live DVD commentary, Barrett comments that he paid $2000 for his Gordon Smith, and it is the best sounding guitar he has ever had. In the video for "Take on Me" Barrett plays a blue double-neck Ibanez guitar which also appears on the cover of the album "Why Do They Rock So Hard?" as a silhouette.

He also plays an Ibanez guitar in the videos for "Everything Sucks", "Sell Out" and "She Has A Girlfriend Now". He is also shown to be playing an Ibanez on the sleeve of Reel Big Fish's first album "Everything Sucks". On tour recently he has been playing an Epiphone Les Paul.

His effects pedals include: A Dunlop Cry Baby 95Q wah pedal, a Marshall GV2 Guv'nor Plus Distortion Pedal, an Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tubescreamer, a Boss DD-6, and a Seymour Duncan SFX-01 Pickup Booster.

Other projects

In the commentary of the Reel Big Fish live DVD "Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album", Matt Wong says that Barrett once auditioned to be the guitarist of Limp Bizkit.

Aaron Barrett is also an Aquacadet, a member of the The Aquabats official fan legion; he can be seen wearing a cadet patch in the music video for Reel Big Fish's "Party Down."

In 2006, Aaron Barrett began recording and producing Southern California ska bands with engineer David Irish. So far he has recorded two bands ( [http://www.myspace.com/chaselongbeach Chase Long Beach] and [http://www.myspace.com/halfpasttwoska Half Past Two] ) and it has been announced that Half Past Two's full-length album will soon be recorded.

Discography

"Full-Length Albums"
*"Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free" (Reel Big Fish - 2007) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Greatest Hit...And More" (Reel Big Fish - 2006 - This album was not authorized to be produced by Aaron nor Reel Big Fish) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album" (Reel Big Fish - 2006) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy" (Reel Big Fish - 2005) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Friend or FOE?" (The Forces of Evil - 2003) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Favorite Noise" (Reel Big Fish - 2002) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Cheer Up!" (Reel Big Fish - 2002) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Last Great Record of The 20th Century" (The Scholars - 1999) -- Trombone
*"Why Do They Rock So Hard?" (Reel Big Fish - 1998) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Turn The Radio Off" (Reel Big Fish - 1996) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Everything Sucks" (Reel Big Fish - 1995) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar

"EP's"
*"Duet All Night Long" (Reel Big Fish / Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer - 2007) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Because We Care" (The Forces of Evil - 2002) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
*"Keep Your Receipt EP" (Reel Big Fish - 1997) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar