Matt Brann
Encyclopedia
Matt Brann was Avril Lavigne
's drummer and previously held a position as the drummer of high school band Second Opinion and Norman.
He started playing drums when he was 12, but it wasn't until when he attended Exeter High School that he started to play in a band called Second Opinion along with a few school friends (including Jason "Cone" McCaslin
) at the age of 14. They played together for about 5 years around their local town and outside of Toronto
.
When he was about 19 he joined another band from Toronto called Norman, but Brann quit after about a year as they never really got along.
Then luck struck at 2002 when a friend of his who was on the same management as this "Skater Girl" called Avril Lavigne had just gotten signed and needed to put a band together. Matt called her management Nettwerk
and they flew him to New York to meet her. He auditioned for the role of the drummer and successfully became part of Avril's band.
As Avril Lavigne's drummer, he performed at many different venues, including London Astoria
and attended numerous award shows. But when asked what his most memorable moment of his career was so far, he said that having the honour of playing "Fuel" at the MTV Icon Metallica Tribute as he grew up listening to and playing Metallica
so to have had them sitting right in front of him while he and the rest of Avril's band played their song was, in his own words, "wow".http://www.sadrummer.com/articles/mattbrann.html
As well as a being a drummer, he is also a songwriter. He (along with now ex-bandmate Evan Taubenfeld
) wrote a track in Avril's second album Under My Skin called "Freak Out".
He also covered Blur
's song Song 2
for Avril Lavigne's Bonez Tour, for which Avril played the drums, while he contributed the vocals..
After being in the 18-month Bonez world tour with Avril, which started in September 2004, he, along with the rest of the band, took a break whilst Lavigne pursued an acting career. During this time, Brann went back to the studio and worked with various Canadian bands such as The Operation and The New Cities with their albums.
He is also a supporter of animal-rights organisation PETA
. In 2005, he donated autographed drumsticks to benefit PETA’s “Kentucky Fried Cruelty” Campaign. The donated drumsticks were up for auction with proceeds helping PETA make Kentucky Fried Chicken face the music and eliminate the worst abuses that chickens endure on factory farms.http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/DrumstickAuction.asp
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
's drummer and previously held a position as the drummer of high school band Second Opinion and Norman.
He started playing drums when he was 12, but it wasn't until when he attended Exeter High School that he started to play in a band called Second Opinion along with a few school friends (including Jason "Cone" McCaslin
Jason McCaslin
Jason Paul "Cone" McCaslin is a Canadian musician. He is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of punk rock band Sum 41. He joined the band in November 1998. Sum 41 was signed by Island Records about a year after he joined...
) at the age of 14. They played together for about 5 years around their local town and outside of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
When he was about 19 he joined another band from Toronto called Norman, but Brann quit after about a year as they never really got along.
Then luck struck at 2002 when a friend of his who was on the same management as this "Skater Girl" called Avril Lavigne had just gotten signed and needed to put a band together. Matt called her management Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
and they flew him to New York to meet her. He auditioned for the role of the drummer and successfully became part of Avril's band.
As Avril Lavigne's drummer, he performed at many different venues, including London Astoria
London Astoria
The London Astoria was a music venue, located at 157 Charing Cross Road, in London, England. It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. It was closed on 15 January 2009 and has since been demolished...
and attended numerous award shows. But when asked what his most memorable moment of his career was so far, he said that having the honour of playing "Fuel" at the MTV Icon Metallica Tribute as he grew up listening to and playing Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
so to have had them sitting right in front of him while he and the rest of Avril's band played their song was, in his own words, "wow".http://www.sadrummer.com/articles/mattbrann.html
As well as a being a drummer, he is also a songwriter. He (along with now ex-bandmate Evan Taubenfeld
Evan Taubenfeld
Evan David Taubenfeld is an American singer-songwriter, best known for being Avril Lavigne's lead guitarist. Taubenfeld's debut album, Welcome to the Blacklist Club, was released on May 18, 2010.-Early life:...
) wrote a track in Avril's second album Under My Skin called "Freak Out".
He also covered Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
's song Song 2
Song 2
"Song 2" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, the second track on and second single released from their fifth album Blur in April 1997...
for Avril Lavigne's Bonez Tour, for which Avril played the drums, while he contributed the vocals..
After being in the 18-month Bonez world tour with Avril, which started in September 2004, he, along with the rest of the band, took a break whilst Lavigne pursued an acting career. During this time, Brann went back to the studio and worked with various Canadian bands such as The Operation and The New Cities with their albums.
Charity Organisations
Matt has been known to be involved in several organisations, most notably for his support for Autism Ontario - Durham Region. For the Toronto concert on 15 July 2005, he displayed the Autism Ontario - Durham Region logo on his bass drum to raise more awareness about the charity.He is also a supporter of animal-rights organisation PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
. In 2005, he donated autographed drumsticks to benefit PETA’s “Kentucky Fried Cruelty” Campaign. The donated drumsticks were up for auction with proceeds helping PETA make Kentucky Fried Chicken face the music and eliminate the worst abuses that chickens endure on factory farms.http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/DrumstickAuction.asp
Trivia
- Matthew Brann
- He plays with custom DW DrumsDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
and Zildjian cymbals and uses Vic FirthVic FirthVic Firth is an American musician and is the founder of Vic Firth Company , a percussion stick and mallet manufacturing company that he started in 1963. The company bills itself as the world's largest manufacturer of drum sticks and mallets...
drumsticks. - He went to high school with Deryck WhibleyDeryck WhibleyDeryck Jason Whibley is a Canadian musician and producer, best known for his work as the guitarist, lead vocalist, songwriter and producer of the Juno Award-winning rock band Sum 41. Whibley married fellow singer Avril Lavigne in 2006. The couple occasionally performed together, and they have...
and ConeJason McCaslinJason Paul "Cone" McCaslin is a Canadian musician. He is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of punk rock band Sum 41. He joined the band in November 1998. Sum 41 was signed by Island Records about a year after he joined...
from Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
and are very close friends with them. - He appeared in the video of "Makes No DifferenceMakes No Difference"Makes No Difference" is the title of a song recorded by Canadian pop punk band Sum 41. It was released in June 2000 as the lead single from the album Half Hour of Power. The song is featured on the soundtracks for Bring it On, Out Cold and Van Wilder...
" by Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
. - He was a snowboardingSnowboardingSnowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
instructor before joining AvrilAvril LavigneAvril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
's band - He was thanked in the albums "Detox" by Treble ChargerTreble ChargerTreble Charger was a Canadian rock group, consisting of vocalist Greig Nori, bassist Rosie Martin and drummer Trevor MacGregor. Guitarist Bill Priddle, a founding member of the band, left in 2003. They began with a melodic indie rock style, but evolved into more of a pop punk band after signing to...
and "Chuck" by Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records... - He is the manager of TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based band Organ Thieves which features former Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
guitarist Dave BakshDave BakshDavid Nizam "Brownsound" Baksh is a Canadian guitarist, singer and producer of Indo-Guyanese descent, best known as the ex-lead guitarist of punk band Sum 41, but has since became a singer/guitarist in his own heavy metal/reggae project Brown Brigade...
. - He recorded and played live drums for The Operation M.D.The Operation M.D.The Operation M.D. is a Canadian rock band created by Dr. Dynamite and Dr. Rocco as a side project to their other bands. The band's debut album We Have an Emergency was released in February 2007 by Aquarius Records...
, a garage rockGarage rockGarage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band featuring Cone McCaslin of Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
.
External links
- Matt Brann Fans
- Avril Lavigne Bandaids
- http://www.avrilbandaids.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=17 Matt Brann Discussion Forum