Aaron Gillespie

Aaron Roderick Gillespie was born on July 18, 1983, in Clearwater, Florida. Ever since he was born, he has been nearly blind in his left eye.{{cite web |url=http://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/music/interviews/1348-the-almosts-monster-monster-with-aaron-gillespie |title=THE ALMOST's 'Monster Monster' – with AARON GILLESPIE |publisher=Coupdemainmagazine.com |date=March 1, 2010 |access-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231193000/http://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/music/interviews/1348-the-almosts-monster-monster-with-aaron-gillespie |archive-date=December 31, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He grew up in a devout Christian family, attended private schools, and went to church regularly.{{Cite web |date=2012-08-26 |title=A Night of Worship with Aaron Gillespie + Brightwork + AJ Cheek |url=https://patch.com/virginia/vienna/ev--aaron-gillespie-of-the-almost-brightwork-aj-green |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Vienna, VA Patch |language=en}} Gillespie's parents divorced when he was 18.

At age 14, Gillespie worked at the church and vacuumed for $60 a week. He enjoyed playing the drums at church, but was told that he did not play well and that he played too loud. However, one of the leaders in the church came up to him and said that he believed Gillespie would "travel the whole world playing drums".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dHAgaE3X-g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2dHAgaE3X-g |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title= Aaron Gillespie's story |publisher=YouTube |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2017}}{{cbignore}} At this time, he received a call from Underoath asking him to play drums for them.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_IisGG84XY&feature=PlayList&p=D85B02C418141312&index=0&playnext=1 |title=Aaron Gillespie Speaking at Awakening |publisher=YouTube |date=July 24, 2008 |access-date=October 16, 2011}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}

In 2008 he achieved the HM magazine's Readers Award for "favorite drummer", along with his bandmate Timothy McTague who received "favorite guitarist" of 2008.{{Cite magazine |date=March 2009 |title=HM Magazine, Issue 136 |url=https://issuu.com/dougvanpelt/docs/hm_136 |access-date=26 June 2024 |magazine=Heaven's Metal Magazine |pages=32–33}} He was one of the preaching pastors at Unveiled Church based in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.

Aaron and his former wife ran a clothing label, Pig Cloth.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCiE9IaGQg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/UXCiE9IaGQg |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Wooden Steel LIVE interview with AARON GILLESPIE formerly of UNDEROATH |publisher=YouTube |access-date=October 16, 2011}}{{cbignore}}

Gillespie left Underoath after a European tour in 2010 but later rejoined the band.{{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |date=2015-08-25 |title=Underoath Announce Full 2016 Reunion Tour |url=https://loudwire.com/underoath-2016-reunion-tour/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}

Gillespie did guest vocals on the song "All About Us" by indie pop band He Is We, which was released on the album "My Forever" on November 23, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.heiswemusic.com/ |title=He Is We |publisher=Heiswemusic.com |access-date=October 16, 2011}}

Gillespie has discussed his issues with hypochondria and generalized anxiety disorder, stating that they played into his departure from Underoath.{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2016/05/why-underoaths-rebirth-is-so-much-bigger-than-just-music/|title=Why Underoath's Rebirth Is So Much Bigger Than Just Music|publisher=Observer|first=Ryan|last=Burleson|date=May 9, 2016|access-date=July 26, 2016}}

File:AaronGillespieUnderoath.jpg during their 2007 winter tour]]

Gillespie had performed on every Underoath release before Ø (Disambiguation) and first began to add clean vocals on Underoath's third album The Changing of Times, which shifted Underoath's original extreme metal music style into a more straightforward metalcore sound and was released in 2002. After lead vocalist Dallas Taylor parted with the band, Spencer Chamberlain joined and the band began to change its style of music even more.

Most of the lyrics on the album They're Only Chasing Safety are written by Gillespie and are about him ending a four-year relationship. He stated to Alternative Press "I think I would've died if we didn't write those songs. I thought I had ruined someone's life. It's hard to explain, but you can't just pretend that things are great and go on and get married." The follow-up to They're Only Chasing Safety, Define the Great Line was released on June 20, 2006, it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 selling over 98,000 copies in its first week, the record was certified Gold by the RIAA on November 11, 2006, representing 500,000 shipped units of the album.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Underoath&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50|title=RIAA Gold and Platinum search for albums by Underoath|website=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=April 7, 2010}}

File:Aaron gillespie australia 2010.jpg in 2010]]

On April 5, 2010, Underoath announced that the band and Gillespie had agreed to mutually part ways pending the end of their European tour.{{cite web|url=http://underoath777.com/index.php|title=UNDEROATH AND AARON AMICABLY PART WAYS|date=April 5, 2010|access-date=April 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126003640/http://underoath777.com/index.php|archive-date=January 26, 2010}} On the same day, Gillespie posted a message on his personal blog.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/underoathgillespiesplit.htm |title=Alternative Press | News |publisher=Altpress.com |access-date=October 16, 2011}} On August 17, 2015, in an interview article for Alternative Press, Chamberlain and Gillespie confirmed that the band was reuniting.{{cite news|last=Sharp |first=Tyler |url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/aaron_gillespie_spencer_chamberlain_talk_underoath_reunion_the_hiatus_is_of |title=Aaron Gillespie, Spencer Chamberlain talk Underoath reunion: "The hiatus is off" |publisher=Alternative Press |date= August 17, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015}}

File:'The Almost' Performing at 'The Big Exo Day 2011'.jpg in Sydney's "Big Exo Day" 2011]]

Gillespie performed lead vocals for the alternative rock band the Almost. The band's debut album Southern Weather was released on April 3, 2007, along with their first single, "Say This Sooner". The single reached a peak of No. 7 on the Billboard's US Modern Rock Charts. Gillespie recorded every instrument on the Southern Weather album except for bass on a couple of tracks, with which Kenny Vasoli from The Starting Line helped.

On November 24, 2008, the Almost released an EP, No Gift to Bring.

On October 6, 2009, they released another EP, Monster EP. On November 3, 2009, they released their second album, Monster Monster, in which the rest of the bandmates were more incorporated in the writing and recording processes.

On June 11, 2013, the band released their third full-length album, Fear Inside Our Bones.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Almost-Fear-Inside-Our-Bones/release/4838141|title=The Almost – Fear Inside Our Bones|website=Discogs|date=June 11, 2013 |access-date=July 18, 2019}}

In an interview released on February 8, 2015, on Emery's BadChristian podcast, Gillespie stated that he had placed lower priority on the band, citing his "busy schedule" (as Paramore's touring drummer, a solo artist and producer) and the "busy schedules" of the other band members.{{Cite web|title=#59 Aaron Gillespie – Underoath, The Almost, Paramore – BadChristian |url=http://badchristian.com/podcast/59-aaron-gillespie-underoath-almost-paramore/ |website=BadChristian |access-date=November 3, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917081500/http://badchristian.com/podcast/59-aaron-gillespie-underoath-almost-paramore/ |archive-date=September 17, 2015 }}

On September 24, 2019, they announced a fourth full-length album, Fear Caller, to be released on October 18, 2019,{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} then released, "Chokehold", with an accompanying music video as part of the announcement.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Shortly after leaving Underoath, Gillespie announced that he was working on a worship-based solo project. He went to The Compound recording studio in Seattle on June 28, 2010, to record the album that would eventually be released in March 2011. On his Twitter account on July 24, he posted "Finished my record. So great to be a part of it. Goodnight." Gillespie's solo album Anthem Song was released on March 8, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/calendar.php?do=getall&day=2011-03-08&c=3 |title=03/08/11 – Release Date |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |access-date=October 16, 2011}} It debuted at number 90 on the Billboard 200.

"Anthem Song" was Gillespie's revisit to his musical beginning, which began in worship. In an interview with CBN.com, Gillespie recounted the experience and how a trip to Africa helped shape Anthem Song. He stated "I saw people worshiping God because He exists, because that's what we were created to do. I believe everybody worships something, whether it be your job or your family or a relationship or whatever. We were all made to worship just one, and that's Jesus. And it really, really messed me up, seeing these African people who have nothing worshiping God, just because He exists. It gave me the fuel to go and do this record and also convicted me to leave Underoath and to pursue this ministry area in my life."

On February 3, 2015, he released his second worship album, Grace Through the Wandering.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}} The record was made on the road while touring with Paramore and was produced by Paramore's touring key player, John.

In 2016, Gillespie released the self-produced Out of the Badlands. Gillespie and his studio partner, Andrew Goldring, made the record at Gillespie's Salt Lake City studio, Soundcave. Goldring engineered, mixed and performed on the record. The album is a departure from his former worship record and instead focuses on his personal grieving and honesty.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUGdLwgnrdo&t=33s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/rUGdLwgnrdo |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Aaron Gillespie on 'Out of the Badlands,' Ghostwriting and Underoath Reunion|last=Punkvideosrock|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=September 30, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

On August 26, 2013, Gillespie was officially announced as the new touring drummer for Paramore, after their previous touring drummer, Miles McPherson, suffered from an injury. He was to remain only for their duration of The Self-Titled Tour's European dates, but later remained for the duration of their North American fall tour of that year, as well as the Australian and New Zealand legs of the tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/aaron_gillespie_the_almost_ex_underoath_to_drum_for_paramore_on_tour |title=Aaron Gillespie (The Almost, ex-Underoath) to drum for Paramore on tour |publisher=Altpress.com |date=August 26, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/aaron_gillespie_to_remain_with_paramore_for_north_american_tour |title=Aaron Gillespie to remain with Paramore for North American tour |publisher=Altpress.com |date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/aaron_gillespie_to_remain_with_paramore_for_north_american_tour |title=Aaron Gillespie to remain with Paramore for Australian tour |publisher=Altpress.com |date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2014}} Gillespie has stayed in the Paramore touring line-up for the next few years, playing drums on the Monumentour (Paramore's co-headlining tour with the band Fall Out Boy in 2014) and the Writing the Future Tour (in 2015), along with two of the band's "Parahoy!" Cruises — the first one (in March 2014) and the second one (in March 2016). However, in February 2016, Gillespie clarified that his role in Paramore doesn't extend beyond live performances and that he isn't involved in the songwriting/recording process with the band. With the reinstatement of Paramore's original drummer and with the reunion of Underoath, Gillespie is now back with Underoath full-time.

Aaron Gillespie operated as a producer out of Soundcave Studios from 2015 to 2017.{{cite web|url=http://soundcavestudio.com/home/|title=Home|website=Soundcave Productions|access-date=September 30, 2017}} Alongside singer-songwriter, producer, and engineer Andrew Goldring, Gillespie worked on productions, most notably, Gillespie's solo record, "Out of the Badlands". Goldring also engineered, mixed and performed various instruments on the record.

Other examples of Gillespie's producer credits include Collington's, We Swim in Seas that Never Rest.{{cite web|url=http://www.collingtonmusic.com|title=We Swim in Seas that Never Rest, by Collington|website=Collington|access-date=September 30, 2017}} Gillespie produced the record, played drums and did other various session work with Goldring and Collington. The album was debuted by Relevant Magazine on their series "The Drop". Gillespie and Collington crossed paths when Collington was opening for Aaron Gillespie in Boston. Taking a liking to Collington's music, Gillespie invited Collington to Salt Lake City to create a record.{{cite web|url=http://www.hallels.com/articles/14426/20151231/collington-greets-the-new-year-with-new-album-produced-by-aaron-gillespie.htm|title=Collington Greets the New Year with New Album Produced by Aaron Gillespie|last=Hallels|website=www.hallels.com|date=October 2, 2014 |access-date=September 30, 2017}} Collington originally laughed at the offer thinking it was a joke.{{cite web|url=http://thebaymagazine.com/stories/Collington-music-we-swim-in-seas-that-never-rest-providence-monthly,17917|title=Collington Finds His Voice on His New Record|date=February 19, 2016 |access-date=September 30, 2017}}

Gillespie worked and toured with the Billy Graham Association's FM419; an event that helps train students to share their faith. The event is a prelude to a much larger event, held a few months later where students can practice what they learned by leading others to Christ. Gillespie performed each day at the beginning and end of the conference.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

While on tour with Underoath in 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gillespie underwent emergency surgery due to an infected thumb. Instead of canceling shows, Underoath recruited Kenny Bozich, former drummer of The Almost, to fill in on drums. Spencer Chamberlain and Timothy McTague shared duties in singing his vocal parts.{{cite web |url=http://headbangersblog.mtv-q.mtvi.com/2008/05/20/video-exclusive-watch-underoath-drummer-endure-blood-drenched-emergency-thumb-surgery-during-headline-tour/ |title=Video Exclusive!: Watch Underoath Drummer Endure Blood-Drenched Thumb Surgery During Headline Tour |publisher=Headbangersblog.mtv-q.mtvi.com |date=May 20, 2008 |access-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714130039/http://headbangersblog.mtv-q.mtvi.com/2008/05/20/video-exclusive-watch-underoath-drummer-endure-blood-drenched-emergency-thumb-surgery-during-headline-tour/ |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

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With Underoath

• Act of Depression – 1999
• Cries of the Past – 2000
• The Changing of Times – 2002
• They're Only Chasing Safety – 2004
• Define the Great Line – 2006
• Survive, Kaleidoscope – 2008
• Lost in the Sound of Separation – 2008
• Live at Koko – 2010
• Erase Me – 2018
• Voyeurist – 2022
• The Place After This One – 2025

With The Almost

• Southern Weather – 2007
• No Gift to Bring – 2008
• Monster EP – 2009
• Monster Monster – 2009
• Fear Inside Our Bones – 2013
• Fear Caller – 2019

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Solo

• Anthem Song – 2011
• Echo Your Song (Live) – EP – 2012
• Grace Through the Wandering – 2015
• Out of the Badlands – 2016
• Stick Figure Cowboy – 2021

Appearances in other albums

• "We Swim in Seas that Never Rest" (drums, guitars and vocals) from Collington -2016
• "You're The Wanker, If Anyone Is" from Say Anything's In Defense of the Genre – 2007
• "My God" from This Beautiful Republic's Perceptions – 2008
• "Then They Will Know" from Preson Phillips' The Observant and the Anawim... – 2008
• "Sahara" from Relient K's Forget And Not Slow Down – 2009
• "All About Us" from He Is We's My Forever – 2010
• "With Everything" by Nine O Five – 2010
• "Someway Somehow" from Run Kid Run's Patterns – 2011
• "I Survive" from We Came As Romans's Tracing Back Roots – 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2013/05/20/news/we-came-as-romans-detail-new-album-tracing-back-roots/ |title=We Came As Romans Detail New Album "Tracing Back Roots" | Theprp.com – Metal, Hardcore And Rock News, Reviews And More |date=May 20, 2013 |publisher=Theprp.com |access-date=March 11, 2014}}
• "The Reaper" from As It Is's The Great Depression – 2018
• "Super Hero" from Atreyu's In Our Wake – 2018
• "Infinite" from Silverstein's A Beautiful Place to Drown – 2020
• "Come Along" from The Dangerous Summer's All That's Left of the Blue Sky – 2021
• "Signals" by Venacava – 2020
• "Goodbye" by Dvddy featuring Aaron Gillespie – 2020
• "Dark Love" from Sullivan King's LOUD – 2021
• "Apertures" by Glass Houses – 2021
• "Tear You Apart" by GG Magree – 2021
• "Intersecting Storylines to the Same Tragedy" by SeeYouSpaceCowboy - 2021
• "U 2" by 408 – 2022
• "Background Character" by Supmikecheck – 2022
• "Healing Pool" by The Safest Ledge – 2022
• "Out Loud" from True North's Out Loud – 2022
• "VEN0M" by nothing,nowhere. - 2023
• “Day By Day” by A Foreign Affair (feat. Aaron Gillespie) - 2023
• "a bulleT w/ my namE On" by Bring Me the Horizon - 2024
• "Starry Skies (988)" by Kalamity Kills - 2024
• "Silver Spoon" by The Words We Use ft Aaron Gillespie - 2024

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{{Reflist}}

{{Underoath}}

{{The Almost}}

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Category:1983 births

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