Music

Billy Talent drummer takes break from band following MS relapse

by Jesse Locke

Mississauga rockers Billy Talent returned in 2014 with a greatest hits collection and the new song “Kingdom of Zod.” Since then, the Hard Core Logo stans have been hard at work on their fifth album, but have recently felt the effects of a debilitating disease. Drummer Aaron Solowoniuk issued a video stating that he’ll be forced to take a break from recording with the band due to a relapse of multiple sclerosis (MS).

“The first thing they said is that they’ll wait for me to get better and figure it out,” says Solowoniuk, who has lived with MS for 15 years. “I told them I can’t do that right now because I don’t know how long it’s going to take for me to get better. I’m not going to be able to play drums on this record.”

Thankfully, Alexisonfire stickman Jordan Hastings is available to fill in with Billy Talent while Solowoniuk steps up his medical treatments. He will still take part in the recording session as well, hanging out in the studio to document the process with photos and film footage.

“Rest assured that I am going to do everything I can to get back on the drums,” Solowoniuk concludes. “But right now I need to step away for a bit and focus on my health.”