Chris Hornbrook

Christopher Aaron Hornbrook (born April 29, 1981) is a professional drummer and a founding member of influential metalcore/post-hardcore band, Poison the Well [1]. He currently resides in Huntington Beach, California and is drumming for various artists and bands, including electronic pop artist Big Black Delta and post-hardcore band Senses Fail [2].

Chris started playing drums at the age of twelve. He had grown up with music all around him with his father, Donald Hornbrook, being a bass player and a passionate music advocate. At the age of 16, Chris started playing shows locally around the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area with his first serious band, Last Minute, which included Ryan Primack (cofounder of Poison the Well) on Bass. When Chris was 18 he was asked to join Poison the Well and started touring the U.S. while still in high school. As soon as he graduated, he decided to dedicate his life to drumming and to a career in music. Chris and the band spent the next twelve years releasing records and touring around the world. On July 14, 2010, it was announced that Poison the Well was going on hiatus to "explore other interests. Since then, Chris has moved to Southern California to expand upon his music career.

He has cited his first big musical influences as: Roger Meddows-Taylor, Dave Grohl, Dave Abbruzzese, and Matt Cameron. He is a self-taught drummer and is dedicated to practice and drumming education. In an interview with Modern Drummer, he is quoted saying, “If I’m not working on actual ideas that I have, or certain rudiments or whatever, then I’m just playing to play.” [1]

Presently, these are some of his influences on his style.

• Billy Cobham
• Chris Dave
• Dave Grohl
• David Sandström
• Ken Shalk
• Jon Theodore
• Larry David

With Cowgirls & Indians

• Cowgirls & Indians - You & I EP (2010)

With The Black Queen

• The Black Queen - The End Where We Start/The Still Point On My Turning World 12" Single (2015)
• The Black Queen - Fever Day Dream (2015)

With Keepsake

• Keepsake - She Hums Like A Radio EP (1999)

With Poison the Well

Chris Hornbrook performing with Poison The Well at Leeds Festival in Leeds, England in 2003

• Poison The Well - Distance Only Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (1998)
• Poison The Well - The Opposite of December...A Season of Separation (1999)
• Poison The Well - Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (re-release 2001)
• Poison The Well - Tear From the Red (2002)
• Poison The Well - You Come Before You (2003)
• Poison The Well - Versions (2007)
• Poison The Well - I/III / II/III / III/III EP singles collection (2009)
• Poison The Well - The Tropic Rot (2009)

With Senses Fail

• Senses Fail - Man Overboard/Senses Fail 7" Split (2015)
• Senses Fail - Pull The Thorns From Your Heart (2015)

With Until The End

• Until the End - Until the End (2000)

• Hellfest 2000 DVD with Poison the Well (2000)
• Warped Tour 2003 DVD with Poison the Well (2003)
• The Daily Habit on Fuel TV with Poison the Well (2008)
• Fearless Music on Fox with Poison the Well (2010)
• Last Call with Carson Daly with Big Black Delta (2013)
• Adam Devine's House Party with Trash Talk (2013)

Drums: Q Drum Co. [1]

• 9 x 13 Mahogany Poplar rack tom in vintage white marine wrap
• 16 x 16 Mahogany Poplar floor tom in vintage white marine wrap
• 16 x 18 Mahogany Poplar floor tom in vintage white marine wrap
• 14 x 24 Mahogany Poplar bass drum in vintage white marine wrap
• 7 x 14 Brass plate snare
• 7 x 14 Aluminum plate snare

Cymbals: Zildjian

• 16" K Light Hi Hats
• 16"/14" K/Oriental "trash stack" combo
• 18" K Dark Thin Crash
• 20" K Dark Thin Crash
• 24" K Light Ride

Hardware: Drum Workshop

• 9000 hardware
• 5000 & 9000 pedals

Sticks: Pro-Mark by D'Addario [2]

• Forward Balance .595 5B Wood Tip

Heads: Evans by D'Addario [3]

• Coated G2 batter snare drum head
• Clear 300 snare resonate head
• Clear or coated G2 better tom heads
• Clear G1 resonate tom heads
• White MX-1 batter bass drum head

Misc.

• Snare Weight
• KBrakes [4]

• While still in high school, both records, "Distance makes..." and "The Opposite of..." were recorded and he would tour during Summer, Winter, or Spring breaks. Chris would take Fridays off of school and go play weekend shows around the U.S. and be home to start school on Tuesday.