AJ Barrette played drums in Detroit metallers Still Remains. He replaced initial drummer Cameron MacIntosh in August 2004, but joined The Showdown after the release of 2005's 'Of Love and Lunacy'.



AJ was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI and started learning drums at age 11, under the instruction of Chris Barr. As time went on, he continued to travel over 3 hours to get instruction from such people as Tom Robinson, Jim Sim, and Andrew Hoinacki.



At age 12, AJ Barrette took over as lead drummer of his dad's grade 5 band, St. Steven Pipes and Drums. After a year or so, he started moving up in the world and into grade 4 with the Glendaloch Pipe Band where he was part of the band that was moved into grade 3 and secured a name for themselves there rather quickly. AJ move into grade 2 with the Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band in Chicago in the fall of 1999.



Barrette continued on to play with the Midlothian and Metropolitian Pipe Band in 2001, and the LA Police Pipe Band while he briefly lived in LA in 2002. After taking a season off, AJ returned to the pipe band arena to play under his long time friend Andrew in the LA Scots.



AJ's main influences in pipe band drumming have been Jim Sim, Andrew Hoinacki, and Callum Hannah. AJ curently plays with The Showdown.<