Hear 2 Zen Magazine – Q+A with Aaron Comess from The Spin Doctors
Legendary alt-rockers Spin Doctors are heading to Australia and New Zealand for a massive 11-date run celebrating the 35th anniversary of their iconic 1991 debut album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Returning to Australia for the first time since 1993, the band will not only visit all major cities but also take their electrifying live show to key regional Australian markets, giving fans across the country a chance to celebrate three and a half decades of funk-infused rock, soaring hooks, and the infectious energy that have defined their career. We caught up with the bands drummer Aaron Comess for a quick Q+A
Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for us today. We look forward to seeing the band Down Under in May. You are coming down here to celebrate 35 Years Of the album “Pocket Full Of Kryptonite”, and it’s your first time back since 1993. What are your memories from that first tour?
Aaron: It seems like yesterday. We had a great time. We got to spend a week in Sydney, and I remember we got to go out on a boat with the record company in the Sydney Harbour… that was amazing … also remember drinking great beer and going to some places where we grilled our own steaks … but most of all, the people and the shows were so great. We can’t wait to be back.
The band’s meteoric rise saw them on the cover of Rolling Stone and appearing on Saturday Night Live. Any cool memories from SNL, especially being a New York Band?
Aaron: Being on SNL was a dream come true. I moved to NYC in 1988, and the spin doctors formed shortly after. Some good friends of mine from my hometown of Dallas, “Edie Brikel and the new Bohemians “, were bowling up at the time, and they came to NYC to play on SNL. I got to go see them and stand right in front of the stage to watch. I looked to my left, and there was Paul Simon standing there. It was amazing to be back on stage with Spin Doctors just 4 years later. The night we played, Joe Pesci was the host. Robert Deniro and Martin Scorsese were hanging out as well. At that time, we were watching all those movies with those guys on the bus all the time. Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, etc., so to be on that show with those guys was just amazing, and they could not have been cooler.
Could you share your memories of the New York Music Scene from when the band came up, and what its like now?
Aaron: The NYC music scene was really thriving back when we put the band together. We would play 5 nights a week at all these great downtown clubs in Manhattan. Blues Traveller, Joan Osborne, the Authority, god street wine, the Mighty Sweetones, and others were all doing the same thing. Great vibes with everyone playing original music.
The scene now is also amazing. NYC is such a melting pot of amazing musicians. Just the other night I played a double bill with Chris at the Bitter End. He did a solo set, then my instrumental band played a set … the place was packed, and the scene was crackling.
When an artist releases a song, it instantly stops being their song and becomes the world’s. What is the best story a fan has told you about how one of your songs affected them?
Aaron: It’s great to hear stories about how our songs have affected people. So many, but It’s usually things like I remember where I was the first time I heard this song, or I met my partner, are some of your shows. Of course, I love hearing how our music affected and influenced a young musician getting started.
Who were your drumming influences when you started out, and who are they now, and why?
Aaron: So many, but John Bonham and Stewart Copeland really stand out. They are totally different, but both had an instantly recognisable style and sound and I’ve always been very attracted to that in a musician.
As I got older, I discovered jazz drummers like Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and Roy Haynes, to name a few, who really opened the door to other things for me. Also, Steve Gadd, Jim Keltner, Levon Helm, and Bernard Purdie are massive influences.
You studied at Berklee College of Music. Are there any alumni from your time there we may know, and do you think colleges like Berklee are still viable in the world of YouTube to learn anything in life?
Aaron: I did one year at Berklee, and that was the year I locked myself in the practice room for 8 hours a day, as well as playing in groups every night for another 4-6 hours. It was a very productive time. So many people came through there over the years.
Then I moved to NYC, where I went to the new school and met the Spin Doctors. So many people were there at the time who have gone on to do great things. Blues Traveller guys, Brad Mehldau, Peter Bernstein, and Larry Goldings. The list goes on and on… It was an amazing time there.
I think music college is a great place to work on your craft and meet other musicians who are trying to do the same thing you are, but it’s also gotten insanely expensive, so I im not sure it’s really worth it in this day and age. The best thing you can do is put a lot of time into your instrument, keep an open mind, and listen to everything. Don’t be judgmental and play with as many other people as you can. You can’t do it all online. The internet does supply a ton of information you can use, that’s great, but getting offline and getting out in the real world and making music with others and learn how to work with others is what will help you have a career.
You jam a lot with Ricky Byrd, who has played with some of the greats, what is it like to jam with someone, and even though you have played for many years, what is one thing that playing with someone like Ricky has done for you personally or professionally?
Aaron: Ricky is great. Im lucky to get to work with a lot of great musicians and artists outside of the Spin Doctors. Working with Ricky has been really fun. He’s the real deal, and he always says he wants to go for the things that made him excited when he was listening to music as a kid. That’s a great approach, and he pushed me to play some exciting things. Im on a lot of his latest record out now, and we’re almost finished recording his new one.
The latest album Face Full Of Cake will be a year old once you hit our shores, how do you feel about the album a year on from release and what are your favourite tracks to play?
Aaron: I love the album. It’s prob my favourite we have done since PFOK. It feels really fresh, and the songs are really fun to play live. I love them all, but my favs to play live are Gorilla and Rock and Roll Heaven.
With the band being named The Spin Doctors, what is the wildest rumour you have read about yourself or the band in the press?
Aaron: I don’t think there are that many strange rumours about us, really, that im aware of, but maybe you can come up with some good ones down under 🙂
In May 2026, Spin Doctors will bring their electrifying live show to audiences across Australia and New Zealand, kicking off in Fremantle before making their way through Adelaide, Geelong, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Sydney, Townsville, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast, before wrapping up in Auckland, New Zealand. As a special treat for fans, the band will perform their iconic album Pocket Full of Kryptonite in its entirety. From intimate clubs to grand theatres, audiences can expect a full-throttle celebration featuring classics like “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” plus deep cuts and surprises from across their storied career.
FULL TOUR DATES BELOW
TUESDAY 12TH MAY 2026: METROPOLIS, FREMANTLE, PERTH
WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2026: THE GOV, ADELAIDE
FRIDAY 15TH MAY 2026: THE STORY HOUSE, GEELONG
SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2026: FORUM, MELBOURNE
MONDAY 18TH MAY 2026: KING STREET, NEWCASTLE
TUESDAY 19TH MAY 2026: PORT MACQUARIE RACE CLUB
THURSDAY 21ST MAY 2026: ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY
FRIDAY 22ND MAY 2026: THE WAREHOUSE, TOWNSVILLE
SUNDAY 24TH MAY 2026: TIVOLI, BRISBANE
MONDAY 25TH MAY 2026: KINGS BEACH, SUNSHINE COAST
WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY 2026: POWERSTATION, AUCKLAND
BUY TICKETS [HERE]
PRESALE TICKETS ON SALE: TUESDAY 2ND DECEMBER @ 10 AM AEDT
GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE: THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER @ 10 AM LOCAL
From the high-energy riffs of “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” to the funk-laden grooves of their latest album, ‘Face Full of Cake’, audiences can expect a night packed with sing-alongs, nostalgia, and a celebration of three-and-a-half decades of Spin Doctors’ enduring legacy.
Don’t miss the chance to experience Spin Doctors live in Australia.
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