Gavin Harrison Drum Kit Evolution — Complete Gear History | MetalForge
How Gavin Harrison's drum setup evolved from 1990 to today. Every kit change across Porcupine Tree / King Crimson's discography.
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Gavin Harrison's drum kit changed over the years?
Gavin Harrison's setup evolved across 3 distinct eras with Porcupine Tree / King Crimson, from the "Session & Touring Era" (Early 1990s–2002) to their current setup. See the full era-by-era gear breakdown on MetalForge.
What was Gavin Harrison's first drum kit?
Gavin Harrison's earliest documented setup was during the "Session & Touring Era" (Early 1990s–2002). Before Porcupine Tree, Gavin Harrison spent years as a UK session and touring drummer, building the jazz-inflected, ghost-note-heavy vocabulary that would later define his progressive rock work. Playing on a standard Tama Starclassic kit with Zildjian A Custom cymbals — mainstream professional gear rather than the custom instruments he would later co-design — Harrison developed the touch and dynamic control that made him a sought-after session player. That decade of studio and touring work ended in 2002, when he joined Porcupine Tree in time to record In Absentia, the album that introduced his playing to a much wider progressive rock audience.
How many gear eras does Gavin Harrison have documented?
MetalForge documents 3 distinct gear eras for Gavin Harrison, spanning 1990s-Present.