# Gavin Harrison's Drum Setup on Porcupine Tree's Deadwing (2005)

> Gavin Harrison's drum setup on Porcupine Tree's Deadwing (2005) — expanded odd-meter writing, a growing Sonor and Zildjian rig, and the heaviest Porcupine Tree record to that point.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Gavin Harrison](/llms/drummers/gavin-harrison.md)
**Band / Album:** Porcupine Tree — *Deadwing* (2005)
**Genre:** Progressive Metal / Art Rock
**Label:** Lava / Atlantic
**Studio:** Various English studios (No Man's Land, The Artillery, Bourne Place, New Rising, RAK, Astoria and Livingstone), March–October 2004
**Producer:** Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri and Gavin Harrison

## Overview

Released in March 2005, *Deadwing* is Porcupine Tree's eighth studio album and the record where Gavin Harrison's drumming pushed furthest into the odd-meter, dynamically extreme territory that *In Absentia* had introduced three years earlier. Produced by Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri and Harrison himself, and recorded across a string of English studios between March and October 2004, *Deadwing* is built around a horror-film screenplay Wilson co-wrote with director Mike Bennion — a concept that pushed the band toward more cinematic, dynamically dramatic arrangements.

The nine-and-a-half-minute title track opens the album with exactly that drama: Harrison's drumming shifts from restrained, atmospheric patterns to a driving, syncopated groove and back. "Shallow" is the album's most direct, riff-driven statement, with Harrison locking into a heavy, straightforward groove. "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here," at over twelve minutes, is the album's centerpiece — a slow-building epic featuring a co-guitar solo from Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt and drumming that expands from sparse, textural playing into a full-band climax.

By *Deadwing*, Harrison's gear had matured further along the path from the developing Sonor relationship on *In Absentia* toward the fully custom SQ2 setup he would use on *Fear of a Blank Planet*. The Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals remained constant throughout.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Sonor custom maple kit (refined SQ2 specification)
- **Bass Drum:** 22" x 17"
- **Rack Toms:** 10" x 8", 12" x 9"
- **Floor Toms:** 14" x 13", 16" x 15"
- **Snare (primary):** Sonor brass snare, 14" x 5.25" (refined signature development)
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Custom Special Dry series
- **Hi-Hats:** Zildjian 14" K Custom Special Dry
- **Crashes:** Zildjian 16" K Custom Special Dry, Zildjian 18" K Custom Special Dry
- **Ride:** Zildjian 21" K Custom Special Dry
- **China:** Zildjian 18" K Custom Trash China
- **Pedal:** Sonor bass drum pedal (pre-Perfect Balance)
- **Hardware:** Sonor stands and hi-hat stand
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter snare), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium to medium-high — consistent with the approach established on In Absentia

### Closer to the SQ2: A Kit in Transition

The kit Harrison used on *Deadwing* carried forward the same core specification introduced on *In Absentia*, refined further along the path toward the fully bespoke Sonor SQ2 he would use on *Fear of a Blank Planet*. "Shallow" shows the kit's range in a conventional context — a driving, riff-based groove — while "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here" relies on the same thin-shell sensitivity to let ghost notes register clearly before the kit opens up for the song's extended finale.

### The Brass Snare, Further Refined

Harrison's brass-shell snare, already in place on *In Absentia*, carried through to *Deadwing* with further refinement toward the specification that would become his full Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature drum. The brass shell's warmth suits the album's more cinematic dynamic range.

### Zildjian K Custom Special Dry: Unchanged and Essential

The Zildjian K Custom Special Dry series that Harrison had already established on *In Absentia* remained unchanged on *Deadwing*. The 21" Special Dry Ride does the heaviest lifting on "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here," carrying the track's long build without excess wash. The 18" Trash China gets more use here than on *In Absentia*, reflecting the album's heavier moments.

## Key Facts

- Released March 2005 on Lava/Atlantic
- Recorded across multiple English studios, March–October 2004
- Co-produced by Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri and Gavin Harrison
- Built around a horror-film concept co-written by Steven Wilson
- Guest guitar from Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and Adrian Belew (King Crimson)
- Standout tracks: "Deadwing," "Shallow," "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here"
- Estimated full setup value: $8,250–$11,600

## FAQ

**Q: What drums did Gavin Harrison use on Deadwing?**
A: Gavin Harrison recorded Deadwing (2005) on the same core Sonor custom maple kit he'd used on In Absentia, refined further toward the SQ2 specification he'd fully adopt for Fear of a Blank Planet: a 22" x 17" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms with thin shells for sensitivity. His cymbals were the Zildjian K Custom Special Dry series, unchanged from In Absentia and anchored by a 21" Special Dry Ride and 14" Special Dry Hi-Hats. His primary snare remained a 14" x 5.25" brass drum tuned medium to medium-high.

**Q: What is Deadwing about?**
A: Deadwing is built around a screenplay Steven Wilson co-wrote with director Mike Bennion about a ghost haunting a cinema. The album's more cinematic, dynamically dramatic arrangements reflect that narrative concept, and pushed Gavin Harrison's drumming toward more extended, dynamically extreme performances than on In Absentia.

**Q: Who played guitar solos on Deadwing?**
A: Deadwing features guest guitar solos from Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth and Adrian Belew of King Crimson, alongside Steven Wilson's own guitar work. Åkerfeldt also contributes backing vocals to several tracks, including the title track and "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here."

**Q: How does Deadwing fit into Gavin Harrison's Porcupine Tree gear history?**
A: Deadwing sits between In Absentia (2002) and Fear of a Blank Planet (2007) in Harrison's Porcupine Tree gear timeline. It carries forward the Sonor custom maple kit and Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals established on In Absentia, refined further toward the fully bespoke Sonor SQ2 setup he would use two years later.

## Related Articles

- **Full drummer profile**: [Gavin Harrison at MetalForge](/drummer/gavin-harrison)
- **In Absentia gear**: [In Absentia Drum Setup](/articles/in-absentia-drum-setup)
- **Fear of a Blank Planet gear**: [Fear of a Blank Planet Drum Setup](/articles/fear-of-a-blank-planet-drum-setup)
- **Gavin Harrison kit guide**: [Gavin Harrison Porcupine Tree Drum Setup](/articles/gavin-harrison-porcupine-tree-drum-setup)