Ray Hearne is the driving force behind UK prog rock/metal powerhouse Haken. Since co-forming the band in his teens, Haken has been met with huge success worldwide, blending traditional progressive rock sounds from the 70s and 80s with modern metal, jazz fusion, symphonic and electronic music.

Over their 15+ years as a band, Ray’s drumming has undergone dramatic development, from his earlier years replicating the grooves and fills of his favourite drummers Nicko McBrain, Mike Portnoy and Gavin Harrison, Ray now sings with his own unique percussive voice; a distinctive fusion of polyrhythmic and linear grooves, glitchy, electro and experimental sounds with powerful and energetic execution.

Ray comes alive on stage, giving everything to his performance and leaving nothing behind, he is always pushing toward and beyond the boundaries of his abilities. His drumming prowess has garnered praise from several drumming publications and online blogs, listed in Rhythm Magazine’s Top 20 Prog Drummers Of The Millennium and Music Radar’s Top 10 Drummers In The World.

For the last year, Ray has been touring the world with Haken in support of their latest album ‘Fauna’, playing to sold-out audiences across North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, as well as appearing at such major festivals as Download UK, Graspop, Tuska and ArcTanGent.

Photos: Justin Richardson and Jake Ten

Ray is appearing in association with Natal.