Ashton Irwin

Ashton Fletcher Irwin (born 7 July 1994) is an Australian musician, best known as the drummer of the pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. Since 2014, 5 Seconds of Summer have sold more than 10 million albums, sold over 2 million concert tickets worldwide, and the band's songs streams surpass 7 billion, making them one of the most successful Australian musical exports in history.

Early life Ashton Fletcher Irwin was born on 7 July 1994 in Hornsby, New South Wales. His father, who is an American, left the family when Irwin was two years old. His mother, Anne-Marie, struggled with alcoholism, and as a result, he spent his childhood "hanging out with drunk people at pubs". He later elaborated, "My upbringing is […] interesting, I didn't have a father, my mom has struggled with alcoholism my whole life. I've grown up kind of bringing other people up…I've had to be relentlessly positive, and I have a very depressed mind".

Irwin's uncle was a drummer in a death-metal band and his step-father played drums in a punk-rock band. Irwin helped raise his younger siblings, half-brother Harry and half-sister Lauren, whilst attending Richmond High School, from which he graduated in 2012. During his high school years, prior to the formation of 5 Seconds of Summer, Irwin formed a jazz-funk band called "Swallow the Goldfish" with his classmates. Ultimately departing from the band, Irwin pursued a year of higher education at a TAFE college, studying music, before choosing to leave due to his commitment to 5 Seconds of Summer.

Career

In late 2011, Irwin received a Facebook message from friend and future band-mate, Michael Clifford, asking if Irwin was interested in casually playing music with him, Calum Hood and Luke Hemmings. Irwin agreed, eventually joining the trio in posting song covers on Hemmings' YouTube channel, and forming the 5 Seconds of Summer lineup. After months of posting song covers together, the band began attracting interest from major music labels and publishers and signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Irwin has since released six studio albums with the band, each met with worldwide success: 5 Seconds of Summer (2014), Sounds Good Feels Good (2015), Youngblood (2018), Calm (2020), 5SOS5 (2022), and Everyone's a Star! (2025).

Apart from the band, Irwin has song-written and provided instrumentation for other artists, including Andy Black, The Faim and Makeout.

In 2024, Irwin announced the release of his second solo album, titled Blood on the Drums, which was released on 17 July 2024. It was preceded by the single, "Straight to Your Heart", the track was described as an ’80s new wave-influenced alt-pop anthem, and was co-written and produced by Irwin in collaboration with John Feldmann. Unlike Superbloom, which was created during the pandemic and focused on personal reflection, Blood on the Drums takes a more outward perspective. Blood on the Drums was released in two parts: The first eight tracks were released digitally on 12 June, with the complete album released on 19 July 2024.

Personal life Irwin has been open about his struggles with alcoholism and is an advocate for mental health. In 2018, Irwin admitted that during 5 Seconds of Summer's two-year break, he dealt "with [his] feelings in the beginning [of the hiatus] with just alcohol". In April 2020, Irwin revealed that, at the time, he had been sober for ten months. During the band's 2019 tour, Irwin documented, via his social media accounts, ice baths he partook in before each show as an affirmation of overcoming his substance abuse. In 2018, Irwin began a relationship with fashion blogger and photographer Kaitlin Blaisdell.

In 2017, it was reported that Irwin bought a five-bedroom mansion in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 2018, it was reported that Irwin had bought a second property, a penthouse, in West Hollywood. As of 2020, Irwin's net-worth is estimated to be $20 million (USD).

Discography

Studio albums +List of studio albums, with release date and label shown Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS UKDown. USCur. Superbloom Released: 23 October 2020 Format: CD, digital download, streaming Label: AI Music Group 37 36 77 Blood on the Drums Released: 19 July 2024 Format: vinyl, digital download, streaming Label: Ashton Irwin Music Group — — —

Live albums +List of studio albums, with release date and label shown Title Album details Superbloom: A Live Experience Released: 20 November 2020 Format: CD, digital download, streaming Label: AI Music Group

Singles +List of singles, with year released and album shown Title Year Album "Skinny Skinny" 2020 Superbloom "Have U Found What Ur Looking For" "Scar" "Heart-Shaped Box" "Straight to Your Heart" 2024 Blood on the Drums "The Canyon"

Songwriting credits Year Title Artist Album Notes 2016 "Drown Me Out" Andy Black The Shadow Side Composer, drums, percussion, background vocals "Homecoming King"Composer, drums "We Don't Have to Dance""Ribcage""Stay Alive""Beautiful Pain""Broken Pieces" 2017 "Ride It Out" Makeout The Good Life Composer, drums 2018 "Summer is a Curse" The Faim State of Mind Composer, drums 2019 "The Promise" Andy Black The Ghost of Ohio Composer, drums

Videography

Music videos

+YearTitleArtistRole2018"Valentine"5 Seconds of SummerHimself, Director 2019"When I Get Home"Ivy LevanLove Interest 2020"Skinny Skinny" Ashton Irwin Himself, Director 2024"Straight to Your Heart" Ashton Irwin Himself, Co-director 2024"Canyon" Ashton Irwin Himself

Awards and nominations

Year Award ceremony Category Nominee(s)/work(s) Result 2020 MusicRadar Best Rock Drummers In The World Right Now Himself