How and when did you get into drumming?

I started drumming around 1963 (just after my dad died). My brother had made a guitar in woodwork at school and along with his friend they wanted to form a band. I would play along with them on pots and pans with my mum’s knitting needles and my brother decided to save up his pocket money and buy me a drum kit. It was a mix of Arbiter and Premier, complete with Super Zyn cymbals and it cost £25.

I was playing for about two years in pubs and clubs when my mother decided to take me down by the scruff of my neck to enrol me in the Coventry Corps of Drums. Now that was probably the best thing that could have happened to me from a drumming point of view, for the first time in my very short drumming career I was taught rudiments. I would spend hours and hours trying to learn paradiddles and speed up my mummy daddy’s until I could do a roll. I was with the Corp of Drums for four years in which time I won best drummer of the year in 1968.

I would also go and see loads of bands at the Coventry Theatre - The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Dave Clark 5, Pink Floyd (in 1968 – Wow!), The Animals, and to top the lot I went to see Jimmy Hendrix.

In those days they did two shows, I saw Hendrix in the first show and sneaked back stage for the second. I hid behind the side curtains and watched Hendrix from the side of the stage and it was just amazing and the sound was awesome. Mitch Mitchell just blew me away.

I also did a support for John Mayals Blues Breakers at The Benn Hall in Rugby in 1968/69. Peter Green on guitar, John McVie on bass (Fleetwood Mac) and Aynslie Dunbar on drums. What was so special about this gig was that I was in the dressing room sitting down and talking to these soon to become legends. John Mayal was showing me his Bowie knives and I was in the support band. The other outstanding thing was that Aynslie Dunbar’s kit was a Ludwig Super Classic and the stands were rusted to hell.
It sounded amazing and the playing was just jaw breaking.

Then along comes Buddy Rich - THE WORLDS GREATEST DRUMMER was the advert at the Coventry Theatre and I had to go. I came away thinking ''Jesus, what have I just seen?''. I went to the Hotel Leofric in Coventry where Cream were playing and told my brother about Buddy. He went straight down and watched the second show and later came back in disbelief. One word sums up Buddy – GOD - nothing more to say really

What are you doing musically at present?

I am teaching drums at Coventry College on a part time basis and I am busy with three or four bands and doing the odd studio sessions.

Dark Side of the Wall - Pink Floyd Tribute band and from a drummer’s point of view it is very difficult music to get right. Nick Mason can play so laid back and in the pocket it is unreal and a lot of the time signature changes are very tricky. Full credit to Nick – great player.

The Motorvators - Three piece rock band that plays Hendrix, Cream and a lot of classic rock song covers. This band just reminds me of how great three piece bands from the 60’s were. There is loads of space for all three musicians to shine and to explore the music that they are playing.

Lane Travis - Country and Western ….don’t laugh! - Another great learning curve. This music demands strict timing and control and from a drummers point of view, a subtle touch. It is music that I love playing, I don’t have to hit the hell out of the kit and I can relax and have fun playing very quiet. Demanding in some other certain ways.

Banco De Gaia - I still do the odd gig with Banco and this is the most demanding of all - click track all night and no room for error. I have toured all over the World with Banco and I love the music. Even if it means playing the same beat for 10 minutes it never gets boring and just seeing 20,000 kids dance there heads off for 90mins is good enough for me.

My next studio session is doing six Shadows songs for a father and son at Gighouse Studio’s in Leamington Spa ….should be fun

Most memorable drumming experience?

Too many to mention, but...

Banco De Gaia in Acapulco in front of 30,000 kids on the beach at 4am as the sun rises.

Gorky Park in Russia.

Being the 1st band to play in Serbia after the war at the Exit Festival in front of 100,000 people.

Kit set up?

Ayotte Custom 8” 10” 12” 14” 16” 22x18” B/D and 14x5” Snare plus 22x6” Sub Bass drum... sometimes.
14x5½ Rogers snare (found in a skip)
6” 8” 10” 12” 14” 16” RotoToms
SPDS pad
Ufip Hi Hats and Crashes and a Zildjian 22”K Ride (a Brookie gift … Bless Him)

Favourite drummers and why?

Buddy Rich - GOD
Steve Smith - Just goes to show what a rock drummer can become with practice
Steve Gadd - Just great feel and groove
Dave Weckl - Insane but not to everyone’s taste
Bonham - The Master of how rock should be played, and British too
Brookie - Just an insane amount of dedication to the art of drumming and he was always working out rhythms and permutations. Even on holiday he was never without his practice pad, sticks and note book and he would drive me mad whilst having a coffee in Leamington - non stop tapping on the table, working things out

Favourite drum DVD?

Jim Chapin – The Moeller Technique

Favourite bit of kit?

All of it . It is just a great kit to play and feels like it was made for you...well, it was.

Anything you would like to add?

The importance of learning rudiments. It’s like trying to spell without learning your ABC. The most boring thing you can practice yet the most beneficial

Also learning to read music - the best thing you could ever do, after learning your rudiments. It''s SO important if you want to get all those sessions and be able to read and play all the great stuff that is written down.