Biography

Biog

I started playing drums aged 12 after an inspirational trip to Ronnie Scott's with my family to see Dr John.  It was actually the drummer with the support act that night who set the ball rolling.  Shortly after the trip to Ronnie's I started taking drum lessons, and soon busied myself transcribing Hendrix tracks with the help of my teacher Malcolm Cross.  Before Malcolm emigrated to LA, he wrote a list of drummers in the front of my notebook that still inspires me today...

1. The Meters (Drummer: Joseph 'Zigaboo' Modeliste)

2. James Brown (Drummers: Clyde Stubblefield, John 'Jabo' Starks...)

3. Herbie Hancock (Drummer: Harvey Mason)

4. Tower Of Power (Drummer: Dave Garibaldi)

5. Steely Dan (Drummers: Bernard Purdie, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd...)

When I left school I was told that if I was serious about drums there was only one person that I should go to see - Bob Armstrong.  People often tell me that I Iook really relaxed when I'm playing drums.  This all stems from from nine years hard graft with Bob, whose inspirational teaching and minute attention to detail have formed the foundation of my continuing efforts to improve my musicianship.

Over the last few years I've been lucky enough to work with many acclaimed artists and producers.  Some particularly memorable studio sessions include those with Teo Miller (Blur, Placebo), Mike Chapman (Blondie), Jamie Watson (Mogwai, Snow Patrol), Premen (Bloc Party, Mystery Jets), Kenny Jones (The Smiths, Billy Bragg) and George Shilling (Primal Scream, Steve Winwood).  

Since living in London I've been playing with Royal Treatment Plant.  My journey with RTP began by  accepting an invitation to record an an EP up in Edinburgh with Jamie Watson to be released on Human Condition Records.  The follow up to the Carry Me EP was the critically aclaimed debut album Hope Is Not Enough (NME 8/10 and album of the week on Huw Stephens' show on BBC Radio 1).  The record was released in the UK in the summer of 2008, and then overseas in 2009 on Universal Records.  

Over the last year I've been busy recording RTP's second album, Halfway To The Sun, and playing alongside Rod Thomas in electo act Bright Light Bright Light (Popjustice Hi-Fi).  It's been a busy live shedule with Bright Light Bright Light on tour with Ellie Goulding, shows at Hammersmith Apollo, Bestival and Koko, and a US tour with both BLBL and RTP culminating shows at SXSW festival in Austin.