Experienced Studio Drummer

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Well it has to be McCartney. I worked for him for three years. Three years that were a turning point for him. He had released a couple of albums that weren't received well. His manager at the time wanted Paul to form a proper band again ,are a great album and tour, as he hadn't toured for nearly a decade. On the 'Flowers In The Dirt' album we worked with many of the leading record producers at the time. The tour was a huge success, breaking all kinds of sales figures and attendance records. Playing the music of The Beatles in huge American football stadiums was an experience never to be forgotten.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Recently I have worked with a couple of American songwriters. Nothing released yet. Every couple of months I shoot a video for Youtube, explaining and demonstrating a well known song I played on.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask them to describe their goals, do they have any pointers regarding other artists, other albums, their favourite drummers.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: For remote recording we almost certainly need to work to a common pulse, ideally a click or a loop, or a steady synth part.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I will import the clients mp3 of their song. Ideally like two, one without drums that I can work on, and one with some kind of guide drums, whether a loop, something roughly programmed, or VST drums, so I can hear the direction the client wants to go in. I need a bpm. Then I make my own click track. I map out the song arrangement on paper, then I probably make a couple of rough recordings to check my sounds and the performance. Once happy I will record a couple of takes, then choose the best one to export back to the client.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Yes, Rob Harris, amazing guitarist, Dylan Wissing, cool drummer.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Recording is digital, but I'm completely hybrid, with lot's of old gear, analog synths, pedal and fx. My drums are 'analog' of course!

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: If I don't think I can add value to your project, I won't offer my services.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love making artists and song writers happy. I take pride in delivering drums that take their productions to the next level.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it's easy.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I've been a full time musician since 1980. I spent time in New York City at the tail end of punk, playing shows at CBGB and Max's Kansas City. Returning to London I worked with a number of up and coming indie style artists like The Waterboys, World Party and Julian Cope. At the same time I started to work in the studio scene, playing on hit pop records. Everything changed when I was hired by Paul McCartney in 1987. We made two studio albums and undertook a major world tour. Afterwards I was asked to join Dire Straits on their final world tour.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Classic studio drumming. I admire drummers like Jeff Porcaro, Andy Newmark, Gregg Bissonette and Abe Laboriel jr.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Rock, pop, singer-songwriter, contemporary electronica.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Playing for the song. I have a lot of experience, so my benchmark of what I allow out of my studio is the same as any top production. The drums have to sound good, have to groove and I don't like sloppy, out of time drumming.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I have a lot of experience playing songs. I am known for having a great feel and delivering world class drum sounds. I enjoy music from 1960's pop and rock to modern electronica, so have at the minimum a basic understanding of many genres.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home studio set up in an outbuilding. I can create dry intimate drum sounds as well as roomier rock sounds. I have the latest digital technology by Apple computers, UAD and Cranborne Audio, plus collections of esoteric and vintage outboard processing and some rare modular synths.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Beck. Great songs and the production is right up my street.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I play drums on their songs. I deliver them edited and sometimes processed to be mix ready.