Dave's Page

Dave began playing percussion at the age of 15 in his school orchestra
after studying piano from the age of 7. By the time he was 16 he was a
regular percussionist with Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band and the
Sheffield Wind Band. He also attended Wath Music Centre becoming
principle percussionist in the Music Centre Orchestra and the South
Yorkshire Youth Orchestra.

At the same time, Dave established his first band - Creation - which, after
wining the local working men's club talent night, spent the next year
touring Yorkshire working men's club circuits. Creation's speciality was
being able to learn new songs quickly as they came into the Charts and
playing these live. The band also led a second life as a rock covers band
playing the songs of Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rory Gallagher, Free and
Focus to name but a few. Dave also played most of the hit musicals of the
day, including West Side Story, at Sheffield's entertainment venues and
numerous drumming deputy jobs in Yorkshire's working men's clubs.

At the age of 17 Dave left home to study at Huddersfield Polytechnic
School of Music (now University) gaining distinction in the performer's
element of his diploma. During the 4 years he was at Huddersfield, Dave
became the principal timpanist for the School of Music Orchestra, played
kit drums in the Northern Jazz Orchestra and played an active part in
promoting new/avant garde music. Dave studied with the principal
percussionist of the Halle Orchestra during this period and became a
regular performer with the orchestra at venues such as Sheffield City Hall
and Manchester Free Trade Hall. Dave also continued his brass band
work, playing with both Brighouse and Rastrick and Black Dyke Mills in
championship winning performances at The Albert Hall in London, as well
as undertaking European tours.

Towards the end of his 4 years at Huddersfield, Dave was approached by
Andy Tillison, recently recruited member of The Vye, who were looking for
a drummer. After a quick audition, Dave joined and moved to Leeds where
he was based for the next 20 years. While in The Vye, Dave toured
Holland, all of the UK and released two records with the band: a single "5
Hours Till Tonight" and a track - "The Kings New Clothes" - on a
compilation album (499 2139) on Elton John's Rocket Records Label. The
number of the album title referred to a telephone number that bands rang
up to get an audition to be on the album.

In the early 1980's Dave and Andy left The Vye to form A New Opera - a
band Dave views as his most satisfying musical venture to date. Following
the obligatory lack of success (!) Dave left to try a variety of other bands -
the last one of these being BUiLD - a lively 4 piece in the brit-pop style of
the day playing regularly at the long gone Duchess of York in Leeds. In
1997, Dave took a break from playing to concentrate on family, work and
studies and sold his beloved Pearl kit.

After an 8 year break the drumming itch became too much and Dave
jumped back into the saddle and after a couple of false starts joined
respected Leeds based rock covers band - Splinter. The result was a very
solid and musically professional outfit that quickly won audiences over at a
wide variety of venues and events. In 2006, Dave worked with Fin Keating
of Splinter to form a Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music tribute band - Roxyrama
with the band gradually building up a strong loyal following into 2007.
However, in early 2008, Dave announced his intention to leave Roxyrama
to concentrate on work (again!) and Splinter.

Dave's playing style, while tempered by the passage of time, continues to
be solid, unfussy with a fanatical attention to tempo. It is easy to hear
Dave's classical musical training background coming through in his playing
style with an unusual attention to the musical detail of each song - not just
the rhythm - making him a genuine all round percussionist.