About
Welcome to my musician and music industry page. I've worked in the music industry since 1997, covering many aspects including musician, guitar and stage techinician, promoter, and event organizer and general label dogsbody :)
I've played in numerous bands - initially as a guitarist, more recently as a drummer focusing on extreme metal styles. I've had the pleasure of recording with renowned producers such as Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir) and Roger Tebbutt (Cardiacs, Rachel Stamp) at top London studios including the legendary Trident Studios, Nomis, Black Wing, Fortress Studios, and Parlour Sound in Northampton.
My musical journey spans multiple instruments - originally a heavy metal guitarist I moved on guitar to the one time charting indie band Nightnurse on guitar, later picking up drums and playing on albums with a number of extreme metal bands including Interlock, Primitive Graven Image and Abgott, plus sessioning for a lot more. I have also played bass, keyboards, and even clarinet on odd occasions - across genres from black metal to punk, indie, progressive, and psychedelic. My passion really lies in creative music and not in specific genres.
Beyond performing, I've worked in backstage production and event management, roadie/guitar tech work including live dates and tours with Porcupine Tree and Ginger Wildheart, and at festivals including Canterbury Fayre 2002 and 2003 featuring well known artists including Robert Plant, The Stranglers and The Damned. I organized the well remembered 'Enblackened' black metal festival in London at Camden Underworld in 2010.
I also worked for Delerium Music for over 10 years covering literally everything you can think of for a label including a&r, but mainly I got into tech and dragged the company into the future as the in-house database engineer and manager of the acclaimed and once legendary 60s/70s/psych/prog specialist Freak Emporium mail order web site where I worked much of the time. In it's day (early 2000s) the site was widely regarded as one of, if not the best music collectors sites on the internet, and it received a number of great reviews and notable mentions from magazines and newspapers such as Record Collector, The Guardian and Bizarre, and was often featured on BBC Radio 6.
Bands & Projects
Currently active project. Originally signed to US-based Open Grave Records, now running our own imprint label under Voiceprint Records, releasing the industrial tinged 'Celebrating Impending Chaos' album in 2010 and 'Psychedelic Episodes' album in 2012 - all of which have seen a number of reissues and box sets since in various formats right up to 2025!
"The British black metal scene is finally starting to flourish thanks to bands like Primitive Graven Image who've been kicking ass and taking names for some time now. Stylish, contemporary and passionate."
- Powerplay (7/10)
One time charting indie/punk band with major press coverage and commercial success. Signed to 'Better Records' run by Tim Abbott (the man who actually discovered Oasis) we had a good run in the late '90s. I was once joyfully described by NME as 'having a guitar which tries to eat the guitarist throughout' at one of my live shows. I think that's a compliment, I certainly used to put a lot into the performance as well as the playing.
"An unstable firework of a band... edgy, off kilter and off the wall, Nightnurse are actually a little bit frightening"
- Kerrang!, 1999
Industrial/Metal band - I drummed on the Crisis//Reinvention album and Skinless EP. The band went on to tour the US before disolving around 2008
Pre-Akercocke death metal band with live dates and demo recordings. My extreme metal foundations, and pepole I still jam with to this day. One has to wonder if any of our psychedelic or Sonic-Youth insipred side projects will see the light of day some time..
Including Avoidance Of Doubt (guitar, 2007), Shellshock (guitarist featured in 'Kev' video), Abgott (drums for live dates/tours, 'Master Of Illusions' album 2014), early Porcupine Tree jam sessions on keyboards, Empyreal Destroyer (drummer 2008-2010), Morktar (Drummer around 2010), Devilfork (bass), and a whole load more...
Videos
Check out some performance footage and music videos from various projects over the years:
'Slave To The Mannequin' music video (on drums)
Archive footage from my indie/punk era from the late '90s (on guitar). This is from the Highbury Garage, Islington.
Industrial/metal - 'Skinless' video (from the Crisis//Reinvention album - on drums).
Live from Bloodstock, 2008 (on drums)
Photos
A collection of band photos, studio shots, and live performance images spanning my musical career.
🥁 Drumming / Bands I have drummed for
🏠 Studio & Equipment
🎸 Band History
Endorsements
I'm proud to be endorsed by several leading music equipment manufacturers, reflecting my commitment to quality gear and professional standards.
🥁 Drums & Percussion
Premium drum kits and hardware - my go-to choice for both studio and live work since the early days. I was brought up on Pearl, my first kit was a world series, and I have never looked back.
Electronic drums, triggers, and sound modules for modern hybrid setups and studio enhancement. I also use the Roland Boss GT-Pro guitar effects on stage for guitar work.
Boutique custom drum solutions for specialized recording and performance needs.
High-performance double bass pedals essential for extreme metal drumming techniques.
🎸 Guitar Equipment Endorsements (Nightnurse Era)
I was immensely pleased to have a Marshall endorsement from the Nightnurse days as my first amplifier was a Marshall. Classic British amplification which along with the classic Vox A30 defined the Nightnurse sound in the late 90s.
Vintage British effects pedals for that distinctive overdriven and fuzzed guitar tone, and the most incredible Ring Modulator you will ever hear!
The Boss GT-Pro is now a staple of my live guitar set up, together with the FC-300 midi footboard. Programmable and customisable.
I've never had a guitar endorsement as I have several instruments, Ibanez get a shout out from me purely for making amazing guitars - my RG550 from the late 80s still does me proud - I always miss a floating trem on everything else!
These endorsements reflect years of professional use and trust in quality equipment that delivers consistent results in both studio and live environments.
Metal Farm Studios
I operate a private studio available for hire in Gerrards Cross (Bucks/West London, UK), serving both rehearsal and recording purposes. Located out of town in an area of woodland and lakes, it provides an inspiring environment for focusing on music creation.
Featuring the infamous 'Full Metal Backline' - a wall of amplifier stacks together with a two bass-drum kit for the discerning player, it's the perfect place for metal bands to rehearse as this kind of equipment is not usually provided in a rehearsal space set-up.
The studio offers a peaceful, creative space away from urban distractions, perfect for bands and solo artists looking to develop their sound or record professional material.
It has also been home to the infamous Metal Farm Whippets Mia and Eve, and Lola the German Shepherd and Chelsey the Husky, who will guard your equipment if you don't get licked to death first.
Music Lessons
I offer guitar and drum lessons on a selective basis. While teaching isn't my primary focus, I'm available for dedicated students looking to develop their skills.
Other Work & Contact
My expertise extends to computer programming, specializing in internet technologies within the music industry. I developed and managed websites for Delerium Music for ten years, including the legendary Freak Emporium - widely regarded as one of the best music collector sites online, earning recognition from Record Collector, The Guardian, and Bizarre magazines.