Tom Gilkes

I am a passionate professional Drummer and Percussionist with an array of experience in performing, recording and teaching. With a love for educating future musicians and playing at a professional level. I have a strong interest in many styles of music with an appetite for acquiring additional knowledge to further my own skillset.

I have been playing the drums since the age of twelve, turning professional at the age of twenty. With an array of experience touring all over the UK, Europe and the United States with artists such as Marc Ford (The Black Crowes), Jay James (X-Factor/Decca Records), Wille and the Bandits, Eddie Martin, John Paul Gard, Innes Sibun (Robert Plant), Pete Gage (Dr Feelgood) Jon Amor (The Hoax) Scott McKeon (Tom Jones) Ian Siegel (who has been awarded two UK Blues Awards, 10 British Blues Awards, 4 European Blues Awards, 2 MOJO ‘Blues Album Of The Year’ Awards and 3 US Blues Music award Nominations) and many others.

I have studied with world-renowned drummers such as Dave Weckl (BB King, Chic Corea), Shawn Pelton (SNL, Carole King, Paul Mccartney), Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), Dave Dicenso (Berkley College Head of Drums – USA), AJ Hall (Jon Cleary) Stanton Moore (New Orleans Legend) and Dave Elitch (Miley Cyrus, the 1975, The Mars Volta)

In addition, undertaking studio work with producer Brian Banks (Michael Jacksons ‘Thriller’ Album) Clint Murphy (Manic Street Preachers) And John Cornfield (Oasis, Robert Plant, Muse, Razorlight) the sessions having been recorded at the legendary “Sawmills” Studios in Cornwall.

Moreover covering lecturers at the British Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) on a regular basis teaching lessons, in Theory, Styles and Techniques/ Live Music Performance, I am also a fully qualified Yamaha drum teacher (where training is undertaken each year at Yamaha headquarters in Milton Keynes).

Music Qualifications & Achievements:

• Level 3 Diploma in Commercial Music (Awarded a DMM – equivalent to A, B, B at A-Level)
• Foundation Degree (FdMus) in Professional Musicianship (British institute of modern music)