STEVE WHITE

In 1985 Steve was the youngest performer to appear on stage at the legendary Live Aid Concert at Wembley. As well as working with The Style Council, Steve was drumming and playing percussion with various groups on the Respond label, eager to put his Jazz chops to the test Steve went on to play and tour with the Jazz Renegades - his own band co-founded with the amazing saxophonist Alan Barnes. The band toured the UK and Japan as part of the burgeoning Acid Jazz movement and Steve went on to play with such groups as Working Week, Galliano, The Young Disciples, The James Taylor Quartet, and Ian Dury. At the same time Steve began to gain a reputation as a drum set performer appearing in clinics with Simon Phillips, Peter Erskine and many other great performers. After a couple of years of relentless touring Steve found himself taking a break in London and appearing on the final TV show that The Style Council were doing having announced the bands split and it was during this TV show that Paul suggested he would like Steve to play on some demos for some new songs he was working on for his solo career.

Over an Easter weekend in 1991 Paul recorded as the Paul Weller Movement a song called "Into Tomorrow" - a classic piece of band playing with Paul claiming back his mojo and setting the bar for a glittering solo career . Steve has also released two albums with Style Council friend Mick Talbot under the name Talbot / White. With Paul Weller solo Steve contributed to legendary albums Wildwood and Stanley Road and performed with artists as diverse as Kelly Jones (Stereophonic's) Ocean Colour Scene, Ray Davis, Amy Winehouse and Jimmy Page.

Steve has contributed now as course instructor at the "Freddie Gee Drum Academy" now in it's 25th year , and as drum set clinician, broke clinic attendance records in 2000 and 2007 with Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummer Chad Smith .

Steve co designed the "Modern Classic" snare drums for the Premier drum company in 2002 and then found the team working towards the goal of a complete re-launch of Premier's professional range co-designed by Steve and Nick Hudson and better known as the Premier series. In 2005 the modern classic range was given its crowning glory with the ltd edition version in collaboration with the legendary Jonhny Craviotto, Steve also found himself in 2001 filling in for younger brother Alan in the hot seat for Oasis on the band's American tour with the Black Crowes.

After the release of Illumination in 2003 Steve went onto release as drummer and co-producer on much of the album the acclaimed album "Studio 150" with Paul, fulfilling a dream for Paul to produce a covers album this album was received warmly by both the media and by Pauls ever faithful fans and saw the singles “Thinking of you” “The Bottle" and the radio hit "Wishing on a Star", DVDS of Steve with Paul are available in performance at the Royal Albert Hall, at Braehead Arena Glasgow and Hyde Park in London in 2004, 2005 saw the release of Modern Classics on DVD, also a compilation of the best of Paul’s solo work with all promotional videos and the Wildwood live tour of 1994. On July the second Steve took to the stage at Hyde Park with friend and fellow player Damon Minchella to perform at the most watched musical event in History LIVE 8 performing drumming duties with the legendary Who, becoming a very elite member of a group of musicians who performed at Live Aid and Live 8 .

Oct 2005 saw the release of the second album by the Players Steve’s band with Damon Minchella, Mick Talbot and featuring Kelly Dixon on vocals, titled "From the Six Corners" , Steve spent the rest of 2005 working to promote Paul’s news studio album "As is now" which was released in Sept to widespread critical acclaim, Steve spent the rest of 2005 promoting "As is now" with gigs in the US and then Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the Irish republic. A DVD of the recording of "As is now" was released early 2006 and Steve’s "LIVE 8" appearance was released in 2007 .

In April 2008 Steve alongside former Paul Weller band mate Damon Minchella released "The return of the Iron Monkey" and spent part of that year touring with the group called Trio Valore including appearances at the Paris and Milan Jazz Festival. In Dec 2008 Steve appeared in London to pay tribute to the great Ginger Baker alongside Keith Carlock, Simon Phillips and the great man himself.

In 2009 Steve found time to make appearances with the legendary Jon Lord in the UK and Brazil and to stretch his talents in producing UK artist Sam Gray.

In 2014 Steve assumed the role of head of education for Premier drums for one year, Steve is on the much lauded second album from La Roux, he released a new EP with Trio Valore called Liars and Cheaters and features heavily on volume 2 of Paul Weller's second Modern Classics album. Also in 2014 with Co-designer Keith Keough now with British drum company the released the Modern Classic drums that they designed won both the MIA award and the Rhythm Magazine award for best drum set, Steve and Keith both left Premier in early 2015.

November 2015 saw the release of Electric Blend the debut album from The Family Silver featuring Damon Minchella and Matt Deighton. Steve also took part in 9 World’s Greatest Drummer Concert featuring Ian Palmer, Pete Cater and amongst others the legendary Steve Gadd.

In 2016 Steve was appointed drum set teacher at the prestigious Trinity Laban College in Greenwich and also taught for Goldsmiths College in London and has also is visiting faculty at the University of Solent .

In 2018 Steve presented and worked on the award winning TV series The Art of Drumming for Sky Arts which won the prestigious RTS Award and the best documentary at the Venice TV festival.

2019 saw the release of 11th Hour with Sheffield duo Chris Hague and Joel White and as Hague and White the trio contributed to the highly acclaimed TV series Cold Call. Steve co wrote a very successful educational book with Russ Tarley released on Hudson Music called the " Art of Drumming " with a second book due for release in 2024

Steve recently took part in the prestigious Zildjian company 400th anniversary concert in London paying tribute to Charlie Watts and Brian Bennett and alongside writing partner Chris Hague has just completed the featured songs on C5 show "Good Ship Murder" for X factor winner Shayne Ward and has also completed the score and incidental music for C5 hit series "The Madame Blanc Mysteries" A full discography of Steve's recorded career can be found at Whiteydrums.com and under two separate playlists on Spotify "Whitey" and "Weller and Mr White on drums" you can hear the over 600 songs Steve has commercially released.

NEIL BULLOCK

Neil Bullock turned professional at the age of seventeen, having started playing drums at the age of eight. Neil studied privately with the world renowned drummer Mal Garrett from Birmingham's Conservatoire. Neil won a clutch of awards as a teenager, including two musicians' union most promising young musician awards, three TV Times outstanding drummer, The BBC Kenny Clare drummer prize (Broadcast on Radio 2)and the Musicians' union outstanding musician award. At this time Neil was a member of the Midland youth jazz orchestra, which he left at the age of twenty one after appearing at the Montreux jazz festival in Switzerland. After a meeting with Danny Gottlieb, (Pat Metheny), Neil went to New Jersey to study with Dave Brubeck's world renowned drummer, Joe Morello and also studied privately with the greatest exponent of the Moeller technique, Jim Chapin.

Neil joined The Red Lemon Electric Blues Band at a young age and went on to tour with Chuck Berry, played shows as support to Robert Plant and made a record number of appearances at Ronnie Scott’s.

Over the last few years Neil has worked on numerous occasions with the BBC Big Band on both BBC sessions and live.

Neil is currently the drummer for Matt Goss (Bros) and has just completed a 5 night run at the Shepherds Bush O2 and a major Uk tour in 2017. Neil is also exclusively the drummer for Kenny Thomas with a Uk tour announced for 2019.

Neil is also currently touring with Chris Bowden’s Unlikely Being with a retrospective concert of Chris’s seminal Time Capsule album scheduled for January 2019 at The Union Chapel Islington. This gig is supported by Giles Peterson BBC 6 Music.

Andy Abraham –X Factor runner up. Uk Tour 2019- The Nat King Cole songbook

Some of the artists Neil has worked with include; Broadcast (Warp Records) St Etienne, Mica Paris, Beverley Knight ,Steve White (Paul Weller), Ian Paice (Deep Purple), East 17, Baby D, Chaka Kahn, Chris Bowden's Tomorrow band, Steve Gibbons, Mari Wilson, BBC big band, Kenny Thomas, Jane McDonald, Kid Creole, Mark Nightingale, Dave O'Higgins, Gerard Percencer, Jean Toussaint, John Horlers modern jazz trio, John Etheridge, Sheila Ferguson, Temptations, Anthony Costa (Blue), Daniel Pearce (Pop Stars the Rivals winner), Steve Brookstein (X-Factor winner), Michelle McManus (Pop Idol winner), Noel Sullivan (Hearsay), Louise Marshall (Jools Holland), Chris Storr (Jools Holland), Clare Teal, Bryan Corbett Quartet, Fat Chops big band, Syd Lawrence big band, Stacey Kent, Lee Gibson, Cliff Richard, Tony Christie, Lesley Garret, Sara Coleman, Alan Barnes, Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Jon Brookes (Charlatans), Sean Freeman (level 42),  Yorkshire TV house band, Central TV house band. Jeff Hooper Big Band. Into The Groove-New Star Studied Band. P.P Arnold (Small Faces). Tony Jacobs’ touring show. Beebe, Alan Barnes, Tommy Blaize (BBC Strictly Come Dancing Vocalist), Ben Markland Quintet, Julian Mark Stringle’s Dream Band, Sue Greenway Big Band, Matthew Ford Theatre Tour and band. Jeff Hoopers’ Swing Easy Big Band. Fillet of Soul Featuring Jools Holland Horns, Jane McDonald’s Touring Band. Neil has recently joined Kenny Thomas’s touring band. He has also just joined Digby Fairweather’s London Half Dozen and his Premier Quartet. Paul Higgs - Shades of Miles. The KOGO Project.

Shows - As well as a pop and jazz career Neil has also toured with the following theatre shows;

Crooners Show - Uk tour
Lets Twist Again-Chris Madin - Main singer on BBC Strictly Come Dancing.
Boogie Nights - Anthony Costa, Alvin Stardust.
Oh What A Night - Kid Creole.
What a Feeling - Noel Sullivan.
Legends of Soul - David Guest, Sheila Fergurson, Rose Royce.
Magic of Motown.

Neil joined Broadcast (Warp records) in 2003 and recorded the following;
HAHA sound - listed in the Guardian newspaper's 1000 records to hear before you die, Pitchforks top 50 albums of 2003, top electronic albums of 2003 in America.
PENDULUM EP - listed in Bjorks top ten playlist in the Guardian and made John Peel's (Radio One) festive 50 of 2003.
WITCH CULTS OF THE RADIO AGE - Paul Wellers’ favourite album of 2009.

Other recording highlights include;
KIKA - (Universal) No 1 album in Pourtugal 2012.
KENNY THOMAS-(Solus)-Breathe.
MATTHEW FORD-(diving duck) Portrait. The Swing Thing. Live and Swingin.
STILL CORNERS - (Wrecking Light) - New album - Dead Blue.
MY DARLING CLEMENTINE - (Plane Groovy)-  Still Testifying
BRYAN CORBETT QUARTET -  Message of Iridesence.
FAT CHOPS BIG BAND –A Nightingale Sang - Guest Mark Nightingale.
CHRIS BOWDEN’S TOMORROW BAND -Three to get ready, two to get set, one to go. 3 Album Triology.
CHRIS BOWDEN’S UNLIKELY BEING - (UK Vibe) - Unlikely Being.
BEBEE - Chris Aldridge - Twisted, The Zig Zag Theory, 12.

Neil performed in The World’s Greatest Drummer, a tribute to Buddy Rich, and was also asked to be the featured drummer at 'A Night to Remember', a tribute to Ronnie Verrell (Animal from The Muppets, Ted Heath and The Frank Skinner show). Neil has featured in a five page article in Rhythm magazine and has appeared in Drummer magazine.

WASHINGTON CITY PAPER REVIEW-BROACAST HAHA SOUND - ‘The insistent beats of new recruit Neil Bullock steadily build the song to its space rock climax. Hypnotic, headbob-inducing, and aggressive, it's a trip, sure-but it's also light years ahead of anything this band has done before. The importance of Bullock's contribution here and throughout Haha sound cannot be overstated. Heretofore a drummer in jazz combos, Broadcast's newest member defines the album almost singlehandedly, taking an element that previously added little to the group's sound and making it indispensable.’

STRATFORD HERALD REVIEW- BRYAN CORBETT QUARTET - Neil Bullock was introduced by Bryan as "the drummer “and you won't find any dissenters around here. He is in fact another of the select few mentioned above and every time he plays here is a reminder that we're unlikely to see anyone better.

Teaching
Neil has worked as a private teacher for all of his professional life.
Wolverhampton Uni- Performance Degree-2004-Present
AMS Birmingham-Foundation Degree.-2009-Present. Currently ACM.
AMS Hitchin-Btec National Diploma-2011-
Halesowen Collage-Btec 2008-2010
Chipping Campden School-Peripatetic Drum Teacher-1999-2011.
Leicester Grammer School-Drum Teacher 1995-1999.

Neil has also performed as a clinician for Sabian Cymbals. Independent Clinician.
Main guest Clinician at the UK Drum Fair in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

For more info on Neil Bullock check out www.neilbullock.com and Facebook.

SIMON MELLISH

Simon has been playing drums for 45 years and runs a highly successful teaching practice, Hybridstix Drum Teaching Studio in Bournemouth. He has taught drum kit masterclasses at the ACM Guildford, The Freddie Gee Drum Academy and The Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth. His past students include Derrick Mckenzie from Jamiroquai.

He has just released a book, Technique Evolution which has entered into its second print cycle having only been released at the UK Drum Show in 2024 and has received high acclaim from many of the drum industries leading players. Simon also wrote for the monthly periodical, Drummer for 10 years as an educational columnist.

Simon has performed and recorded with jazz luminaries such as Roger Beaujolais and Derek Nash. He has also performed in the West End and has played on many film and television recording sessions.

Simon has an equal passion for both teaching and performing and does his best to do both in equal amounts.

VINCE DUNN

Vince Dunn over the last 30 years has performed with artist in the jazz and pop world such as Leon Ware, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Pharrell Williams to Award winning jazz artists Jim Mullen, Courtney Pine, Liane Carroll.

Vince is the co-founder of the London Drum Clinic and runs the very successful Vince Dunn Orchestra who perform an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, foot tapping funk and classic big band swing. Whilst freelancing still makes time to teach and and give tutorials.