Thanks to Platform One for sending through details of this forthcoming drum clinic.
We know that there are lots of musicians out there who will be interested to attend the workshop, so if you have a budding young drummer in the house, make sure you send them this posting (you can use the ‘Email This Story To A Friend‘ link at the bottom of the article).
Steve White has an amazing musical history and has been doing these clinics for some time now. Tickets are just £10 and it’s open to all ages, but under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult.
Background
Steve White was given a small drum as a child by his uncle and upon joining his local boys brigade he began to learn his craft.
As with Steve’s band mate Paul Weller, he was given full support from his parents who went out of their way to help their son develop what was sooner rather than later to be Steve’s vocation. Steve spent his youth learning from the “greats” such as Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson, along with lessons from well known drumming teacher Bob Armstrong.
Steve complemented his work gigging with local bands with part time work, spending any spare cash on updating his collection of jazz records.
In 1983 Steve auditioned for an un-named band which turned out to be Paul Weller’s new group, The Style Council. Weller was impressed with the 17-year old drummer’s jazz background and asked Steve to come back the following day. Steve stayed with the band for some years but was never actually invited to join, even though he appeared in most of their videos and on all but a few recordings. He became the youngest drummer on stage at Live Aid at Wembley in 1985 (and also played the LIVE8 gig at Hyde Park with The Who).
Steve left the Style Council in 1988 in order to pursue other projects and went on to play with many well known acts, such as Ian Dury and the Jazz Renegades. When the Style Council reformed for a one off gig for Japanese TV in 1990, Paul Weller invited Steve to his studio to hear a few demo tracks and maybe play along. Steve was soon back full time behind the kit for Weller’s solo projects which still holds fast today twenty two years later.
His brother Alan White is also a drummer, who played in the famous brit pop band – Oasis for nine years (1995-2004). Alan has been quoted as saying about Steve that beside influences such as Ringo Starr and Bonzo, his brother Steve was also one of his main influences.
During Oasis’s tour of the United States in 2001, Alan had tendinitis leading to Steve standing in for his younger brother on some of these shows.
Steve White is also a member of supergroup The Players with ex-Style Council keyboardist Mick Talbot and ex-Ocean Colour Scene bassist Damon Minchella. Steve also drummed for early 90s band Starclub. He has his own website, where he answers the fans’ questions, and discusses his recent activities with Paul Weller, Chad Smith and many more respected musicians. In 2005, he took over drumming duties for The Who at Live 8, after their regular drummer Zak Starkey, Ringo Starr’s son, joined Oasis on their tours and recording sessions.
For further information please contact 01983 537550
