Mel Gaynor
Encyclopedia
Mel George Gaynor is a British musician. He is best known as the long time drummer for the rock band, Simple Minds
. Gaynor was born to a Jamaica
n father and an Afro-Brazilian
mother.
Gaynor joined Simple Minds in 1982 as a session
drummer for the New Gold Dream album (as a recommendation by the record producer, Pete Walsh) then later joined the band permanently for the New Gold Dream tour, as a replacement for Mike Ogletree
. Except for a brief stint away from the band after the Real Life
tour in the early 1990s, he has been the band's drummer to the present day.
Gaynor began drumming at age 11 and had his first professional engagement at age 14.
In addition to drumming, he is active as a songwriter and a record producer. Currently, he has also been working on a side project as part of a duo
(along with Stephane Deriau-reine) called The Fusion Project. The Fusion Project's first album was released in April 2006 and is described as "a mix between progressive rock and jazz-fusion."
Gaynor considers The Rolling Stones
, Led Zeppelin
, Jimi Hendrix
, James Brown
, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to be his main influences.
In addition to Simple Minds, he has played alongside other acts
such as: Sir Elton John
, Lou Reed
, Tina Turner
, Meat Loaf
, Samson
, The Associates, Peter Gabriel
, The Pretenders
, Gary Moore
, Jackson Browne
, Little Steven, Brian May
, The Nolans
and Robert Palmer.
In 2007 Gaynor has kicked off his solo project with the new version
of Robert Parissi's, "Play That Funky Music
".
Mel was also a member of Birmingham based Muscles, a funk oriented covers band that had minor chart success with "If it relaxes your mind" and "I'm a girlwatcher"
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
. Gaynor was born to a Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n father and an Afro-Brazilian
Afro-Brazilian
In Brazil, the term "preto" is one of the five categories used by the Brazilian Census, along with "branco" , "pardo" , "amarelo" and "indígena"...
mother.
Gaynor joined Simple Minds in 1982 as a session
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
drummer for the New Gold Dream album (as a recommendation by the record producer, Pete Walsh) then later joined the band permanently for the New Gold Dream tour, as a replacement for Mike Ogletree
Mike Ogletree
Mike Ogletree is a Scottish drummer. A founding member of the late-seventies Scottish progressive rock band Café Jacques, he is best known for his work in Fiction Factory and Simple Minds, a New Wave band with heavy synth influences active during the 1980s....
. Except for a brief stint away from the band after the Real Life
Real Life (Simple Minds album)
Real Life is the ninth studio album by Simple Minds, released in April 1991. The first album without Michael MacNeil, the album reached #2 in the UK, but failed to chart in the United States, despite hitting the Top 40 with "See the Lights", which also reached #1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks...
tour in the early 1990s, he has been the band's drummer to the present day.
Gaynor began drumming at age 11 and had his first professional engagement at age 14.
In addition to drumming, he is active as a songwriter and a record producer. Currently, he has also been working on a side project as part of a duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
(along with Stephane Deriau-reine) called The Fusion Project. The Fusion Project's first album was released in April 2006 and is described as "a mix between progressive rock and jazz-fusion."
Gaynor considers The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to be his main influences.
In addition to Simple Minds, he has played alongside other acts
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
such as: Sir Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, Samson
Samson (band)
Samson was a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick , who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a...
, The Associates, Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, Little Steven, Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
, The Nolans
The Nolans
The Nolans are an Anglo-Irish all-female band consisting of a group of sisters. The group, best known for their song "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", gained prominence as guest performers on numerous television shows in the United Kingdom...
and Robert Palmer.
In 2007 Gaynor has kicked off his solo project with the new version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Robert Parissi's, "Play That Funky Music
Play That Funky Music
"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
".
Mel was also a member of Birmingham based Muscles, a funk oriented covers band that had minor chart success with "If it relaxes your mind" and "I'm a girlwatcher"