Roger started playing drumkit/percussion at the age of five and has been a working musician for over 25 years.
In 1996, after a short European tour with a band he formed at college, he was asked to play with London based band “Sugarush” signed to a small independent label (Mutiny Records).
This led to more work as a session musician and a job working at London’s largest rehearsal studio “The Depot”, as a drum-tech and runner for many bands including; Blur, Oasis, Elastica, Primal Scream, The Prodigy, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, The Bluetones, Kula-Shaker, Dodgy, Supergrass, Ash, The Verve, The Longpigs, Finlay Quaye, Pulp, The Beta Band, The Manic Street Preachers, Kylie Minogue, Faithless, Jamiroquai to name but a few.
He played with the “Downtown Superpunks” gigging far and wide including a support slot for Muse in 1997.
In 1998 he was the drummer with the band “Hawaii” (supporting the legendry Silver Apples), and between 1999-2001 he played with London Band, “Sonar”
Sonar – “Fools Freedom” (2001)
In 2002 he played with “Velvetone” (on the Sony Label) and “Coachella” (Chrysalis).
Coachella – “Bad Girl” (2002)
Coachella – “Mad About The Boy” (2002)
From 2003 – 2007 Roger was drummer with the band “Portmoon” (Formerly “Catchers” on the Setanta Label), and played with Exeter based band “State of Fury” who gigged heavily Nationwide with numerous recording sessions at Malcolm Tofts “Trident West Studio”, and Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre’s “Press House Studio” .
State of Fury – “Angels Fall” (2005)
State of Fury – “I Remain The Same” (2005)
In 2007 he played Bass, percussion and keybords for “rairbirds” (one little Indian label).
Taken from the Album ‘1’ and also on the film soundtrack ‘Public Enemies’
Rairbrids – “Blow Wind Blow” (2007)
He was drummer with Cornish based rock outfit Leadcherry gigging extensively including a support slot for “Reef” Singer Gary Stringers side project “Them Is Me”.
LeadCherry – “Heavy Feathers” (2008)
During 2009/2010 he played with The Underbelly, releasing an album “7 Feet Under” on the record-kicks label, with a subsequent tour of Italy in 2010 supporting legendry James Brown/Maceo Parker backing vocalist Martha High and the Shaolin Temple Defenders. This was followed by sell out shows including a sold out Eden session, several big festivals including Glastonbury 2010 and a live performance on Craig Charles’s BBC Radio 6 “Funk and Soul Show”
The Underbelly:
Recordkicks Label, Milan, Italy: www.recordkicks.com
Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show BBC6 Music
V:Funk’
‘Off The Wall’
‘I Keep Heading On’
Taken from the Album 7 Feet Under:
The Underbelly – ‘Shepherds Pie’ (2010)
The Underbelly – ‘Afro Beat’ (2010)
The Underbelly – ‘I Keep Heading On’ (2010)
The Underbelly – ‘Re-Use Me’ (2010)
Not long after, Roger recorded drums for London DJ “Tenoshi” on a remix Ska version of Edwin Starr’s “25 Miles”. This received heavy radio play on BBC Radio 6Music.
Tenoshi – ’25 Miles’ (2010)
In 2011 he completed an album with his band “The Raise” with Rob Elton from Rootjoose/Rairbirds and spent a couple of years gigging and recording.
The Raise – “Truth” (2011)
Roger formed “The Friday Funk Social Club” with Underbelly Sax Player Rich Hume, Glass Shark frontman Tam Johnston, Grace Jones Bass Player Malcom Joseph with occasional guest slots from the legendary Jo Partridge ( Joan Armatrading, Kiki Dee, Cockney Rebel, Elton John, Phil Collins, The Who, Peter Gabriel, David Essex, China, PM, Jon Anderson, Leo Sayer, Justin Heywood, the Strawbs etc…..). The Friday Funk Social Club became an occasional drop in for all involved, but after several gigs and festivals the band disbanded.
In 2017 Roger played drums and percussion on Sarah McQuaids Fifth solo studio album “If we dig much deeper it could get dangerous”. This was produced by veteran English guitarist and singer-songwriter, Michael Chapman.
In 2019 Roger was drummer/percussionist and vocalist for Kneehigh theatre composer Jim Carey’s “Riots and Lobsters” band, touring Nationwide as one of the Saboteurs.
Riots and Lobsters:
At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, Roger started recording drum parts for the London based band ‘Catchers’. In Nov 2021 the bands only single “Something’s Taking Over Me” was released. Oscar-winning Director James Read (My Octopus Teacher) teamed up with Dale, Alice and Roger to create a stunning video to accompany the release.
After a sell-out Album launch at the Kneehigh ‘Asylum’ venue with Louis King’s ‘Rat Affair’, and successful UK tour in early 2020 all live projects had to be put on hold due to the Coronavirus.
As a consequence, RAT filmed and recorded a live version of the show which was streamed as part of the 2021 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Throughout the Covid-19 Lockdown, Roger kept busy playing on many projects including this song composed by Seamus Carey that was used as part of his touring show ‘Pagan Pandemonium.
Another project was a ‘lockdown’ album with Sheffield singer songwriter ‘Buffalo Ghost’. There is another one in the offing!! Watch this space!
Roger has over 25 years worth of experience as a session player. As well as drums, he plays bass / guitar / keyboards / vocals and percussion.