HI everyone and thanks for visiting my page austinlane.co.uk. If you want to know more about me you have come to the right place, if you don't....bad luck!

 

  I was born in Dorset back in the day in a small village called Dewlish, commonly known as one of the great Rock 'n' Roll centres of the Universe! I started playing drums at about the age of 10, starting on a pad doing rudimental stuff for 6 months before purchasing my first drum kit - a mish-mash of all the terrible things that have blighted the British drum industry, but to me it was the drum kit of the Gods!

 

  I started gigging at about the age of 12 playing the usual round of pubs/clubs and functions, being transported around in my mothers' dilapidated Morris Traveller. Finally I saved enough money to purchase a Ludwig drum kit at the age of 15. It was a 13"16"24" with the obligatory Ludwig 400.

 

  I played StoneHenge festival at the age of 15 before leaving school and undertaking a vast array of cabaret work.

 

  At the age of 21 I started performing with various jazz bands and recording numerous soundtracks for library music, nature films and various sessions and albums.

 

  I was always fortunate enough to carve a living playing or teaching drums with the odd "proper job" chucked in when money ran out!

 

  In 1989 I joined a band called Face To Face after leaving EMI artists Dancing In English. Face To Face became Seven and we embarked on a series of tours and promotions, supporting the likes of Brother Beyond; The Monkees; Richard Marx and Jason Donnovan. Playing everywhere from Wembley; NEC; The Royal Albert Hall; SEC and appearing in front of 40,000 people at Radio 1 Teddybear's Picnic at Beaulieu in Hampshire.

 

  TV appearances included The Disney Club; 8.15 to Manchester; Kelly, and the Little & Large show. Also being played extensively on the jukebox in the Queen Vic.

 

  Two Polydor released singles produced my John Parr (St. Elmo's Fire) both made the top 100 in the UK charts and led us to playing the Hammersmith Odeon 13 times over a period of 3 years.

 

  Seven featured in every magazine of the time including Smash Hits, Jackie, My Guy and Number 1. Seven called it a day after the Jason Donnavon tour on a series of management/record company wrangles which made it difficult to continue the journey.

 

  Myself, Simon (keys) and Keith (guitars) released a further EP/Single called Picture Yourself under the name Glory Days before finally going our own separate ways. Simon and Keith returned to South Africa and I found myself having to do a "proper job" before joining Poole Percussion.

 

One of the best things to come out of this whole period was the birth of my lovely daughter Layla Jaz.

 

  After joining Poole Percussion in 1993, the shop grew into one of the leading drum retailers in the UK. During this time I continued to play, teach and even do a few gigs on the side!

 

  At the beginning of 2011 I left Poole Percussion to set up the drum department for the now magnificent Absolute Music!!!!!

 

  In 2012 Absolute Music opened one of the UK's largest music superstores, allowing me the opportunity to create one of the leading drum departments in the country.

 

  In 2013, with thanks to Khalil Turk at Escape Music, Seven reformed to finally release the album we had all been waiting for, re-mastering and rerecording our old tracks and demo's. Released to great critical acclaim in June 2014 the album continues to sell well in Europe and Japan.

  That's it for now, continues on the BLOG!

 

 

Austin "Oz" Lane