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Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis talks touring with Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and drawing black and white portraits of famous pals such as Kylie Minogue, Ringo Starr and Rod Stewart




A drummer who has toured the world with a chart-topping rock band discovered his talent for art while on the road.

Gilson Lavis gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s with the band Squeeze alongside TV star Jools Holland.

Now living with wife Nicky, in south Lincolnshire, the musician uncovered a talent for drawing black and white portraits - with celebrity friends such as Kylie, Amy Winehouse and Ringo Starr as his subjects - to while away the hours on tour.

Gilson Lavis with his portraits
Gilson Lavis with his portraits

Gilson said: “When I was at school I could sketch a bit.

“I liked anything to do with being creative and found I was pretty good at art.

“I just used a biro and a notepad and drew a sketch of my tour manager.”

Gilson Lavis at his drum kit. PHOTOS: JENNY BEAKE
Gilson Lavis at his drum kit. PHOTOS: JENNY BEAKE

The sketch was so good that people didn’t believe it was by him and he started to paint people who he worked with.

He now has a personal collection of artwork, specialising in acrylics, signed by singers such as Lulu and Rod Stewart, on the wall alongside many awards and accolades he has received over the years.

Gilson said: “On the road I would draw using just a felt tip pen.

“Then I started painting how I’d been sketching.

Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse

“It went down so well and I love a bit of approval.”

Touring for years with Squeeze became a ‘long, arduous journey’ having turned professional as a drummer at the age of 15.

Gilson joined the band — famed for top ten hits Cool for Cats, Up The Junction and Labelled with Love — after seeing an advert seeking a drummer, and as he was ‘much better than the other lads’ who had auditioned he was in. A year later the group celebrated a hit record.

Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue

Born in Bedford, the musician sees Lincolnshire as his forever home and has been trying to retire from the music business but keeps getting drawn back in.

Gilson said: “I was trying to retire and trying to get out of the business and thought I would live in the country and give some drum lessons.

“The phone went and it was Jools who said he’s got a gig - and I said I’d rather not.

Just one of the many accolades Gilson Lavis received whilst with Squeeze
Just one of the many accolades Gilson Lavis received whilst with Squeeze

“But I played a charity gig in London, then another and another one and it gradually grew into the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra - and I am still doing it.”

Describing himself as a ‘home-bird’, the drummer now drives home from gigs wherever possible as the novelty of using hotels wore off a long time ago with a ‘lot of hanging around and no time to do anything.’

He said: “The last years touring with Squeeze was a hard grind where every day is the same but every day is different.

Melanie C from the Spice Girls
Melanie C from the Spice Girls

“From the hotel to the car, drive to the venue, hang about in the dressing room, do the show and back to the hotel.

“But there is always a different audience so it is a weird sort of life.”

He met wife Nicky, who founded the Pinchbeck Tappers, while she was working as a PA for Jools Holland and describes the music business and touring as different now to how it was then.

Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart

He said: “The music industry is a different beast completely.

“To become a successful recording artist is very tough.

“Meeting the plateau to sell records worldwide is hard and the money is in performing live.”

Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr

Having spent decades in the limelight, on the road and playing live he considers fame to be different to success.

He said: “Success isn’t necessarily about becoming famous.

“It can be about being surrounded by performers and musicians you want to be surrounded with.

Gilson talks of his career and experiences as not being the only job with these attributes but that the music industry ‘magnified’ certain traits.

In the days of Squeeze as fame grew the band were treated differently.

He said: “In the early days when we were struggling to get known we would sleep on floors and stay in squats.

“There was a camaraderie which softened the edges and after some success we were treated with more respect.

“Being referred to as a popstar, being recognised from the telly we were treated with more importance.”

Referring to his long time pal Jools Holland as Julian he describes a similar cycle of performing.

He said: “We started off as a duo playing at universities and art houses and it gradually grew.

“I have known him so long and he is considered a national treasure.

“Of course he has a successful television career alongside so you do get treated with a level of reverence.”

Advice to younger musicians in the business is to avoid ‘disappearing down a rabbit hole, look after mental and physical health and be a team player.

He said: “The music business is very hard.

“I felt I was exhausted and touring had got so hard.

“It was affecting my health and I was truly worn out.”

When he is not touring with Jools Holland, Gilson enjoys sitting in his studio in an armchair sketching and opening the occasional village fete.

He said: “Success is not just about being rich and famous.

““It can be about carrying a message, looking after your own mental health and attitude and enjoying life.”

For further information visit https://www.facebook.com/gilsonlavisart

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