Ian Mosley
| Ian Mosley | |
|---|---|
 Ian Mosley onstage with Marillion at their 2009 weekend festival in Montreal, Canada. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 16 June 1953 |
| Genres | Neo-progressive rock |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Associated acts | Marillion, Darryl Way, Steve Hackett, Gordon Giltrap |
| Website | Ian Mosley's page at the Marillion website |
Ian F. Mosley (born 16 June 1953, Paddington, London, England) is an English drummer. He is best known for his long-time membership of the neo-progressive rock band Marillion, which he joined for their second album, Fugazi, released in 1984. He had previously been an in demand session drummer. Mosley's drumming abilities have been praised by the likes of Steve Hackett, Tomas Haake and critic John Franck of AllMusic.
Biography
Early life
Mosley studied percussion at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under teacher Gilbert Webster and, aged 18, played in the orchestra for the musical Hair.[1] His first professional band was Darryl Way's Wolf.[2] Mosley played drums for former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, both on two of his solo studio albums and on tour. He played for Curved Air and Gordon Giltrap.[1][3] He also played on the 1975 album Birds by Dutch band Trace.
Marillion
Mosley joined Marillion in 1984 after a long search for a replacement for drummer and founding member Mick Pointer, who had left the band acrimoniously in 1983. He was the fifth drummer to play for Marillion and was frontman Fish's choice for the role, having been unhappy with the band's previous drummers. Music critic John Franck stated Mosley's "spot-on drumming was the perfect foil for Marillion's meticulous musicianship".[4] He is still a member of Marillion to this day.
Other projects
In 2001, Mosley joined saxophonist Ben Castle, son of entertainer Roy Castle, and they recorded a jazz-themed album together, Postmankind. The album also featured guest performances by John Etheridge, Steve Hackett and Marillion members Steve Rothery and Pete Trewavas.[5]
Mosley played on fellow Marillion bandmate Pete Trewavas' and Eric Blackwood's Edison's Children album "In The Last Waking Moments...", playing drums on the epic 16 minute "The Awakening".
Musical style
Mosley's drumming skills have been praised by Steve Hackett, who has described him as "a phenomenal drummer" and "phenomenally fast", but he has also said that his economy on the drums is "every bit the equal" to Phil Collins, Hackett's former Genesis bandmate.[6]
Mosley has been cited as an influence by Tomas Haake, drummer of Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah.[7]
Mosley has stated that he enjoys "playing arrangements kind of in a classical format, which is in movements" but, despite his membership of several progressive rock bands over the course of his career, he does not believe in music labels and distances himself from the "progressive label" that "involves lyrics that quote dancing gnomes, Stonehenge and fairytales, etc."[8]
Mosley has acknowledged that until and including Marillion's 1991 album Holidays in Eden, his drumming sound was "very eighties" and featured a "big reverb", but he prefers to record drums naturally and he credits Dave Meegan, who produced 1994's Brave and several subsequent albums, with changing the sound of his drums to the more natural sound which has prevailed since.[9]
Mosley has stated that he endorses the use of drum loops to start "atmosphere" and the "initial vibe" of a song, but he does not favour loops being used throughout a song because "it would be boring if it would all be programmed" and "it would be like being caged, I like to be able to play".[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ian Mosley, Information & Solo Projects". Marillion. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ↑ "10 Questions For Marillion Drummer Ian Mosley". Jem Freelance Writing. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ↑ "Marillion Biography". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ↑ Franck, John. "Fugazi". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
- ↑ "Postmankind". Marillion. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ↑ "Steve Hackett Re-Revisits Genesis". Modern Drummer. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ↑ Hill, Gemma. "Interview with Tomas Haake". mikedolbear.com. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- ↑ Dunphy, D.W. (11 February 2008). "Popdose Interview: Ian Mosley of Marillion". Popdose. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 van der Vorst, Bart Jan. "Interview with Ian Mosley". Dutch Progressive Rock Page. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
External links
- Ian Mosley biography at the Wayback Machine (archived October 27, 2009)
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