news
discography
songs
tours
videos
people
family tree
timeline
press releases
reviews
faq
mailing list
fanzines
site map
links
about
contact

mel gaynor
musician: drummer | singer
birthday: 29th may 1959
associated with band: 1982-1991, 1997-1998, 2002-2017


Mel Gaynor "Mel George Gaynor (born 29 May 1959, Balham, London, England) is a British musician. He is best known as the longtime drummer for the rock band, Simple Minds."

"Gaynor was born to a Jamaican 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, Orange Juice, Peter Gabriel, The Pretenders, Gary Moore, Jackson Browne, Little Steven, Brian May, The Nolans, Goldie and Robert Palmer."

Mel Gaynor's Biography





discography: mainstream singles
Glittering Prize Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) Waterfront Speed Your Love To Me Up On The Catwalk Don't You (Forget About Me) Alive And Kicking Sanctify Yourself All The Things She Said Ghostdancing Promised You A Miracle Live single Ballad Of The Streets EP This Is Your Land Kick It In The Amsterdam EP Let There Be Love See The Lights Stand By Love Real Life Love Song/Alive And Kicking single Glitterball War Babies Home Stranger Rockets Stars Will Lead The Way Broken Glass Park Blood Diamonds Live EP Honest Town Let The Day Begin Midnight Walking Don't You (Forget About Me) 2015 (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)




discography: mainstream albums
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) Sparkle In The Rain Once Upon A Time Live In The City Of Light Street Fighting Years Real Life Neapolis Black And White Graffiti Soul 5x5 Live Big Music Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Limited Edition 2XLP Live Big Music Tour 2015 Walk Between Worlds




discography: lostboy! aka singles
Shadowland She Fell In Love With Silence




discography: lostboy! aka albums
Lostboy!




videography: mainstream videos and dvds
Verona Celebrate: Live At The SSE Hydro Glasgow




family tree
Simple Minds #11
Simple Minds #12
Simple Minds #13
Simple Minds #14
Simple Minds #15
Simple Minds #16
Simple Minds #17
Simple Minds #21
Simple Minds #23
Simple Minds #29
Simple Minds #31
Simple Minds #32
Simple Minds #33
Simple Minds #37
Simple Minds #38
Simple Minds #40
Simple Minds #41
Simple Minds #42
Simple Minds #44
Simple Minds #45
Simple Minds #46
Simple Minds #48
Simple Minds #52

LostBoy! AKA #1




live appearances
New Gold Tour 1982
Tour Du Monde 1983
Barrowlands 1985
Live Aid 1985
Once Upon A Time Tour 1985
Cash For Kids 1987
Brazil 1988
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute 1988
Artists Against Apartheid Rally 1988
Street Fighting Years Tour 1989
Nelson Mandela Freedom Concert 1990
Germany 1990
Real Life Tour 1991
Festival Tour 1997
Neapolis Tour 1998
The Floating World Tour 2002
Alive And Kicking Tour 2003
Festival Tour 2004
Intimate Tour 2005
Black And White Tour 2006
Australian Tour 2007
46664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela At 90 2008
Celebrate 30 Years Live Tour 2008
30 Years Live European Tour 2009
Graffiti Soul Tour 2009
Australian Tour 2010
Festival Show Tour 2010
Final Shows 2010
Greatest Hits Forest Tour 2011
Australia 2011
5X5 2012
Festival Shows 2012
Australia 2012
A Concert In The Gardens 2012
Greatest Hits + 2013
Summer Tour 2013
Americas 2013
South Africa / Europe 2013
Stonehaven Hogmanay Festival 2013
Greatest Hits + European Tour 2014
Greatest Hits + Summer Tour 2014
Big Music Tour 2015
Big Music Summer Tour 2015
Big Music Winter Tour 2015
Big Music Western Asia 2016
Australia - New Zealand 2017




website
www.melgaynor.com