10 Facts About Mel Gaynor

Mel George Gaynor was born on 29 May 1959 and is a British drummer, best known as the longtime drummer for the rock band Simple Minds.

Mel Gaynor began drumming at age 11 and had his first professional engagement at age 14.

Mel Gaynor later joined the band permanently for the New Gold Dream tour, as a replacement for Mike Ogletree.

Mel Gaynor considers The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to be his main influences.

In 2007, Mel Gaynor kicked off his solo project with a version of "Play That Funky Music" and his new solo album was released at end of 2016 Mel Gaynor's first single is the re recording of Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love released 12 September 2016.

Mel Gaynor was a member of Birmingham-based Muscles, a funk-oriented covers band that had minor chart success with "If It Relaxes Your Mind" and "I'm a Girlwatcher".

Mel Gaynor has played a variety of drum sets over the years, including and currently Natal drums, and uses Remo drumheads.

Mel Gaynor has played a variety of cymbals as well, including at first Paiste during at the start of his career, but then switched to Zildjian in the early 1980s upon joining Simple Minds, which he played for much of the duration of his career.

Mel Gaynor has endorsed Anatolian, UFIP, and Meinl cymbals at various other stages in his career.

Mel Gaynor plays with his signature sticks called Drum Art, and will be coming out with a signature snare drum from the same company.