Profiles: Gilson Lavis

On November 6, the news of the death of Gilson Lavis – one of the greatest and most versatile drummers in British new wave – hit the music world. In a career that spanned six decades, he explored such styles as rhythm & blues, rock and roll, boogie-woogie, swing and rock.

David Leslie Gilson Lavis was born on the 27th of June 1951 in Bedford, UK. He took up drumming at the age of 13. At 15, he left home and moved to Scotland to tour with a band called the Bo-Weevils.

“I was very young, not at all worldly-wise and I came in for a bit of teasing and banter, but it was my first taste of life on the road, and I did enjoy it even though I was quite homesick and eventually returned to Bedfordshire after about six months.”

Next, he formed his own band, Headline News. Over the next two years, they were busy touring Western Europe, playing British and US military bases with repertoires ranging from The Animals and The Supremes to Ella Fitzgerald.

After the return, he secured a residency at The Rex club in Cambridge, where the house band he was a member of performed alongside countless comedians, ventriloquists, hypnotists and strongmen. That is where he was sought out by a promoter looking for a band to back Chuck Berry on his European tour.

“He was a huge name and a real talent, and the profile of the people you work with yields people of comparable profile. I was soon working with the Four Tops in a residency in Southend, a venue which attracted names like Bruce Forsyth – one of the nicest people to work with – any comedians like Little & Large, Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse. I also worked with Lulu in the early days and about 50 years later I’d work with her again, again, very lovely.”

Around that time, Lavis was also touring with The Springfields (singer Dusty Springfield and her brother Tom Springfield), Jerry Lee Lewis and Dolly Parton.

He was open about his drinking problem, which started just about then. Says Gilson, “Another tour working with Chuck followed, this would be in the early 1970s and at the time I was drinking an awful lot. There are some professions, some situations more conducive to creating what we’d call a drinking culture today, and being a touring musician is definitely such an environment. Mervin [Conn, promoter] sought me out for the tour and against my better judgement I undertook it, but I was soon drinking heavily and inevitably returned home unemployed and broke, not least because it was 1974 and Ted Heath’s three-day week was taking its toll on the economy. People certainly couldn’t frequent clubs and gigs as they used to. Around the time I was touring with the Springfields […] the club’s owner came to see me, put a large Scotch in my hand and delivered the news that my father had died. Both of my parents were lovely people and so supportive of my career, so it was heartbreaking, but the club owner insisted ‘on you go’ and ushered me on stage. It wasn’t long before I was back home.”

After that disaster, Lavis started working for The London Brick company, stacking bricks coming right out of the kiln. He says, “It was the hardest gig I’ve ever had and my hands were ruined. Mum could see I was desperate to get back into music and used some of dad’s money to buy me a black Ludwig Octopus drum kit, and more importantly, put up with me practising in the front room.“

In late 1974, he responded to a Melody Maker advert from a band seeking a drummer. This is how he described it in 2023, “I took the front passenger seat out of my mum’s mustard-coloured Mini, loaded the drums in, and headed to Deptford to audition for the band. It was already in its infancy, led by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, with Jools already on board and Harri Kakoulli joining on bass at the same time I joined. The name Squeeze was one of several names pulled out of a hat.“

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  Jools Holland and Gilson Lavis in the early days of Squeeze

Gilson Lavis spent a total of 14 years as a member of Squeeze, between 1975 and 1982 (the first split-up), and in the period between 1985 and 1992. In the UK, the new wave band are a household name, active to this day (although he did not take part in their 2007 reunion). In the US, they are considered a significant part of the Second British Invasion. Lavis enjoyed a considerable amount of commercial success with the band, i.e. 8 UK Top 40 singles (including 3 Top 10 ones) / 9 UK Top 40 albums (including 4 compilation discs), as well as 4 singles, and 7 albums (including 1 compilation) charting in the US.

He said this about the period when he parted ways with Squeeze the first time, “There were screaming fans, excitement and appearances on Top of the Pops but when the band properly exploded we were in the states. I worked on about five albums with the band’s original lineup, but success does strange things and everything casts a shadow. I was drinking very heavily and both Glenn [Tilbrook] and Chris [Difford] wanted to form their own band and do their own thing.”

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  Squeeze in 1980 in an A&M publicity photo, L-R: Glenn Tilbrook, John Bentley, Gilson Lavis, Chris Difford, and Jools Holland (below)

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  L-R: Harry Kakoulli, Jools Holland, Gilson Lavis, Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford

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  Photo: Times Newspapers/Shutterstock

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  Photo: Fin Costello/Redferns

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  Squeeze in the period '85-'92. L-R: Gilson Lavis, Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, Jools Holland, Keith Wilkinson, and Andy Metcalf (Photo: David Redfern/Redferns)

He moved to Lincolnshire looking for a quiet life and a chance to sort his problem out, “I was exhausted, because if being a recovering alcoholic is hard, being a drinker is even more difficult. I still live in the cottage and it was derelict at the time so it’s taken a lot of time and love to create somewhere that’s home. […] The plan was to never be in the music industry again; to just retire and to maybe reach the drums to others. It was a phone call from Julian [Jools Holland] who asked me to do one more gig. It was a charity event with Prince Edward in the audience, a fundraiser. I refused several times but I think I’ve only got about three refusals in me and in the end I conceded and agreed to do it.”

That was when Holland’s music-oriented TV show was taking off and that one ‘Yes’ after three refusals resulted in the formation of the Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in 1987. It has been the house band for the Later… with Jools Holland show ever since, and Lavis was its drummer until his retirement in 2024. During that period he performed with countless musical guests (including B. B. King, Tom Jones, David Gilmour, Sam Brown, Imelda May, Robert Plant, Lemmy, Amy Winehouse, Paul Weller, Michael Bublé, Lulu, Ed Sheeran, Chaka Khan, Jeff Beck, George Harrison, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton and many, many more), proving himself as a versatile drummer who was able to cover such genres as rhythm & blues, boogie-woogie, rock and roll, swingu, pop, rock or reggae. In the later years of his music career, he was endorsed by such brands as Zildjian, Cambridge Drum Company, Remo, Hardcase.

Gilson Lavis was also a sketch artist and a painter. He famously made black and white acrylic portraits of stars and fellow musicians, including Amy Winehouse, Lulu, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Rod Stewart, John Lennon, Paul McCartney. He said about this side of his artistic endevours: “I credit […] my discovery of painting with saving my life. I’d enjoyed it at school and I was pretty good at drawing. […] When we were on tour, and I found myself in a hotel, not wanting to go out drinking. I’d draw the musicians or people we worked with and our tour manager […] saw a sketch and wanted to have it. It really fed into my sense of self-worth and it was a healthy interest to channel my time. My interest in art great, sketching family pets and the people I’d worked with until I reasoned that if I could sketch in biro, I could probably paint too, which I did, improving over the years.”

Lavis was active in Alcoholics Anonymous. After he became sober, he did not stop there and supported others in this respect.

He passed away on the 5th of November, 2025 in his home in Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire. No specific cause of death has been publicly revealed. He was survived by his wife, Nikki, and their son.

Gilson Lavis on FB: https://www.facebook.com/drummerartist

Tributes started flooding in just minutes after the announcement of Gilson Lavis’ passing. Here are some of them:

Jools Holland (Squeeze, Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra): I’m very sad to report that Gilson Lavis my dear friend and long-standing drummer passed away at his home in Lincolnshire last night. On behalf of my Orchestra, Squeeze, the many musicians who have worked with and befriended Gilson over the years and all the people he has supported through the AA fellowship, I send our love and sympathy to Nikki and Gilson, his dear wife and son.

Chris Difford (Squeeze): I was heartbroken to hear that Gilson had passed away, he gave so much to our music down the years. His playing was the deep thread that kept our verses and choruses firmly on the tapestry of our Squeeze journey. Off stage in recent years he inspired me in so many ways with his gentle supportive nature, a dear listening friend who introduced me to the sober side of the street. Gilson’s drumming will be heard upstairs in the other place tonight and the angels will dance and sing the dressing room full of stories. I send my love and prayers to his family.

Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze): Gilson was a hero to me and to all of us when he brought his knowledge to a young band. He absolutely propelled us like rocket fuel. He was so great and inventive, there is no one else like him. My thoughts are with his family.

Paul Carrack (ex-Squeeze, ex-Mike + The Mechanics): Very sad to hear we’ve lost another good bloke today. Gilson Lavis drummer with Squeeze and later with Jools Holland for many years. Gil was my roommate when I joined Squeeze in 1980 (?)My initiation was a 6 week tour of US with Squeeze and Elvis and The Attractions sharing the same bus !Absolute powerhouse drummer and a scary ball of fire back in those crazy days. Mellowed in later years and took up painting and drawing. You made your mark Gil. Rest in peace. Love PC

John Bentley (former Squeeze bassist): I got some very sad news today. Gilson was certainly one of the most exciting and innovative drummers this country has ever produced. What he accomplished in his life time was astonishing by anybody’s standards. I am so very grateful and proud to have been given the opportunity to play music with him. We shared all the thrills and spills of being the Squeeze rhythm section for years. The stories he shared with me, are the among the funniest and most shocking rock ’n’ roll tales I’ve ever heard. They will stay with me forever as a reminder of the unique and extra ordinary Gilson Lavis. Rest in Peace Gil

Dave Swift (bassist with Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra): All of us in the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra were deeply saddened yesterday on hearing the news of the passing of our dear friend and long-time former drummer in the band Gilson Lavis. I was a big fan of the band Squeeze in my youth and avidly bought all their records. Little did I know back then that years later I would end up playing bass alongside the superb drummer on all those records for an amazing 33 years, on tour, in the recording studio and on TV, backing so many famous, iconic and legendary artists. Our thoughts are with Gilson’s family at this time, and to you Gilson, what an incredible, life-changing and life-enhancing journey I’ve experienced with you, and what a pleasure and honour it has been.

Paul Weller: So sorry and sad to hear about the passing of our dear brother in song, Gilson Lavis. An amazing drummer, artist and gentleman. We will miss you, Gilson. Our sympathy for the Lavis family and the big band.

DW Drums: All of us at DW are deeply saddened by the passing of our close friend and celebrated drummer Gilson Lavis. He will be greatly missed. A DW artist from 2006 to 2012, Gilson was best known as the drummer for Squeeze in the 1970s and ’80s, following earlier tours with Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Dolly Parton. After retiring from drumming in 2024, he devoted himself to portrait art, capturing musicians like Paloma Faith, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Lily Allen. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.

Hardcase: Just heard the sad news about the passing of Gilson Lavis. What an incredible drummer and lovely chap. I am so proud and privileged to have met him and to have supported him with cases from Hardcase. Sleep well my friend.