Meet The Team | Alex

My journey with drums started in a Year 6 music lesson. Our class was preparing a performance of the song Cops and Robbers, and whilst there were two drummers in the class, neither could play the drum part. Having never sat behind a drum kit before, I volunteered to give it a go. It immediately felt natural and from that moment I was hooked.

 

Before my first proper drum kit, I was given a tiny £10 children's drum kit from Amazon. Not long afterwards came a £90 unbranded kit from eBay with cymbals that sounded every bit as rough as you'd imagine. I spent countless hours playing along to my favourite records, learning songs and becoming completely fascinated by the instrument.

 

My biggest influence growing up was Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and he remains my favourite drummer to this day. After three years of playing I upgraded to my first serious drum kit, a Mapex Armory in Photon Blue, which I bought from Graham Russell Drums. Around the same time I achieved my Rockschool Grade 6 and began performing live during various Battle of the Bands competitions throughout my school years.

 

As my musical tastes expanded, so did my influences. Whilst rock music remains at the heart of my playing, discovering drummers such as KJ Sawka opened the door to drum and bass, jungle, electronic music and breakbeats, alongside a growing appreciation for hip hop, reggae and groove-based music. More than anything, those styles reinforced something I still believe today: groove and feel come before everything else.

 

Before drums became my main instrument, I spent several years playing saxophone and still enjoy picking it up occasionally. Music remained a constant throughout my time at the University of Leeds, where I completed both an undergraduate degree and a Master's degree in Environmental Science, graduating in 2025. Whilst studying, I continued gigging regularly around Leeds, performing at venues including Santiago Bar and working with a variety of original projects.

 

My connection with Graham Russell Drums began long before I worked here. I first became a customer in 2012 and spent years visiting the shop, upgrading my own gear and learning from the team. Joining the business in October 2025 felt like a natural next step. Today my role includes advising customers on drum kits, cymbals and hardware, refurbishing second-hand equipment, creating website content and running our TikTok channel.

 

One of the things I enjoy most about the job is helping drummers find the right gear for their needs, whether that's a first drum kit or a professional upgrade. Working with products from every major drum brand on a daily basis has given me a deeper understanding of how different drums, cymbals, heads and hardware influence both sound and feel, knowledge that I now channel into our buyer's guides, reviews and educational content.

 

Like most drummers, I probably spend almost as much time thinking about drum gear as I do playing it. Since joining the team I finally treated myself to a DW Design Series kit in Titanium Satin with a matching 14" x 7" snare drum, fulfilling a dream I'd had for years. I've always been a Sabian player and enjoy experimenting with different snare sounds, whilst one constant in my setup has been a second-hand Pearl Eliminator pedal I bought from Graham many years ago and have never felt the need to replace.

Outside of the shop, I'm currently working with singer-songwriter Cameron Hayes on her new live project and hope to be performing headline shows and festivals with the band in the near future. Whether I'm writing buyer's guides, filming content, helping customers choose new gear or preparing for the next gig, my aim is always the same: to share the knowledge and enthusiasm that first started in that Year 6 music lesson and help other drummers get as much enjoyment from the instrument as I have.