Pete Drummond is an Australian session drummer, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and educator who has developed a digital platform for drum lessons. Since 2006, Drummond has been associated with New Zealand band Dragon. He is also known for his soundtrack work on The Killing Season (ABC), Living Universe (feature film); Search For Second Earth (ABC/BBC), and for his live solo performances alongside Virgil Donati, Thomas Lang, Mike Mangini, Dave Weckl, and many others.
Apart from drumming with Dragon, Pete can also be seen behind the kit playing with Southern Sons and Thirsty Merc. Loyal Australian Musician fans may also recall Pete Drummond participating in our Sydney Drum & Percussion Show in 2017 and in our virtual version of the Melbourne Guitar Show in 2020, alongside Jeremy Barnes in Light Beyond Sleep.
In September this year, Pete released a new solo album titled ‘Eirie’(Available on Bandcamp), a classy, upbeat, pop rock album which pays homage to the 80s.
We caught up with Pete Drummond recently to chat about his career, gear and the future, as our Musician of the Month for November. Photos by Jason Rosewarne.
MORE ABOUT PETE DRUMMOND
Drummond began drumming at three years of age. He started his formal training two years later with his mentor Jess Zappia. He later continued on his own, learning from recordings, instructional books, and videos. Drummond joined Dragon in 2006 when the band reformed after a nine-year hiatus. In 2008, he was enlisted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He plays drums, keyboards and sings in the live shows with Dragon. He had previously performed with The Bushwackers, Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band),Joan Rivers (US Comedian), The Temptations, Jeremy Barnes (The World’s Fastest Guitarist), Ricki Lee, Shannon Noll and Thirsty Merc.
Career as a composer and songwriting
Drummond has worked as a composer and producer. ‘Not the Question’ (2002) was his debut album as arranger, mixer and producer. A few programs which feature Pete’s music are ‘Crude: The Incredible Journey of Oil’, ‘Holy Switch’, ‘Ten Bucks a Litre’, ‘Inside The Inferno’, ‘Life On Us’, ‘Australia: A Time Traveler’s Guide’, ‘A Traveler’s Guide to the Planets’, and ABC’s ‘The Killing Season’.
Solo performer
In 2003, Drummond appeared at Australia’s Ultimate Drummers Weekend.In 2012, he performed on Shannon Noll’s ‘Switch Me On’. He played on the ARIA award-winning album ‘Homefires’ by Dead Ringer Band, ABC TV, NRL, and Channel 10. He has also released multiple international DVDs as a cover artist.
Drummond’s solo album ‘Identity Crisis’ was launched in 2006. It contains eight original tracks of Jazz and Fusion, featuring Bill Risby, Jeremy Barnes, James Muller, Steve Weingart, and others. He’s just released his 2nd solo album ‘Eirie’, a homage to the sounds of the 80s
In 2015 he played on Lee Kernaghan’s number one Australian album ‘Spirit of the Anzacs’. In 2018 Drummond was featured in Australia’s drumming publication Drumscene Magazine.
