A brief history of Andy Edwards - in his own words, taken from his own official web site:

I was born in Kidderminster in 1968. When I was a kid I was more interested in art than music but my dad was a big Jazz fan and drummer and he got me started when I was about eleven.

I was originally influenced by Jazz musicians like Dave Brubeck and Oscar Peterson but I soon developed an interest in Rock (AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Motorhead etc).

I spent most of my teen years practicing drums and making my own 'wierd music' on an old Tascam 4track.

My first paid gig was in 1988 for a covers band in a working mens club in Redditch.

I went to Art college, formed an experimental outfit called Sinister Footwear and soon got into music teaching.

After playing in numerous outfits of varying quality and professionalism (see below) I became the drummer for Robert Plant in his group The Priory of Brion.

While playing with Robert I began to endorse Tama drums, Meinl cymbals and percussion and Aquarian heads which got me into doing drum clinics.

Doing drum clinics allowed me not only to play with some of the greatest drummers in the world but also gave me an outlet for my 'wierd music'.

In 2001 I was voted one of the ten best clinicians by the readers of Rhythm magazine and released my first solo cd, 'The Twitch'.

In 2002 I joined the Ian Parker band which toured Europe extensively.

2003 saw the release of the live cd 'Lost and Found' which I helped to produce and October saw the release of 'Inside', Ian's first studio album which was produced by the incredible Dave Z.

October also saw the release of my second cd 'The Great Game'.

Some of the acts I have played with:

Robert Plant, Aynsley Lister, The Wikkamen, Ian Parker, Geet (Bhangra Band), Polly Bolton, Nigel Hawthorn, Tim Rose, Miyuri (Kathak dancer), Amar, Red Dragon.

Some of the drummers I've done clinics with:

Simon Phillips (UK tour 2000), Thomas Lang (UK tour 2003), Marco Minneman, Bobby Arechiga, Steve Smith, Johnny Rabb, Horacio Hernandez, Craig Blundell, Alex Thomas, Russ Miller, Pete Riley, Gavin Harrison.

Some of the acts I've played alongside include BB King, Skunk Anansie, Walter Trout, Eric Clapton, Elkie Brooks, G.love And Special Sauce, Eric Clapton, Booker T and the MGs, Van Morrison, Eric Sardinas, Shemekia Copeland, Thin Lizzy, Billy Cobham, Joan Baez, Glen Tilbrook a.o.

2005 saw Andy Edwards join prog rock band IQ and in July 2005 did his first gig with them in Montreal and headlining the Nearfest Prog rock festival in Philadelphia.

He teamed up with Kenny Aronoff for a series of drum clinics in August, followed by the recording of a "double drum" album with Alex Thomas.

Andy is also drumming in the groups Neo and Frost.


Official Bio
Andy Edwards came to prominence as Robert Plant’s drummer between 1997 and 2001. During this time he worked exclusively for Robert, performing all over the world on over 100 gigs. These included performances headlining many of the major music festivals across Europe.

During this time Andy began his relationship with Tama drums that continues to this day and he has performed in many drum clinics as a demonstrator for Tama. In this capacity he has performed at all the major drum events in the UK. In 2005 he played at the UK’s biggest ever clinic and he has performed alongside Mike Portnoy, Greg Bisonette, Terry Bozzio, Thomas Lang and Jimmy Chamberlain Kenny Aronoff, Steve Smith, Gavin Harrison, Simon Phillips amongst many others.

More recently and has made waves in the progressive music scene contributing to many award winning albums and DVDs and he has featured in many of the ‘best prog rock’ polls for various publications. He has toured and recorded with prog rock legends IQ and was a founding member of the cult prog band Frost recording two widely acclaimed albums ‘Milliontown, and ‘Experiments in Mass Appeal’

Andy currently endorses Tama Drums and Hardware, UFIP Cymbals, Jobeky e-drums, Zildjian Gen 16 e-cymbals and 2box drum modules. More recently Andy has been recording for prog band Magenta and will be releasing the album ‘The Twenty Seven Club’ in September this year.

Selected discography/videography

CD
Lost and Found - Ian Parker Band (self release 2003)
Inside - Ian Parker Band (Ruf Records 2004)
Milliontown - Frost (Inside Out 2006)
Experiments in Mass Appeal - Frost (Inside Out 2009)
Frequency - IQ (Inside Out 2009) (with live DVD)
Anomalies - Phi Yaan Zek (United Mutations 2006)

DVD
Stage - IQ (Inside Out 2005)
Broadcast - Neo (Metal Mind k2006)
The Mighty Bash - (self release 2007)
The 27 Club' Magenta
The Light' Christina Booth
Ley Lines' with Steve Lawson and Phi Yaan Zek

Selected Session
The Dividing Line - from ‘Philadelphia Experiment - Frost (Inside Out 2019)
Grand Designs from The Old Road - Martin Orford (Giant Electric Pea 2008)
The Puffball that Ate My Village - with Phi Yaan Zek from ‘Alchemists II - 2006 Various Artists

Andy has recorded and/or performed with the following bands and artists:
Robert Plant - IQ - Frost - Ian ParkerAynsley Lister - Tim Rose - Clive Nolan (Pendragon, Arena) - Allan Reid (Pallas) - John Young - Dave Meros (Spock’s Beard) - Phi Yaan Zek - Lalle Larson (Karmakanic) - Quantic - Funkagenda - BD Lenz - Tom Hill - Nathan King (Level 42) - Nick Barratt (Pendragon) - Magenta - Bryan Corbett - Lee Jones - Timmy Vegas (Soul Central) - Nigel Hawthorne (Yes Minister, Madness of King George)Andy has performed live drum duets with following drummers:Mark Schulman - Kenny Aronoff - Karl Brazil - Thomas Lang - Marco Minneman - Alex Thomas - Leo Crabtree - Simon Phillips - Craig Blundell - Bobby Arechiga