All Music Guide lauds Dave Mattacks as a "candidate for the title of the best folk drummer in England." How it al started?



After leaving school, Dave Mattacks served as an Apprentice Piano Tuner, then worked at London's "Drum City" Music Shop under Johnnie Richardson. His first professional engagement was with a provincial "Mecca" Big Band which spanned a three year period; it included residencies in Belfast, Glasgow and London. During this time, he played occasionally with a variety of small Jazz groups throughout the UK.



Autumn of 1969, Dave Mattacks joined the band Fairport Convention. He recorded seven LP's with the group, including "Liege & Lief", and extensively toured the UK, USA, Europe, Antipodes & Japan.



After leaving in 1974 and rejoining the band in 1985, he was asked to appear as sensitive percussionist, drummer and keyboard player on the semi-acoustic tour "A Little Light Music" with Jethro Tull in 1992, which produced the live album of the same name. The tour was recorded each night in a wide variety of "exotic" locations and was Tull's first live album since "Bursting Out" in 1978.



Dave Mattacks finally left Fairport in March of 1998 to work with a number of different folk, pop, and jazz artists with whom he continues to record and tour. He now lives just outside Boston, Massachusetts. He is currently the drummer for Mary-Chapin Carpenter.