Robbie France enjoyed a long career as a drummer, songwriter and producer.

He was born in England but moved to Australia at age 11. There he studied at the National Academy of Rudimentary Drummers.

Eventually he became a music teacher at the Australian Academy of Music.

After moving back to the UK in 1982 he joined up with Diamond Head during the famed New Wave Of British Heavy Metal era,

Around this perios he also started his own teaching studio where he worked with acts ranging from 10cc to Style Council.

Along with teaching, Robbie spent his later years writing for the British percussion magazine, Rhythm, hosting a radio show and. In December 2011 he also published his first book called 'Six Degrees South'.

His funeral will be held in Spain, where he had lived since the late '90s, later this week.