Heroes and Influences: Rob Dainton

I’ve been assembling my thoughts and ideas about inspiration and the music I find myself attracted to, together with the people who create and facilitate it. I’ve been exploring all the usual heroes and influences, but at one point in considering this list, I came across a truly immeasurable, inspirational man, who didn’t fit any category, or who could even be considered in any way comparable to anyone else. Where better to begin an exploration of your heroes and influences than with this man?

Rob Dainton is an exceptional musician, a true gentleman, and someone I’m proud to call a friend. I don’t see him anywhere near enough these days, but at one time I played guitar in a band with him, and it was one of the hardest working and serious bands I’ve ever been involved with. Where heroes and inspirational people are not normally considered to be amongst people who we consider our friends, Rob qualifies as one of these people for a number of important reasons.

Rob plays the drums as if he was conducting an orchestra and the drums are actually just in the way! I’ve seen and heard him get some sounds out of a drum kit that are astonishing. He is resourceful enough to successfully convert almost anything into a useable tool that he can assimilate into his drum kit (so long as it makes the sound he requires), I’ve watched in amazement as he’s used these improvised instruments, breathe on cymbals to create the effect he wants, using sticks, brushes, small rocks, cloth, anything! The man is a bottomless well of ideas, packaged into moments of freely improvised genius. Spiritually absorbed in what he plays to the extent that he is absolutely immersed in a state of ‘contribution’, his drum stool is his church. He is one of the most (if not, the most) resourceful, sensitive, creative, and expressive musicians I have ever known.

Beyond his incredible musical skills, I found him to be an inspirational man in as much as his drive and unshakable focus on the direction he wants to take his music are absolutely formidable. Although how else can such an individual carve their way in the world? As the expression suggests “To be different in this world requires great strength. Let a budgie fly out into the open and the sparrows kill it”. He is a man of immense strength, vision, and resolve.

If you ever want to go and see something beyond any gig you will have seen before, or want to see a totally uncompromised performance of absorbed and passionate genius, look up where Rob Dainton may be playing next, and check out the gig.