Steve started playing drums aged 11 and has remained committed to his musical cause ever since. He started listening to hard rock bands but soon took in ELP, Yes, Chick Corea and other progressive/jazz/rock artists. After school bands his musical path turned towards live performance with rock and pop acts. A love of jazz also grew and he has since been playing regularly with various jazz trios, quartets and big bands around the UK, including The Heavy Quartet. He also still leads his own outfit, 'The Steve Roberts Band', playing jazz originals penned by himself and arrangements of other pieces, sometimes classical in origin, including one of Ginastera's 'Danzas Argentinas'.
His musical career has taken him all over the UK, Holland, Germany, where he was based with 'The Dostoyevskys' after their European release on BMG: 'Orange' and even a 24 state tour of the USA in 2003/4 with UK band 'They Walk Among Us'. Sessions with Welsh actor/artist Ryland Teifi and AMLEDD have been broadcast live on radio and TV. A collaboration with members of Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia since 2001 hasi resulted in Steve playing parts originally written for Jon Hiseman in 'The Billy Thompson Quartet'. He also plays for world renowned Welsh harpist Catrin Finch in her big band. Catrin was previously the Royal Harpist to HRH Prince of Wales.
Steve has recently been working with Nikki Squire in ‘Esquire’, and been in the studio recording new tracks for prog band ‘Godsticks’. There are also shows planned with singer/songwriter ‘Lianne Morgan’.
With his technical abilities and dynamic subtleties, he is equally at home within many styles of music, live and in the studio and although working within bands as a member, also plays sessions independently. He also teaches within schools & privately - for more information about Steve’s teaching please visit ‘Steve Roberts Drum Tuition’.
Steve's drumming was given a huge boost back when he was 15 and a chance hearing of the 'Welcome Back..' live album on an 8-track recording. Carl's solo in KE9 was a rock drumming revelation! Ever since he has been committed to the musical cause of Emerson Lake & Palmer. It still stands as his all time favorite album! When on tour in the USA, he took time out to visit the venue where WBMFTTSTNE was recorded! He has spent the last 22 years listening to every ELP album intensely and has acquired the knowledge and sufficient technique to pull off the percussion role in the UK's premier ELP tribute act, gongs and all!
Currently expanding the 'drum solo' to include an adaptation of Carl's percussion section in 'Toccata' including keyboard lines played by Steve simultaneously!
"It has been a dream come true to play numbers I grew up listening to, like 'Tarkus', 'Living Sin' and 'Hoedown'. At last, with a keyboard player who can pull it off completely."
For all the latest please visit:
Steve's website
Plus:
Tama Iron Cobra pedals, Tama Roadpro stands, Pearl stands
The Nice, Yes, Chick Corea, Camel, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Gong, King Crimson, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, etc..
Virgil Donati, Thomas Lang, Bill Bruford, Pierre Moerlen, Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Cozy Powell, Buddy Rich, Terry Bozzio, Neil Peart, etc..
Italian/Chinese
A chilled Sauvignon Blanc, Brown Brothers Tarrango, also, a fan of 'Cursed Galleon' ale, available at 'Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem' pub in Nottingham!