Brian Davison (drummer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Davison nicknamed "Blinky", was a British
drummer, best known for his work in The Nice
. He was born in Leicester
and died in Horns Cross, Devon
.
In the late 1950s, Davison played drums in various skiffle
groups in and around the youth clubs in Northwest London, especially around Baker Street
. He rose to prominence drumming in the 1960s in progressive rock
group The Nice with keyboardist Keith Emerson
and bassist Lee Jackson
. He was briefly in Jackson's Jackson Heights
band, before joining Jackson and keyboardist Patrick Moraz
in Refugee
. He subsequently played in Gong
before leaving the music business for a period.
Davison taught drumming to pupils at Bideford College and is fondly remembered as a teacher by his students and by staff. The Nice reunited for concerts in the early 2000s. Davison died on 15 April 2008.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drummer, best known for his work in The Nice
The Nice
The Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
. He was born in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
and died in Horns Cross, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
In the late 1950s, Davison played drums in various skiffle
Skiffle
Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...
groups in and around the youth clubs in Northwest London, especially around Baker Street
Baker Street
Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London. It is named after builder William Baker, who laid the street out in the 18th century. The street is most famous for its connection to the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, who lived at a fictional 221B...
. He rose to prominence drumming in the 1960s in progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group The Nice with keyboardist Keith Emerson
Keith Emerson
Keith Noel Emerson is an English keyboard player and composer. Formerly a member of the Keith Emerson Trio, John Brown's Bodies, The T-Bones, V.I.P.s, P.P. Arnold's backing band, and The Nice , he was a founder of Emerson, Lake & Palmer , one of the early supergroups, in 1970...
and bassist Lee Jackson
Lee Jackson (bassist)
Lee Jackson is a British bass player and singer, best known for his work in The Nice.-Biography:...
. He was briefly in Jackson's Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights (band)
Jackson Heights were an English rock band, led by bassist and vocalist Lee Jackson, that ran from 1970 to 1973. Other players included Brian Chatton , Dave Watts playing keyboards and King Crimson's drummers Michael Giles and Ian Wallace.Their debut album King Progress included a reworking of...
band, before joining Jackson and keyboardist Patrick Moraz
Patrick Moraz
Patrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
in Refugee
Refugee (band)
Refugee was a progressive rock group formed by former The Nice members, bassist Lee Jackson and drummer Brian Davison, with keyboardist Patrick Moraz....
. He subsequently played in Gong
Gong (band)
Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...
before leaving the music business for a period.
Davison taught drumming to pupils at Bideford College and is fondly remembered as a teacher by his students and by staff. The Nice reunited for concerts in the early 2000s. Davison died on 15 April 2008.