"The
hardest journey I've ever had to undertake was the one just after my 16th birthday
from Southport to Deal. I was only ever good at one thing during my school years
and that was drumming. I was in the Marine Cadets for years and it just seemed
like a natural progression to join the Royal Marines Band Service." 
PO46354W Bugler 2 Craig Blundell with
other members of
Barham House RMSM Deal 1990
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Where are they now?Craig Blundell
I joined in 1989 and spent an extra term in Training because I really couldn't come to terms with the Bugle. In the nicest way possible this was a standing joke with Bomber Mills and Bob Waterhouse, my instructors at the time, and probably still is! However I could play the drum! I finally blagged my way through Training (it cost me a fortune!) and I was off on my way down to Torpoint.
I was greeted by John Tansey and Mac McCarthy who both put the fear of God into me! I settled in eventually under Kevin Tullet's wing (who is one of the reasons I'm doing what I'm doing today). We started writing together which opened a whole new door for me. I spent 9 very happy months with the band and I still never did one passing out parade on Bugle… that also cost me a lot of money! Geoff Naylor was like a Dad to me during my times in Plymouth. Not only was he a Drum Major, but he became a very close friend and gave me some of the best advice I could have ever wished for. A draft to Portsmouth came through which I was advised to take to further my career. By this time I was writing for all the major Massed Bands events and it seemed with people around me like Scouse Annett, AJ and Alan Piner, Andy Finn and Dave Taylor I could write anything and it would always be taken seriously no matter how bizarre or diverse. Even our idea about using a Drum Kit in a Military Drum Static was used on MFM in 1993. I still really miss the times I had in the Corps of Drums in Portsmouth. Bob Platts always managed to get the best out of the guys in any situation and there was a massive feeling of mutual respect from everyone that worked together. The Pompey Corps of Drums was truly one in a million and I will never forget it. I performed at many prestigious Royal occasions around the globe and wrote pieces for The Royal Tournament, Edinburgh Tattoo and also wrote the drum display for the 1998 FA Cup Final. Four years had elapsed and for me I didn't get that real buzz from the job anymore. I was doing civvy gigs on kit and I realised that a change was imminent. I was approached by a band called Alpha Connection, (an ex RM dance band), who needed a permanent drummer. I went to an audition in the Co-op club in North End and was offered the job. All the Corps of Drums had been saying for months that I should get out and give civvy drumming a real go. I spoke to Capt David Cole about it and he was full of praise for these guys. We had numerous chats. I couldn't face telling my parents I was coming outside, they would have been mortified. He decided it would be best if he spoke to my mum and dad to reassure them that I was making the right decision! Alpha Connection were (and still are) an amazing outfit. I'm sure anyone that has seen them would agree. They were so supportive when I joined the band and helped my transition from a Military lifestyle to a civilian lifestyle. It ran like clockwork from day one. My workload increased immensely as these guys are the best there is in the Corporate Entertainment market and were in high demand. We travelled all over the world and the jobs were so diverse. The level of musicianship was extremely high and we went from strength to strength. During this time I met my wife Kathryn who has been my rock over the past nine years. As the band got more popular we required more administration time so new players were brought into the band whilst originals like Steve Cook and Russ Brewster concentrated on the day to day running and logistics. Tim Charlton was drafted in on Bass from the Royal College.To this day he remains one of the finest musicians I have ever come across. He taught me so much about music and he really matured my playing. During my time in Alpha Connection I also became a peripatetic drum teacher at Horndean Community School. I started with 9 pupils and when I left 2 years later I had nearly 80. It was a great challenge and it also meant I was playing for nearly 8 hours a day!! After spending four years in the band and working for many influential people like The Drifters, Lenny Henry, PJ Powers and Jim Davidson, I decided I wanted another challenge. I joined a band called Reflektor whilst in Alpha Connection. We travelled all over trying to promote ourselves. We somehow managed to get on a Carlton TV show called The Warehouse which was basically a talent show! We were spotted by a management company which was owned by Sarah Ferguson. After a few weeks we were offered a contract with her and subsequently promised the world… how could we refuse?… We were all advised to leave our jobs and prepare for our imminent rise in profile so I left Alpha Connection and the school and decided to devote all my time to working in Reflektor and Sarah Ferguson's Management company. Over six months elapsed and nothing happened. We decided to get rid of her company and of course the media loved it. We were all over the Press. We did TV and Radio interviews and our profile grew every day. We got signed almost instantly and released a single. We were passed from pillar to post and I never got any sleep. I seemed to spend all my life travelling and doing interviews. A few months later the record company came into financial problems and ran out of money. I thought 'enough is enough'. I just wanted a simple lifestyle and to play the drums. I didn't need the emotional, turbulent roller coaster I was on. I obviously still wanted to play but I didn't want to be at the beck and call of industry bosses and agents dictating where I had to be at what time and to never spend any time at home. I just wanted to be my own boss. During the Summer 2000 I reached an all time low. Reflektor split up after a mutual decision and I was left with no income. The session work had dried up because I'd been out of it for so long. I was looking around for a stable job with no joy and I couldn't even get a gig in a local pub. In desperation I put all my gear in the paper to sell it and make a fresh start away from music. I went away for a week to ponder my future and I don't know why but I still had this feeling inside me that people hadn't heard what I had to offer. I came back refreshed and motivated and most importantly had the support of Kathryn. I applied for a job as manager of a high profile Golf Club amidst the Surrey hills and got the job. Although drumming was at the forefront of my intentions I wanted to give 100% to this job and prove to myself I still had that unique spirit that was taught to me during the Deal Days. As I became more efficient in the job I found myself with more time on my hands. I put my CV together and started mailing it to agents. Every time it was sent back with a 'thanks but no thanks', it made me even more determined to crack the business. One day the phone rang and it was the producer who had produced the Reflektor single. He wanted to know if I wanted to do a session at a studio with a German pop band as he'd liked my playing. Obviously I said yes and the session went really well. Since then the session work has gone through the roof. I left the Golf Club in October 2000 and I'm fortunate to be in a position where I can pick and choose what to undertake. I've chosen not to have an agent and all of my work is now through word of mouth. On the 3rd of May 2001 I became the first UK player
to endorse Ayotte Drums from Canada. They flew me out to Vancouver
and we designed my kit. They are regarded as one of the best manufacturers
in the business and both Ayotte and myself are looking forward to
a long-standing professional relationship. I also endorse Meinl
Cymbals, Shawstix, Protection Racket cases and Attack Drumheads
and feature heavily in their marketing campaigns. In October 2001
I finished a European Drum Clinic tour. I've now appeared in the
last five issues of Rhythm Magazine and I'm shortly to be featured
in a further four-page interview for the same publication. I've
worked for some great people including Jim Sullivan, Liko, Precious
and The Sugababes. Recently I finished recording David Knopfler's
solo album, which was a great success and I've been in the studio
with Mike Rutherford from Genesis and Alex James from Blur working
on some solo material.
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