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BIOGRAPHY

John Clelland is a creative, precise, powerful, and musical rock drummer with over forty years of professional experience in recording, live shows, drum clinics and teaching. During his role performing and recording for over five years with multinational melodic metal band Eden's Curse, he has played tours and festivals throughout the UK and Europe, and is highly profficient either with or without the use of click tracks/backing tracks during live shows. John prides himself in his preparation and organisation, and is able to learn drum parts quickly and perfom them live to the highest standards, even when band members are located in different countries and meet for full band rehearsals just prior to the start of a tour.

 

Since 2016, John has played drums in the solo band of legendary bassist Chris Glen (Michael Schenker Group, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Ian Gillan Band) and in a spinoff band The Outfit (featuring Chris Glen) writing original material.

 

John is also a member of McFleetwood, Scotland's premier tribute to the music of Fleetwood Mac since 2018.

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In 2021, John was asked to play on the second solo album 'Medusa' of vocalist David Readman (Pink Cream 69, Voodoo Circle, Adagio), playing on the groovy Led Zeppelin inspired rocker 'Mary Jane'.

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John Clelland is an official product endorsee of Yamaha Drums, Remo Drumheads, Audix Microphones, Balbex Drumsticks and SlapKlatz drum dampeners.

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Send me a message if you need pro-quality powerful live drum tracks for your projects that complement your songs.

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Eden's Curse (www.edenscurse.com) are a Multinational Melodic Hard Rock band who have released five studio albums, one double live album and a live DVD (both recorded in Glasgow in 2014). Signed to German label AFM Records and Spiritual Beast/Marquee Avalon in Japan. John was the drummer in Eden's Curse for five years from early 2014 until they disbanded in 2019. During this time John recorded two studio albums, a double live album/DVD and toured throughout Europe extensively.


Chris Glen and the Outfit, featuring legendary bassist Chris Glen (Michael Schenker Group, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Ian Gillan Band) play shows throughout the UK performing a mix of SAHB, MSG and UFO classics.

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The Outfit (featuring Chris Glen) was a four piece band writing their own original compositions. The band released the singles 'You Move My Heart', 'Devil Eyes', A New Beginning' and 'Heart Of My Own' before disbanding.

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David Readman (Pink Cream 69, Voodoo Circle, Adagio) asked John to play on the track 'Mary Jane' featured on David's second solo album 'Medusa' released in 2022.


McFleetwood, Scotland's most established tribute band celebrating the music of Fleetwood
Mac, play regular sold out shows in theatres and other large venues throughout Scotland. John has been their permanent drummer since 2018. 


John previously played drums with multinational hard rock band Code Of Silence, fronted by
Brazilian vocalist Gus Monsanto (Timo Tolkki’s Revolution Renaissance, Adagio), who released their debut album “Dark Skies Over Babylon” in 2013 on Mausoleum Records and Rubicon Music.


In addition to the above bands, John continues to play with classic rock covers band Highway Jones (formed in 1995), deputise for other bands as required, appear in drum clinics, and teach drums. He is continually working to improve his own drumming technique and performance.

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Drumming Influences
John knew at the age of eight that he wanted to be a rock drummer when he watched Cozy Powell playing “Dance with the Devil” on the UK TV show “Top Of The Pops” in 1974. As well as Cozy Powell, John's drumming influences include Simon Phillips, Ian Paice, Tommy Aldridge, Rod Morgenstein and Phil Rudd.


Musical Influences
Diverse range of rock, metal, pop and jazz including Michael Schenker Group, Queensryche,
Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Journey, Foreigner, Toto, Winger, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Dokken, The Police, ELO, Blondie,
Heart and many others.

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Other Notable Experience and Skills

  • Over forty years of drumming experience (both live and recorded work) with original bands, tribute bands and covers bands.

  • Five years of experience teaching drums, twelve years of  drum production editing skills, five years of playing live with a click track/backing tracks setup.

  • Full on-site professional recording studio with Yamaha DTX drums, XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2, Steven Slate Drums Trigger 2. Extensive experience of providing professional quality drum tracks for album releases.

  • John has worked with the following highly respected music producers/engineers:

    • Dennis Ward (Angra, Krokus, Unisonic, Pink Cream 69, House Of Lords, Allen & Lande)

    • Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Revolution Saints, Mr Big, Jorn)

    • Nick Tauber (Thin Lizzy, UFO, Marillion, Stiff Little Fingers, Toyah, Girlschool)

    • Bob Rose (The Beach Boys, Donovan, Julian Lennon)

  • John has recorded drums in the following renowned recording studios:

  • On multiple occasions in the 1990s, John performed live at the legendary Marquee in London (http://www.themarqueelondon.com/).

  • Educational background in Computer Science with qualifications to postgraduate level..

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