Rob Brian Interview (Siouxsie and the Banshees, Simple Minds, Laura Pausini): For The Love of Music
Spend even a short amount of time talking with Rob Brian and one thing becomes immediately clear: his relationship with music is driven by curiosity. Curiosity about sound, about people, about the stories behind the music is the thread that connects his career, his influences, and his work with Drum Dog.
Just as striking, though, is Rob himself. He is warm, humble, and effortlessly personable, with a sharp sense of humour and a depth of knowledge that never feels overwhelming or self important. His enthusiasm is genuinely infectious. It's always a pleasure to speak with him and that spirit of generosity runs through everything he shares. From chance encounters with musical heroes to deep dives into genre defying records, Rob’s journey reveals a musician shaped as much by listening as by playing.
Encounters That Stay With You
Like many musicians, Rob has had his share of surreal moments meeting artists he grew up admiring. One story, in particular, captures both the awkwardness and magic of those encounters: meeting Gary Numan. After a festival performance, Rob found himself unexpectedly face to face with the synth pioneer. What could have been a brief, starstruck exchange turned into a warm, humorous conversation about shared influences and even matching hair streaks from decades past. These encounters, Rob reflects, are rarely about celebrity. They are about recognising the humanity behind the music and realising that the artists who shaped you are often just as curious and inspired as you are.
The Artist He Would Have Chosen: Prince
When asked which artist he would most have loved to play with, Rob’s answer was immediate: Prince. For Rob, Prince represents the complete musician. Someone who could move effortlessly between genres while maintaining a singular artistic voice. Jazz, funk, rock, pop, blues. It was all part of the same musical language.
What made Prince extraordinary was not just his versatility, but his depth. A single performance might weave from a jazz standard into a funk groove, through a rock anthem, and back into a stripped down ballad. For a drummer raised on eclectic listening, that kind of musical breadth is the ultimate playground.
Rob contrasts this with artists whose shows, while spectacular, remain stylistically contained. Prince’s concerts, by comparison, felt like musical journeys. Unpredictable, expansive, and deeply alive. To Rob, that is the definition of a consummate artist. Someone who can play anything, mean it, and bring an audience along for the ride.
Desert Island Drumming: The Records That Shaped Him
When the conversation turns to influential albums, Rob’s selections paint a portrait of a drummer drawn to artists who pushed beyond expectations.
Tony Williams Lifetime - Believe It
Rob describes this record as a revelation. Passionate, loose yet structured, and brimming with urgency. Tony Williams’ playing feels immediate, as though each take captured a moment that could never be recreated. The album’s energy imperfect, human, alive resonated deeply with Rob’s own philosophy of performance.
Buddy Rich - Roar of ’74
While many associate Buddy Rich with big band swing, Rob was captivated by this record’s funk and rock influences. Tracks like “Big Mac” reveal a different side of Rich. Groove heavy, aggressive, and unexpectedly modern. For Rob, it is proof that even the most established musicians can reinvent themselves.
Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle
Purchased when he was just nine years old, this album opened Rob’s ears to electronic textures and dystopian themes. With no electric guitars and a blend of acoustic drums and synths, it sounded like the future.
Prince - Parade
More than an album, Parade marked a turning point in Rob’s musical identity. Hearing the interplay between acoustic drums and the LinnDrum machine reshaped his understanding of rhythm and production. At 16, as he navigated both life and music, Prince’s fearless experimentation became a soundtrack to self discovery.
Together, these records reveal a pattern. Rob is drawn to artists at moments of transformation. When they step outside their established sound and explore new territory.
A Philosophy of Eclecticism
Rob’s influences stretch far beyond drumming. From jazz innovators like Miles Davis to songwriters like Joni Mitchell, he gravitates toward artists who evolve rather than repeat themselves.
This mindset traces back to his upbringing, where diverse music filled the house. Instead of viewing genres as boundaries, Rob learned to hear them as dialects of the same language. That perspective now defines his playing. Adaptable, responsive, and rooted in listening.
It also explains his admiration for musicians who refuse to stand still. Whether it is Buddy Rich embracing funk, Gary Numan pioneering synth driven rock, or Prince blending genres into something entirely new, Rob sees artistic growth as the ultimate goal.
The Drum Dog Connection
Rob’s work with us reflects this same ethos. Through his lesson packs and masterclasses, including deep dives into Buddy Rich and Tony Williams, he encourages drummers to look beyond technique and explore context. Why did these players sound the way they did? What influenced their choices? How can those ideas be adapted today?
His sessions are less about imitation and more about understanding. Equipping drummers with the tools to develop their own voice.
With appearances at events like the UK Drum Show and a growing library of educational content, Rob continues to share not just knowledge, but perspective. The belief that great drumming begins with great listening.
Always More to Explore
Even after an hour of conversation, it is clear that Rob’s musical journey will continue. There are still solo projects to discuss, new lessons on the horizon, and future appearances to anticipate. More than anything, though, time spent with Rob is a reminder that great musicianship is as much about character as it is about craft. His humility, humour, and boundless enthusiasm make him not just a phenomenal drummer, but a genuinely uplifting presence in the music community. And for those lucky enough to learn from or collaborate with him, that spirit is every bit as inspiring as the notes he plays.
If you're interested in any of Rob's lesson packs, you can find them at our shop here. Or you can access them all during a 30 day free trial that you can sign up to below!
Thanks for reading! If you’d like to hear more from top-tier drummers, start a free 30-day Drum Dog trial and explore our full library of world-class lesson packs.
Still Stuck Behind the Kit?
If your doubles are sloppy, your grooves feel rigid, or your ghost notes get lost in the mix — it’s not your fault. You’ve been trying to fix the wrong things.
🎧 Ralph Rolle (drummer for Nile Rodgers & Chic) reveals the exact lessons most drummers skip… but every pro nails.
In just 8 crystal-clear videos, Ralph cuts through the fluff and gives you the breakthroughs YouTube never could.
Doubles that feel right
Grooves with flow
Ghost notes that hit
Bonus: Shuffle, hip-hop feel & clinic jam
Here’s the kicker:
You’ll feel better behind the kit — and your band will hear the difference. All for less than a pair of sticks.
“Turns out I wasn’t missing one trick. I was missing Ralph.” – @sticktwister
STAY IN THE LOOP