About BassToneSlap

A company in existence because three people have a shared love for playing drums and the phenomenal experience that is drumming. We now want you to enjoy this experience and take everything there is to be gained from it.

Feel free to read 3 short stories about us...


Mark

Mark has been active in the performance and music industry for more than 18 years. In this time he has been involved in a vast variety of differing projects, working with creative people from all backgrounds. From being in studios recording with named producers to working in theatres with dancers and percussionists he has been no stranger to the wild and wonderful.

Over the years he has been fortunate to have played at venues around the world with both live bands, percussion and dance shows on a number of major tours. With appearances on TV, radio and many music releases to his name, personal mentions in the music press, commissions for various clients Mark is a highly experienced musician.

This varied workload has led to him being invited to lecture about his experiences and over the years has allowed him to hone his facilitation skills to a high degree. Which, in turn has developed into highly entertaining and fun drum/rhythm workshops for the business and corporate sectors. With the mission statement of “wanting to get a drum in every household in the industrial west in the next 100 years” you can see that mark is a committed individual wishing to share the experience of making music with large groups.

The drum is everything, the dance is everything, the rhythm is!


Rich

Recently finishing his degree in Business Information Systems and a diploma in Powerful Communication Skills, Rich has been drumming for more than 13 years in different parts of the world including Australia, the USA and the Caribbean. During his travelling Rich would pack his bags and turn up at the country of his choice - it would only be a matter of time before he was fully submerged in the music industry of the given location. His experience ranges from studio recording with named producers, teaching one to one, to gigging on the beach or working as a drum tech at the Milton Keynes Bowl.

Having lived, played and worked in these diverse worlds Rich has life and work experience greatly outweighing his modest age. His extensive live performance brings spontaneity, while his studio experience brings discipline and control.

“I got a taste for travel when I was 18 and always end up drumming wherever I am...”

Mikey

6 years classical percussion training with OBE winner James Blades set Mikey up for his life of rhythm. He released his first record in 1991 with a band called ‘Good Night Said Florence’, they were signed to a small Scottish label for a while before moving on to other things including a popular Drum and Bass band. Keeping with the rhythm theme Mikey decided to sign up with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance to further his coordination and understanding of rhythm.

“Two of my favourite projects were Raw and Trash. I toured much of Europe performing theatrical pieces using ‘trash’ as percussive instruments. As ‘Trash’ we entertained audiences in theatres all over the world including Denmark, Germany and Istanbul.”

Intertwined amongst all of this playing Mikey has visited Africa many times, most frequently The Gambia, for weeks and weeks of learning deep in the Jungle where life is moulded around dance and drumming.

“Living with African tribes is an eye-opening experience for the life as much as the drumming"