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Jeremy Stacey

Jeremy Stacey (born 27 September 1963) is a session musician renowned for his work as a and across rock, , and pop genres. His early career featured performances with the 1990s band , alongside his twin brother on guitar, , and others, as well as the group Denzil. Stacey has built an extensive discography through collaborations with high-profile artists, including on her album C'mon, C'mon (2002), on tours and recordings from 2011 onward, on Ashes & Fire (2011) and (2014), and Furler on (2004). Other notable partnerships encompass , , , , , , and of on the project Swiss Choir (2007). In 2016, Stacey joined the progressive rock band as the third drummer, alongside and , initially to replace for European tours; he also contributes keyboards, splitting duties evenly between percussion and keys, and has remained a permanent member since. In 2025, began recording their first new studio album since 2003. His tenure with includes live performances documented on releases such as Live in Chicago (2017) and Music Is Our Friend: Live in Washington and Albany, 2021. Stacey's versatility extends to jazz influences, with recordings alongside Iain Ballamy, Mark Wingfield, Jason Rebello, and Claire Martin on her album Take My Heart (1999).

Early life

Family and childhood

Jeremy Stacey was born on 27 September 1963 in , , though some secondary sources list as his birthplace. He grew up alongside his twin brother, , who later became a noted and ; the siblings shared a close bond that extended into their professional lives through joint musical projects. Raised in the coastal town of in , Stacey's family environment fostered an early interest in , with both brothers pursuing child roles that introduced them to performance. This setting in the region provided access to local cultural opportunities, shaping their formative years. During childhood, Stacey developed a passion for music through exposure to and genres, citing early influences such as and attending live shows like Bruford in the early 1980s, which ignited his focus on drumming. He and his brother often played together in local Bournemouth bands, laying the groundwork for their shared transition into music alongside acting.

Initial career in entertainment

Jeremy Stacey and his identical twin brother began their professional careers as child actors in the during the 1970s. Growing up in , the brothers appeared in several British television productions, marking their entry into the entertainment industry at a young age. Notable credits for Jeremy include the role of David Manson in the ITV miniseries (1976) and its sequel Another Bouquet (1977), as well as the part of Morgan in the children's TV series Scarf Jack (1981). These appearances, often alongside his brother, showcased their early talent in front of the camera and on stage while attending drama school in . During their teenage years, Stacey attended the Drama Centre London, where the rigorous training in performance arts profoundly influenced his development, though he simultaneously explored musical interests. Influenced by a family environment that encouraged creativity, he began learning piano from an early age but soon shifted focus to drums, honing these skills largely through self-directed practice alongside his brother Paul. This period bridged his acting pursuits with emerging musical abilities, as the twins experimented with instruments at home, drawing from jazz and rock influences prevalent in their Bournemouth upbringing. By the early , Stacey transitioned fully toward , leaving behind to pursue drumming and keyboards professionally. While still involved in stage school, he started performing in jazz clubs by night, building technical proficiency on drums through informal sessions and local collaborations. Together with , who focused on guitar and keyboards, the brothers formed casual musical groups in their youth, playing gigs around Bournemouth and experimenting with recording techniques before advancing to more structured projects. This foundational phase emphasized their self-taught approach and sibling synergy, setting the stage for Stacey's later professional endeavors in .

Musical career

Early bands and breakthrough

Jeremy Stacey's entry into the professional music scene occurred in the early 1990s with the formation of , a band he co-founded alongside his twin brother on guitar, on keyboards, Alex Lewis on bass, and Paul Holman on vocals. The group drew influences from pop and contemporary rock, blending melodic songwriting with subtle jazz-tinged arrangements, particularly in Stacey's drumming and keyboard contributions. Formed in 1993, the band quickly recorded their debut album, Open Book, released later that year on Records, which showcased polished tracks emphasizing Chambers' songwriting and the Staceys' rhythmic interplay. The Lemon Trees achieved modest visibility through several singles from Open Book, including "Love Is in Your Eyes," "Everything I Want to Know," and "Child of Love," the latter peaking at number 55 on the in April 1993. Despite critical praise for the album's "delicious" and gem-like qualities in retrospective reviews, the band experienced limited commercial breakthrough, with no further hits and a second album left unreleased upon their disbandment in 1995. Live performances marked key early exposure, including television appearances on shows like Going Live! and , as well as UK tours where they opened for American acts and , fostering industry connections. In the mid-1990s, Stacey contributed drums to the short-lived project Denzil, a rock outfit led by Denzil Thomas, featuring Steve Ennever on bass and keyboards, Craig Boyd on guitar, and alternating drummers including Stacey. The band's sole album, (1994), released on Giant , explored themes of everyday life, aging, and relationships through acoustic-based tracks with rootsy production, earning solid but niche acclaim for its engaging, vibe. These early involvements provided Stacey with foundational recording and touring experience, directly leading to initial session opportunities; for instance, encounters during The Lemon Trees tours with producer Mitchel Froom resulted in recommendations for high-profile freelance work, such as joining Sheryl Crow's .

Session work and collaborations

Jeremy Stacey's career as a began in the late , encompassing roles as a and on over 100 albums across various genres. His contributions span , pop, jazz, and more, showcasing his versatility in providing both rhythmic foundation and melodic support through keyboards. With an estimated 129 performance credits documented in music databases, Stacey's work has supported a diverse array of high-profile artists, emphasizing his adaptability and precision in studio settings. In the 1990s and 2000s, Stacey contributed drums to The Waterboys' album A Rock in the Weary Land (2000), adding dynamic percussion to tracks that blended alternative rock with folk elements. He later drummed on their follow-up Book of Lightning (2007), enhancing the band's evolving sonic landscape. Other notable sessions included drumming on Sheryl Crow's C'mon C'mon (2002), where his playing supported the album's pop-rock energy, and keyboards alongside drums on select tracks. Additionally, he provided drums for Charlotte Gainsbourg's 5:55 (2006), contributing to its dream pop atmosphere with subtle, atmospheric rhythms. During the 2000s and 2010s, Stacey's collaborations expanded to include work with on Back Home (2005), where he co-wrote and drummed on "Lost and Found," blending blues-rock grooves. He also drummed for , , and the Finn Brothers, demonstrating his range across soul, classical crossover, and . Specific highlights include drumming on ' Ashes & Fire (2011), providing understated propulsion to the album's introspective folk-rock sound, and on Adams' self-titled release (), maintaining a consistent rhythmic sensitivity. In the 2010s and into the present, Stacey has continued his session prowess, drumming on Steven Wilson's To the Bone (2017), where his versatile playing supported the progressive rocker's pop-infused arrangements. He also contributed drums to Squackett's self-titled album (2012), a supergroup project featuring bassist and guitarist , delivering powerful rock rhythms on tracks like "A Life Within a Day." Stacey's style—rooted in precision yet adaptable to rock and pop demands—has made him a sought-after collaborator, often incorporating keyboards for added texture in sessions.

Major band involvements

Jeremy Stacey joined in 2011 as the band's drummer, contributing to their debut self-titled album released that year, where he provided the drum tracks across all songs. He continued in the role for subsequent releases, including Chasing Yesterday (2015), on which he played drums and percussion, supporting the album's blend of rock and psychedelic elements during extensive live performances. Stacey's involvement extended to select tracks on Who Built the Moon? (2017), such as the title song, though he departed the touring lineup in 2016 to pursue other commitments. His tenure included prominent live tours, notably the 2015–2016 world tour, which showcased his dynamic drumming in support of Gallagher's post-Oasis material and helped solidify the band's international presence. In 2016, Stacey became a core member of King Crimson's eight-piece lineup, joining as drummer and keyboardist to replace Bill Rieflin during his sabbatical, with the announcement made on March 7 for the band's European tour starting that September. He filled the central role in the band's innovative three-drummer configuration alongside Pat Mastelotto and Gavin Harrison, contributing to live performances that highlighted the group's progressive rock repertoire. Stacey's work appears on several official live releases from this period, including Live in Vienna (2016), Live in Chicago (2017), and Meltdown: Live in Mexico (2017), where his keyboard accents and rhythmic interplay added depth to extended improvisations and classics like "Frame by Frame." The band toured Europe in 2016, North America in 2017 and 2019 for their 50th anniversary, and reactivated in 2021 for a U.S. tour titled "Music Is Our Friend," on which Stacey performed on the accompanying live album capturing shows in Washington and Albany. As of July 2025, the band is working on its first new studio album since 2003, with Stacey continuing as a member. These sustained roles in High Flying Birds and significantly elevated Stacey's profile, bridging his session expertise into high-visibility positions within revival and communities, where his multi-instrumental versatility became a hallmark of both ensembles' evolutions.

References

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