Jon Finnigan

Jon has been playing drums since the young age of 11 and gigging since the age of 13. He was taught extensively by Roger Odell of the 80’s band Shakatak and seasoned session drummer Bob Armstrong. He had completed up to grade 8 for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama by the age of 16. At the age of 17 he studied at Drumtech College in London where he obtained a music diploma.

After graduating from Drumtech in 2001, Jon went on to play with several bands and artists as a session drummer both live and in the studio.

In 2006 Jon played several gigs with the 80’s ska band Bad Manners for a short time before joining as a member of a world/Turkish music act called Oojami. Oojami toured the UK and Europe playing gigs and festivals, one of the highlights being performing at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall with the band.

In 2007 Jon started rehearsals with a young Julian Perretta who was in the process of writing an album with guitarist Rob Harris from Jamiroquai. Jon drummed on many of the early demos prior to Julian landing a record deal with Sony UK. He then went on to record several tracks on the album and toured with Julian, completing a UK arena tour supporting the popular girl group Girls Aloud. The tour included two nights at the famous O2 Arena, London. Jon also participated in album promotion in the USA on the Perez Hilton tour. On returning to the UK, the band were contacted by one of Beyoncé’s team who had seen them play at the Los Angeles venue ‘The Avalon’, and they were asked to guest support on five dates for Beyoncé’s ‘I Am Sasha Fierce’ tour. Three of those dates were at the O2 Arena in London, one of which was a private show. Julian’s album was subsequently signed to a French label, so Jon played on a final tour across Europe and participated in album promotion which included TV appearances on the popular French programmes ‘Grand Journal’ (Canal+) and ‘Taratata’.

In March 2012, Jon went on a tour in Australia with UK folk band Ahab. Jon continued playing gigs on their UK return and has played festivals and gigs with the band in the UK and Europe.

In August 2013 Jon started playing with UK post punk band Gang of Four. His first gig with them was at Terraneo Festival in Croatia which was filmed for MTV. Jon continued to gig with the band and was asked by founding member and record producer Andy Gill to record drums on their 2015 album.

Jon is currently playing with several artists and bands, most recently with Ian Gillan (singer from Deep Purple) and Don Airey (keyboardist from Deep Purple) on tour in Russia and Eastern Europe in 2016. He also plays with up and coming indie band RenattaJane and regularly deps for the highly successful function outfit, the RPJ Band.

Jon has also played / recorded with: Simon McBride, Rob Harris (Jamiroquai), Orphan Colours, The Self, Keith Airey (Tom Jones) and Alex Meadows (Tom Jones, Will Young).

When he is not touring or recording, Jon tutors students privately from his drum studio in Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire.