Gerry Conway was a British folk-rock drummer who backed Cat Stevens in the 1970s and was a member of Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention.
- Died: March 29, 2024 (Who else died on March 29?)
- Details of death: Died after fighting ALS at the age of 76.
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Gerry Conway’s legacy
Conway’s early career included stints with the ska/reggae band the Jet Set and the short-lived folk-rock acts Eclection and Fotheringay. He worked as a session musician before a big break when Stevens was looking for a drummer. Conway toured and recorded with Stevens for the last six years of his career before Stevens took a long hiatus from music, playing on hits like “Can’t Keep it In” and “Oh Very Young.”
In 1981, Conway joined Jethro Tull, playing drums on their 1982 album “The Broadsword and the Beast” and touring with the band. He was let go after just one year, though he would rejoin them to record later in the ‘80s, including playing on “Crest of a Knave.” Conway’s longest-lasting gig came when he joined Fairport Convention in 1998. He continued with the band until his ALS diagnosis in 2022. He also played with Pentangle off and on in later years, and he recorded with such artists as Al Stewart, Richard Thompson, and Iain Matthews.
Notable quote
“It was drums for me from an early age, it was just there in me. When I was very young, I’d go around banging biscuit tins, anything I could make a rhythm with.” —from an interview with Andy Farquarson
Tributes to Gerry Conway
Full obituary: Ultimate Classic Rock
