Ruth Dobson - Drums
Ruth's musical career started with piano lessons at the age of 4, following in the footsteps of her father and grandmother who were both talented pianists. In a quest for both more expansive and less classical musical experiences, she had dalliances with wind and stringed instruments, ending up on the drums as a way to surprise a boyfriend of her newly acquired rhythmical talent. However, the drumming outlived the boyfriend!
A posting to the Middle East saw her join a six-piece band, 'The Empty Quarter', performing both rock and non-rock traditions at hotels, private clubs, (drunken) parties, charity events and corporate functions for 2 years. A move back to university (again) in the UK, saw her running for her life when she ended up at the back of an orchestra. Exposure to the UK music scene has enabled her to soak up and experiment further with rock drumming.
A petite female frame is not the image one conjures up of a rock drummer however she still manages to perform with a tidy aggression. She believes in not overcomplicating songs, incorporating fills which enhance the groove rather than thrashing all over it in a whirling dervish attack like many drummers today.
Her influences are few, but she has recently been caught checking out back catalogues of the Who, Led Zep & Nirvana!!!