Mel Gaynor

Mel George Gaynor (born 29 May 1959)^[1] is a British drummer, singer and recording artist, best known as the longtime drummer for the rock band Simple Minds.

Mel Gaynor
Gaynor performing in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Mel George Gaynor
Born	(1959-05-29) 29 May 1959 (age 66) Balham, London, England
Genres	Art rock synth-pop new wave heavy metal
Occupation	Drummer
Years active	1982–
Member of	Authority Control
Formerly of	Samson, Simple Minds
Website	melgaynor.com

Career

Gaynor joined Simple Minds in 1982 as a session drummer for the New Gold Dream album, playing on six of the nine tracks. He joined the band permanently from the New Gold Dream tour onwards, as a replacement for Mike Ogletree.

Gaynor's solo album, Come With Me, was released as a digital copy in May 2024, with a physical copy planned for release in June 2024.^[2] He started a tour in the autumn of 2024.

Prior to joining Simple Minds, Gaynor played in the hard rock band Samson, at the same time as vocalist Bruce Dickinson.

Gaynor uses Natal drums exclusively. His equipment list includes 24" BD 10", 12" 13", mounted toms 14", 16" floor toms 20", gong tom, various snares in wood and metal. Gaynor is also endorsed by TECHRA drum sticks and Remo heads.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Gaynor is single and lives in London.

Discography

with Samson

• Live at Reading '81 (1990)

with Simple Minds

• New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) (1982)
• Sparkle in the Rain (1984)
• Once Upon a Time (1985)
• Street Fighting Years (1989)
• Real Life (1991)
• Black & White 050505 (2005)
• Graffiti Soul (2009)
• Big Music (2014)
• Acoustic (2016)
• Walk Between Worlds (2018)

Solo

• Come With Me (2024)