Gary Wallis

Gary Wallis contributes drums to Schiller upcoming album "Morgenstund" and is expected to follow Christopher von Deylen on the next live tour in 2019.

Wallis has appeared as the drummer for Tom Jones in significant televised performances, including the opening of the 2012 BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award ceremony and the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. He has also played many shows with Sir Tom in 2013, 2014, 2015 and is currently on a world tour with Sir Tom in 2016.

Wallis has been the drummer for the re-formed Mike + The Mechanics, from 2011 'till present day. He has played both in recordings and live acts, including last years' sold-out tours. He played on their returning album, The Road, released in April 2011, and their last-to-date album, Let Me Fly (2017). In 2011 he performed across the UK, Germany, and other European cities on their Hit the Road Tour, "The Hits Tour", and "Let Me Fly Tour". It's been announced a brand new album along 2019, while the band is touring again across Europe.

From 2009 – 2011, Wallis toured extensively with Tom Jones, performing in the UK, Europe, USA, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia, South Africa, the Middle East, and the Russian Federation. Other band members on the 2011 tour were: Davide Bronze (bass guitar); Jamie Moses (guitar); Toby Chapman (keyboard); Lutz Rainer Krajenski (keyboard); Laura Critchley (backing vocals); Sophie Hiller (backing vocals); Francis Samuel Walden (saxophone) and Trevor Mires (trombone). On earlier tours Wallis worked with musicians Christoph Papendieck (keyboards), Peter Honoré (guitarist), Alex Meadows (bass), Janet Ramus (backing vocals) and Abbie Osmon (backing vocals).

Wallis played percussion on Schiller's Live (Er)Leben album (2004) and drums/percussion on the Tag Und Nacht (Day and Night) album (tracks 2, 10, 15 and 18), released in 2005 by Island Records and Universal Music, Germany. The album was also released in Russia (2005 & 2008) and the USA (2007).

In the latter part of his career, Gary Wallis has been in demand as a musical director and drummer. From 2004 to the present, Wallis has toured extensively around the world in this role with various bands and solo artists, including Girls Aloud, Atomic Kitten, Il Divo, Westlife (Back Home Tour) and Sir Tom Jones.

Between 2001 and 2004 he toured Germany with the electronic ambient band Schiller, led by Christopher von Deylen. During this time, he worked alongside many prominent artists, including the celebrated musical theatre singer Sarah Brightman and renowned German pop singer Peter Heppner.

Wallis played live on Schiller's first live concert, "Voyage," on 9/19/2001 at Gum Club in Hamburg, Germany. Wallis also played on the Europe wide hit I Feel You.

Gary Wallis performed in front of a crowd of 50,000 with French musician Jean Michel Jarre at a 12-hour The Twelve Dreams of the Sun concert at the Giza pyramids on New Year's Eve 1999/2000. The spectacular concert was part of Egypt's millennium festivities, which included a giant party at the pyramids. Wallis played drums and percussion alongside Jean Michel Jarre (musical direction, keyboards, laser harp, vocals), Francis Rimbert (keyboards), Joachim Garraud (keyboards), Christopher Papendieck (bass), as well as a thousand singers, dancers and musicians.

Wallis played on 1999 Mechanics tour, which became the last for several years, due to Paul Young's untimely death. In 2003, a comeback of the band was announced by Rutherford, and Wallis performed in their concert at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, which was filmed and released as a live DVD by Eagle Rock Entertainment.

In 1997, Wallis performed with Paul Carrack's band as part of the Beautiful World album promotion.

In the same year, Wallis and Gilmour attended a concert in Croydon by the tribute band The Australian Pink Floyd, afterwards inviting the band to attend The Division Bell end of tour party. The Australian Pink Floyd was also invited to play at Gilmour's 50th birthday party in 1996. After their performance, members of Pink Floyd, including Wallis, were handed the Australian musicians' instruments and performed "Money", "What Do You Want from Me", and other songs.

Together with long-term colleague, Toby Chapman, Wallis has co-produced tracks for artists such as Paul Carrack (1996), Belinda Carlisle (1997), Rod Stewart (2000), Cher (2001), Swedish band Addis Black Widow (2001), and Zididada, a Danish act signed to Universal Denmark (2003).

From 1995 to 1999, Gary Wallis was the drummer for Mike + The Mechanics, working with Paul Young (vocals), Mike Rutherford (guitar, bass), Paul Carrack (vocals, keyboard), Tim Renwick (guitar) and Jamie Moses (guitar).

In 1993-94 Wallis played percussion during sessions for Pink Floyd's then-upcoming album, The Division Bell (1994). He went on to perform with them on The Division Bell world tour, during the European leg of which, Pink Floyd recorded the Pulse live album and video, with Wallis playing percussion.

After disbanding in the eighties, the original four members of the British rock group 10cc re-formed in 1992 to record new and previously recorded tracks. They subsequently undertook a tour of Japan in 1993, with Gary Wallis as their drummer. Their tour recording Alive in Japan featured Eric Stewart (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Graham Gouldman (vocals, bass, guitar), Rick Fenn (vocals, guitar, bass), Stuart Tosh (vocals, percussion), Stephen Piggott (keyboards) and Gary Wallis (drums). In 1995, 10cc released their album Mirror Mirror with Gary Wallis playing drums and percussion.

He continued to perform with Pink Floyd until they took a break after their final tour concert at the Knebworth Festival in August 1990. Wallis has stated that performing live at Knebworth with Pink Floyd (1990) was one of the most memorable moments of his career.

From 1990 to 1992, Gary Wallis performed alongside various members of Pink Floyd in different bands, including Blue Pearl (1990), Dream Academy with Gilmour and Guy Pratt (1991) and Jimmy Nail with Gilmour (1992). In December 1991, Wallis performed at the Amnesty International 30th Anniversary Concert, as part of a band directed by Gilmour. At the performance, the band backed Tom Jones and Spinal Tap, the "fictional" heavy metal band. Spinal Tap is known for its succession of drummers who "they claim died under odd circumstances", and Wallis was shown "exploding" at the end of the performance. The following year, he performed alongside Gilmour and other Pink Floyd band members at the Chelsea Arts Ball.

In the mid to late eighties, Wallis was drummer for The Krew, the backing band for Nik Kershaw (Riddle and Radio Musicola tours) and Chris Farlowe (1988). It was at a Kershaw concert where his energetic playing and elaborate percussion set-up drew the attention of key Pink Floyd musicians to Gary Wallis.

Wallis was invited to join Pink Floyd, playing on their A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour (which was released as Delicate Sound of Thunder in 1988). Blake (2008, p. 328) describes Wallis's playing as a "highly visual performing style – attacking an array of gongs, drums and cymbals mounted around him in a cage – was the perfect contrast to Mason's considerably more restrained approach."

Wallis' playing with Pink Floyd can also be seen and heard in the upcoming box set, The Later Years 1987–2019.

After leaving The Truth, Wallis went on to perform as a percussionist with Style Council (1984–1985). He was invited by David Bowie to perform as a percussionist at the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, 13 July 1985, with Robert Palmer and Power Station, as well as Duran Duran.

As a young drummer/percussionist, Gary Wallis worked with a number of prominent British bands. From 1982 to 1984, he was the drummer for The Truth, working alongside Chris Skornia (Hammond organ/keyboards); Dennis Greaves (guitar); Mick Lister (guitar) and Brian Bethell (bass).

Gary Wallis (born 10 June 1964 in Westminster, London) is a British drummer, percussionist, drum programmer, producer and musical director. He has worked with a wide range of artists and bands, including Nik Kershaw, Pink Floyd, 10cc, Il Divo, Westlife, Girls Aloud, Atomic Kitten, Paul Carrack, Dusty Springfield, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Rutherford, Mike + The Mechanics, Tom Jones, Jean Michel Jarre, Helene Fischer and Schiller.