Written by: Alex Green

Gilson Lavis, best known as the hard-hitting drummer of Squeeze, has died.

The Bedford-born Lavis was 74.

Before his long-running tenure with Squeeze, which ran from 1976 to 1992, Lavis had toured with Dolly Parton, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry.

One of the smoothest and most natural drummers around, Lavis had the ability to effortlessly swing with muscle and finesse.

For nearly thirty years Lavis played with former Squeeze bandmate Jools Holland in the Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

In a statement, Holland wrote of the late musician: “I’m very sad to report that Gilson Lavis, my dear friend and long-standing drummer, passed away at his home in Lincolnshire last night. On behalf of my Orchestra, Squeeze, the many musicians who have worked with and befriended Gilson over the years and all the people he has supported through the AA fellowship, I send our love and sympathy to Nikki and Gilson, his dear wife and son.”

Although Lavis retired from drumming in 2024, he was still hard at work on another passion: painting.

Lavis painted portraits of everyone from Paul McCartney to Bob Dylan to The Rolling Stones and of his work on the canvas he once told Lincolnshire Life, “…when I’m painting I’m truly at peace.”