Gilson Lavis, the drummer renowned for his work with Squeeze and the Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, has died at his Lincolnshire home at the age of 74.
Lavis achieved prominence in the 1970s as the drummer for the rock band Squeeze and continued performing with Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra until the previous year.
Jools Holland, a long-time bandmate, expressed his condolences for his “dear friend” on social media on Thursday. Tributes were also shared by musicians KT Tunstall, Curtis Stigers, and Gregory Porter.
Holland conveyed his “love and sympathy” to Lavis’ wife, Nikki, and son, Gilson, and acknowledged Lavis’ dedication to supporting the “AA fellowship,” referencing his involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous.
According to Holland, Lavis passed away on Wednesday.
Lavis resided in Pinchbeck, near Spalding, with his wife and son, where he dedicated time to writing and recording music in his home studio.
In addition to his musical talents, Lavis was celebrated for his artwork, creating portraits and sketches of numerous artists he collaborated with, including Eric Clapton and Amy Winehouse.
His artwork has been exhibited in both London and New York.
In a 2015 interview with Lincolnshire Life magazine, he reflected: “The motivation of being a pop star or even being rich has gone, so now it’s seeing people enjoy themselves at shows but yes, I really enjoy my art.
“I still put my all into every show – doing less than that and you are cheating yourself and the audience but when I’m painting I’m truly at peace.”
KT Tunstall, the singer-songwriter, described Lavis as “lovely” on Instagram, adding: “I’m so glad I got to share a stage with his greatness.”
Jazz singer-songwriter Gregory Porter remembered him as “a beautiful man and soulful performer.”
Born in Bedford in 1951, Lavis rose to prominence after joining Squeeze in 1976.
The band is known for notable hits such as Cool for Cats, Up the Junction, and Labelled with Love.
Lavis faced challenges with alcoholism during his time touring with Squeeze but later achieved sobriety and dedicated himself to supporting others through Alcoholics Anonymous.
The drummer continued his collaboration with Holland until retiring from music in 2024.
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