Patrick Dilley

A second generation South African, Patrick grew up with two passions of drumming and surfing in the Eastern Cape, following in the footsteps of his father and his brother who were marching band drummers.

With an irresistible urge for knowledge he has traveled extensively to learn more about his art, spending years studying drum kit in London and then on to learn African percussion in Ghana. Most recently he has embraced Middle Eastern percussion after a trip to the Middle East to present African drumming clinics. He has created original African influenced soundtracks for BBC and local televison.

He is now based in Cape Town where he runs his drumming company and the pan-African Team Spirit All Stars Band (where he is aka Mr P) and also performs in a jazz band. Cape Town is where he met Kent O’Shea when he auditioned for Rubber Soul in the 90’s. 

He subsequently joined Kent as drummer for hemp rock band HappyFourTwenty and currently provides percussive backing for Beetles & Butterflys.

Patrick brings a wealth of experience with his percussive versatility. He has an instinctual understanding of people and situations and to this effect his style is described as no-nonsense as he performs with solid timing. An easy-going character and flexibility serve whatever style of music he is performing and he is sought after as a session drummer/percussionist for local and international artists.

Earliest musical influences are drawn from the likes of Led Zeppelin but he admits that he listens to absolutely anything that will contribute to his rhythmic experience.