Brian 'Comfy' Rushbrooke

Apart from a brief spell of snare drums in my school years and the Boy’s Brigade in the late 70s, (enough said about that), it all started really in the late 1980s.

Local landlord and accomplished Blues Drummer and Mentor, the late great Andrew Clarke, had a wonderful deep red Premier drum kit in the pub and I learnt play on his kit, receiving drum lessons for a couple years, and then playing on the Sunday night gigs at the local.

I bought my first kit in 1992, a gleaming pearl white Premier Olympic kit, joined my first band “Contraband” in 1994, playing Blues Rock covers. My first gig was at Exmouth Pavilions in 1995 in front of 500 people which at the time was pretty scary stuff.

3 years later the group disbanded and I joined Lapfords own Blues/Rock pub band “Bite the Bullet”.

I gave all that up in 2001, sold my Olympic kit and had a break for a while, but occasionally filling in for a couple of bands who’s drummers were let’s say “missing in action”.. Me included eventually in later years, thanks to those that filled in for me during the Stemroach days, you know who you are…

Then 2007 came and I was introduced to Icarus Peel through an old friend Iain Crawford. We did a practice as I remember at Bale Farm in July, which seemed to go well.

Next thing I know I’m in a band, and with my 40th birthday coming up, thought it would be a great idea to do our first gig in the beer garden of my local. It went well; we had some wonderful feedback especially from a lovely old lady who thought it was all rather too loud…proper job I say!

So Stemroach was born, along with Simon, Jeremy, Iain and Icarus we toured the length and breadth of Devon and (some parts of Cornwall), playing pubs, festivals including our biggest one at Chagstock in 2011! We even did an album or two to boot!

In 2013 I played my last gig with Stemroach due to work commitments, but already being involved in some projects with Icarus Peel, gave me a great opportunity to record some new material at Bale Farm Studios, which resulted in being a part of the Crystal Jacqueline projects.

They were wonderful times of what seemed to be a telepathic mantra of ideas, which I miss tremendously with Mr Peel.

So 4 albums recorded right up to 2019, plus countless EPs, (too many to mention), gave me a rare opportunity to record music from a great song writer and with the wonderful vocals from Jacqueline I got involved with some mesmerising music.

To cap it all off, I was asked to get involved with Icarus Peels Acid Reign, a real power trio and big musical sound, something my new Gretsch drums would suit for sure. Unfortunately departing after one album, due to years of drumming affecting my hands and stick grip, but they continue now with a splendid new musical drummer.

It’s been a total blast and I still sit on the throne for the CJ Band, with hands still just about intact, respectfully hoping that someday we will all do something again soon!

Never would I have imagined that, I would have been involved with so much of what is now forever printed (or downloaded), for those who enjoy the music and for those who are yet to find it!

Comfy x