Aynsley Dunbar | |
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Dunbar performing in 2007
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Background information | |
Birth name | Aynsley Thomas Dunbar |
Born |
Liverpool, England |
10 January 1946
Genres | Hard rock, blues rock, progressive rock, glam rock, jazz, blues, jazz fusion, heavy metal, glam metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Drums, percussion |
Years active | 1961–present |
Associated acts | The Jeff Beck Group, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, UFO, Whitesnake, Journey, Jefferson Starship, Lou Reed, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Sammy Hagar, Michael Schenker, Jake E. Lee, The Mojos, Flo & Eddie, Tomorrow (band) |
Aynsley Thomas Dunbar (born 10 January 1946) is an English drummer. He has worked with some of the top names in rock, including Nils Lofgren, Eric Burdon, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, Jefferson Starship, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar, Michael Schenker, UFO, Flo & Eddie and Journey. Dunbar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey in 2017.
Aynsley Thomas Dunbar was born in Liverpool, England. He started his professional career in Derry Wilkie and the Pressmen in 1963. In December 1964 he joined Merseybeat group the Mojos, who were renamed Stu James & the Mojos, with original members vocalist Stu James and guitarist Nick Crouch and bass player Lewis Collins (later an actor in the Professionals). This line-up continued until 1966. Dunbar then auditioned for the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Hendrix had difficulty deciding between Dunbar and Mitch Mitchell – the latter won Hendrix's coin flip. Dunbar then joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers replacing Hughie Flint in the summer of 1966. He stayed with Mayall until the spring of 1967 (playing on the A Hard Road album), being replaced by Mick Fleetwood.