Ahead of his headline performance at The UK Drum Show 2026, Simon Phillips joined us to discuss a career spanning Toto, countless recording sessions, Protocol, drum clinics and some truly remarkable moments in drumming history.
So, what keeps him motivated after more than five decades behind the kit?
“I get bored,” Phillips admits. “I get bored playing the same music. I always have.”
That appetite for variety began early. After joining Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973, Phillips soon found himself increasingly busy with recording sessions, eventually making the daunting decision to leave the security of a regular wage. By 1976, he was completing more recording sessions than there were days in the year.
That experience shaped his entire approach to drumming.
“You start because you play the song maybe once or twice, then you’re immediately listening to it,” he explains. “How can I change it to make it sound a bit better?”
That instinct to create rather than simply reproduce has remained central to Phillips’ playing — and it was particularly evident in one of the performances that left a lasting impression on this writer: “Don’t Step In It”, filmed for Pete York’s Super Drumming in 1987.
Phillips recalls the spontaneous nature of the project, including an unplanned duet with legendary drummer Louie Bellson. For Phillips, the magic lies in playing around a musical motif rather than simply launching into a display of technique.
“I always try to make it a composition,” he says.
That philosophy will be on full display when Phillips headlines the UK Drum Show on Sunday 25 October. Rather than approaching a room full of drummers as an intimidating audience, Phillips now sees it simply as a performance.
“They’re there, they want to be entertained.”
And don’t expect 45 minutes of relentless speed. Phillips is passionate about the importance of musicality, drawing inspiration from players such as Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Bernard Purdie and Ian Paice.
“It’s not all about how fast you can be,” he says. “You’ve got to use technique tastefully.”
For aspiring drummers, his advice is simple: keep your mind open. Listen to different styles, develop your vocabulary and, crucially, find your own sound.
“We need to have that voice.”
With Protocol 6 material potentially making an appearance during his European clinics and a completely blank musical canvas awaiting him at the UK Drum Show, one thing is certain: Simon Phillips still has plenty to say from behind the kit.
Grab your tickets to The UK Drum Show HERE
