Craig Blundell (born 18 July 1973) is a British drummer, who has toured with Steven Wilson and Steve Hackett. He is a member of progressive rock band Frost* from 2009 to 2019 and again since 2022. He is also been a member of the supergroup Kino, a band that includes Frost* guitarist John Mitchell alongside John Beck of It Bites and Pete Trewavas of Marillion, when they reformed in 2017.
Biography Blundell started playing drums at the age of three but considers his first serious experience with the drums was playing with the Royal Marines Corps at age sixteen. He cites his influences as Clive Deamer of Roni Size/Reprazent, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro of Toto, Phil Collins of Genesis and Brand X, Billy Cobham, Michael Giles of King Crimson, Neil Peart of Rush, Terry Williams of Dire Straits, Dave Lombardo of Slayer and Clive Burr of Iron Maiden. He has played with members of King Crimson, Dire Straits, Genesis, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Porcupine Tree and Rainbow.
He first turned to a professional musician in 2008 after getting exposure by playing with Bruce Dickinson and Mike Rutherford of Genesis and Mike + the Mechanics on some sessions with Celine Dion before going "Back to the day job." He described his experience of the sessions with Rutherford as defining moment is his career as it taught him to refrain himself while drumming. He found himself gravitating towards progressive rock and was a fan of King Crimson and Yes, he received his big break when drummer Marco Minnemann mentioned his name when doing a gig with Joe Satriani which led to him getting a job with Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree who he was a "massive" fan of. He was the last to be auditioned on the day and was recommended by former Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison as well as John Mitchell. His first tour with Wilson was in support of his album To The Bone in 2017.
In 2018, Blundell announced that he would be joining Steve Hackett on tour for the first time, replacing long-time drummer Gary O'Toole two weeks after his departure. The tour, called Selling England By The Pound tour, started soon after Blundell finished the To The Bone tour with Steven Wilson.
Discography YearArtist TitleCite2001David Knopfler Wishbones2002Dale Newman Cubed2013Frost* The Rockfield Files2014Pendragon Men Who Climb MountainsUge Nada Es Imposible2015Lonely Robot Please Come Home2016Steven Wilson 4½David Cross Band Sign Of The CrowFrost* Falling SatellitesSteven Wilson A Perfect Life At The Wiltern2017Moonparticle Hurricane EsmeraldaLonely Robot The Big DreamPhil Lanzon If You Think I'm CrazySteven Wilson To the Bone2018Kino Radio VoltaireSteven Wilson How Big The SpaceMatt Berry Television ThemesDavid Cross & David Jackson Another DaySteven Wilson Home Invasion: In Concert at the Royal Albert HallSemantic Saturation ParadigmsAdam Holzman Truth Decay2019Lonely Robot Under StarsThe Mute Gods Atheists And BelieversAlessandro Bertoni Monarkeys (EP 2019)Quantum Pig Songs Of Industry And Sunshine2020Frost* OthersSteven Wilson Eminent SleazeMariana Semkina SleepwalkingFish WeltschmerzLonely Robot Feelings Are GoodSteve Hackett Selling England By The Pound & Spectral Mornings: Live At HammersmithThe Backstage IsolationMatt Berry Phantom BirdsFish A Fish In The Lemon Tree - Live MMXXFrost* 13 Winters2021Mick Paul Parallel LivesMatt Berry The Blue ElephantTrifecta FragmentsIlluminae Dark HorizonsSteve Hackett Surrender Of Silence2022Matt Berry Featuring Emma Noble BeatmakerLonely Robot A Model LifeSteve Hackett Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More2023Frost* Island LiveSteve Hackett Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live In BrightonSteven Wilson The Harmony CodexMatt BerrySimplicity2024Steve Hackett The Circus and the NightwhaleFrost* Life in the Wires2025Matt BerryHeard NoisesSteven WilsonThe OverviewKarmakanicTransmutation
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