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Former Squeeze<\/a> drummer Gilson Lavis, who played with the band during its most successful period, died on Tuesday at the age of 74.<\/p>\n Keyboardist Jools Holland, who played with Lavis in Squeeze and later in his own Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, paid tribute to the drummer in a social media statement.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m very sad to report that Gilson Lavis, my dear friend and long-standing drummer, passed away at his home in Lincolnshire last night,” Holland wrote. “On behalf of my Orchestra, Squeeze, the many musicians who have worked with and befriended Gilson over the years and all the people he has supported through the AA fellowship, I send our love and sympathy to Nikki and Gilson, his dear wife and son.”<\/p>\n Born on June 27, 1951, in Bedford, England, Lavis honed his chops\u00a0touring\u00a0with\u00a0stars such as Chuck Berry<\/a>, Jerry Lee Lewis<\/a> and Dolly Parton<\/a> before joining Squeeze in 1976. He played on all of the band’s releases from 1977’s\u00a0Packet of Three<\/em> EP through 1991’s\u00a0Play<\/em>. His drumming can be heard on\u00a0international hits\u00a0including “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction,” “Tempted” and “Black Coffee in Bed.”<\/p>\n Squeeze dismissed Lavis in 1992, which he claimed was due to his alcoholism. Shortly thereafter, Holland invited him to play some shows together as a duo.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to go at first, I didn\u2019t know if I could be in the music business and stay sober,” Lavis told\u00a0Lincolnshire Life<\/a><\/em> in 2015. “Still, off we went doing charity work and little arts clubs, and I never really wanted to do it full-time but I have trouble saying no to people, and then one day we suddenly had a bass player and a guitarist as well.”<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>How Squeeze Bounced Back From a Breakup With ‘Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti’<\/a><\/p>\n Later in life, Lavis also discovered a passion for painting, making portraits of fellow musicians including Paul Mccartney<\/a>,\u00a0Eric Clapton<\/a> and the Rolling Stones<\/a> and showcasing them in exhibitions. Painting afforded him a different creative outlet\u00a0as his\u00a0musical career wound down, and he officially\u00a0retired from drumming in 2024.<\/p>\n “The motivation of being a pop star or even being rich has gone, so now it\u2019s seeing people enjoy themselves at shows, but yes, I really enjoy my art,” he told\u00a0Lincolnshire Life<\/em>.\u00a0“I still put my all into every show \u2014 doing less than that and you are cheating yourself and the audience \u2014 but when I\u2019m painting I\u2019m truly at peace.”<\/p>\n A look at those we’ve lost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Ultimate Classic Rock Staff<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGilson Lavis’ Musical Career: From Dolly Parton to Squeeze<\/h3>\n
Gilson Lavis’ Late-Career Love: Painting<\/h3>\n
In Memoriam: 2025 Deaths<\/h2>\n