Geoff Nicholls

Geoff Nicholls

Freelance Gear Reviewer, MusicRadar

Geoff Nicholls is a musician, journalist, author and lecturer based in London. He co-wrote, co-presented and played drums on both series of ‘Rockschool’ for BBC2 in the 1980s. 

Before that he was a member of original bands signed by Decca, RCA, EMI and more. ‘Rockschool’ led to a parallel career writing articles for many publications, from the Guardian to Mojo, but most notably Rhythm magazine, for which he was the longest serving and most diverse contributor.

During this time Geoff toured the USA with Hugh Harris for Capitol-EMI, spent many happy years with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, recorded and gigged with Chicago blues legends including Carey Bell, Mojo Buford, Louisiana Red and Nappy Brown. More recently he infiltrated the folk-world-music scene with MoltenAmba.

He has taught on the Guildhall Music School’s Jazz and Rock Summer School from 1985 to 2025 and for many years lectured in music business and copyright law.

Meantime he has written award-winning books (e.g., ‘John Bonham, A Thunder of Drums’, 2002, with Chris Welch) and series for radio (1993’s ‘Byte The Music’ for BBC Radio 3 won First Prize Gold Award at the New York Radio Festival). ‘The Drum Book’ (1997, fully updated in 2008) remains the definitive account of the evolution of the modern drum kit.

Latest articles by Geoff Nicholls

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Mapex Black Panther Phantom Snare

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

A hybrid Panther combining birch and walnut

Snare Drums
The thick 10MM shell has a luxuriously sturdy appearance

Iceni Iroko Snare Drum

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

A handsome, custom-built segmented drum

Snare Drums
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Mapex Black Panther Black Widow Snare

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

The perfect tone with brooding dark looks

Snare Drums
The unique Silver Mist lacquer marks this out as a true collectors' drum

Gretsch 125th Anniversary Round Badge Snare Drums

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

A pair of snares bound to be collectors' items

Snare Drums
The hollow clonk of a good maple snare is present in all its glory

Gear4Music White Horse Legend Kit

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

An absurdly cheap sugar maple kit from China

Drum Kits
Around 40 narrow staves of cherry wood make up the drum

Robert Daniels Custom Snare Drum

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

A one-off, hand-crafted cherry wood snare

Snare Drums
The hats are pastry-cut from sheet B8 bronze with unusual orange-red glints

Sabian Memphis and Raw Bell Rides and Solid Hi-Hats

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Excellent new AAX, HHX and APX additions

Hi-hats
The relatively thin weight gives the crashes deeper pitch and shorter sustain than average

Sabian Vault Artisan Hi-Hats and Crashes

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

More from the ultra smooth and creative vintage-tinged line

Hi-hats
The range has a choice of 18 different cymbal types and sizes, categorised Medium or Powerful.

Meinl Classic Custom series cymbals

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Meinl's Classics are updated with a new alloy and a serious polishing

Cymbals
The classic image conjured up by these models is true to the old-school, medium-weight Turkish-American cymbals

Stagg Classic Cymbals

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Stagg introduces some new members to its Classic line of hand-made cymbals at great prices

Cymbals
The Idris Muhammad ride (pictured left) boasts a bright, clear stick definition but without the underlying roar of the White model

Istanbul Agop Signature Ride Cymbals

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Contrasting Lenny White Epoch and Idris Muhammad Signature rides inspired by Zildjian's vintage Ks

Cymbals
Classic looks, Classic sound... Classic.

Premier Series Classic Kit

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

As Premier unveils its cut-price route to a top-notch kit, we tread the Classic path

Drum Kits
The well-behaved snares don't need dampening, and work best at mid tunings with mid-tensioned snares

Highwood Hammer Snare Drums

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Hammer snares are ideal for the rock-metal drummer - custom built, durable and sensibly priced

Snare Drums
Each cymbal has a different degree of sparse hammerings, all done by hand.

Matt Nolan Cymbals

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Distinctive UK-made cymbals that sound as good as they look

Cymbals
'Volcano' cup has an inner dip rather than rising to a normal, rounded dome.

Zildjian Swish Knocker And Z3 Ultra Hammered Chinas

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

New specialist cymbals from Zildjian

Cymbals
These are big, heavy metal drums so their most obvious use would be in rock and metal.

Gretsch USA G4000 Snares

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

A choice of brass, copper and aluminium offered from this up-market Gretsch snare collection

Snare Drums
The shells are round to within 1mm - which is top class.

Carrera Terrier Kit

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

We've seen the snares, now here's the mini kit from new British custom builder Carrera

Drum Kits
The mahogany is close to 100 years old and quality seasoned.

Guru Drumworks Kit

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

England's north-east is becoming a hotbed of designer-crafted drum workshops

Drum Kits
The shell is constructed from over 40 inch-wide staves.

Robert Daniels Fine Drums Snare

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

We try out a specially-commissioned mahogany side drum

Snare Drums
American walnut was one of the popular woods of early drum-making and has made a small comeback in recent years

Animal Custom 2012 Series Kit

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

West Yorkshire custom builder Animal simplifies its output with the launch of these new hand-crafted drums

Drum Kits
A-X is that bit harder-wearing, prompting its use as a snare batter too.

Remo Ambassador-X Heads

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

The Ambassador puts on weight for today's hard hitters

Drum Gear
Fantastic, beautiful colours and time-honoured Turkish hand-hammering.

Meinl Byzance Cymbals (Traditional, Dark and Extra Dry ranges)

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

New additions to Meinl's traditional, Turkish made range

Cymbals
Byzance cymbals are individually cast and hand-hammered in Turkey before sending on to Germany for cosmetic finishing

Meinl Byzance Rides And Crashes

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

New additions to the Meinl Byzance range of traditionally-made Turkish cymbals

Drums
The fast-growing Chinese maple used on the Meridian is of good quality

Mapex Meridian Maple Jazz Kit

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Mapex adds this exceedingly well-specified small group kit to its popular budget Meridian Maple line

Drum Kits
The sets share many physical features but get bulkier as you go up the chain, starting with the 100 (above)…

Sonor 100, 200 and 400 series hardware sets

By Geoff Nicholls last updated

Three drum sets from the German company compared

Drums
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