Gilson Lavis

David Leslie Gilson Lavis ( , 27 June 1951 – 5 November 2025) was an English drummer and portrait artist. He gained fame as drummer with the band Squeeze in the 1970s and 1980s. Lavis was for more than 30 years drummer for Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, with former Squeeze bandmate Jools Holland, before retiring from drumming in 2024. Rod Stewart described him as "the best swing drummer since Charlie Watts ... the guv'nor of swing".

Early life David Leslie Gilson Lavis was born in Bedford, England, on 27 June 1951, the son of the manager of a local building firm. His parents bought him a basic drum kit and he started playing local gigs. and six months later was back in Bedford, where he formed the band Headline News, which toured military bases in West Germany. Early in his career he had worked at the Talk of the Town in London as a pick-up drummer for musicians from America. and one of his more memorable jobs, as he recounted in 2025, was touring with Chuck Berry. Lavis "proved to be the perfect drummer for the group's sophisticated, tightly structured songs", After 30 years of touring with Holland, Lavis retired from the music business in November 2024. He had cited Marvel Comics as an inspiration for his style.

Personal life and death Lavis was active through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) after becoming sober and he supported others through the process.

Lavis was married secondly, for 35 years, to Nicky, who was working as Jools Holland's personal assistant when they met. They had one son.

Lavis died at his home in Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, on 5 November 2025, at the age of 74.

His death was announced on social media by Jools Holland, who described Lavis as a "dear friend" while also highlighting his support work with the "AA fellowship." Among others who paid tribute to him was singer Gregory Porter, who said Lavis was "a beautiful man and soulful performer."