Ian Matthews

Ian Matthews (born 20 June 1971) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Kasabian.

Early career Matthews interest in drums was first started by his babysitter, a friend of his dad, whose family had a drumkit, he also played piano as his dad was a pianist but "realised that I wasn’t interested" CCQ,

He cites Mitch Mitchell, Tony Williams and Buddy Rich as his strongest drumming influences.

In 2015, Matthews joined with Al Murray, Keith Keough, Stuart Warmington and Al Kitching in founding the British Drum Company.

Matthews continues to tour with Kasabian and also does session work, appearing on the Cult's 2022 album Under the Midnight Sun.

Drum kits Matthews has used various drum kits and cymbals over the years. Currently he is using Gretsch Drums, Zildjian cymbals Remo Drum Heads, Vic Firth Sticks and Natal percussion.

Trivia Matthews is left-handed. He broke his left hand when touring with Kasabian in Europe in February 2010 and was replaced by his drum technician Laurie Jenkins for a show and the NME Awards performance of "Vlad the Impaler".

He got his first drum kit when he was four and by the time he was seven, he played his first gig in a pub and was capable of laying "a pretty good waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, and tango".

In addition to his work with Kasabian, he has also recorded drums on the following: Soundisciples - Audio Manifesto (2002), Ilya - They Died for Beauty (2003), Bruce Parry Presents Amazon Tribe: Songs for Survival - track 9 with Skin at Robot Club feat. the Adi Tribe - "Simmer Down" (2008), BBC Earth Unplugged series Earth Files Ep2 "Salmon Strike" and Ep5 "Xmas Special" (2012), soundtrack to I Give It a Year (2013) and on the soundtrack to Fast and Furious 6 (2013).