Craig Blundell

Craig Blundell (born 18 July 1973) is a British drummer, who has toured with Steven Wilson and Steve Hackett.

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 him self 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 audition on the day and was recommended by former Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison as well as John Mitchell.

He was a member of progressive rock band Frost* from 2009 to 2019 and again from 2022 till the present.

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.

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.

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.