TRIBUTES have been paid to a “good-humoured” drummer who was an "absolute beast onstage" after he died of cancer.

Gareth Burney, known as Gaz by those who knew him best, died on July 25 at the age of 35 having been diagnosed with leukaemia back in 2020.

The musician was well-known as the drummer of Dingus Khan and Swimsuit Competition, both of which regularly play shows in Colchester and north Essex.

Gaz, who was married to wife Sophie, also worked a variety of jobs in the area and enjoyed drawing funny, still life cartoons.

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Tom Armstrong, who played in Dingus Khan alongside Gaz, has paid tribute to his friend.

He said: “We both met through the band when we needed someone to fill in on drums and then at the next gig he turned up with a bottle of rum and insisted on playing.

“Gaz was very positive the whole time and although there were points where it was quite hard, he always had a dark sense of humour about [having cancer.]

“It was refreshing and he would often make a joke about it and make sure we could all laugh about it, which helped make it easier for everyone else to deal with.

“Gaz was always very good-humoured and could have a good laugh, and he was incredibly reliable – he was like the drunk uncle of the band.”

Inspired by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Gaz, from Mistley, loved heavy rock music and Queens of the Stone Age.

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Nick Daldry, who played drums in Dingus Khan with Gaz, said: “He was a really good drummer and such a friendly guy and his personality contradicted the absolute beast he was onstage.

“He is the reason why the term gentle giant exists because he was such an aggressive drummer but his personality juxtaposed that.

“I already miss his insanity and you could always have a crazy conversation with him that you could not have with other people.

“He was a child at heart and that is what our friendship group will miss out on and what I already miss.”

A memorial evening which is set to take part at the Queen Street Brewhouse, in Colchester, is currently in the process of being planned.

In a statement on social media, a spokesman for Dingus Khan added: “He will be forever in our hearts and his loud drumming will forever be ringing in our ears.

“We hope you are playing the drums aggressively and relentlessly in a spaceship in another galaxy to a confused but nevertheless impressed group of aliens.

“Rest in peace.”

Pictures: Jonathan Dadds