records , I would play along with the sticks ,” Dave said .
“ When I was nine , my parents gave me a drum set and I commenced lessons with John Costa , a highly respected teacher and drummer who was a member of the famous Graeme Bell All Stars jazz band .
“ I was also developing my drumming skills and ability to read music as a member of our school band , so by the time I was 15 , I was fairly proficient at the caper .
“ I left school after getting my School Certificate and told my parents I wanted to become a professional musician but , in the end , I heeded dad ’ s advice that I should get a trade as a fallback in case my musical ambitions failed to materialise .”
Hence the next three years completing that horticultural course , but throughout that time Dave continued his journey in music .
“ I freelanced as a drummer and was getting regular gigs at night whilst also teaching music two or three days a week at St Joseph ’ s College on my TAFE off-days ,” Dave said .
After gaining his horticultural diploma , Dave mixed gardening at day with playing the drums in bands at night .
In 1985 , Dave ’ s career really purred into gear when he was appointed deputy drummer to Matt Dilosa who was beating the skins in Cats .
“ I shared the drumming role with Matt for two years before becoming lead drummer , and over the next eight years whilst touring Australia , New Zealand and Asia with the production , I would have played in around 1200 performances ,” Dave said .
During the numerous Cats hiatuses , Dave kept drumming up drum business with other stage shows such as Beauty and the Beast , Godspell , Starlight Express and Miss Saigon .
Soon after joining the Cats crew , an attractive and highly regarded French horn player , Alison Campbell , took his eye , romance developed and they eventually married in 1999 .
Such is Alison ’ s talent she has worked with many topline visiting performers including Frank Sinatra and with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and as a member of opera and ballet orchestras . Two years prior to their wedding , Alison and Dave decided to continue their musical journey by joining the RAAF and becoming members of the Air Command Band .
“ The music scene went very quiet at that stage , so it was off to the air force , but it wasn ’ t just a matter of signing on the dotted line and linking with the band ,” Dave laughed .
“ Firstly , we had to perform at an audition and then , after showing we had the musical skills , we were inducted into the air force and sent off to do three months basic training and learn about life
That ’ s cool ! Dave Egan out in the sunshine with the Air Command Band and ready to do that voodoo , that he do so well .
in the armed services .”
Both were welcomed into the band with open arms , and such were Dave ’ s skills on the drums , he was quickly appointed drum section leader .
Two years prior to joining the RAAF , Dave kicked off his drum and percussion restoration business as a sideline but after he and Alison were demobbed in 2004 , the burgeoning business became his primary source of income .
“ I was given a huge boost with my very first job back in ’ 95 when I was asked to repair a vibraphone for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and that started the ball rolling by word of mouth ,” Dave said .
Such is Dave ’ s reputation in repairing drums and percussion instruments , people from all over Australia call on his remarkable services so there ’ s always plenty of action in his workshop .
Dave ’ s journey through music continues through his involvement with the Hand Picked Shows Band which perform tribute shows , and by playing at monthly Classic Artists Shows at Windsor ’ s Church Bar .
The gigs kicked off on October 28 with a tribute to Crowded House and the second in the series will be a Paul McCartney and Wings tribute at the end of this month .
Dave ’ s also vice president of the Macquarie Towns Symphony Orchestra which put on a superb performance at Richmond ’ s St Andrews Church Hall on December 4 .
Life ’ s good for Dave Egan and it all revolves around music , workshop and the home he shares with Alison , her mother and their two children , Isabel and Campbell – both of whom also have musical bents – and two historic cars .
Those panel beating and fitting and turning skills were to the fore as Dave faithfully restored his pride and joys , a 1966 Rambler Classic and a 1971 Ford Mustang .
On the road behind the wheel of one of his cars , tinkering away in his workshop or heading off to gigs – Dave Egan believes himself to be a lucky man .
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 151 // DECEMBER 2022 7