Page "John Stevens (drummer)" Paragraph 1

Stevens was born in Brentford, the son of a tap dancer.

He used to listen to jazz as a child, but was initially more interested in drawing and painting ( media through which he also expressed himself throughout his life ).

He studied at the Ealing Art College and then started work in a design studio, but left at 19 to join the Royal Air Force.

He studied the drums at the Royal Air Force School of Music in Uxbridge, and while there met Trevor Watts and Paul Rutherford, two musicians who became close collaborators.