Drummer Gaz Burney who has headlined shows at Suffolk venues including in Bury St Edmunds dies aged 35 after cancer battle

A musician and bandmate has remembered an energetic drummer with heaps of talent who has died aged 35.

Gaz Burney was a prolific drummer who played countless shows in Bury St Edmunds and other venues in and around Suffolk.

Based in Manningtree, he was a member of ‘Dingus Khan’ and ‘Swimsuit Competition’ and lost his battle with leukaemia on Monday, July 25.

Swimsuit Competition singer Amber Scott said: “It’s tough, it’s weird just not having him here - he was such an amazing guy, such a ball of energy.

“I watched him play in Dingus Khan before we started our band and I put a post out saying we were looking for a drummer

“He commented and I was so happy because I’ve always loved his music so we got in touch and it was so cool to work with someone I already really admired.”

Amber said his contribution was integral to finding the band’s sound.

“Our band wouldn’t have been anywhere near the same without him,” she said. “He brought to the band a really specific energy that only Gaz had.”

“He was such a nice guy - so funny and a ridiculously amazing drummer.”

After he received his cancer diagnosis in 2020 during the start of the pandemic, Amber recalled his sense of humour..

She said: “During the depths of his treatment, all shows were cancelled and nobody was playing anywhere - so he would joke around and thank the music industry for taking a year off with him.

“I think he dealt with a lot of stuff through humour. Sometimes you’d be like ‘should I be laughing right now?’ - but he always found a way to put smiles on our faces.”

As lockdowns were lifted, Gaz was able to play alongside Swimsuit Competition again and they played a few back-to-back shows with Cambridge band Goldblume in 2021.

However, Amber heard the news of his death whilst travelling back from Truck Festival in Oxfordshire.

She added: “Last time I’d seen him, he was in such good spirits - he was just laughing, like classic Gaz.

“I think it’s going to take a while for us to recoup and we’re all still processing.

”I really don’t know what the plans are for the future without him - but we’re really lucky to have a few unreleased songs that feature Gaz’s drumming, so we’re hoping to put them out in some sort of EP in the future.”