Music legend Joe Musker holds 32nd Drumming for Life event

Musicians gathered at Absolute Music in Poole for the event on Sunday, December 17, organised by local music legend Joe Musker, the original drummer with band Dead or Alive.

Drummers, percussionists, guitarists, bassists and saxophonists joined in the mammoth jam session that lasted almost four hours.

Beginning at midday, the music stopped at 3.45pm for a raffle which included drumsticks signed by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, all to raise funds for the units at Poole and Bournemouth hospitals.

A cake was prepared especially for the event, too.

The drumathon began a cymbal being hit by Joe’s friend Maggie Dale.

Maggie, who runs the Inn in the Park pub, knows the musicians through a jazz night hosted there every Monday.

“Joe does so much for any cancers really, he does a lot for youth cancer,” Maggie said.

“He comes in my pub, I told him I was diagnosed with breast cancer. He also knows another musician’s wife who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and that’s why he’s doing this for the cancer unit today.

“He does a lot for charity, he’s a great guy.”

Joe first began fundraising for cancer charities in 1983, raising money for a children’s hospital in his native Liverpool with a 24-hour drumathon.

He was made an ambassador for the Youth Cancer Trust in 2021, in recognition of his efforts.

“I moved down here in 1987, got a job with Bournemouth Youth Services in 1989. Since 89, I've been doing these all the time, raising money for cancer charities,” he said.

“There’s a lot of them about, which is sad, but I think a lot of the guys, the doctors down here, they’re all on top of it.

“We’re hoping to raise a good few hundred quid because we’d like to buy something for both hospitals that will be beneficial to the patients.”

To donate, visit the Absolute Music Trust on Facebook or via its website.