A POPULAR Greenock instrumentalist who has performed on stages all over the world and taught more than 500 young people says there should be no barriers to people getting involved in music. 

Drummer extraordinaire Lesley McLaren has been on the music scene in Inverclyde for more almost 30 years. 

The talented Greenock musician and mentor, who has been teaching young  people since 2008, said sharing her skills is the best part of her job. 

Lesley, 45, said: "I just love everything about music. 

"When you have a talent, you should be passing it on and sharing it and not keeping it to yourself."

Lesley started playing drums when she was in first year at Greenock Academy. 

She honed her skills on the kit when she went along to Saturday morning music lessons at Greenock High School and was inspired by her tutor Kirk Richardson. 

Lesley said: "He was a working musician so we learned a lot about performing and having fun and joining bands. 

"He definitely lit the fire in me and made me want to pursue music."

In 1995, when she was 16, Lesley joined a group of her Inverclyde pals in the band Elysian Fields and went on to play at local venues including Rico's, Lafferty's, the Dugout, and the Trophy Room.

In the early 2000s, Lesley went along to a jam session in Greenock and met local legend Bennie Turner.

(Image: George Munro)
The trio were wowed by her skills on the kit and decided to take her under their wing. 

Lesley said: "They said to me 'Hen, we'll take you up to Glasgow to the jams and you can meet all the musicians'. 

"It was a great way for me to network and that's where I learned properly how to groove.

"We were playing blues music, so I learned the discipline of playing for the song and letting the song breathe."

Lesley's first proper big break came through the jam sessions. 

Singer songwriter Yvonne Tipping (known as Tippi) had been checking out Lesley's skills on the kit. 

Lesley added: "After one of the gigs, she asked me if I would be interested in drumming for her solo stuff. 

"I walked into my job the next day and handed in my notice and went on the road with her."

Through Tippi, Lesley met bassist Gill Bickerstaff and guitarist Rosie McClune and together, they formed The Hedrons. 

They travelled all over the world, including to America a few times, and released first album 'One More Won't Kill Us' in 2007. 

On one of their trips to the states, the band met much-missed Friends star Matthew Perry on the set of his own show, Studio 60 On Sunset Strip. 

Lesley said: "We were being shown round the Warner Bros studio by a friend of our record company on a day off. 

"Matthew stopped filming his scene to come and introduce himself and asked if we would be the band to open the show!

"The powers that be wouldn't grant us an extension to our working visas, so the TV station couldn't go ahead with the plan. 

"It was quite a sliding doors moment."

By 2008, things changed for the band. 

Lesley added: "We had recorded one album but we weren't happy with deal being offered. 

"The music industry was changing, and the record and management company became fifth member of the band. 

"We had to walk away from it, it was too risky."

The Hedrons re-released 'One More Won't Kill Us' in 2022, and second album 'Tired of Taking' in 2023, both through Last Night From Glasgow. 

(Image: George Munro)

Lesley has played for bands and artists including Altered Images, Herbie Flowers, and Jay Wobble, and regularly drums for Broken Chanter. 

She has recently been asked to play for Snowgoose at album launch shows in October. 

In 2008, Lesley set up her own drumming school - Hit Squad. 

She said she got 'very busy very quickly' and rented out a small teaching space. 

In 2016, Lesley met Karen Orr from RIG Arts and taught in the 'broom cupboard' at RIG before moving into her current, much bigger space. 

Lesley said RIG is a fantastic space for mentoring as she 'feels at home' there. 

She added: "I'm surrounded by like-minded people, all artists and creatives, who have the same ethos. 

"Everyone is working on their own talents and encouraging other people at the same time.

Lesley is at the forefront of the RIG Arts Rock School, which is now in its second year, thanks to funding provided through the Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative. 

The project helps young musicians hone their skills, and equips them with knowledge of the industry. 

Lesley added: "It's for young people who already play an instrument, and who are looking for some guidance, want to progress, and want to meet other musicians. 

"It's great to see them getting so excited about their first gigs and building their audiences

"I love seeing how enthusiastic they are."

Lesley said she's very passionate about every young person being able to access music tuition. 

She added: "I'm very much about music for all. 

"I want to show kids that where they come from shouldn't be a disadvantage. 

"I love to see people having a go and not being afraid to work hard. 

"You can achieve amazing things if you love what you do and you're committed."