Legendary drummers and graphic artist Anthony Burrill collaborate for teen cancer charity

Five legendary drummers, who have toured the world’s stages in bands like Arctic Monkeys’
and with Sir Paul McCartney, have collaborated with world-renowned graphic artist Anthony
Burrill as part of a new project to raise vital funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.
Sir Paul McCartney’s drummer Abe Laboriel Jnr, Arctic Monkeys’ Matt Helders, Simple
Minds’ Cherisse Osei, Slayer’s Dave Lombardo and Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison are
part of the fundraising project, One Two Three Four.
The new print series by Anthony Burrill, whose work is held in permanent collections at the
V&A, The Design Museum and The Cooper-Hewitt in New York, has reinterpreted these
musician’s favourite drumming patterns into striking typographic artworks.
The project is curated by drum teacher to the stars, and profiled drum tutor Mike Dolbear,
who has been a long-time supporter of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Mike said: “Rudiments play an important part in drumming as they are groups of sticking
patterns that make the drummer unique and creative. In Matt Helders’ pattern, you can see
the sticking patterns he used to develop the main groove to ‘Brianstorm’.”
Matt Helders is best known as being the drummer, backing vocalist, and a founding member
of the indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. He’s also collaborated with the likes of Iggy Pop and
Josh Homme, and Lady Gaga. His print is based on the sticking pattern from the intro to the
song ‘Brianstorm’.
Award winning drummer Gavin Harrison’s print is based on a rudiment known as the ‘Single
Flammed Mill’. Harrison is best known for playing with the progressive rock bands Porcupine
Tree, King Crimson, and The Pineapple Thief.
Abe Laboriel Jnr is known for being the drummer and backing vocalist for Paul McCartney.
His impressive career has also seen him record and perform with the likes of B.B King,
Sting, and Eric Clapton. His print features Burrill’s graphic interpretation of the Flam-a-diddle
rudiment.
Project curator, Mike Dolbear adds: “In Gavin and Abe’s patterns, you can see the use of
flams (both hands coming down together but one sticking the drum just before the other).
“These are important as they become the drummer’s unique vocabulary.”
Cherisse Osei’s career began as the drummer in the band The Faders, and has since
performed with the likes of Kelly Jones, Paloma Faith, and Byan Ferry. Osei has been
touring the globe as the drummer in Simple Minds since 2017. Cherisse chose to base the
artwork on her favourite rudiment to play, the Paradiddle.
Dave Lombardo, co-founding member and drummer of the thrash metal band Slayer,
continues to tour with a number of bands, including Misfits, Empire State Bastard, and
Mr.Bungle. Lombardo, renowned for his fast, hard-hitting style, and impressive use of double
bass, chose to feature the Drum Roll as the artwork for the series.

Each of these vibrant artworks has been produced as a limited-edition of 100 screen-prints,
perfect for art and music lovers, available exclusively in the online Teenage Cancer Trust
store for £85. They are autographed by both the artist Anthony Burrill, and the respective
drummer.
Alongside these dynamic prints, Burrill has also designed retro style t-shirts (£30-£40),
available in two colourways, and an A3 screen-print poster featuring his typographic
interpretation of the ‘drum roll', for the charity to sell on their dedicated music merchandise
online shop.
Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 hear the words “you have cancer”. Teenage
Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing the specialised nursing care and
support they need to get through it. The charity has established 28 units in NHS hospitals
across the UK where young people can be treated around people their own age as opposed
to wards for children or adults.
Micky England, Senior Product Manager at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “It’s been an
absolute pleasure to work with Anthony Burrill, Mike Dolbear and the outstanding drummers
on these incredible pieces for our online shop, which helps us to fund specialised care for
young people with cancer. The prints really encapsulate the energy of drumming rhythms
and are in Anthony’s signature style which will be perfect for fans of both.
“A huge thank you to Anthony Burrill, Mike Dolbear and Abe Laboriel Jnr, Matt Helders,
Cherisse Osei, Dave Lombardo, Gavin Harrison and Harvey Lloyd Print Studios for being a
part of this exciting project, raising vital funds to ensure no young person faces cancer
alone.”
Anthony Burrill said: “Music is a vital part of being human. It connects us, brings us joy and
creates a feeling of community. As a teenager my love of music helped shape my character
and introduced me to the creative world. I was obsessed with record sleeves and went to art
school to learn how to make them. Working with this select group of musicians has been an
incredible and unique experience. I hope through our combined efforts we can shine a light
on the amazing work of the Teenage Cancer Trust.”
Mike Dolbear, Project Curator, adds:
“Teenage Cancer Trust has been the main charity I have supported since a young drummer
I knew, Jordan Terris, from Birmingham, died back in 2007.
“In 2013 I was approached to help another drummer and teenager with cancer, Stephen
Sutton, work through his bucket list by playing the drums at a major mass drumming event.
Stephen was one of 500 drummers playing at the opening ceremony at the UEFA European
cup final that I co-ordinated at Wembley stadium.
“When Stephen was towards the end of his life, he was in the same hospital as Jordan, but
by that time it had a dedicated Teenage Cancer Trust hospital ward he could stay on, an
option Jordan never had. This is a charity that really makes a difference.”
All 5 autographed print editions and the posters, were produced with the help of Harvey
Lloyd Print Studios.
To view the One Two Three Four series and buy a print or t-shirt, visit the Teenage Cancer Trust online shop.

https://shop.teenagecancertrust.org/collections/categories/drumming