Born in Barnet, 'Chops' began playing drums while still at school. He got his first drum kit - a four piece Stratford Besson kit on the last day of 1966 and began playing along to records of the day, songs from the Rolling Stones, Small Faces, The Hollies and The Who being particular favourites.  In 1967 Chops got together with Steve Kennedy, Geoff Walsh, Dave Baglin and Paul Naff and formed The Turquoise Zone. They played eight gigs in all ranging from Saturday Morning Picture Shows to Youth Clubs.

Two years later, (and after a lot of practicing with their instruments),  Chops, Steve Kennedy (guitar)  and Dave Baglin (bass) joined with John Leath on vocals to form Warlock.  They played several venues all round London, including The Marquee in Wardour Street. Their musical style was quoted as being "medieval rock with lots of jigs and reels ".  By 1976, the band slowly fell apart.  Chops then joined a band called Kubie and the Rats.  This was a professional band signed to a management company called Silver Star who boasted acts such as Cockney Rebel on their books. Rehearsing and recording at Manchester Square, London they also played several well known venues in London, including The Rock Garden, The Old Marquee, Dingwalls, The Nashville Rooms and Music Machine in Camden.

*   Bands in which Fletch and Chops played together    

** Bands in which Chops played with Mike, Fletch and Kevin

 In performance, Chops uses a Premiere 1986 model Resonator kit with Paiste cymbals.

Listed among Chops' drumming influences are John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Ian Paige (Deep Purple), Keith Moon (The Who) and Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)