{{Infobox musical artist | image = Ray Laidlaw - Billy Mitchell Band (26652429681).jpg | caption = Laidlaw on stage in 2016 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1948|5|28}} | birth_place = Tyneside, England | genre = Folk | instrument = Drums | years_active = 1968–present | past_member_of = Lindisfarne, Jack the Lad }}
'''Ray Laidlaw''' (born 28 May 1948) is a British drummer. He is best known for being a member of Lindisfarne<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=LINDISFARNE Story {{!}} About Ray Laidlaw, Billy Mitchell and the band |url=https://lindisfarnestory.co.uk/who-s-who |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=lindisfarnestory.co.uk}}</ref> from 1968 to 2003. He plays in The Lindisfarne Story, a tribute band to the group with ex-member Billy Mitchell.<ref name=":0" />
== Early life == Laidlaw was born in Tyneside in 1948. Ray's father worked in the ship yards.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Mixcloud |url=https://www.mixcloud.com/FrenchSpurs1/r1238-a-story-of-lindisfarne-featuring-original-member-and-drummer-ray-laidlaw-with-billy-mitchell/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=www.mixcloud.com}}</ref> On his thirteenth birthday, his grandad gifted him his first drum kit.<ref name=":3" />
== Career == Laidlaw formed his first band, The Aristocrats with Simon Cowe, who lived down the road from him (around a five minute walk according to Ray), after one of Ray's cousins began dating Simon's brother, and performed covers of folk and skiffle songs.<ref name=":3" />
Laidlaw first met Alan Hull in 1964 when Hull was in the band "The Chosen Few".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-19 |title=A Word from Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne on Alan Hull, St Nick's Hospital and Clear White Light |url=https://www.live.org.uk/blogs-resources/word-ray-laidlaw-lindisfarne-on-alan-hull-st-nicks-hospital-and-clear-white-light |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Live Theatre |language=en}}</ref> Laidlaw, Cowe and Hull formed Lindisfarne (at first called Brethren) in 1968 with Hull Ray Jackson (vocals, mandolin, harmonica) and Rod Clements (bass guitar, violin).<ref name=":0" /> The band had two UK top 5 hits in 1971, "Lady Eleanor" (UK #3) and "Meet me on the Corner" (UK #5). During a mimed performance of "Meet Me on the Corner" in 1971 on ''Top of the Pops'', Laidlaw mimed to his drum track with a large bass fish instead of a drum stick, he later said in 2019 of the performance: "It was to be remembered and journalists are still asking about it, so it worked".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019-03-28 |title=Journalists are still asking about the rubber fish, so it worked |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17535217.drummer-ray-laidlaw-tells-lindisfarne-story-swindon/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}}</ref>
In 1973, Laidlaw, Crowe, and Clements all left the band to form Jack the Lad, a group made to perform more traditionally folk group instead of Lindisfarne's Progressive folk sound.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jack the Lad Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jack-the-lad-mn0001203375 |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> The band sometimes toured with Lindisfarne.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Friars Aylesbury website |url=https://www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk/interviewsjackthelad.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk}}</ref> Laidlaw left the band a few months before they split up and joined another group, Radiator for a year.
In 1978, the original five members of Lindisfarne reformed and had another top ten hit, "Run For Home" (UK #10). The band continued to tour until 2003, when they played their last gig. Laidlaw is now a semi-retired drummer and works full-time as an event producer.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Group |first=Allies |date=2025-10-15 |title=Getting to know Ray Laidlaw |url=https://luxe-magazine.co.uk/2025/10/getting-to-know-ray-laidlaw/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Luxe |language=en-GB}}</ref> He helps run the Sunday for Sammy charity gigs, that was initially set up by Tim Healy and Jimmy Nail in memory of Healy's co-star Sammy Johnson.<ref name=":1" />
Laidlaw now tours in The Lindisfarne Story, with Jack the Lad member Billy Mitchell, who also joined Lindisfarne after Hull's death in 1995.<ref name=":0" />
In 2015, Laidlaw donated money to a fund for a comedy competition called The Phil Richardson Comedy Writing Award, named after a Tyneside singer/comedian who died in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doughty |first=Sophie |date=2015-05-21 |title=Ex-Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw hopes to honour tragic Whitley Bay musician |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ex-lindisfarne-drummer-ray-laidlaw-hopes-9294271 |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Chronicle Live |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Laidlaw lives in Tynemouth with his wife Lesley Ann.<ref name=":2" /> They have a son, who lives in California.<ref name=":2" /> He enjoys cycling.<ref name=":2" />{{DEFAULTSORT:Laidlaw, Ray}} == References == {{reflist}} {{Lindisfarne}} {{Authority control}} Category:20th-century English drummers Category:English male drummers Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:Lindisfarne (band) members