Fairport Convention drummer Gerry Conway dies aged 76: Legendary musician passes away after battle with motor neurone disease as Cat Stevens leads the tributes

Fairport Convention drummer Gerry Conway has died aged 76, his bandmates confirmed on Wednesday. 

The musician - who served as Fairport’s drummer from 1998 until 2022 - passed away following a battle with motor neurone disease on March 29.

Paying tribute to Conway on their official website, the band wrote: 'He brought to the band an impeccable understanding of ‘feel’ and comradeship, a unique sense of subtlety and a complete understanding of what was required.

'Gerry's impressive musical CV began long before he joined Fairport. He came to prominence as drummer and percussionist with Cat Stevens, both in the studio and in live performance. 

'As well as his tenure with Pentangle from 1986 to 1993 (then with Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle until 2022) he was also admired for his work with Fotheringay and Jethro Tull.

Fairport Convention drummer Gerry Conway has died aged 76, his bandmates confirmed on Wednesday

The band confirmed Conway's death in a statement shared on their official website 

L-R: Fairport Convention bandmembers Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Chris Leslie, Richard Sanders and Gerry Conway at Oxfordshire festival Croperdy in 2018 

'His name spread far and wide and was the envy of his peers. Fairport Convention's thoughts and condolences are with Gerry's partner Jacqui and the family.' 

Leading the tributes on Monday, Cat Stevens - who worked with Conway for more than three decades - wrote: 'Sadly my great old drummer, Gerry Conway just passed away.

'What a lad, and what ingenuity and style. May God grant him the beautiful reward of peace everlasting.' 

Former Fairport Convention bandmate Simon Nicol added: 'Wonderfully patient and wise, infuriatingly tardy but always ready and eager to play, and blessed with his own inner calm and solidity.

'I’m going to miss him more than I can say.' 

Elsewhere Sir Paul McCartney fan-page The McCartney Legacy credited his work with McCartney's brother Mike and revealed he came close to working with the legendary former Beatle in the 1970s. 

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, they wrote: 'We were saddened to hear about the passing of drummer Gerry Conway on March 29. 

'Gerry played with Paul, Linda, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch and on Mike's wonderful McGear album, and nearly joined Wings in 1974. Our condolences to his family & friends. RIP Gerry.' 

Cat Stevens, who worked with Conway for more than three decades, led the tributes as the drummer's death was confirmed on Wednesday 

Former Fairport Convention bandmate Simon Nicol also posted a moving tribute to Conway 

A Sir Paul McCartney fan-page credited Conway for his work with McCartney's brother Mike McGear and revealed the drummer came close to joining Wings in the 1970s 

Born in 1947, Conway taught himself to play the drums at an early age, featuring in a number of school bands before his talents caught the eye of the Chico Arnéz Orchestra, a London based Latin band, when he was 16. 

But while his parents forbade him from joining, Conway soon established himself as a respected professional drummer after leaving school to work for record label EMI. 

There, the musician honed his craft with blues guitarist Alexis Korner, the short lived sixties bands Eclection and folk-rock group Fotheringay. 

He also enjoyed a lengthy association with folk legend Cat Stevens, appearing on eight of his albums over a 33-year period - among them 1971 classic Teaser And The Firecat. 

Conway's work with Fairport Convention began in 1973 with contributions to three tracks on the band's eighth album, Rosie. 

He returned full-time in 1998 and would remain with the band for the next nine albums before leaving in 2022. 

During the 1980s Conway joined forces with rock band Jethro Tull, proving drums on 1982 album The Broadsword and the Beast and 1987 release Crest of a Knave. 

Conway taught himself to play the drums at an early age before honing his craft in the 1960s with Alexis Korner, short lived sixties bands Eclection and folk-rock group Fotheringay

He also enjoyed a lengthy association with folk legend Cat Stevens (pictured), appearing on eight of his albums over a 33-year period - among them 1971 classic Teaser And The Firecat

Conway onstage in 2016. Tributes have poured in after the drummer's death was announced