In every band, a drummer is the heartbeat. In many bands across the Southend area between 1980 and 2020, that was Lee Andrews.
To those who knew him and had the privilege to play alongside him, he was the loudest, most forceful and passionate drummer they ever played with. Without him, this project, ‘Stray Tracks’ wouldn’t be here.
Lee was born in August 1968 and was raised on Canvey Island. He was the youngest of 4 siblings and grew up in the heart of the ‘Oil City’ made famous by Doctor Feelgood. From an early age, Lee loved music and learnt to play the drums. At school, he played in numerous bands amongst his best friends.
In 1989, Lee met Angela in the Grand pub in Leigh on Sea. They would regularly attend the Pink Toothbrush club in Rayleigh, Essex. The best club for alternative music which is still running today in 2024. Lee and Angela both shared an undying love for each other and music. They would always attend gigs together across the country. Their love of music was passed on to their three daughters, Jessica, Georgia and Alex. A weekend or even the shortest car journey wouldn’t go past without a quiz on whichever band Lee had decided he was going to listen to that day. Lee’s children all shared an equal love for music and would be taken on days out to see famous bands and on occasions, his band! Green day, Stray Cats, The Living End, Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones, Doctor Feelgood, The Ramones and countless other bands were played all day long in the Andrews house.
Lee’s band, Bif Bam Pow, would often play in local pubs and at festivals and his girls loved nothing more than going along to see their Dad smash his kit.
Thanks to music, this is where Lee made all of his lifelong friends. He loved to see bands of all genres and would always find something he loved about every band he saw. Live music was something Lee couldn’t live without, whether it be him playing in one of his many bands or just watching.
Unfortunately, in June 2019, Lee had to have is kidney removed due to developing renal cancer. Bif Bam Pow decided to take a break here to allow Lee to recover however, this was the end for the band that had been going for over 20 years. In 2020, Lee had to undergo brain surgery twice to remove tumours that had spread to his brain.
Despite not being able to play physically anymore, Lee still loved music, drumming with his friend Mick and his band the space wasters when we he could. Lee played his final gig in October 2022.
In February 2023, Lee devastating lost his battle to cancer, surrounded by his girls. Although this was an end for those bands Lee drummed for, it was not the end for the love Lee had for music.
Two of his friends Andy Gallagher and Roman Jugg had the fantastic idea to let his legacy carry on. In a pub, with Lees wife and daughter Georgia, they came up with the idea of Stray Tracks inspired by one of lees favourite bands; the Stray Cats.
