Nigel Durham, former Saxon drummer who played on 'Destiny,' dies at 61

Nigel Durham, the British drummer who played with heavy metal band Saxon in the late 1980s, has died. He was 61.

Saxon announced his death on Saturday, Oct. 24, in a post on its Facebook page. No cause or place of death has been made public, and both NJ.com and IBTimes UK reported that no further details had been released.

What Saxon said

“We are very sad to hear of the passing of a member of the Saxon family, former drummer Nigel Durham,” the band wrote. “We send our love and thoughts to his wife Lauretta, daughter Gemma, his grandchildren, and family.”

Nigel Glockler, the Saxon drummer Durham once filled in for, also posted a tribute: “RIP my friend, Nigel Durham — I will see you on the other side,” adding, “Love and strength to Lauretta, his daughter and family.”

Nigel Durham and Saxon’s ‘Destiny’

Durham was Saxon’s drummer from 1987 to 1988. He stepped in for Glockler and played on the band’s 1988 studio album, Destiny. Saxon’s official website still lists him among the band’s former drummers, according to IBTimes UK.

Saxon formed in Barnsley, England, in the late 1970s and became one of the leading names of the new wave of British heavy metal.

Oliver/Dawson Saxon and later bands

After his time in Saxon, Durham kept working as a professional drummer:

• 1999: joined Son of a Bitch, a group featuring former Saxon guitarist Graham Oliver and bassist Steve Dawson.
• 2000-2010: drummer for that group after it became Oliver/Dawson Saxon, an act separate from Saxon itself.
• 2013-2016: played with British hard rock band Morpheus Rising.

An earlier false report

IBTimes UK noted that false claims of Durham’s death circulated online in April 2026. In July, he addressed them on Facebook: “Don’t know how this got started but I can assure everyone that I’m still alive & kickin. Lol.” This weekend’s news, by contrast, came directly from Saxon and from Glockler.

Tributes from friends and fans

Tributes spread quickly on social media Saturday. A music shop, Rockem Music Drum & Guitar Centre, called him a “great player and good friend of the shop.” Matt Black, a former bandmate in the Matt Black Band, described him as “an absolute gent, lovely person and a real powerhouse of a drummer.” An old school friend, Neil Benton, wrote: “RIP Nigel Durham top drummer and top guy.”

No memorial plans had been announced as of Sunday.

Quick FAQ

Who was Nigel Durham? A British drummer best known for his 1987-88 stint in Saxon and for playing on the album Destiny.

How did Nigel Durham die? A cause of death has not been reported.