Bev Bevan
The thunderous heartbeat of two major British rock acts, his drumming propelled the theatrical sound of ELO and the raw power of The Move.
Born 1944 (age 82)·British drummer·Birthday: November 24·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bev Bevan's career is a foundational thread in the tapestry of British rock. Born in Birmingham in 1944, he first found his footing as the powerhouse drummer for The Move, a band known for its explosive live shows and hit singles. When bandmate Roy Wood envisioned a grander fusion of rock and classical music, Bevan was a cornerstone of the new project, the Electric Light Orchestra. Throughout ELO's rise to global fame in the 1970s, his steady, muscular percussion provided the essential anchor for the group's lush string arrangements and sweeping melodies. After ELO's initial dissolution, Bevan refused to let the music fade, forming ELO Part II to keep the intricate songbook alive for audiences worldwide. More than just a session player, he was a constant, reliable force whose work defined the rhythm of an era.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bev was born in 1944, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bev Was Born
The biggest hits of 1944
#1 Movie
Going My Way
Best Picture
Going My Way
Bev's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1944Born
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1949Started school
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1957Became a teenager
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Could drive
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1962Could vote
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Turned 21
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1974Turned 30
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 40
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 50
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 60
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 70
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 80
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 82 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was the original drummer for both The Move and the Electric Light Orchestra, playing on all their classic albums.
- Co-founded ELO Part II in 1989, ensuring the continued performance of the band's repertoire for a new generation.
- Played on numerous hit singles including '10538 Overture,' 'Mr. Blue Sky,' and 'Evil Woman.'
Did You Know?
He briefly worked as a journalist for the Birmingham Evening Mail before his music career took off.
Bevan was a contestant on the UK game show 'Celebrity Mastermind' in 2009, with his specialist subject being The Beatles.
He owned a rare Ludwig drum kit painted in a distinctive black and white psychedelic 'eye' design.
“I was the engine room for The Move and then the Electric Light Orchestra.”
