Backstage at the iconic London Palladium, just hours before her penultimate show with Anastacia, Vicky O’Neon sat down with The UK Drum Show‘s very own Ollie Winiberg to talk all things drums, tours and neon energy! From being an educator to lighting up global stages – Vicky is one of the most vibrant voices in modern drumming!
There’s a certain buzz you get the moment you walk into a venue like the Palladium on a show day. You feel the history, the weight of the performances that have come before, and the hum of something big about to happen. And despite the pressure of being just hours away from stage time, Vicky was calm, focused, and completely in control — but still full of warmth and happy to give me a proper behind-the-scenes look at life on the road.
We spoke about what goes into preparing for a tour like this. It’s not just about turning up and playing parts — it’s about completely immersing yourself in the music. Vicky’s approach is all about serving the songs — learning them in a way that goes beyond memory, understanding the intention behind the arrangements, the dynamics of the set, and how to lock in with a live band to enhance the performance without ever stealing the spotlight. Her level of respect for the gig, and for Anastacia’s legacy, really stood out.
As if that wasn’t enough, she also works on the US television show Name That Tune, where she’s expected to learn — wait for it — up to 1,000 songs per season. That’s not a typo. A thousand. It’s a pace and level of adaptability that most musicians can barely wrap their heads around, but Vicky takes it in her stride with grace and professionalism. You get the sense she genuinely thrives on challenge.
Before the Palladium audience took their seats, Vicky took me on an exclusive tour of her live rig — right there on stage under the lights. From congas and cymbals to pads, triggers and various percussive toys, the setup is as versatile as she is. It’s not just there to look impressive (though it does); it’s there to give her the freedom to respond to the music in real time, to switch between acoustic and electronic textures seamlessly, and to deliver a performance that’s both powerful and musical.
Being invited into that space — just before such a high-stakes show — was a genuine honour. Vicky’s the real deal. Passionate, dedicated, and incredibly down to earth. She’s one of those rare musicians who brings both technical mastery and complete musicality to the stage.
If you ever get the chance to see her live, do it. Whether she’s performing with Anastacia or tearing it up in her own projects, Vicky O’Neon is an absolute force — and I couldn’t be more grateful for the time she gave me on such an important night.
Vicky will be appearing in the Mike Dolbear Masterclass room at The UK Drum Show on Saturday 18 October 2025…don’t miss your chance to witness Vicky’s incredible neon energy in-person…grab your tickets now: HERE
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Biography
Vicky O’Neon is a session drummer, percussionist and educator from Finland based in the UK. She is currently on tour with the American pop star Anastacia. She is also the percussionist in the house band for the TV show ‘Name That Tune’.
Vicky has played on TV live performances like Team GBs homecoming from the Olympics (BBC) at Wembley, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (ITV) and the opening of the Eurovision (BBC) with artists like Nile Rodgers, Anne-Marie, Kaiser Chiefs, Sugababes, Craig David, Keala Settle, Zara Larsson, Steps, Heather Small, Birdy, YungBlud and many more.
In 2020 she worked closely with Brian May from Queen releasing 2 songs, one of which hit no. 13 in the iTunes chart. She has also performed with Hans Zimmer and friends (inc. Pharrell Williams & Johnny Marr) at the Hammersmith Apollo and Clean Bandit for the MTV Music awards as well as played at BBC Breakfast’s record breaking 24h Drumathon for Children in Need.
Also a passionate educator and creator, Vicky co-founded the Girls Rock London and Rock Donna non-profits, and has created an educational YouTube series called ‘Drumming Through The Decades.’
Vicky O’Neon is a passionate Ableton Live user and she is incorporating Live into her work as a performer. Some of her work experience includes programming and creating the playback rig for Anastacia and running Hybrid Drumming Masterclasses for Drum festivals and universities.
Vicky’s masterclass will discover how to take your live performance to the next level by incorporating electronic tools and equipment. This will include a performance on her impressive live looping setup of drums, percussion and electronics. She will break down her setup and demonstrate how live looping works in Ableton Live 12 and also talk about playback and other live performance elements.
German drum supremo Claus Hessler joins The UK Drum Show Main Stage host Ollie Winiberg just prior to his appearance at our Sister-Show The Europe Drum Show 2025. Claus also gives [...]
