Rex began playing drums in 1966 and was self taught for the first two years. From 1968 until 1970 he studied with various local drummers, then studied for six months at the Jim Blackley School of Modern Drumming in New York. The inspiration from these studies was responsible for the start of Rexs professional drumming career. Rex returned to New Zealand in 1972 and toured with The Kal-Q-Lated Risk, Gray Bartlett and the associated stars of the time, and English tenor John Boulter. These tours were followed by some long term residencies around Auckland. He began taking his first students during this time. In 1980 Rex lived in London and worked with an Irish rock band and free-lanced with some well known musicians and performers. On returning to New Zealand, Rex and long time friend, bass player, Tiny Thompson, formed a band The Kybo Glyderz, along with guitarists John Kristian and Neil Edwards. They played a residency for 18 months and various forms of this lineup continued performing through the 1980s. Rex began teaching drums again and in 1982 established the Rex McLeod School of Drumming. During the late 1980s and early 90s, Rex worked as a free-lance drummer with bands including: Black n Blue, Texas Kiwis, Bandit. Rebels Without Applause, Earthbound, Rodger Fox Big Band and artists Sonny Day, Tommy Adderley and Al Hunter (with whom he had also worked during the late 60s). Later on, while working with The Sam Ford Verandah Band, Rex played drums on Sam Fords and Neil Findlays contributions to The Deep in the Heart of the Pacific compilation CD. During this time, along with Tiny Thompson, Al Young and Neil Findlay, he started The Great Blues Adventure. This band is still performing. The Drum School continued to grow throughout this period and Rex now teaches six days a week. In 1987 he became an associate member of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand. Through the years he has also taught drums at various Auckland secondary and intermediate schools. From January 1998 to January 2001, Rex played drums for The Dogs Bollix Band (Irish/Celtic music) at The Dogs Bollix Bar in Auckland city. During this time, John Segovia, the bass player, asked Rex to join a band he was playing guitar in with Andrew "The Rev" Campbell on harmonica and Simon Kearns on bass, called The Lazy Boys playing vintage electric blues. This band is also still performing. In 1995 Rex attended the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Modern Drummer Festival Weekend (lots of clinics/workshops by some of the worlds top drummer) in New Jersey, and did some study with Mike Clark (ex Herbie Hancocks Headhunters) and Ricky Sebastian (ex Dr John and other New Orleans artists), at the Drummers Collective in New York. He returned to New Jersey again in 1999 for the Modern Drummer Festival Weekend. Through these experiences, independent studies, and many years of playing Rex has a wealth of knowledge to pass onto his students. Rex is willing to take on all students from beginners to those with experience, of any age. He also understands that students take up drumming for a variety of reasons: to be a pro musician, to have fun, to relieve stress, etc and it prepared to work with students with these and other objectives. Rex also has a special interest in students with learning and/or co-ordination difficulties and feedback from parents of such students has been very positive.