Robert Charles Heaton (6 July 1961 – 4 November 2004) was an English musician best known as the drummer in the English rock band New Model Army (NMA). Besides being the drummer for the band, Heaton was also responsible for much of the band's songwriting, contributing particularly heavily towards the musical content of the album Thunder and Consolation. He was probably the first person to play a synchronous drum and harmonica solo, doing so in the song 'Shot 18' on the No Rest for The Wicked tour.
Although Heaton was the fourth drummer in New Model Army he was the band's first touring and recording drummer, featuring on all albums from the band's first; 'Vengeance', released in 1984, until their seventh 'Strange Brotherhood', which was released in 1998, shortly before his departure due to health related reasons. Heaton also drummed for Hawkwind for a brief period in the 1980s, featuring on 'The Earth Ritual Preview' which was recorded in late 1983 and released in 1984.