Steve Swindells

Steve Swindells

Swindells in 2013
Background information
Born (1952-11-21) 21 November 1952
Ipswich, Suffolk, UK
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer–songwriter
  • musician
  • poet
  • journalist
  • producer
  • writer
  • painter
  • photographer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active 1973–present
Labels
Associated acts

Steve Swindells (born 21 November 1952) is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organizer, club promoter and journalist.

Life and career

Early life

Swindells was born on 21 November 1952 in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his debut solo album, Messages for RCA in 1974. Produced by his manager Mark Edwards, Swindells felt the production quality to be poor, despite the presence of quality musicians.[1] A follow up album Swindells' Swallow was recorded, mastered and test pressings manufactured, but the deal fell through. While both of the albums were recorded Swindells was subject to violent sexual harassment from Edwards.[2]

Departed from his manager, Swindells joined Pilot, recording the 1977 album Two's A Crowd. In 1978 he joined a reformed Hawkwind, renamed as Hawklords, for the 25 Years On album and tour.

1980s

In 1980 he recorded another solo album, Fresh Blood, released by ATCO, but was dropped when it failed to hit sufficient sales,[3] despite reaching No. 3 in the US airplay charts. Swindells would go on contribute songs to Roger Daltrey on "Martyrs and Madmen" and "Treachery", before temporarily turning his attention away from the music business. In 1983, Swindells switched careers to club promoting and party organising.

1990s

In the early 1990s, he decided to re-invent himself as a journalist, writing the internet column for Time Out under the name Spyder for many years, as well as a gadget/lifestyle colourmn for Attitude, before becoming the editor of the magazine's website. Throughout his career changes, Swindells continued to compose and perform music, as evidenced by New Crescent Yard, a double album of home demos from 1983 through to 2013.

2000s

In 2003, Swindells played keyboards and sang lead vocals in the band Danmingo together with Jerry Richards, Jon Moss and Winston Blissett. Steve wrote all of the songs, apart from two band collaborations. As of 10 December 2013, Steve has been number 1 on the Reverb Nation Singer-songwriter Chart For London for several days.

In 2009, Swindells was instrumental in the formation (or reformation) of the Hawklords, a musical collective of ex-Hawkwind members, playing a special show in memory of artist Barney Bubbles. The show was advertised as a benefit concert 'with a view to setting up a foundation/annual award for innovative album cover design, and a memorial plaque for him'.[4] There is no evidence that proceeds from the benefit concert funded any of these.

2010–present

In 2010, Hawklords performed a mini tour of the UK. In 2011, the group were active in several appearances across the UK, and a touring line-up underwent a full national tour in October 2011. In 2012, they announced they were working on an album, titled 'We Are One'. In May 2012, via the band's Facebook page, it was announced that, due to health reasons, Swindells would not be participating in the planned 2012 tour and he subsequently terminated his involvement with the band.

Swindells re-discovered two 'lost' albums from 1980: The Invisible Man, and Treachery. The Lost Albums were released on Flicknife Records on 27 February 2012. His 1980 album Fresh Blood was released on CD for the first time with the label Atomhenge/Cherry Red in August 2009.[5] His 1974 album Messages, along with a bonus CD of the hitherto unreleased Swindells' Swallow, was re-released by Esoteric Recordings/Atomhenge on 26 November 2009.[6]

Early in 2012 Steve put together an ad-hoc, 'all star' jamming band called The Plastic Sturgeons. Special guest musicians have included Guy Pratt and Dale Davis There have only been two gigs to date which were recorded by Roy Weard. As of 10 December 2013, The Plastic Sturgeons have been number 1 in The Reverb Nation London Jam Chart for several weeks.

Swindell's Christmas single 'Shining Star (A Time Of Love)' is available to download on iTunes and various online stores and available to stream on Spotify and Deezer.[7]

He has two new albums that are available to download and/or stream. 'New Crescent Yard' is a collection of 17 songs that were either recorded in Steve's own studio, or demo studios, dating from the late 80s until 2013. 'The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon' went on online in October 2015. Both albums are available to download and/or stream here: http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com

'The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon' is also available to download on Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon and many more, and to stream on YOUTUBE.

Steve has also created what could be described as a new genre - the MULTIMEDIA BOOK. The first of these is an 'Autoblogography' by his Bowie-esque alter-ego Thom Topham called 'My Unplanned Obsolescence' which features 12 chapters, 96K words, 19 songs (part and parcel of the narrative), scores of photos and hundreds of links. This is currently free to peruse.

The music alone can be streamed on Soundcloud and downloaded on Reverb Nation

Steve's second multimedia book is called 'Sex N' Drugs N' Sausage Rolls' and is his ever-growing collection of short stories, true tales, original music, photographs and artworks, which is also currently free to peruse.

A huge selection of steve's music, including various collaborations, and jam sessions with The Plastic Sturgeons, is available to stream on Soundcloud.

A large selection of Steve's artworks are available to peruse and purchase on Fine Art England

Personal life

Swindells is a supporter of the football club Stonewall, Britain's top-ranking gay football team and Britain's first gay football team.

Discography

As solo artist

The Lost Albums (released 27 February 2012 on Flicknife Records).

New Crescent Yard (2011). Download only: http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com

'The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon': Download only: http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com

More downloads available here: http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindells

With Pilot

With Hawklords

With The Hawklords

Other album appearances

References

  1. ↑ Steve Swindells
  2. ↑ https://steveswindells.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/messages-the-reissue-2009-sleeve-notes-by-steve-swindells/
  3. ↑ https://steveswindells.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/club-running-concerts-chords-conundrums-conceptions-creativity-coercion-comfort-cognac-and-cocaine/
  4. ↑ "SpaceRockReviews". Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Atomhenge : artists : : : +". www.cherryred.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  6. ↑ "Esoteric Records : Steve Swindells".
  7. ↑ Steve Swindells

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, March 18, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.