List of Waterboys members
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The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of Scottish, Irish, English, Welsh and American musicians, with Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York and Findhorn serving as a base for the group. They have explored a number of different styles, dissolved in 1993 when Scott departed to pursue a solo career and then reformed in 2000. They continue to release albums and tour worldwide. World Party was made up of former Waterboys members.[a]
Over 85 musicians have performed live as a Waterboy.[1][2] Some have spent only a short time with the band, contributing to a single tour or album, while others have been long-term members with significant contributions. Scott has stated that "We’ve had more members I believe than any other band in rock history" and believes that the nearest challengers are Santana and The Fall.[3]
The Waterboys have gone through different musical phases as well as line-ups. In 2019 Scott wrote "The Waterboys is a timeless, genre-confounding band. We belong in no box."[4]
History[edit]
Anthony Thistlethwaite was an original member of the band, and remained a member until 1991 when the band broke up, although he also joined a few recording sessions for A Rock in the Weary Land. After Scott and Wickham, Thistlethwaite has more songwriting credits than any other Waterboy. His saxophone (regularly featured in solos) was one half of the early group's distinctive brass section, while his mandolin playing came to the forefront during the group's Irish folk phase; but he has also played guitar, keyboards and a number of other instruments for the band. He pressed to return the Waterboys to a rock music sound after Room to Roam, but did not appear on Dream Harder, the result of that decision. He is now a member of The Saw Doctors, and has also released three solo albums.
Original member Kevin Wilkinson was the band's drummer from 1983 to 1984, and continued to play in some studio sessions afterwards. His later appeared on A Rock in the Weary Land. He led the rhythm section of the group during its "Big Music" phase, sometimes without the assistance of any bass guitar. Scott describes Wilkinson's drumming as "bright and angular, an unusual sound".[5]
Karl Wallinger joined the group in 1983, shortly after its formation. He left the group two years later, but in that relatively short period made important contributions to both A Pagan Place and This Is the Sea. He co-wrote "Don't Bang the Drum", the environmentalism anthem on the latter album. His keyboards and synthesiser work expanded the group's sound, and he also did some studio work for demo sessions. Wallinger's World Party project was heavily influenced by his work with the Waterboys.
Roddy Lorimer's participation began in 1983, contributing his trumpet playing "on and off"[6] until 1990. He and Thistlethwaite took turns leading the brass section of the band, and Lorimer was also a featured soloist, most famously on "The Whole of the Moon" and "Don't Bang the Drum". He further contributed backing vocals to the song. His trumpet style is a combination of his classical training with an experimental approach encouraged by Scott.[7] Lorimer returned for some studio work in 2006.[6]
Steve Wickham transformed the group when he joined in 1985; his interest in folk music directly resulted in the band's change of direction. His initial involvement with the Waterboys ended in 1990 when Scott and Thistlethwaite wanted to return to rock and roll, but Wickham rejoined the group in 2000 and remained until 2022 (when he stepped down from regular involvement). Described by Scott as "the world's greatest rock fiddle player",[8] he has written more songs for the band than anyone other than Scott, including the group's handful of instrumental recordings.
Richard Naiff first recorded with the band in 1999, and joined permanently in 2000. As of 2007, he was a core member, along with Scott and Wickham. He is a classically trained pianist and flautist, and plays keyboards for the Waterboys. Ian McNabb described him as Scott's "find of the century"[9] and reviewers have described him as "phenomenally talented".[10] Naiff officially left the Waterboys in February 2009 to spend more time with his family.[11]
Other notable past members have included Ian McNabb, leader of Icicle Works; Sharon Shannon, who became Ireland's all-time best-selling traditional musician;[12] the experimental musician Thighpaulsandra, producer Guy Chambers, Patti Smith drummers Jay Dee Daugherty and Carlos Hercules, bassists Steve Walters and Mark Smith who was the band's bassist when he died on 3 November 2009.[13]
The Waterboys line-up as of 2010 appeared at the world premiere of An Appointment With Mr Yeats at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin.[14] They expanded into a 9-piece band in the autumn of 2017 for their tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Members[edit]
Current members[edit]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Scott |
|
| all releases | |
| James Hallawell |
|
|
| |
| Brother Paul Brown | 2013–present |
| ||
| Aongus Ralston | 2016–present | bass |
| |
| Eamon Ferris | 2021–present | drums |
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Former members[edit]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Thistlethwaite[15] |
|
|
| |
| Kevin Wilkinson[15] | 1982–1985 (died 1999) |
|
| |
| Norman Rodger | 1983 | bass | The Waterboys (1983) | |
| Preston Hayman | drums | |||
| Adrian Johnston |
|
| This Is the Sea (1985) | |
| Karl Wallinger[15] | 1983–1985 (died 2024) |
| A Pagan Place (1984) | |
| Roddy Lorimer[16] |
|
|
| |
| Martyn Swain | 1984–1985 | bass | This Is the Sea (1985) | |
| John Caldwell[17] | 1984 | guitar | ||
| Eddi Reader[17] | backing vocals | A Pagan Place (1984) | ||
| Chris Whitten[18] | 1984–1985 | drums | ||
| Frank Biddulph | 1985 | fiddle | ||
| Marco Sin[17] | bass | |||
| Lu Edmonds | This Is the Sea (1985) | |||
| Max Edie | vocals | This Is the Sea (1985) | ||
| Steve Wickham |
|
|
| |
| Guy Chambers[17] | 1985–1986 | piano | The Live Adventures of (1998) | |
| Dave Ruffy[17] |
|
| ||
| Trevor Hutchinson[19] |
|
|
| |
| Peter McKinney[19] | 1986–1988 | drums | Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |
| Fran Breen[20] | Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |||
| Liam O'Connor | 1987 | accordion | ||
| Vinnie Kilduff[20] | 1987–1989 |
| Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |
| Colin Blakey[20] | 1987–1990 |
|
| |
| Tomas Mac Eoin[20] | 1988–1989 | vocals | Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |
| Jay Dee Daugherty[20] |
| drums | Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |
| Sharon Shannon[20] |
|
|
| |
| Noel Bridgeman[20] | 1989–1990 (died 2021) | drums |
| |
| Ken Blevins[20] | 1990–1991 | Room to Roam (1990) | ||
| Tim Sanders | 1990 | sax | ||
| Simon Clarke | ||||
| Chris Bruce | 1992–93 | lead guitar | ||
| Scott Thunes | bass | Dream Harder (1993) | ||
| Carla Azar | drums | Dream Harder (1993) | ||
| Jeremy Stacey[21] |
|
| ||
| Richard Naiff[21] |
|
|
| |
| Livingstone Brown[21] | 1999–2000 | bass | A Rock in the Weary Land (2000) | |
| Gordon Davis | 2000 | |||
| Adam Snyder | keyboards | |||
| John Baggot | ||||
| Jo Wadeson | 2000–2001 | bass | ||
| Tom Windriff | drums | |||
| Ray Fean | 2001 | |||
| Ian McNabb |
|
| All Souls Hill (2022) | |
| Geoff Dugmore | 2001–2003 | drums | ||
| Paul Beavis | 2002 | A Rock in the Weary Land (2000) | ||
| Brad Waissman | 2002–2003 | bass | ||
| Carlos Hercules[22] |
| drums | Karma to Burn (2005) | |
| Steve Walters[22] | 2003–2006 | bass | ||
| Liam Ó Maonlaí[23] | 2005 | keyboards | ||
| Mark Smith | 2006–2009 (until his death) | bass |
| |
| Damon Wilson | 2007–2008 | drums | ||
| John McCullough | 2009 | keyboards | ||
| Katie Kim[24] | 2009–2012 | vocals | An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Ash Soan | 2009–2010 | drums | ||
| Joe Chester[24] |
|
| An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Simon Wallace | 2009–2010 | keyboards | ||
| Marc Arciero | 2009–2013 | bass | An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Blaise Margail[24] | 2010–2011 | trombone | ||
| Ruby Ashley | 2010 |
| ||
| Sarah Allen[24] | 2010–2012 | flute | An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Paul "Binzer" Brennan | drums | |||
| Ralph Salmins | 2011–2021 |
| ||
| Kate St John[24] | 2011–2012 |
| An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Melvin Duffy | 2011–2013 |
| All Souls Hill (2022) | |
| Sarah Calderwood[25] | 2013 |
| ||
| Elizabeth Ziman[25] | vocals | |||
| Chris Layer[25] | flute | |||
| Malcolm Gold | bass | |||
| Daniel Mintseris | keyboards | |||
| Chris Benelli | drums | |||
| Jay Barclay | 2013–2014 | guitar | ||
| Shane Fitzsimons [sic] | 2014 | bass | ||
| Niall C. Lawlor[26] | lap steel | |||
| Zach Ernst[27] | 2014–2016 | guitar | ||
| David Hood[28] | bass |
| ||
| Neil Mahony[29] |
| Out of All This Blue (2017) | ||
| Jon Green[30] | 2017 | drums | ||
| Bart Walker[30] | guitar | |||
| Zeenie Summers | 2017–2020 | vocals | Good Luck, Seeker (2020) | |
| Jess Kavanagh |
| |||
| Jeff Adams[26] | 2019 |
| Modern Blues (2015) |
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References[edit]
- ^ "67 Waterboys (2)". Mike Scott on Twitter. Retrieved 15 April 2013
- ^ "Past and Present Waterboys". mikescottwaterboys.com. Retrieved 19 April 2013
- ^ "The Waterboys: The 13th Floor Interview Archived 15 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. 13th Floor. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ [1]. Mike Scott (@mickpuck) on Twitter, 5:37pm, 27 Sep 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ Scott, Mike (2004) Recording Notes in This is the Sea (p. 5) [CD liner notes] London: EMI
- ^ a b "FAQ". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2005.
- ^ "Roddy Lorimer". Kick Horns Line Up. Archived from the original on 24 October 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2005.
- ^ Wickham agrees. "An interview with Steve Wickham". Archived from the original on 15 February 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2005.
- ^ "Karma to Burn reports". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2005.
- ^ "Universal Hall, Findhorn, Scotland, January 2002". Cluas.com Irish music. Retrieved 30 October 2005.
- ^ "Waterboys news updates". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ "Sharon Shannon biography 2005" (PDF). The Daisy Label. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2005.
- ^ "Bassist Mark Smith Dies". Music Week Web. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ "Abbey Events". Abbey Theatre Home. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ a b c Scott (2012) p. 59
- ^ Scott (2012) p. 84
- ^ a b c d e "Chronology 1978-85". web.archive.org. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Scott (2012) p. 70
- ^ a b Mike, Scott (2006). "Fisherman's Blues, Roots and the Celtic Soul". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chronology 1986-90". web.archive.org. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Scott (2012) p. 294
- ^ a b "The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "7 Days and Nights in Dingle". mikescottwaterboys.com/Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "A date with WB Yeats and the Waterboys in New York City". IrishCentral. Retrieved 13 April 2013
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
List2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Meighan, Nicola (24 December 2014) " 'Journey songs' chart a career spent conquering new ground". Glasgow. The Herald.
- ^ "The Waterboys share first track from new album, Modern Blues". Uncut. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Mike's Song in Support of Megumi Igarashi". mikescottwaterboys.com Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ a b "New 9-Piece Big Band Line-Up". mikescottwaterboys.com Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ^ Karl Wallinger formed the band, Guy Chambers and Chris Whitten later left The Waterboys to join World Party.
Bibliography[edit]
- Scott, Mike (2012) Adventures of a Waterboy. Jawbone. London. ISBN 978-1-908279-24-8