Bernard Butler
|
|
Bernard Butler (born East London, 1970) is a musician and record producer. He first achieved fame in 1992 as the guitarist with Suede, at the time an instant phenomenon in the UK. He co-wrote and played "guitars and things" on every track until 1994, when he left Suede over personal tensions within the band following the recording of their second album, Dog Man Star. He was replaced by Richard Oakes.
Butler then formed the duo McAlmont and Butler with falsetto voiced singer David McAlmont, and released two singles, Yes and You Do, and an album, The Sound of McAlmont and Butler, before splitting up acrimoniously. Butler went on to release two albums under his own name, People Move On and Friends and Lovers, before making up with McAlmont for a second McAlmont and Butler album, Bring it Back. Singles released are Falling and title track Bring it Back.
Since then Butler has healed his rift with former Suede singer Brett Anderson, forming a new band, the Tears. The Tears released their highly anticipated debut LP, Here Come The Tears, in June 2005 produced by Butler. Singles include Refugees, which reached #9 in the UK charts, and Lovers.
In between his own projects he has played on and produced records by Sparks, Edwyn Collins, Aimee Mann, Neneh Cherry, Tim Booth, the Manic Street Preachers, Eddi Reader, Hopper, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch and The Libertines. He created the sountrack to the 1997 film The James Gang and played on the soundtrack of Velvet Goldmine, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. He has played live with The Cranberries, Paul Weller and Teenage Fanclub.
Butler has been described by David McAlmont as the best guitarist of all time. He names former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as his major inspiration. As a producer, his "Wall of Sound" arrangements are influenced by Phil Spector.
Selected discography
- 1993 - Suede - Suede
- singles: The Drowners, Metal Mickey, Animal Nitrate, So Young
- 1994 - Suede - Dog Man Star
- singles: We are the Pigs, The Wild Ones, New Generation
- 1995 - McAlmont and Butler - The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
- singles: Yes, You Do
- 1997 - Suede - Sci-Fi Lullabies
- (collection of Suede B-Sides)
- 1998 - Bernard Butler - People Move On
- singles: Stay, Not Alone, A Change of Heart
- 1999 - Bernard Butler - Friends and Lovers
- singles: Friends and Lovers, You Must Go On
- 2002 - McAlmont and Butler - Bring it Back
- singles: Falling, Bring it Back
- 2005 - The Tears - Here Come The Tears
External links
- Bernard Butler's official website (http://www.bernardbutler.com/)
- McAlmont & Butler official website (http://www.mcalmontandbutler.com/)
- The Tears official website (http://www.thetears.org/)