Christian Savill | |
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 Savill performing with Slowdive, 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christian Savill |
| Born | 6 December 1970 Bury, England |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels |
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| Member of | Slowdive, Monster Movie |
Christian Savill (born 6 December 1970) is an English musician best known as the guitarist of the English rock band Slowdive.
Born in Bury, Lancashire, Savill did not grow up in a musical family, but influenced by The Smiths (and specifically by Johnny Marr) decided to play guitar when he was around fourteen years old. [1] To encourage his decision, his father bought him an electric guitar and it was at this point his family figured out he was left-handed.
Savill also stated that other guitarists influenced him: "Marr made me want to play the guitar, but also quickly made me want to quit because I realised quickly that I was never gonna be as good. William Reid then made me realise I didn't need to be technically amazing. Just so powerful, simple and totally brilliant. Their bass player only had two strings on his bass and I loved that. Then Kevin Shields with the weird tunings and out of this world sounds. Robin Guthrie was also a big influence". [2]
Savill formed alternative band The Geeks with his friend Sean Hewson in 1989. This band became Eternal and the line-up consisted of Stuart Wilkinson (bass guitar) and Michael Warner (drums) and Christian Savill (voice/guitar). Sean Hewson played with them occasionally. Eternal released a single 7″, entitled "Breathe" on the indie label Sarah Records.
Shortly afterwards, he joined Slowdive after replying to an ad where they were looking for a female guitarist. "I will wear a dress if it's necessary", he told them. [3] With him on board, the band released Just for a Day and the critically acclaimed album Souvlaki .
By the time Slowdive released their third album, Pygmalion , (1995) things in the band were tense and Savill's input was minimum. As they were not getting any money either, he and bassist Nick Chaplin left the band to find a job. [4]
In September 2000 he relocated to London. Prior to that he spent a few years working in a software company and also running a Finnish football website. [5] He and Sean Hewson had been doing music on and off during this time, but nothing really serious until December 1999 when they decided to actually make a record. [6] Originally they wanted to call their band B-Movie, but after finding that to be the name of a pre-Soft Cell band they settled on their second choice, which was Monster Movie, inspired by Can's album of the same name. [7] The band released their first, eponymous EP in 2001 through Clairecords and their first album titled Last Night Something Happened in 2002 through Clairecords in the US and Alison Records in Europe to very good reviews. [8] [9]
In 2020, Savill formed a new band, Beachy Head, with Ryan Graveface (Dreamend, The Casket Girls), Steve Clarke (The Soft Cavalry), Matt Duckworth (The Flaming Lips) and Slowdive bandmate Rachel Goswell. Beachy Head's eponymous debut album was released April 30, 2021, on Graveface Records. [10]
Shoegaze is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume. It emerged in Ireland and the United Kingdom in the late 1980s among neo-psychedelic groups who usually stood motionless during live performances in a detached, non-confrontational state. The name comes from the heavy use of effects pedals, as the performers were often looking down at their pedals during concerts.
Souvlaki is the second studio album by the English rock band Slowdive. It was recorded in 1992, and released on 1 June 1993 by Creation Records.
Slowdive are an English rock band that formed in Reading, Berkshire, in 1989. The band consists of Rachel Goswell, Neil Halstead, Christian Savill (guitars), Nick Chaplin (bass), and Simon Scott, all of whom played on the band's early records. Halstead is the band's primary songwriter.
Dreamend is an American, Savannah-based shoegazer musical group signed to Graveface Records, whose music is characterized by textured guitar work and prominent drums and percussion. Song styles range from post-rock to bluegrass. The group has been compared to groups such as Mono and Explosions in the Sky.
Rachel Ann Goswell is an English singer-songwriter and musician who rose to prominence as vocalist and guitarist of the shoegaze band Slowdive, which formed in 1989. Goswell, along with Neil Halstead, Ian McCutcheon and former Chapterhouse member Simon Rowe became Mojave 3 when Slowdive transitioned to a more country/folk rock style. She released a solo album in 2004, titled Waves Are Universal on 4AD Records.
Mojave 3 were a British rock band consisting of former Slowdive members Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell and Ian McCutcheon (drums) alongside keyboardist Alan Forrester and former Chapterhouse guitarist Simon Rowe.
Blue Skied An' Clear is a two-disc compilation, featuring various artists from Morr Music covering songs from the shoegazer band Slowdive on the first disc and composing songs "inspired" by Slowdive on the second disc. It was released in 2002 by Morr Music, and was the label's 30th release. In addition to serving as a showcase of the Morr Music roster, this release serves as a testament to the resurgence or revival of the shoegazing sound in this particular realm of electronica or IDM.
Simon Scott is an English musician, mastering engineer and sound artist, best known as the drummer in Slowdive and formerly of Lowgold and The Charlottes. He also fronted Inner Sleeve/Televise, and has released ambient music as a solo artist.
"Slowdive" is a song by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released in 1982 by record label Polydor as the first single from the band's fifth studio album, A Kiss in the Dreamhouse.
Neil Halstead is an English musician, widely known as singer, primary songwriter and producer and guitarist of shoegaze band Slowdive. He has been hailed by AllMusic as "one of Britain's most respected songwriters", and Time Out as "one of Britain's greatest songwriters".
Just for a Day is the debut studio album by English rock band Slowdive. It was released on 2 September 1991 by Creation Records.
Pygmalion is the third studio album by English rock band Slowdive, released on 6 February 1995 by Creation Records. It was the group's final album before their disbandment in 1995 and then reformation in 2014, and their only album with Ian McCutcheon, who had replaced Simon Scott on drums.
Ask Me Tomorrow is the debut album by Mojave 3, released by 4AD on 16 October 1995 in the UK and on 16 January 1996 in the US. The album was released roughly eight months after the release of Pygmalion, the third studio album by Mojave 3 founders Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, and Ian McCutcheon's previous band Slowdive.
Blind Mr. Jones were a British shoegazing band of the early 1990s, from Marlow, England.
Destroyalldreamers was a Canadian four-piece instrumental post-rock band from Montreal consisting of guitarists Eric Quach and Mathieu Grisé, drummer Shaun Doré and former bassist Michèle Martin. Their sound has often been described as a mix of classic 1990s shoegazing with Godspeed You! Black Emperor-like aesthetics. They released two full-length studio albums, both of them on Montreal's independent record label Where Are My Records.
Monster Movie is a British dream pop band originally formed by Christian Savill and Sean Hewson in 1989.
Whirr is a shoegaze band from Modesto, California. The group formed in 2010, originally as Whirl, but had to legally change its name after a woman performing acoustic covers of Black Sabbath songs trademarked the name and threatened a lawsuit. Whirr's shoegaze sound is often compared to My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. Founding guitarist Nick Bassett also played in the band Deafheaven surrounding and including the release of their 2011 album Roads to Judah.
English alternative rock band Slowdive have released five studio albums, three compilation albums, five extended plays, five singles and four music videos.
Nick Bassett is an American musician, producer and composer from Modesto, California. He was the bassist of shoegaze band Nothing and is the lead guitarist of shoegaze band Whirr. He also played guitar in the original lineup of blackgaze band Deafheaven.
Slowdive is the fourth studio album by English rock band Slowdive. It was released on 5 May 2017 by the record label Dead Oceans. It was Slowdive's first studio album in 22 years, following Pygmalion (1995). It was also the band's first album since Souvlaki (1993) to feature the drummer Simon Scott as a member.
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