Ian Broudie

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Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie.jpg
Broudie in 2006
Background information
Birth nameIan Zachary Broudie
Also known asKingbird
Born (1958-08-04) 4 August 1958 (age 65)
Liverpool, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • keyboard
  • drums
Years active1977–present
Labels Deltasonic

Ian Zachary Broudie (born 4 August 1958) is an English musician and singer-songwriter from Liverpool. After emerging from the post-punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to produce albums (sometimes under the name Kingbird) for artists including Echo & the Bunnymen, the Fall, the Coral, the Zutons and the Subways.

Contents

Around 1989, he began writing and recording under the name Lightning Seeds, releasing the album Cloudcuckooland through Rough Trade on the independent label Ghetto Records, eventually putting together a live touring band in 1994. The Lightning Seeds achieved great commercial success during much of the 1990s. In 2004, Broudie released an album titled Tales Told under his own name. The Lightning Seeds reformed in 2006 and released their sixth studio album Four Winds in 2009. A seventh album, "See you in the stars", [1] was released in 2022.

Early career

Ian Broudie played in Liverpool's fledgling punk scene in the 1970s. He was a member of the band Big in Japan, [2] with Holly Johnson and Bill Drummond. [3] [4] He was also a founder member of John Peel favourites Original Mirrors [5] in the early 1980s, and was credited as a member of Bette Bright and the Illuminations on their lone album from 1981. In 1983, he recorded and wrote tracks under the name Care with vocalist Paul Simpson; [6] the duo released three singles, including the minor UK chart hit "Flaming Sword". [7]

The Lightning Seeds

Broudie began writing as the Lightning Seeds at the end of the 1980s, scoring a debut hit with the song "Pure". The Lightning Seeds had just one member: Broudie.

The Lightning Seeds produced a selection of well-received singles and albums in the 1990s. The albums Cloudcuckooland (1990) and Sense (1992) followed. The latter's song "The Life of Riley" became the backing music for Match of the Day's Goal of the Month competition. [8] In 1994 Broudie created a touring band so the songs could be played live. [9] Their 1994 album Jollification is considered by many as the moment the Lightning Seeds arrived as a mainstream band. During the same period, Broudie produced albums for other acts, including Northside, The Primitives, Terry Hall and Dodgy. [10]

The Lightning Seeds twice took football anthem "Three Lions" (with comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel) to number one, with different lyrics for the Euro 96 and France '98 tournaments (Broudie himself is a supporter of Liverpool; Lightning Seeds album covers and inlays often contain references such as Justice for the 96 and Support the Liverpool Dockers). In the years since France '98, the song has been released multiple times for football tournaments, and now has the unique distinction of being the only song in existence to have become UK No. 1 four separate times with the same artists: two one-week stints in 1996, three straight weeks in 1998 for the remake, and again in 2018 for the original during the World Cup held in Russia. [11]

On 14 March 1997, Broudie was the guest host of Top of the Pops . Later that year, the Lightning Seeds headlined the Hillsborough Justice Concert, which was held at Liverpool's Anfield stadium [8] to raise fund for the families in their struggle for justice.

Broudie returned with a new line-up in 2009, releasing the album Four Winds , and has extensively toured since with a line-up including old Seeds favourites Angie Pollack (piano), Martyn Campbell (guitar), and Ian's son Riley Broudie (guitar).

In 2021, Broudie said he was working on a new Lighting Seeds album. [12]

Production work

Broudie worked as a producer with many independent labels including Factory Records, Creation Records, Zoo Records and Rough Trade, sometimes under the name 'Kingbird'. [13]

Broudie subsequently concentrated on production for other bands, working with the Coral, [13] the Subways, [13] the Zutons, [13] French rock band Noir Desir for their first long album Veuillez rendre l'âme , the Rifles, [13] on an early single by Sleeper [14] and on a handful of I Am Kloot songs. [15]

Solo career

On 11 October 2004, Broudie released his debut solo effort, Tales Told , embraced by critics and fans alike despite the fact that Tales Told saw Broudie move into folk rock territory and away from the slick pop sound of the Lightning Seeds. The first song on the album, "Song for No One", was featured in the opening episode of the third season of the TV series The O.C. [16]

Solo discography

Albums and EPs

YearTitlePeak chart position
UK
1997"Perfect Day" (with various artists)1
2010"Three Lions 2010" (with The Squad)21

Personal life

Broudie's paternal grandfather was a Latvian Jew, who fled Cossack violence and emigrated to Liverpool, having originally intended on disembarking in New York; in his adolescence during the punk rock era, Broudie was the victim of anti-semitic abuse. [17]

Broudie lives in London but spends a substantial amount of time writing and recording in Liverpool as his studio is located there. [18] In 2018, he said he was recording in his home. He has a son, fellow Lightning Seeds member Riley Broudie (b. 1991), who was the inspiration for the band's 1992 single "The Life of Riley". [19]

Broudie published his memoir, Tomorrow's Here Today, in 2023. [17]

Related Research Articles

Big in Japan were a punk band that emerged from Liverpool, England in the late 1970s. They are better known for the later successes of their band members than for their own music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Lions (song)</span> 1996 single by Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds

"Three Lions", commonly referred to as "It's Coming Home" or "Football's Coming Home", is a song by the English comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and the rock band the Lightning Seeds. It was released on 20 May 1996 to mark the England football team's participation in that year's UEFA European Championship, which England was hosting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lightning Seeds</span> English rock band

The Lightning Seeds are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1989 by Ian Broudie, formerly of the bands Big in Japan, Care, and Original Mirrors. Originally a studio-based solo project for Broudie, the Lightning Seeds expanded into a touring band following Jollification (1994). The group experienced commercial success throughout the 1990s and are well known for their single "Three Lions", a collaboration with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner which reached No. 1 in the UK in 1996 and 2018, with a re-worked version also reaching the top spot in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Zutons</span> English indie rock band

The Zutons are an English indie rock band, formed in 2001 in Liverpool. The band are currently composed of singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave McCabe, drummer Sean Payne and saxophonist Abi Harding.

<i>Jollification</i> 1994 studio album by the Lightning Seeds

Jollification is the third album by English rock band the Lightning Seeds. All songs were written by Ian Broudie, with contributions on some tracks from Alison Moyet, Ian McNabb and Terry Hall.

<i>Who Killed...... The Zutons?</i> 2004 studio album by the Zutons

Who Killed...... The Zutons? is the debut studio album by the English rock band the Zutons, released via Deltasonic on 19 April 2004. The album's last known sales are that of 581,088 as of July 2006.

Care were an English new wave band formed by Paul Simpson and Ian Broudie in 1983 in Liverpool, England. Care was created after the split of the Wild Swans when singer Paul Simpson came together with guitarist Ian Broudie. The first single was released in June 1983.

Paul Simpson is an English musician, vocalist, lyricist and writer from Liverpool, England, best known for his work with the Wild Swans and Care. Musically, his contributions have crossed the genres of synth-pop, post-punk, neo-psychedelia, new wave and ambient.

<i>The Very Best of The Lightning Seeds</i> 2006 greatest hits album by The Lightning Seeds

The Very Best of The Lightning Seeds is the second official greatest hits album by British alternative rock band The Lightning Seeds. It was released on 12 June 2006, peaking at number 33 on the UK Album Chart.

<i>Dizzy Heights</i> 1996 studio album by The Lightning Seeds

Dizzy Heights is the fourth studio album by British alternative rock band The Lightning Seeds, released in 1996, and reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart. It was re-issued in Sony Mid Price range in August 1999.

<i>Tilt</i> (The Lightning Seeds album) 1999 studio album by The Lightning Seeds

Tilt is the fifth studio album from British alternative rock band The Lightning Seeds. It was released in 1999.

<i>Cloudcuckooland</i> (album) 1990 studio album by The Lightning Seeds

Cloudcuckooland is the debut album by British band the Lightning Seeds, released in 1990. "Pure" was the band's first hit in the United Kingdom, and their only top 40 entry in the United States.

<i>Sense</i> (The Lightning Seeds album) 1992 studio album by The Lightning Seeds

Sense is the second album by English musical group the Lightning Seeds, released in 1992. It was produced chiefly by Ian Broudie and Simon Rogers.

<i>Pure</i> (The Lightning Seeds album) 1996 compilation album by The Lightning Seeds

Pure is a compilation album by pop band The Lightning Seeds, released in 1996 and reaching #27 in the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Liverpool</span> Part of the Merseyside regions cultural scene

Liverpool has a lengthy tradition of music both classical and pop. It is well known for the Beatles. Its pop and rock music scene has also been important in the development of a number of other bands and artists since the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pure (song)</span> 1989 single by the Lightning Seeds

"Pure" is a song by British music group the Lightning Seeds from their debut album, Cloudcuckooland. Released in June 1989, the song peaked at No. 16 in the UK. The track is the band's sole entry on the US Billboard Hot 100's top 40, peaking at No. 31, and was the first hit for the band on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at No. 8 in May 1990.

Original Mirrors were a British new wave band formed in Liverpool in 1979. Featuring members of several earlier punk/new wave bands, they signed to Mercury Records and released two albums before splitting up in 1981, with members going on to play in the Lightning Seeds and Status Quo.

Ian Broudie is a producer and musician known for his work with The Lightning Seeds, Echo & the Bunnymen and The Coral amongst others.

"Flaming Sword" is the debut single by English new wave band Care, released in 1983 on Arista Records. It was written by both band members Paul Simpson and Ian Broudie, and produced by Broudie, under the alias Kingbird. The song charted on the UK Singles Chart where it peaked at No. 48 in May 1983 and remained on the chart for a total of 5 weeks.

References

  1. ↑ "The Lightning Seeds on new album 'See You in the Stars': "I'd lost confidence in myself"". NME . 15 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Dave Simpson. "The Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie: 'People didn't know what was on the England badge before Three Lions'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Big in Japan – Where are they now?". Q . January 1992. Archived (via the Library of Mu) on 16 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ian Broudie". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "2nd Honeymoon - Record Collector Magazine".
  6. ↑ Michael Sutton. "Original Mirrors". AllMusic . Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "The Wild Swans with Paul Simpson in conversation".
  8. 1 2 James MacNair (9 May 1997). "Number one seed – Life and Style". The Independent. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Ian Broudie: Finally able to live The Life of Riley". Thenational.ae. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  10. ↑ Leigh, Spencer (3 October 2015). The Cavern Club: The Rise of The Beatles and Merseybeat. McNidder and Grace Limited. ISBN   9780857160980 . Retrieved 4 February 2018– via Google Books.
  11. ↑ "Football may not have come home, but Three Lions has on the UK's Official Chart – and it's broken an all-time chart record". Official Charts . 13 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie 'felt uncomfortable' playing Three Lions live".
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Wright, Jade (8 May 2009). "Lightning Seeds member Ian Broudie speaks about The Coral and loving it up North". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "Sleeper | Discography credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "I Am Kloot | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  16. ↑ "Ian Broudie interview on 6 Towns Radio". YouTube. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Ian Broudie: 'Terry Venables liked Three Lions: "It's a proper key-tapper, Ian," he said'". The Guardian . 3 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "Interview: Ian Broudie". Godisinthetvzine.co.uk. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  19. ↑ "Ian Broudie on the Lightning Seeds, breaking out of a one-man band and 'that' song coming home... again". Lep.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
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