Ian Donaldson

Last updated

Ian Donaldson
Born24 January
Origin Govan, Glasgow, Scotland [1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • record producer
  • writer
Years active1978–present
Labels
  • Spock
  • RCA
  • Legend
  • World@Love
  • Toy Town

Ian Donaldson is a Scottish singer and writer.

Donaldson's music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the early 1980s as co-founder and lead singer of new wave band H2O, which released two UK Top 40 hits in 1983 with the singles "I Dream to Sleep" and "Just Outside of Heaven". After the band's break-up, he pursued a solo career and played in a band called FourGoodMen.

Contents

Donaldson released his debut novel, A Rainbow in the Basement, in 2016.

In 2018, he released his debut solo studio album, From Stars We Came on Toy Town Records. Two sold-out concerts in Glasgow commemorated his official return to the music industry.

Early life

Donaldson grew up in Govan, Glasgow, and showed early interest in music. He studied Art & Design in Glasgow, [2] and by age 16 he was singing in the band 8 Miles Out.

Career

Trying to stand out from other bands in the area, Donaldson formed the punk band Skroo with Alan McGee, where he also performed as lead singer. The band performed its first gig from the back of a lorry at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Rally in Elder Park, and went on to be a local success, playing gigs at the Mars Bar in Glasgow. The band signed a recording contract and played on the TV music show Top of the Pops . [1]

After Donaldson left Skroo, he founded H2O with Davie Wells (guitar), Colin Ferguson (bass), Ross Alcock (keyboards), Kenny Dorman (drums) and Colin Gavison (saxophone). In 1981, the band released its first single "Hollywood Dream". H2O signed with RCA in 1983, and made the Top 20 UK charts with their single "I Dream to Sleep". The band released their sole studio album Faith in 1984. [3] H2O broke up in 1988 over creative differences, but reunited periodically for one-off gigs.

After H2O disbanded, Donaldson went on to pursue a solo career. He also played in a band called FourGoodMen with Big Country's guitarist Bruce Watson, former Simple Minds bassist Derek Forbes and keyboardist Mick MacNeil. The group released an album in 2006 titled Heart of Winter: 2006 Tour Sampler. [4]

In September 2016, Donaldson released a debut novel titled A Rainbow in the Basement. [1]

In February 2018, Donaldson released his debut solo studio album, From Stars We Came. The album got an official launch at Websters Theatre in Glasgow, which saw two nights of concerts with a full band.

Discography

With H2O

YearAlbum
1984 Faith

Solo

Studio album

YearAlbum
2018From Stars We Came

Singles

YearTitle B-side
1987"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore""USA Son"
2016"Angel Pale"--
2017"Ticker Tape Parade"--

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronski Beat</span> British synthpop band

Bronski Beat were a British synth-pop band formed in 1983 in London, England. The initial lineup, which recorded the majority of their hits, consisted of Jimmy Somerville (vocals), Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek. Simon Davolls contributed backing vocals to many songs.

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

The Stone Roses were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. One of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band's classic and most prominent lineup consisted of vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer Reni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow (rock band)</span> British rock band

Rainbow are a British rock band formed in London and Los Angeles in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Established in the aftermath of Blackmore's first departure from Deep Purple, they originally featured four members of the band Elf, including their singer Ronnie James Dio, but after their self-titled debut album, Blackmore fired these members, except Dio, recruiting drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboardist Tony Carey. This line-up recorded the band's second album Rising (1976), while Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) saw Bob Daisley and David Stone replace Bain and Carey, respectively. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll was also the last album with Dio before he left the band to join Black Sabbath in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Brown</span> English musician; singer of The Stone Roses

Ian George Brown is an English singer and multi-instrumentalist. He was the lead singer and the only continuous member of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses from their formation in 1983. Following the band's initial split in 1996, he began a solo career, releasing seven studio albums, a greatest hits compilation, a remix album, an 11-disc box set titled Collection, and 19 singles. He returned to singing for the Stone Roses in 2011, although this did not spell the end of his solo endeavours, releasing First World Problems through Virgin/EMI Records on 25 October 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Squire</span> English musician

Jonathan Thomas "John" Squire is an English musician, songwriter and painter. He was the guitarist for the Stone Roses, a rock band in which he formed a songwriting partnership with lead singer Ian Brown. After leaving the Stone Roses he went on to found The Seahorses and has since released two solo albums. In 2007, Squire gave up music to fully commit to painting. However, he later returned to music when the Stone Roses reformed in 2011. When the Stone Roses disbanded for a second time in 2017, Squire once again returned to painting. However, he continues to play guitar occasionally, including making guest appearances for two shows with Liam Gallagher at Knebworth in 2022, In late 2023 he started working with Liam Gallagher on a collaborative studio album due for release 1 March 2024 with the singles, Just Another Rainbow and Mars To Liverpool preceding the album's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Glover</span> British bassist (born 1945)

Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as a member of the hard rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. As a member of Deep Purple, Glover was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2016.

Orange Juice were a Scottish jangle pop band founded in the Glasgow suburb of Bearsden as the Nu-Sonics in 1976. They became Orange Juice in 1979, and became perhaps the most important band in the Scottish independent music scene that emerged in the post-punk era, inspired by contemporary punk bands including Subway Sect, Television, and Buzzcocks but also 1960s acts, most notably the Byrds and the Velvet Underground. Musically, the band brought together styles and genres that often appeared incongruous, for example, country, disco and punk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Westerberg</span> American musician

Paul Harold Westerberg is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for The Replacements. Following the breakup of The Replacements, Westerberg launched a solo career that saw him release three albums on two major record labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gun (band)</span> Scottish rock band

Gun are a Scottish hard rock band from Glasgow. The band currently consists of brothers Dante Gizzi and Giuliano "Jools" Gizzi (guitar), along with Paul McManus (drums), Andy Carr (bass) and Davie Aitken (guitar). Starting in 1989 with Taking on the World, Gun have released seven studio albums, three of which have made the UK Top 20, and had eight UK Top 40 hit singles. The most successful of these was a cover of Cameo's "Word Up!", which reached the top 10 in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rezillos</span> Scottish band

The Rezillos are a punk and new wave band formed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1976. Although emerging at the same time as other bands in the punk rock movement, the Rezillos did not share the nihilism or social commentary of their contemporaries, but instead took a more light-hearted approach in their songs, preferring to describe themselves at the time as "a new wave beat group". Their songs are heavily influenced by 1950s rock and roll, 1960s English beat music and garage rock, early 1970s glam rock, with recurring lyrical themes of science fiction and B movies; their influences mirrored those of US bands the Cramps and the B-52s, who were starting out at the same time. The Rezillos' biggest hit in their home country was the UK Top 20 single "Top of the Pops" in 1978, but they are best known outside the UK for their cover version of "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight", which was featured on the soundtrack to Jackass: The Movie in 2002. Since the Rezillos recorded it, the song has been covered by other punk bands, including Youth Brigade and Murphy's Law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Lynn Turner</span> American singer

Joe Lynn Turner is an American singer known for his work in the hard rock bands Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen and Deep Purple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roni Size</span> British DJ and music producer

Ryan Owen Granville Williams, better known by his stage name Roni Size, is an English DJ and music producer. He came to prominence in 1997 as the founder and frontman of Roni Size & Reprazent, a drum and bass collective. That year they won the Mercury Prize for their debut studio album New Forms.

H2O were a Scottish pop band that formed in Glasgow in 1978. The band had two UK top 40 hits in 1983 with the singles "I Dream to Sleep" and "Just Outside of Heaven".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ritchie Blackmore</span> English rock and metal guitarist

Richard Hugh Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter. He was a founding member and the lead guitarist of Deep Purple, playing jam-style hard rock music that mixed guitar riffs and organ sounds. He is prolific in creating guitar riffs and has been known for playing both classically influenced and blues-based solos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The View (band)</span> Scottish indie rock band

The View are a Scottish indie rock band that formed in Dundee, Angus in 2005. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, and folk in their music. They are best known for their 2007 single "Same Jeans" which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Innes</span> Scottish musician

Andrew Colin Innes is a Scottish musician, best known for being the guitarist in Scottish rock band Primal Scream.

<i>Faith</i> (H<sub>2</sub>O album) 1984 studio album by H2O

Faith is the debut and only studio album by Scottish pop band H2O. It was originally released in 1984 on the label RCA. The album was recorded over a period of five months between October 1983 and March 1984, in sessions that took place at Livingston Studios, in London. It features their bestselling singles, "I Dream to Sleep" and "Just Outside of Heaven", both of which preceded the album being released the year before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Dream to Sleep</span> 1983 single by H2O

"I Dream to Sleep" is a song by Scottish pop band H2O, composed by all of the band members and produced by Tony Cox. Initially released in 1983, the song was later included on H2O's debut studio album, Faith (1984). The single features the non-album track, "Burn to Win" as its B-side, which was later included as a bonus track on the CD reissue of the Faith album. It was their first release on the label RCA and it peaked at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart.

Basement Revolver is an indie rock band from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Formed in 2016 by guitarist and vocalist Chrisy Hurn, bassist Nimal Agalawatte and drummer Brandon Munro, the band has released two EPs and four singles, with their first album, Heavy Eyes, being released in 2019. While the band largely plays in Southern Ontario, they have toured the UK and have played in the Midwest USA and New York. Known for their alternative dream pop style of music, Basement Revolver has enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic, and signed onto British indie record label fear of missing out in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Good, the Bad & the Queen</span> British supergroup

The Good, the Bad & the Queen were an English art rock supergroup composed of singer Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, bassist Paul Simonon of the Clash, guitarist Simon Tong of the Verve, and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen. They released their self-titled debut album in 2007. Their second album, Merrie Land, coproduced with Tony Visconti, was released in 2018. They disbanded in 2019, and Allen died in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bone, Martin (1 July 2017). "Ian Donaldson singer, writer, producer, formerly of band H2O, takes time out for a chat". Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  2. "Ian Donaldson" . Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  3. Sutton, Michael. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  4. "FourGoodMen, Heart Of Winter: 2006 Tour Sampler". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 July 2017.