Peter Wilkinson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Leslie Peter Wilkinson |
Born | Liverpool, England | 9 May 1969
Genres | Britpop, alternative rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, guitar |
Years active | 1990–present |
Website | aviator-music |
Leslie Peter Wilkinson (born 9 May 1969 in Liverpool [1] ) in an English bass player and singer-songwriter, formerly of Shack, Cast, and Echo & the Bunnymen.
He is currently concentrating on his Aviator project and has recorded and released an album with Michael Blyth as Michael Blyth and the Wild Braid, getting 4/5 star reviews in Uncut/Mojo/Maverick and Classic Rock. [2]
Although having taught himself to play bass at an early age by listening to new wave bands such as The Stranglers and Siouxsie and the Banshees, Wilkinson took an interest in jazz and went on to tour the jazz circuit across the north west of England and North Wales. He gained a college diploma in the genre before deciding that he would never be able to move out of the small clubs he was already playing whilst playing jazz. [3]
In 1990, Wilkinson joined Shack with whom he worked on the album Waterpistol . The album however would not be released until 1995, due to problems with the loss of the master tapes and the original record label folding leading to the band splitting up.
In 1992, he co-founded Cast with former La's bassist John Power whom fronted the band.
Following the band's split in 2001, Wilkinson released a solo album in October 2002 Huxley Pig Part 1 under the guise of Aviator. [4] He also began working as a session musician, playing with artists including Ian McCulloch, [5] Echo & the Bunnymen, [6] Canadian songwriter/vocalist Simon Wilcox [7] and The Hours with whom he took on lead guitar duties. [8]
In 2005, Wilkinson rejoined the reformed Shack, who released two albums on Noel Gallagher's record label, Sour Mash. [9]
Wilkinson also composes and performs music for TV commercials. [8]
In 2010, Wilkinson re-joined the reformed Cast for a UK tour in November 2010. The band went on to release the album Troubled Times in 2012 with drummer Steve Pilgrim replacing Keith O'Neill who was too busy tour managing to participate. Following an abrupt departure from a tour in December 2014, Wilkinson confirmed in March 2015 that he had left the band and wouldn't be working on their forthcoming album or touring with the band, [10]
Wilkinson released the long delayed Aviator follow up album Huxley Pig, Part 2 in 2012 and follow up single Desolation Peaks on limited edition 7" via Eighties Vinyl Records in 2013. [11] He released the third Aviator album No Friend Of Mind in August 2015 on his own label AV8. [12]
Echo & the Bunnymen is an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson. By 1980, Pete de Freitas joined as the band's drummer.
Cast are an English indie rock band formed in Liverpool in 1992 by John Power and Peter Wilkinson after Power left The La's and Wilkinson's former band Shack had split. Following early line-ups with different guitarists and drummers, Liam "Skin" Tyson (guitar) and Keith O'Neill (drums) joined Cast in 1993.
Crocodiles is the debut album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on 18 July 1980 in the United Kingdom and on 17 December 1980 in the United States. The album reached number 17 on the UK Albums Chart. "Pictures on My Wall" and "Rescue" had previously been released as singles.
Ian Stephen McCulloch, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Echo & the Bunnymen.
William Alfred Sergeant is an English guitarist, best known for being a member of Echo & the Bunnymen. Born in Walton Hospital, he grew up in the village of Melling and attended nearby Deyes Lane Secondary Modern. He is the group's only constant member.
Ocean Rain is the fourth studio album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on 4 May 1984 and reached number four on the UK Albums Chart, number 87 on the United States Billboard 200, number 41 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums and number 22 on the Swedish chart. Since 1984 the album has been certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry. Ocean Rain includes the singles "The Killing Moon", "Silver" and "Seven Seas".
Porcupine is the third studio album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. First released on 4 February 1983, it became the band's highest-charting release when it reached number two on the UK Albums Chart despite initially receiving poor reviews. It also reached number 137 on the American Billboard 200, number 85 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums and number 24 on the Swedish chart. In 1984, the album was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry. The album includes the singles "The Back of Love" and "The Cutter."
Echo & the Bunnymen is the fifth studio album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen, their last with drummer Pete de Freitas, who died in 1989 in a motorcycle accident, aged 27. The album was produced by Laurie Latham; the sessions took place in Germany, Belgium, London and Liverpool, following an aborted attempt at recording the tracks without de Freitas and with producer Gil Norton. With Latham being an exacting producer, and singer Ian McCulloch receiving star treatment and drinking heavily, the recording was more difficult than the band had initially hoped. The album made more use of keyboards than their previous albums, which had been string-heavy. Three singles were issued: "The Game", "Lips Like Sugar" and "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo".
Reverberation is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Echo & the Bunnymen. The album was released amidst a line-up change for the group, due to the departure of vocalist Ian McCulloch and the death of drummer Pete de Freitas. The remaining members, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson, were joined by ex-St. Vitus Dance singer Noel Burke, keyboard player Jake Brockman and drummer Damon Reece. The album was produced by former Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick at Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey, England, and had a more pronounced psychedelic sound than the group's previous releases.
Evergreen is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Echo & the Bunnymen. It is their first album since reforming after they disbanded in 1993. Vocalist Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant had previously worked together as Electrafixion before they were rejoined by bassist Les Pattinson under the name Echo & the Bunnymen in early 1997. The album was recorded at Doghouse Studios in Henley-on-Thames and was produced by McCulloch and the band's manager Paul Toogood but was credited to the whole band.
What Are You Going to Do with Your Life? is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Echo & the Bunnymen. The album saw the departure of bassist Les Pattinson from the group, partly due to disagreements with vocalist Ian McCulloch; McCulloch and the remaining band member, guitarist Will Sergeant, subsequently recorded the record with session musicians. The London Metropolitan Orchestra provided backing music and the American rap rock band Fun Lovin' Criminals appeared as guest musicians on two tracks. The album was produced by Alan Douglas and Echo & the Bunnymen and it was recorded at various locations throughout England. Feeling sidelined during the recording of the album, Sergeant described it as "probably the worst time in my whole life".
Shack are an English band formed in Liverpool, England in 1987. Originally Shack consisted of Mick Head, his brother John Head (guitar), Justin Smith (bass) and Mick Hurst (drums).
Michael William Head is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Liverpool, England. He is most famous as the lead singer and songwriter for Shack and the Pale Fountains, both of which also feature his younger brother John Head. Though the bands never achieved mainstream success, they have a strong following and NME have described him as "a lost genius and among the most gifted British songwriters of his generation."
Leslie Thomas Pattinson is an English musician, best known for his work as the bassist and co-writer of the Liverpool-based band Echo & the Bunnymen, along with vocalist Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant. He was brought up in Aughton, Lancashire and attended nearby Deyes High School in Maghull, where he and Sergeant were classmates and became friends.
Waterpistol is the second studio album by the English alternative rock band Shack. The album was recorded in 1991, but its release was delayed due to a studio fire which destroyed the master tapes. During the period between the album's recording and release, the band broke up and frontman Mick Head became addicted to heroin. A back-up of the recordings, lost and recovered by producer Chris Allison, was released on Marina Records in 1995. Ultimately, Waterpistol was well received by critics. The album was reissued in 2007 in expanded form by The Red Flag Recording Company.
"Lips Like Sugar" is a single by Echo & the Bunnymen which was released in August 1987. It was the second single from their 1987 eponymous album.
"Stormy Weather" is a single by Echo & the Bunnymen which was released on 5 September 2005 on the Cooking Vinyl label. It was the first single to be released from the 2005 album, Siberia. It reached number 55 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Scissors in the Sand" is a single by Echo & the Bunnymen which was released on 5 June 2006 on the Cooking Vinyl label. It was the third single to be released from the band's 2005 album, Siberia.
World Tour E.P. is an EP that was released in 1997 by Echo & the Bunnymen. The EP was released on CD by PolyGram in Japan. In 1998 it was released by London Records in Australia.
The discography of the British singer Ian McCulloch consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, and nine singles. While he was still the lead singer of the band Echo & the Bunnymen, McCulloch released his debut solo single, a version of the standard "September Song", in 1984 which reached number fifty-one on the UK Singles Chart.