Simon Fowler

Last updated

Simon Fowler
Simon Fowler live.jpg
Fowler in 2005
Background information
Birth nameSimon Geoffrey Fowler
Also known asFoxy [1] [2]
Born (1965-05-25) 25 May 1965 (age 58)
Meriden, Warwickshire, England
GenresRock, mod revival, folk
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, harmonica
Labels Moseley Shoals Records

Simon Geoffrey Fowler (born 25 May 1965) is an English singer and acoustic guitarist, best known as the frontman of Ocean Colour Scene.

Contents

The Fanatics

Simon Fowler commenced his music career as the lead singer and songwriter for Birmingham band The Fanatics, which consisted of Simon Fowler (vocals & guitar), Damon Minchella (bass), Paul Wilkes (guitar) and Carolyn Bullock (drums). [3] Future Ocean Colour Scene drummer and former Echo Base band member Oscar Harrison replaced Bullock on drums. [3]

The Fanatics released one record in 1989 before splitting, the four-track Suburban Love Songs 12" vinyl EP on Chapter 22 Records (12 CHAP 38), containing the songs "1,2,3,4", "My Brother Sarah" (later re-recorded by Ocean Colour Scene), "Suburban Love Songs", and "Tight Rope". [4] Following the demise of The Fanatics in late 1989, Fowler, Minchella and Harrison teamed up with guitar player Steve Cradock to form Ocean Colour Scene.

Other works

Fowler has also appeared as a backing singer for Paul Weller, Alison Moyet, Fine Young Cannibals, and with Kate Rusby.

Merrymouth

In 2012 Fowler formed the band Merrymouth with Ocean Colour Scene band member Dan Sealey, and Mike McNamara. Their debut album, Simon Fowler's Merrymouth , was released in March 2012, and their second album, Wenlock Hill , featuring Adam Barry, John McCusker and Chas Hodges, was released in 2014.

Personal life

Fowler lives with his long-term partner Robert in Warwickshire. He was educated at Tudor Grange School in Solihull, and later studied at The Sixth Form College Solihull where he wrote "Foxy's Folk Faced". He then became a journalist, working for the Birmingham Post . He is a supporter of Birmingham City Football Club. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Colour Scene</span> English rock band

Ocean Colour Scene are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1989. They have had five top 10 albums including a number one in 1997. They have also achieved seventeen top 40 singles and six top 10 singles to date.

<i>Moseley Shoals</i> 1996 studio album by Ocean Colour Scene

Moseley Shoals is the second album by the British rock group Ocean Colour Scene which was released during the Britpop era. The album reached #2 in the UK charts, and amassed 92 weeks on chart, making it the band's most successful album in terms of weeks on chart, despite a later album reaching #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Riverboat Song</span> 1996 single by Ocean Colour Scene

"The Riverboat Song" is a song by British band Ocean Colour Scene. It is heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin's "Four Sticks", from which it takes its main riff and a number of lyrics. The song is written in 6
8 swing time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Cradock</span> Musical artist

Stephen Cradock is an English guitarist, most notable for playing in the rock group Ocean Colour Scene. Cradock also plays the guitar in Paul Weller's band, having appeared on all of Weller's solo records following his self-titled debut solo album. Cradock began playing lead guitar for British ska band The Specials in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McCusker</span> Scottish folk musician

John McCusker is a Scottish folk musician, record producer, and composer. He had a long association as a member of Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and producer for folk singer Kate Rusby. He has served as producer and arranger for various artists. He has also released several solo albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solihull Sixth Form College</span> School in Solihull, West Midlands, England

Solihull Sixth Form College is a further education college for students aged 16 to 19. It is situated on the outskirts of Solihull in the West Midlands and draws students from across Solihull and Birmingham. Founded in 1974, the college consists of several large buildings on a single site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Day We Caught the Train</span> 1996 single by Ocean Colour Scene

"The Day We Caught the Train" is a song by British rock band Ocean Colour Scene. The song was released on 3 June 1996 as the third single from their second studio album, Moseley Shoals (1996), and reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, achieving platinum status for sales and streams exceeding 600,000. The single was also released as an acoustic alternative on a second CD, with additional B-sides, one of which "Justine" is a re-recording and had originally appeared on their self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Harrison</span> British musician (born 1965)

Oscar Lloyd Harrison is a British musician who currently plays drums with Birmingham-based Ocean Colour Scene and the British ska band The Beat. He also plays piano and bass guitar, and occasionally sings lead vocals.

<i>A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad</i> 2005 studio album by Ocean Colour Scene

A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad is the seventh studio album by English rock band Ocean Colour Scene. It was originally due to be released in September 2004 but Sanctuary Records requested the band record a live album instead and it was eventually released on 21 March 2005. The album was produced by Dave Eringa and recorded at a hunting lodge near Kirriemuir, Scotland. The album's unusual title was a phrase the band heard on BBC Radio 4 and decided they liked. Critical reception to the album generally agreed that the album would please Ocean Colour Scene fans, although the album charted lower than previous albums at number 30 in the UK album chart compared to number 14 for the previous album North Atlantic Drift.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Kellie</span> English rock drummer (1947–2017)

Michael Alexander Kellie was an English musician, composer and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Circle (song)</span> 1996 single by Ocean Colour Scene

"The Circle" is a song by English rock band Ocean Colour Scene, released on 16 September 1996 as the fourth single form their second studio album, Moseley Shoals (1996). The song reached number six on the UK Singles Chart the same month. Like the previous single, this single was also released as an acoustic alternative on a second CD with additional B-sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got It Bad</span> 1996 single by Ocean Colour Scene

"You've Got It Bad" is a song by English rock band Ocean Colour Scene. The song was released as the second single from their second album, Moseley Shoals (1996), on 25 March 1996 and reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The single was also released as a demo alternative on a second CD with additional B-sides. In the United States, the song was serviced to alternative radio in August 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hundred Mile High City</span> 1997 single by Ocean Colour Scene

"Hundred Mile High City" is a song by British rock band Ocean Colour Scene, taken as the first single from their third studio album, Marchin' Already (1997). The song was released in 1997 and reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's joint most-successful single on the UK Singles Chart and their second-most successful in terms of number of weeks spent in the top 75, staying in for seven weeks. It was also their first single to chart in Ireland and the Netherlands, peaking at numbers 15 and 98, respectively.

"Travellers Tune" is a song by English rock band Ocean Colour Scene. American soul singer P. P. Arnold provides additional vocals on the track. The song was released on 25 August 1997 as the second single from the band's third studio album, Marchin' Already (1997), and reached number five on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better Day (song)</span> 1997 single by Ocean Colour Scene

"Better Day" is a song by English rock band Ocean Colour Scene. The song was released as the third single from their third studio album, Marchin' Already, on 10 November 1997 and reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart.

Dan Sealey is the former session bass guitarist for the rock group Ocean Colour Scene. He was drafted in by the band after Damon Minchella left the band in 2003. Sealey is also in Merrymouth, a folk band with Ocean Colour Scene bandmate Simon Fowler and Adam Barry. Before joining Ocean Colour Scene Sealey was a member of the band Late.

Merrymouth was a folk-oriented band founded by Ocean Colour Scene songwriter and vocalist Simon Fowler (guitar/vocals), Dan Sealey (guitar/piano/vocals), Mike McNamara (Bass/Piano/Organ/Guitar/Percussion) and later Adam Barry (piano/organ/accordion/harmonica/vocals).

<i>Wenlock Hill</i> (Merrymouth album) 2014 studio album by Merrymouth

Wenlock Hill is the second album by Merrymouth, a folk band featuring Simon Fowler and Dan Sealey from Ocean Colour Scene, and Adam Barry. It was released in May 2014 and entered the UK Official Album Charts at #71.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Barry</span> Musical artist

Adam Barry is the English Hammond organ/piano/accordion/harmonica/backing vocalist for the folk group Merrymouth, led by Barry, Simon Fowler and Dan Sealey from Ocean Colour Scene. Before joining Merrymouth, Barry was a co-founder member of the band The Misers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Bennett (musician)</span> Musical artist

Andy Bennett , is an English singer and musician, best known for his work with Ocean Colour Scene.

References

  1. ↑ "Stay on the scene – Independent, The (London) – Find Articles at BNET". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  2. ↑ ":: oceancolourtheme :: simon fowler profile :: ocean colour scene ::". Blue-whaleproductions.com. 25 May 1965. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 "The Fanatics - Live at the Irish Center, Birmingham, 1988". Ugly.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 November 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "The Men from UGLY Ś MP3 Download Area". Ugly.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 February 2001. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ocean Colour Scene star Fowler admits being Birmingham mad". 23 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.