Stuart Fletcher (musician)

Last updated

Stuart Fletcher
Born (1976-01-16) 16 January 1976 (age 48)
Origin York, England
Genres Rock, pop rock
Occupation musician
Instrument Bass guitar
Years active1997–present

Stuart Michael Fletcher (born 16 January 1976 in York) is an English bass player. He is best known as the bassist in John Squire's post The Stone Roses band, The Seahorses.

Prior to joining The Seahorses, Fletcher had been performing in local York bands since the age of 11.

On 22 March 1996 [1] Fletcher was spotted by Squire in the York venue Fibbers, where he was playing with local blues pub band The Blueflies. He was filling in for the band's usual bass player, who was unable to play due to repetitive strain injury.

Following the gig, Fletcher was handed a cassette of demos Squire had recorded and asked to join the band. [2]

Since the demise of the band, Fletcher has continued to play with local York bands such as Hayley Hutchinson, The Yards featuring fellow ex-Seahorse Chris Helme, and Rick Witter's band, Rick Witter & The Dukes. He has also done session work for Happy Mondays, [3] Saint Etienne, The Calling and Chris Helme.

In 2009 he organised a charity gig in aid of the Guardian Angels high dependency unit for children at York Hospital. [4] The objective was to climb the 5,895-metre summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the charity.

Fletcher joined We Could Be Astronauts in 2011 playing T in the Park 2012 on the BBC Introducing stage. Since 2012, Fletcher has also been a member of the Heather Findlay Band and York-based band Van Der Neer. More recently as well as regular gigs with the York-based cover band The Mothers, he is also playing in Chris Johnson's band Halo Blind and Heather Findlay's Mantra Vega. Fletcher has been the bassist of Hurricane #1 since 2018.

Related Research Articles

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

The Stone Roses were an English rock band formed in Manchester, England in 1983. They were 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">Chris Squire</span> English bassist of rock band Yes (1948–2015)

Christopher Russell Edward Squire was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes. He was the longest-serving original member, having remained in the band until his death and appearing on every studio album released from 1969 to 2014. In 2017, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Mondays</span> English alternative rock band

Happy Mondays are an English rock band formed in Salford in 1980. The original line-up consisted of brothers Shaun Ryder (vocals) and Paul Ryder (bass), Gaz Whelan (drums), Paul Davis (keyboard), and Mark Day (guitar). Mark "Bez" Berry later joined the band onstage as a dancer and maracas player. Rowetta joined as a second vocalist and percussionist in 1990. They were initially signed to Tony Wilson's Factory Records label.

<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 retired from music industry and returned to painting. However, he continued 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 which was released in 2024.

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

The Seahorses were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1996 by guitarist John Squire, following his departure from The Stone Roses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inspiral Carpets</span> English rock band

Inspiral Carpets is an English rock band, part of the late-1980s/early-1990s Madchester movement. Formed in Oldham in 1983, the band's most successful lineup featured frontman Tom Hingley, drummer Craig Gill, guitarist Graham Lambert, bassist Martyn Walsh and keyboardist Clint Boon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mostly Autumn</span> English rock band

Mostly Autumn are an English rock band. The group formed in 1995 and have built their reputation through constant touring, never signing to a major label. They produce music heavily influenced by 1970s progressive rock. According to the BBC, Mostly Autumn "fuse the music of Genesis and Pink Floyd with Celtic themes, hard rock and strong, emotional melodies". They have also been compared with other progressive bands from the same era such as Renaissance, Jethro Tull and Camel, blended with traditional folk music. Later albums also include more contemporary influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Helme</span> English singer-songwriter

Christopher Alan Helme is an English singer-songwriter, formerly the frontman of John Squire's post-Stone Roses band The Seahorses.

<i>Keys to Ascension</i> 1996 live album / studio album by Yes

Keys to Ascension is the fourth live and fifteenth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released as a double album in October 1996 on Essential Records. In 1995, guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Tony Kaye left the group which marked the return of former members Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman, thus reuniting them with vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White, a line-up that had last performed in 1979. The group relocated to San Luis Obispo, California to make a new album and to promote their reunion with three shows at the Fremont Theater, in March 1996. Keys to Ascension features half of the live set from the 1996 shows and two new studio tracks which marked a return to Yes writing longform pieces.

<i>Keys to Ascension 2</i> 1997 live album / studio album by Yes

Keys to Ascension 2 is the fifth live and sixteenth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released as a double album in November 1997 by Essential Records as the successor to the previous live/studio album Keys to Ascension. After guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Rick Wakeman returned to the band in 1995, the group relocated to San Luis Obispo, California and started to write new material. The reunion of this particular line-up was promoted with three concerts at the city's Fremont Theater in March 1996, the five's first live performance together since 1979. Keys to Ascension 2 features the remaining half of the live set from the 1996 shows and five new studio tracks including two which marked a return to the group writing long-form pieces. It would ultimately serve as Wakeman's final studio album with the band.

<i>Yes</i> (Yes album) 1969 studio album by Yes

Yes is the debut studio album by English rock band Yes, first released in the UK on 25 July 1969 and later in the US on 15 October 1969 by Atlantic Records. After forming in the summer of 1968, the band toured extensively across the United Kingdom with sets comprising both original material and rearranged cover versions. They signed with Atlantic in March 1969, and entered Advision and Trident Studios in London to record their first album. Yes includes covers of "Every Little Thing" by the Beatles and "I See You" by the Byrds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shed Seven</span> English alternative rock band

Shed Seven are an alternative rock band, formed in York in 1990. They were one of the groups which contributed to the Britpop music scene of the 1990s. They originally comprised singer Rick Witter, guitarist/keyboardist Joe Johnson, bassist Tom Gladwin and drummer Alan Leach. Johnson was later replaced by Paul Banks, but a later line-up of the band included both Johnson and Banks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Witter</span> Musical artist

Richard James Witter is a singer/songwriter in the York-based band Shed Seven.

<i>Let It Ride</i> (Shed Seven album) 1998 studio album by Shed Seven

Let It Ride is the third studio album by the British rock band Shed Seven, released in June 1998 via Polydor Records, and was the band's first LP to be written solely by Rick Witter (lyrics) and Paul Banks (music).

<i>Do It Yourself</i> (The Seahorses album) 1997 studio album by The Seahorses

Do It Yourself is the only album by the Seahorses, an English alternative rock band that John Squire, formerly guitarist in the Stone Roses formed. The album's cover features a photograph of Squire's 1996 sculpture in the shape of globe made of puzzle pieces and also named Do It Yourself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Banks (English musician)</span> Musical artist

Paul Adrian Banks is an English musician. He is a songwriter and the lead guitarist with the rock band Shed Seven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Witter & The Dukes</span>

Rick Witter & the Dukes are a British alternative rock band from York, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris White (saxophonist)</span> English saxophonist

Chris White is an English jazz/rock saxophonist who toured with Dire Straits from 1985 to 1995, and who has played with many bands and artists, including Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Chris De Burgh and Mick Jagger.

Pocket Venus were a Welsh rock band from Conwy in North Wales. Their style was that of a harder-edged Britpop and they played all over the UK and received national airplay on BBC Radio 1. Pocket Venus split in 2003 during negotiations with major record labels, the band cited musical and personal differences as the reason for the break-up. In late 2010 Pocket Venus reformed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Could Be Astronauts</span>

We Could Be Astronauts are a British rock band that formed in York, England, in 2009. The band consists of Robert Hughes, Simon Himsworth, Stuart Fletcher (bass), Paul Heaney (guitar), and Dave Hartley.

References

  1. "Fibbers.co.uk". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014.
  2. Middles, Mick (8 May 1999). Breaking Into Heaven: The Rise and Fall of the Stone Roses. Omnibus. p. 214. ISBN   9780711975460 via Google Books.
  3. "The Happy Mondays at Pride Of Manchester". Prideofmanchester.com.
  4. "The York Press". Yorkpress.co.uk.