Chris Stewart (author)
Encyclopedia
Christopher 'Chris' Stewart (born 1950), was the original drummer and a founding member of Genesis
. He is now a farmer
and an author
.
and Peter Gabriel
at Charterhouse School
, Stewart joined them in a school band called The Garden Wall, and they later formed another band with schoolmates Mike Rutherford
and Anthony Phillips
, called Anon. This band eventually became Genesis
in January 1967. Stewart appears on the band's first two singles, "The Silent Sun"/"That's Me" and "A Winter's Tale"/"One-Eyed Hound." (These tracks appear as bonus tracks on many reissues of Genesis' first album From Genesis to Revelation
. Also, a stereo mix of "The Silent Sun" was included on the album.) Although several demos from Stewart's time with Genesis
appear on the Genesis Archive 1967-75
box set, he is not credited with playing on any of them. (Peter Gabriel
seems to have played drums on a couple, and the rest do not feature drums.)
, Stewart was asked to leave the band in the summer of 1968 due to poor technique. He was replaced by John Silver
. After travelling and working throughout Europe, Stewart settled and bought a farm named "El Valero" in the Alpujarras
region of Andalucia, Spain
where he lives and works with his wife Ana Exton and daughter Chloë. He came in last place for the position of local councillor in the 27 May 2007 local elections in Órgiva
representing the Green Party, where he received 201 votes (roughly 8%).
He is now better known for his autobiographical
books, Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia (1999, ISBN 0-9535227-0-9) and the sequels, A Parrot In The Pepper Tree (ISBN 0-9535227-5-X) and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society (2006, ISBN 0-9548995-0-4), about his work farming in Spain. All three are also available as audiobooks (Lemons ISBN 0-14-180143-3; Parrot ISBN 0-14-180402-5), and Almond ISBN 0752885979, narrated by Stewart.
Stewart's publisher, Sort of Books, announced plans to release yet another Stewart memoir in 2009, this one focused on sailing, entitled Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: An Optimist Afloat.
Stewart has also contributed to two books in the Rough Guides
series: the Rough Guide to Andalucia and the Rough Guide to China.
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
. He is now a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Background and musical career
A classmate of Tony BanksTony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
and Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
at Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, Stewart joined them in a school band called The Garden Wall, and they later formed another band with schoolmates Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
and Anthony Phillips
Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
, called Anon. This band eventually became Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
in January 1967. Stewart appears on the band's first two singles, "The Silent Sun"/"That's Me" and "A Winter's Tale"/"One-Eyed Hound." (These tracks appear as bonus tracks on many reissues of Genesis' first album From Genesis to Revelation
From Genesis to Revelation
From Genesis to Revelation was the first album by Genesis, released in March 1969 on Decca Records in England...
. Also, a stereo mix of "The Silent Sun" was included on the album.) Although several demos from Stewart's time with Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
appear on the Genesis Archive 1967-75
Genesis Archive 1967-75
Genesis Archive 1967–75 is a 1998 boxed set by progressive rock band Genesis.This set features live recordings and rarities from the band's classic years when Peter Gabriel was lead singer. The first two of the four discs consist of a previously unreleased live recording of The Lamb Lies Down on...
box set, he is not credited with playing on any of them. (Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
seems to have played drums on a couple, and the rest do not feature drums.)
Farmer and author
At the recommendation of Jonathan KingJonathan King
Jonathan King is an English singer, songwriter, impresario and record producer. He is also the author of three novels, Bible Two and The Booker Prize Winner , and Beware the Monkey Man , and an autobiography, 65 My Life So Far .King first came to prominence as an...
, Stewart was asked to leave the band in the summer of 1968 due to poor technique. He was replaced by John Silver
John Silver
Jonathan Silver was the second drummer for the English rock band Genesis. He replaced Chris Stewart in the summer of 1968 and appears on their first full length album, From Genesis to Revelation, and on the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set...
. After travelling and working throughout Europe, Stewart settled and bought a farm named "El Valero" in the Alpujarras
Alpujarras
thumb|250px|A typical Alpujarran village, [[Busquístar]].La Alpujarra is a landlocked historical region in Southern Spain, which stretches south from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The western part of the region lies in the province of Granada...
region of Andalucia, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where he lives and works with his wife Ana Exton and daughter Chloë. He came in last place for the position of local councillor in the 27 May 2007 local elections in Órgiva
Órgiva
Órgiva is a municipality in the Alpujarra mountains in Spain. It has a population of around 6,000 and lies in a depression between the Sierra de Lujar and Sierra Nevada. In recent years it has become a popular tourist destination for those visiting La Alpujarra, and the town is often described as...
representing the Green Party, where he received 201 votes (roughly 8%).
He is now better known for his autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
books, Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia (1999, ISBN 0-9535227-0-9) and the sequels, A Parrot In The Pepper Tree (ISBN 0-9535227-5-X) and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society (2006, ISBN 0-9548995-0-4), about his work farming in Spain. All three are also available as audiobooks (Lemons ISBN 0-14-180143-3; Parrot ISBN 0-14-180402-5), and Almond ISBN 0752885979, narrated by Stewart.
Stewart's publisher, Sort of Books, announced plans to release yet another Stewart memoir in 2009, this one focused on sailing, entitled Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: An Optimist Afloat.
Stewart has also contributed to two books in the Rough Guides
Rough Guides
Rough Guides Ltd is a travel guidebook and reference publisher, owned by Pearson PLC. Their travel titles cover more than 200 destinations, and are distributed worldwide through the Penguin Group...
series: the Rough Guide to Andalucia and the Rough Guide to China.
External links
- Chris Stewart's official website.
- Biography and news
- Sort of Books, a small British publisher initially founded to help Stewart publish his debut book (see About us)
- Information on the Alpujarras Contemporary English writer in the Alpujarras valley, in Spain
- Chris Stewart's blog about thrifty-living in Spain.