John Mitchell (musician)
Encyclopedia
John Mitchell is guitarist
, vocalist and songwriter
for the UK band It Bites
. He also plays guitar for a number of other progressive rock
bands including Arena
, The Urbane, Kino
, Frost*, and John Wetton
.
In 2008, Mitchell joined A
, playing bass in place of original bass player Daniel P. Carter to support The Wildhearts
on their December UK tour, as well as a ten-date headline tour in 2009.
He is also a record producer and sound engineer
at Outhouse Studios, a recording studio
in Reading
, UK, where he has recorded and produced music for a number of popular UK rock bands including Enter Shikari
, You Me At Six
, Ivyrise
, My Passion
, The Blackout
, Kids In Glass Houses
, Funeral for a Friend
, Architects
, Exit Ten
, Touchstone
, You And What Army
and Architects
, as well as Australian band Welcome Wednesday.
- white and black G254s on stage, and for recording, a tobacco G210 and a blue/black G290. He also plays an Alvarez
Yairi acoustic guitar in the studio, and a PRS
Classic. Guitar effects are created using a vintage Korg A3 effects unit. His amp of choice is a Marshall
JMP1 running into a Marshall Valvestate 80/80.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, vocalist and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
for the UK band It Bites
It Bites
It Bites are an English progressive rock and pop fusion band, formed in Egremont, Cumbria, England in 1982 and best known for their 1986 single "Calling All The Heroes", which gained them a Top 10 UK Singles Chart hit...
. He also plays guitar for a number of other progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands including Arena
Arena (band)
Arena are a British neo-progressive rock band founded in 1995 by Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer. Most of the band's lyrics are written by Nolan, though Pointer contributed lyrics to Sirens and other tracks on the first two albums....
, The Urbane, Kino
Kino (UK rock band)
Kino was a British neo-progressive rock band made up of members from other progressive rock acts .The band released their debut album Picture in February 2005.-Line up:*John Mitchell: lead...
, Frost*, and John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
.
In 2008, Mitchell joined A
A (band)
A are a British alternative rock band from Suffolk, England, that formed in 1993. They have released four albums, and two live mini-albums.In 2002, the band enjoyed a brief period of commercial success, in which "Nothing", the first single from Hi-Fi Serious , charted at #9 on the UK singles chart...
, playing bass in place of original bass player Daniel P. Carter to support The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
on their December UK tour, as well as a ten-date headline tour in 2009.
He is also a record producer and sound engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
at Outhouse Studios, a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, UK, where he has recorded and produced music for a number of popular UK rock bands including Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
, You Me At Six
You Me At Six
You Me at Six is a British rock band from Weybridge, Surrey. Formed in 2004, the group rose to fame in 2008 with the success of their debut album, Take Off Your Colours, which included the singles "Save It for the Bedroom", "Finders Keepers" and "Kiss and Tell", with the latter two peaking at #33...
, Ivyrise
Ivyrise
Ivyrise is a British rock band from London, England, consisting of lead vocalist and pianist Ben Falinski, lead guitarist Dan Tanner, drummer Josh Thaxton-Key and bass guitarist Mark Nagle.- Background :...
, My Passion
My Passion
My Passion is an English band formed in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England in 2005. They released their debut album, Corporate Flesh Party, in May 2009 on Cool Green Recordings...
, The Blackout
The Blackout (band)
The Blackout is a post-hardcore band from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, formed in 2003. After some time backing Lostprophets on their Liberation Transmission Tour, along with Dopamine, Covergirl, Kids In Glass Houses, The Guns and Men, Women and Children, they released their first mini-album The Blackout!...
, Kids In Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses are a Welsh rock band from Cardiff, and are considered a significant part of the Cardiff music scene. The band's name is inspired by the lyrics "not throwing stones at you anymore" from Glassjaw song "Tip Your Bartender". The band achieved success on the strength of the singles...
, Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
, Architects
Architects (British band)
Architects are an English Metalcore band from Brighton, England, formed in 2004. The band went through several name changes before they decided upon Architects. Their first name was Inharmonic, which was swiftly changed to Counting the Days...
, Exit Ten
Exit Ten
Exit Ten is a British Rock/Metal band. Their debut full-length album, Remember The Day, was released in 2008. Their second studio album was released in October 2011.-Biography:Exit Ten are a post-hardcore/progressive rock band from Reading, Berkshire...
, Touchstone
Touchstone (band)
Touchstone is a rock band from the UK. The original band was formed by Rob Cottingham in 2001, after the release of his solo album 'Behind the Orchard Tree' - recorded at Linford Manor Studios in Milton Keynes . Adam Hodgson joined in 2003. Other more recent band members include bassist Paul...
, You And What Army
You and What Army
You and What Army are a four piece Rock/Rap/Rave band from Telford, Shropshire, UK consisting of David Brown, Kieran Smith, Jamie Hancox and Zak Hammond....
and Architects
Architects (British band)
Architects are an English Metalcore band from Brighton, England, formed in 2004. The band went through several name changes before they decided upon Architects. Their first name was Inharmonic, which was swiftly changed to Counting the Days...
, as well as Australian band Welcome Wednesday.
Equipment
Mitchell primarily uses Cort GuitarsCort Guitars
Cort Guitars is a guitar manufacturer centered in South Korea. The company is one of the largest guitar makers in the world, and produces instruments for many other companies.- History :...
- white and black G254s on stage, and for recording, a tobacco G210 and a blue/black G290. He also plays an Alvarez
Alvarez Guitars
Alvarez is a guitar manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri and founded in 1965. Along with manufacturing acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars, Alvarez also manufactures classical guitars. Alvarez replaced Westone in 1991. Today, the brand is owned by LOUD Technologies, which also owns Mackie,...
Yairi acoustic guitar in the studio, and a PRS
PRS Guitars
PRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
Classic. Guitar effects are created using a vintage Korg A3 effects unit. His amp of choice is a Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
JMP1 running into a Marshall Valvestate 80/80.