Paul Banks (Shed Seven)
Encyclopedia
Paul Banks is a musician, songwriter and lead guitarist with the rock
band, Shed Seven
.
in 1986, while still in his teens, and went on to play in other local bands, including Brockley Haven, with Witter, Tom Gladwin and John Leach.
in 1993, replacing Joe Johnson as their lead guitarist. He spent the next six years recording and touring with the band. Banks became known for his distinctive, dramatic riffs and catchy tunes, and from 1993–1999 he co-wrote many of the band's most popular songs, with fourteen consecutive hits in the UK including “Chasing Rainbows”, “Going for Gold” and “She Left Me on Friday
”. The band's third album Let It Ride with all music composed by Banks to Witter's lyrics, spawned four singles which all reached the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
.
In 1999 the record company asked Banks to write a new lead single for Shed Seven’s "Greatest Hits"
album, Going For Gold
. The song, “Disco Down”, later became a Top 20 hit, but Banks was becoming increasingly unhappy with the lack of originality in the music he was expected to write and perform. In an interview in 2002, he said:
Going For Gold - The Greatest Hits reached #7 in the UK album charts, but by the time Shed Seven finally left Polydor in 1999, Banks had already decided to leave the band.
on drums) and Stuart Fletcher (of Rick Witter & The Dukes
on bass). He also spent a short time with Fletcher in The Yards, as well as working as a freelance film-maker and music tutor, teaching guitar, bass and songwriting at his studio in Pocklington
, York.
In late 2006, Paul joined the Alistair Griffin
-fronted band, Albion. They wrote and recorded a number of songs together, releasing several free download-only tracks via their official MySpace
page. However, the following July saw Shed Seven announce their reformation, with the line-up including Banks along with all of the original members. His appearance on the subsequent Greatest Hits tour was the first time he had appeared on stage with the band since leaving in 1999.
Following the announcement of the Shed Seven reunion, an official statement from the band noted that it would "not affect the individual members’ projects which will continue as before". Yet, despite this vow, Albion abruptly split up in August 2007, for reasons which were not made public. When interviewed, Griffin commented “Things weren’t working out the way we anticipated and it seemed the right time to call it a day”. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2007/08/23/end-of-road-84229-19673651/
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, Shed Seven
Shed Seven
Shed Seven are an English indie rock band from York and were one of the groups which contributed to the Britpop music scene that evolved during the 1990s, yet never received the degree of mainstream success achieved by bands such as Oasis and Blur...
.
Professional career
Paul Banks formed his first band with schoolfriend Rick WitterRick Witter
Rick Witter is a singer, songwriter and frontman of the York-based Britpop band, Shed Seven.He was educated at Huntington School, York.-Professional career:...
in 1986, while still in his teens, and went on to play in other local bands, including Brockley Haven, with Witter, Tom Gladwin and John Leach.
Shed Seven
Banks joined Witter, Gladwin and John’s brother, drummer Alan Leach in Shed Seven just before they gained their first record deal with Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
in 1993, replacing Joe Johnson as their lead guitarist. He spent the next six years recording and touring with the band. Banks became known for his distinctive, dramatic riffs and catchy tunes, and from 1993–1999 he co-wrote many of the band's most popular songs, with fourteen consecutive hits in the UK including “Chasing Rainbows”, “Going for Gold” and “She Left Me on Friday
She Left Me on Friday
"She Left Me On Friday" is the second single taken from the Shed Seven album Let It Ride. It was released on 2 March 1998 and made it to number 11 on the UK Singles Chart....
”. The band's third album Let It Ride with all music composed by Banks to Witter's lyrics, spawned four singles which all reached the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
In 1999 the record company asked Banks to write a new lead single for Shed Seven’s "Greatest Hits"
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album, Going For Gold
Going for Gold (album)
Going For Gold is a singles compilation album by the British rock band, Shed Seven, released in May 1999 via Polydor Records. The album features sleevenotes written by Mark Sutherland, the former editor of Melody Maker, who refers to the LP as the band's "Best Of Album", whereas the album artwork...
. The song, “Disco Down”, later became a Top 20 hit, but Banks was becoming increasingly unhappy with the lack of originality in the music he was expected to write and perform. In an interview in 2002, he said:
Going For Gold - The Greatest Hits reached #7 in the UK album charts, but by the time Shed Seven finally left Polydor in 1999, Banks had already decided to leave the band.
Subsequent career
After parting with Shed Seven somewhat acrimoniously later that year, officially due to "musical differences", Banks returned to York and formed The Rising with David McKellar (of The 88's on vocals), Rob "Maxi" Maxfield (of AudiowebAudioweb
Audioweb were a rock/reggae/electronica band based in Manchester, England. They formed in 1991, originally as The Sugar Merchants.-Personnel:*Martin "Sugar" Merchant *Sean McCann *Robin File *Robert "Maxi" Maxfield -Career:...
on drums) and Stuart Fletcher (of Rick Witter & The Dukes
Rick Witter & The Dukes
Rick Witter & The Dukes are a British alternative rock band from York, England.-Band members:* Rick Witter * Rob Wilson * Stuart Fletcher * Matt Lunn -History:...
on bass). He also spent a short time with Fletcher in The Yards, as well as working as a freelance film-maker and music tutor, teaching guitar, bass and songwriting at his studio in Pocklington
Pocklington
Pocklington is a small market town and civil parish situated at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York....
, York.
In late 2006, Paul joined the Alistair Griffin
Alistair Griffin
Alistair Richard Griffin is an English singer/songwriter and musician. Already an established songwriter, he first became famous as a solo artist through his appearances on the BBC television show Fame Academy 2 in 2003, where he was "spotted" and championed by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees...
-fronted band, Albion. They wrote and recorded a number of songs together, releasing several free download-only tracks via their official MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. However, the following July saw Shed Seven announce their reformation, with the line-up including Banks along with all of the original members. His appearance on the subsequent Greatest Hits tour was the first time he had appeared on stage with the band since leaving in 1999.
Following the announcement of the Shed Seven reunion, an official statement from the band noted that it would "not affect the individual members’ projects which will continue as before". Yet, despite this vow, Albion abruptly split up in August 2007, for reasons which were not made public. When interviewed, Griffin commented “Things weren’t working out the way we anticipated and it seemed the right time to call it a day”. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2007/08/23/end-of-road-84229-19673651/
External links
- [ Shed Seven song credits at AllMusic Guide]
- Transcription of Q&A session, The Cultural Foundation, 2002.
- Paul Banks official Myspace page