Richard Oakes (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Richard Oakes is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and occasional pianist and backing vocalist of the English band, Suede
.
area of Poole
, Dorset
, in the southwest of England
. He first started playing when he came across a Spanis
h guitar that his sister owned. The album that initially influenced him to pursue a career in music was "The Story of the Clash, Volume 1
", which he heard when he was 12. Prior to joing Suede, Oakes played in a band called "TED" along with his friend, Peter. The band was actually originally titled 'PIPATED' - 'Plug in Peter and the Electric Daffodils'.
had left the band and that the band were auditioning for a replacement, he recorded versions of Suede songs and some of his own material on a 4 track recorder, which he sent to the bands fanclub along with a note that read "Take me or leave me." When drummer Simon Gilbert
heard Anderson playing back the tape whilst going through audition tapes, he mistakenly believed it to be an early Suede demo
. After the second audition Oakes was invited to join the band.
At the age of 17, and after beating approximately five hundred candidates, Oakes officially joined Suede on 17 September 1994 (exactly 2 weeks before his 18th birthday). Oakes first public appearance with the band was on Top of the Pops
, while his first full live appearance was at a secret fan club gig
at London
's Raw Club on 10 October 1994. The first song he performed live, and the first video he appeared in, was "We are the Pigs".
His first co-writing credits were the B-sides of single "New Generation
", "Together" and "Bentswood Boys".
Oakes went on to co-write many songs with Anderson on subsequent albums and B-side material, several of which went on to become hit singles in the UK.
Oakes joined his former bandmates for three UK Suede concerts in 2010, and it had since been announced on the band's resurrected web site that they will perform at London's O2 Arena in December, following festival appearances in Sweden, Hultsfredsfestivalen in July and Denmark and Norway in August, leading to speculation of a more permanent reformation.
site that he and Oakes were working on new material together. In a March 2009, McGhee posted another blog entry confirming sessions were ongoing and that they had 11 songs written.
In 2009, Sean McGhee posted a blog entry saying that the duo now had 14 songs to date. He disclosed 3 of the 14 songs' titles namely: "I Keep On Walking," "Forever In Negative" and "You".
Sean McGhee confirmed on his Myspace blog that, despite the Suede reunion, his project with Richard was still ongoing, and work would continue around Suede's schedule.
The duo confirmed in April 2010 that the project would be called Artmagic.
Their debut EP, "I Keep On Walking", was released on 23 May 2011.
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
.
Early life
Richard Oakes was born in Perivale, West London, and grew up in the ParkstoneParkstone
Parkstone is an area of Poole, Dorset. It is divided into 'Lower' and 'Upper' Parkstone. Upper Parkstone - "Up-on-'ill" as it used to be known in local parlance - is so-called because it is largely on higher ground slightly to the north of the lower-lying area of Lower Parkstone - "The Village" -...
area of Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, in the southwest of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He first started playing when he came across a Spanis
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
h guitar that his sister owned. The album that initially influenced him to pursue a career in music was "The Story of the Clash, Volume 1
The Story of the Clash, Volume 1
The Story of the Clash, Vol. 1 is a double-disc compilation album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released with 28 tracks on 29 February 1988 through Epic Records. The compilation presents a relatively thorough overview of their career . An anticipated second volume was to have...
", which he heard when he was 12. Prior to joing Suede, Oakes played in a band called "TED" along with his friend, Peter. The band was actually originally titled 'PIPATED' - 'Plug in Peter and the Electric Daffodils'.
Suede
The first gig Oakes attended was one of Suede's at the Poole Arts Centre in May 1993. Upon hearing that guitarist Bernard ButlerBernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
had left the band and that the band were auditioning for a replacement, he recorded versions of Suede songs and some of his own material on a 4 track recorder, which he sent to the bands fanclub along with a note that read "Take me or leave me." When drummer Simon Gilbert
Simon Gilbert
Simon Gilbert is an English drummer and member of the English band, Suede....
heard Anderson playing back the tape whilst going through audition tapes, he mistakenly believed it to be an early Suede demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
. After the second audition Oakes was invited to join the band.
At the age of 17, and after beating approximately five hundred candidates, Oakes officially joined Suede on 17 September 1994 (exactly 2 weeks before his 18th birthday). Oakes first public appearance with the band was on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, while his first full live appearance was at a secret fan club gig
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Raw Club on 10 October 1994. The first song he performed live, and the first video he appeared in, was "We are the Pigs".
His first co-writing credits were the B-sides of single "New Generation
New Generation
"New Generation" is the third and final single from the album Dog Man Star by Suede, released on January 30, 1995, on Nude Records. It is the first single to feature music by new guitarist Richard Oakes. Though the title track is written by Anderson and departed guitarist Bernard Butler, Oakes...
", "Together" and "Bentswood Boys".
Oakes went on to co-write many songs with Anderson on subsequent albums and B-side material, several of which went on to become hit singles in the UK.
Oakes joined his former bandmates for three UK Suede concerts in 2010, and it had since been announced on the band's resurrected web site that they will perform at London's O2 Arena in December, following festival appearances in Sweden, Hultsfredsfestivalen in July and Denmark and Norway in August, leading to speculation of a more permanent reformation.
Artmagic
In 2008, singer, writer and producer Sean McGhee confirmed on his MyspaceMyspace
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....
site that he and Oakes were working on new material together. In a March 2009, McGhee posted another blog entry confirming sessions were ongoing and that they had 11 songs written.
In 2009, Sean McGhee posted a blog entry saying that the duo now had 14 songs to date. He disclosed 3 of the 14 songs' titles namely: "I Keep On Walking," "Forever In Negative" and "You".
Sean McGhee confirmed on his Myspace blog that, despite the Suede reunion, his project with Richard was still ongoing, and work would continue around Suede's schedule.
The duo confirmed in April 2010 that the project would be called Artmagic.
Their debut EP, "I Keep On Walking", was released on 23 May 2011.