Steve Byrd
Encyclopedia
Stephen John Byrd is a British
guitarist
and session musician who has worked with artists including Kim Wilde
, Ian Gillan
, ZZebra
and many others.
Initially a self-taught guitarist born in Sheffield
, England, Byrd joined the band Zzebra for their second album Panic, after his old friend Tommy Eyre
had recommended him for the job
. With Zzebra he played the Reading Festival in 1975 and recorded another album, Take It Or Leave It
In 1978 he replaced Paul Simon in Ian North's Band Neo
, a new wave band formed in 1977
. Neo recorded an album in Ian Gillan
's studio, and after Gillan had heard them he hired Byrd and bassist John McCoy for his own band, which was also called Gillan.
The band recorded their first album Gillan in September 1978. It was not released in the UK but sold well as an import.
In 1982 Byrd auditioned for pop singer Kim Wilde
and became a long-term member of Kim's backing band. With Kim, he co-wrote "Another Step
", "Hey Mister Heartache
" and many other songs as well as played on some of her albums. He toured with Kim Wilde until the mid-90s
In the 90s he was also a member of "4 Bills And A Ben", a band with flexible line-up formed by Johnny Warman
which also included Jeff Rich and John Edwards from Status Quo.
In 2001 he played in The Mods at the Steve Marriott
tribute in 2001
Other acts Steve Byrd toured with were The Buggles
, Martha and the Muffins
, Billy Ocean
, Ruby Turner
, Samantha Fox
, A Flock of Seagulls
, The Pet Shop Boys, Erasure
, Bonnie Tyler
, Alec Mansion, Shakin' Stevens
, Heartbeat UK and Kim Appleby
.
Steve Byrd has also written songs for other artists, as well as music for film and TV adverts.
Steve Byrd is now the MD of the Byrdsongs record label.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
guitarist
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...
and session musician who has worked with artists including Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
, Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
, ZZebra
ZZebra
Zzebra were a British fusion and afro prog band active in the UK in the early 1970s.The band was formed when Terry Smith and Dave Quincy , both left the band If, when it broke up, and joined Lasisi "Loughty" Amao ex-Osibisa , Gus Yeadon ex-The Love Affair , Liam Genockey and John McCoy .They...
and many others.
Initially a self-taught guitarist born in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England, Byrd joined the band Zzebra for their second album Panic, after his old friend Tommy Eyre
Tommy Eyre
Tommy Eyre was a session keyboardist from Sheffield, England, who appeared on records by Joe Cocker, John Martyn, Alex Harvey, Greg Lake, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, B.B. King, John Mayall, Tracy Chapman and Wham!...
had recommended him for the job
. With Zzebra he played the Reading Festival in 1975 and recorded another album, Take It Or Leave It
In 1978 he replaced Paul Simon in Ian North's Band Neo
Neo
Neo is a prefix from the ancient Greek word for young "neos" which derived from the Proto-Indo European word for new "néwos".Neo may refer to:* Neo , the protagonist of the Matrix film series...
, a new wave band formed in 1977
. Neo recorded an album in Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
's studio, and after Gillan had heard them he hired Byrd and bassist John McCoy for his own band, which was also called Gillan.
The band recorded their first album Gillan in September 1978. It was not released in the UK but sold well as an import.
In 1982 Byrd auditioned for pop singer Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
and became a long-term member of Kim's backing band. With Kim, he co-wrote "Another Step
Another Step
Another Step is the fifth studio album by Kim Wilde, released in October 1986.Boasting 12 tracks and a varied team of songwriters, Another Step was an artistic but not necessarily a commercial triumph for Kim. She had co-written more than half of the tracks herself...
", "Hey Mister Heartache
Hey Mister Heartache
"Hey Mister Heartache" is the first single from Close, the 1988 album by British singer Kim Wilde.Although only a minor hit in Wilde's native UK, it was a Top 20 success throughout Europe and marked the beginning of a very successful year for the star — during which she would have a best-selling...
" and many other songs as well as played on some of her albums. He toured with Kim Wilde until the mid-90s
In the 90s he was also a member of "4 Bills And A Ben", a band with flexible line-up formed by Johnny Warman
Johnny Warman
Johnny Warman is an English singer-songwriter best known for his 1981 album Walking Into Mirrors and the hit single "Screaming Jets".-Early life:Warman was born in Bethnal Green, east London...
which also included Jeff Rich and John Edwards from Status Quo.
In 2001 he played in The Mods at the Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
tribute in 2001
Other acts Steve Byrd toured with were The Buggles
The Buggles
The Buggles were an English New Wave band consisting of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes . They are remembered chiefly for their 1979 debut single "Video Killed the Radio Star" that was #1 on the singles chart in 16 countries. Its music video was the first to be shown on MTV in the U.S...
, Martha and the Muffins
Martha and the Muffins
Martha and the Muffins are a Canadian new wave band, active from 1977 to the present. Although they only had one major international hit single under their original band name, they had a number of hits in their native Canada, and the core members of the band also charted in Canada and...
, Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
, Ruby Turner
Ruby Turner
Ruby Turner is a British R&B and soul singer, songwriter and actress. In 1967, she relocated with her family to Handsworth, Birmingham, England when she was nine years old...
, Samantha Fox
Samantha Fox
Samantha Karen "Sam" Fox is an English dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modeling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl...
, A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls are an English New Wave band originally formed by brothers Michael "Mike" Score and Alister "Ali" James Score , with Frank Maudsley , Michael Kuby , H.J...
, The Pet Shop Boys, Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
, Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
, Alec Mansion, Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...
, Heartbeat UK and Kim Appleby
Kim Appleby
Kim Appleby , is an English singer, songwriter and actor. She participated in the duo Mel and Kim, with her sister Melanie Appleby, until her sister's death from pneumonia following treatment for cancer.- Biography :...
.
Steve Byrd has also written songs for other artists, as well as music for film and TV adverts.
Steve Byrd is now the MD of the Byrdsongs record label.