Steve Hogarth
Encyclopedia
Steve Hogarth also known as "h", is the lead vocalist and occasional keyboardist/guitarist with the British rock band Marillion
. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans
and vocalist with How We Live
. He is recognisable for his distinctive voice and wide vocal range.
from the age of two. As a child he became interested in music, his earliest influences being The Beatles
and The Kinks
. He taught himself to play piano. Leaving school at the age of eighteen, Hogarth spent three years studying for a degree in electrical engineering
at Trent Polytechnic. He was also a member of a band during this time, Harlow, who played working men's clubs. They recorded the single Harry de Mazzio on the Pepper record label in 1978. The band split in 1981 and Hogarth left his engineering degree, moving to London to further his music career.
. Initially joining just as a keyboard player, Hogarth also ended up sharing the vocal duties with Ferg Harper. Signed to A&M Records
, The Europeans
released two studio albums and one live album. On the first studio album, Hogarth sang just one track. By the second studio album, he sang five of the eight tracks.
In 1985, Hogarth and guitarist Colin Woore left the band to form How We Live
, The duo were signed to Columbia Records
. In 1987, following record company changes, How We Live's debut album Dry Land was poorly promoted, resulting in a flop. Hogarth imagined he would have to leave the music industry - for a time seriously considering becoming a milkman or postman (as he later related) - but a meeting with his publishers (and a certain amount of matchmaking by long time friend, Darryl Way, sometime of Curved Air
) persuaded him to send a tape to Marillion, who were recruiting for a new lead vocalist following the departure of Fish
in late 1988.
Marillion heard the tape and were interested enough to ask for a meeting with the singer. Later accounts of this first meeting record that Hogarth turned up at band member Pete Trewavas
' house with his demo tapes contained in a red plastic fire bucket - the audition taking place in Trewavas' garage, due to the presence in the house of cats (see below). The band were immediately impressed by his vocal prowess. Hogarth himself, however, took a little longer to make up his mind, holding as he did at the time a potentially lucrative offer to tour the U.S.
on keyboards
with The The
. In the end he accepted the Marillion gig, won over by the fact that Marillion wanted an equal partner who would input his own ideas.
Hogarth's first album with the band, released in September 1989, was Seasons End, their fifth studio album. Since then, Marillion have recorded another twelve albums with Hogarth on vocals, the most recent being Less Is More
, largely a reworking of earlier Marillion material in an acoustic setting. The band are currently writing and recording a new album due for release sometime in 2012.
Hogarth has also released one solo studio album under the name 'h' called Ice Cream Genius. This album had contributions from ex-Japan
/ Porcupine Tree
synthesiser/keyboard maestro Richard Barbieri
, former XTC
guitarist Dave Gregory, Blondie
drummer Clem Burke
, bassist Chucho Merchan
and percussionist Luis Jardim
.
Subsequently, Hogarth's side-project, The H-Band, has played live across the UK and Europe featuring a variety of musicians, including former The Stone Roses
MKII guitarist Aziz Ibrahim
, Massive Attack
and The Bays
drummer Andy Gangadeen, session musician
Jingles on bass
, Aziz's regular musical partner Dalbir Singh Rattan on tablas and Stephanie Sobey-Jones on cello. With Barbieri and Gregory, this line up recorded a double album entitled Live Spirit: Live Body in 2001 (released in 2002). Writing for a forthcoming second solo studio album occurred in December 2004.
Most recently, a solo tour entitled 'h Natural' saw Hogarth play around 20 dates in both the UK and Europe in Spring / Summer 2006, billed as an evening of music and conversation with Hogarth at the piano. Summer 2007 has seen a second clutch of these shows scheduled. These shows are being mixed and released for download, one at a time and for a limited period only, on Hogarth's new H-Tunes site.
On the 14th of May 2010 Hogarth performed at the Relentless Garage in London to celebrate his birthday. He also performed at Liverpool on the 15th and Sheffield on the 16th. To coincide with these shows a CD was released featuring some of the best tracks taken from his H Natural shows. This collection is called H Natural Selection and was available at the shows and from the Marillion website.
Hogarth is violently allergic to cats - first learning this when hospitalised as a child after visiting a Liverpudlian Auntie "...whose house was full of 'em!"
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans
The Europeans (band)
The Europeans were a British group formed in 1981. They released three albums, none of which achieved much in terms of chart position. The band are perhaps best known for their lead vocalist and keyboard player, Steve Hogarth, who went on to greater things as vocalist with Marillion...
and vocalist with How We Live
How We Live
How We Live was a project between Steve Hogarth and Colin Woore, respectively the keyboard player and guitarist previously of the New Wave band The Europeans. They released one album, Dry Land, in 1987 with Hogarth on vocals, before Hogarth replaced Fish as Marillion's vocalist in 1989...
. He is recognisable for his distinctive voice and wide vocal range.
Early life
Hogarth was born in Kendal in Cumbria. His father was an engineer in the British Merchant Navy. He was brought up on a council estate in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
from the age of two. As a child he became interested in music, his earliest influences being The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. He taught himself to play piano. Leaving school at the age of eighteen, Hogarth spent three years studying for a degree in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
at Trent Polytechnic. He was also a member of a band during this time, Harlow, who played working men's clubs. They recorded the single Harry de Mazzio on the Pepper record label in 1978. The band split in 1981 and Hogarth left his engineering degree, moving to London to further his music career.
Career
In London, Hogarth joined a band called Motion Pictures, having responded to an advertisement in the music press. They were subsequently renamed The EuropeansThe Europeans (band)
The Europeans were a British group formed in 1981. They released three albums, none of which achieved much in terms of chart position. The band are perhaps best known for their lead vocalist and keyboard player, Steve Hogarth, who went on to greater things as vocalist with Marillion...
. Initially joining just as a keyboard player, Hogarth also ended up sharing the vocal duties with Ferg Harper. Signed to A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, The Europeans
The Europeans (band)
The Europeans were a British group formed in 1981. They released three albums, none of which achieved much in terms of chart position. The band are perhaps best known for their lead vocalist and keyboard player, Steve Hogarth, who went on to greater things as vocalist with Marillion...
released two studio albums and one live album. On the first studio album, Hogarth sang just one track. By the second studio album, he sang five of the eight tracks.
In 1985, Hogarth and guitarist Colin Woore left the band to form How We Live
How We Live
How We Live was a project between Steve Hogarth and Colin Woore, respectively the keyboard player and guitarist previously of the New Wave band The Europeans. They released one album, Dry Land, in 1987 with Hogarth on vocals, before Hogarth replaced Fish as Marillion's vocalist in 1989...
, The duo were signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. In 1987, following record company changes, How We Live's debut album Dry Land was poorly promoted, resulting in a flop. Hogarth imagined he would have to leave the music industry - for a time seriously considering becoming a milkman or postman (as he later related) - but a meeting with his publishers (and a certain amount of matchmaking by long time friend, Darryl Way, sometime of Curved Air
Curved Air
Curved Air are a pioneering British progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band was a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements...
) persuaded him to send a tape to Marillion, who were recruiting for a new lead vocalist following the departure of Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
in late 1988.
Marillion heard the tape and were interested enough to ask for a meeting with the singer. Later accounts of this first meeting record that Hogarth turned up at band member Pete Trewavas
Pete Trewavas
Pete Trewavas is an English musician. He joined Marillion in 1982, taking over the role of bassist, from Diz Minnett, while acting occasionally as a backing vocalist and acoustic guitarist.Although he was born in Middlesbrough, Trewavas spent much of his childhood in the Buckinghamshire town of...
' house with his demo tapes contained in a red plastic fire bucket - the audition taking place in Trewavas' garage, due to the presence in the house of cats (see below). The band were immediately impressed by his vocal prowess. Hogarth himself, however, took a little longer to make up his mind, holding as he did at the time a potentially lucrative offer to tour the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
with The The
The The
The The are an English musical and multimedia group that have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter Matt Johnson being the only constant band member.-Early years :...
. In the end he accepted the Marillion gig, won over by the fact that Marillion wanted an equal partner who would input his own ideas.
Hogarth's first album with the band, released in September 1989, was Seasons End, their fifth studio album. Since then, Marillion have recorded another twelve albums with Hogarth on vocals, the most recent being Less Is More
Less Is More (album)
Less Is More is an acoustic music studio album by Marillion, released on the band's own label on 2 October 2009. A retail version is distributed by Edel Music...
, largely a reworking of earlier Marillion material in an acoustic setting. The band are currently writing and recording a new album due for release sometime in 2012.
Hogarth has also released one solo studio album under the name 'h' called Ice Cream Genius. This album had contributions from ex-Japan
Japan (band)
Japan were a British New Wave group, formed in 1974 in Catford, South London. The band achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when they were often associated with the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement .- History :The band began as a group of friends...
/ Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
synthesiser/keyboard maestro Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri, is an English synthesiser player, keyboardist and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London...
, former XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
guitarist Dave Gregory, Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
drummer Clem Burke
Clem Burke
Clem Burke is an American musician who is the drummer for the band Blondie. Recruited by Chris Stein and Debbie Harry when they were first forming Blondie, Burke remained with the band through its first stage and later returned for its late 1990s reunion and then its extensive 2009 tour.Following...
, bassist Chucho Merchan
Chucho Merchan
Chucho Merchan is a session jazz bassist and guitarist. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Cambridge University in 1980....
and percussionist Luis Jardim
Luís Jardim
Luís Alberto Figueira Gonçalves Jardim is a Portuguese percussionist, born in the Madeira Island, best known for his work with producer Trevor Horn.-Family:Jardim is a cousin of Alberto João Jardim...
.
Subsequently, Hogarth's side-project, The H-Band, has played live across the UK and Europe featuring a variety of musicians, including former The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
MKII guitarist Aziz Ibrahim
Aziz Ibrahim
Aziz Ibrahim is a British musician. He was born in Longsight, Manchester to Pakistani parents. He is best known for his work as guitarist with Simply Red, The Stone Roses and their former vocalist Ian Brown in whose support band he regularly performs – both in the studio and live...
, Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
and The Bays
The Bays
The Bays are a group of English musicians that only play live improvised jazz and dance music. They have never rehearsed nor recorded in a studio as they do not release music commercially. This means they are also completely independent of record labels...
drummer Andy Gangadeen, session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
Jingles on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Aziz's regular musical partner Dalbir Singh Rattan on tablas and Stephanie Sobey-Jones on cello. With Barbieri and Gregory, this line up recorded a double album entitled Live Spirit: Live Body in 2001 (released in 2002). Writing for a forthcoming second solo studio album occurred in December 2004.
Most recently, a solo tour entitled 'h Natural' saw Hogarth play around 20 dates in both the UK and Europe in Spring / Summer 2006, billed as an evening of music and conversation with Hogarth at the piano. Summer 2007 has seen a second clutch of these shows scheduled. These shows are being mixed and released for download, one at a time and for a limited period only, on Hogarth's new H-Tunes site.
On the 14th of May 2010 Hogarth performed at the Relentless Garage in London to celebrate his birthday. He also performed at Liverpool on the 15th and Sheffield on the 16th. To coincide with these shows a CD was released featuring some of the best tracks taken from his H Natural shows. This collection is called H Natural Selection and was available at the shows and from the Marillion website.
Personal life
Hogarth has two children; a daughter called Sofi and a son called Nial.Hogarth is violently allergic to cats - first learning this when hospitalised as a child after visiting a Liverpudlian Auntie "...whose house was full of 'em!"
Solo discography
- 1997: Ice Cream Genius
- 1998: Ice Cream Genius (Re-release)
- 2002: Live Spirit: Live Body
- 2010: H Natural Selection
Guest appearances
- 1983: Once BittenOnce Bitten (Annabel Lamb album)Once Bitten was Annabel Lamb's 1983 debut album. The U.S. version of the album differed from the UK release and as well as different cover artwork, contained the single "Riders On The Storm" which was not present on the original UK issue.-Track listing:...
– Annabel LambAnnabel Lamb-Career:Annabel Lamb has released eight albums to date. She had a British Top 30 hit in 1983 with her cover version of The Doors song, Riders on the Storm, her only hit in the UK singles chart. She appeared performing the song on Top of The Pops later that year. Her debut album, Once Bitten,...
(keyboards) - 1985: Domestic HarmonyDomestic HarmonyDomestic Harmony is the debut LP album by Australian rock/pop group Do-Ré-Mi which was released by Virgin Records in August 1985. The album has ten tracks, which were written by lead vocalist Deborah Conway, drummer Dorland Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and guitarist Stephen Philip...
– Do-Ré-MiDo-Re-Mi (band)Do-Re-Mi aka Do-Ré-Mi were an Australian Rock/Pop band formed in Sydney in 1981 when Deborah Conway and Dorland Bray joined Helen Carter and later recruited Stephen Philip...
(keyboards) - 1986: Infected – The TheThe TheThe The are an English musical and multimedia group that have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter Matt Johnson being the only constant band member.-Early years :...
: (piano on "Heartland") - 1987: Blue Yonder – Blue Yonder (backing vocals)
- 1987: Saint JulianSaint Julian (album)Saint Julian is the third solo album by Julian Cope. It has a very strong pop sound, compared to other Cope releases, and spawned several of his best known tracks ....
– Julian CopeJulian CopeJulian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
(backing vocals) - 1988: UnionUnion (Toni Childs album)Union is the debut album of the American singer/songwriter Toni Childs. Released in 1988, the album peaked at #63 in the US . It also peaked at #1 in New Zealand where it was certified 5x Platinum .The album was recorded in London, Paris, and Swaziland...
– Toni ChildsToni ChildsToni Childs is an American singer-songwriter from Orange, California. She has released four studio albums and is best known for her songs "Don't Walk Away" , "I've Got To Go Now", a Top 5 hit in Australia in 1991, and the Emmy-winning "Because You're Beautiful" Toni Childs (born October 29, 1957)...
(keyboards) - 1990: "SailingSailing (Rod Stewart song)"Sailing" is a song written by Gavin Sutherland and recorded by The Sutherland Bros. Band . Released in June 1972, it can be found on their album 'Lifeboat' released in the same year....
" – Rock Against Repatriation (vocals) - 1998: Ocean Songs – Chucho MerchanChucho MerchanChucho Merchan is a session jazz bassist and guitarist. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Cambridge University in 1980....
(vocals) - 1999: Five Years in a LIVETime5 Years in a Livetime5 Years in a LIVEtime is the second home video release by Dream Theater. The video contains a mix of concert footage, promotional video clips, and behind-the-scenes and interview footage from the five years in between the release of their previous home video, Images and Words: Live in Tokyo, and...
(video) - Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
(keyboards, vocals) - 1999: The Emperor Falls – John WesleyJohn Wesley (guitarist)John Wesley is an American singer, songwriter and guitar player. John Wesley's professional music career began in the early 1980s in the Tampa, Florida area where he founded 1991 Southwestern Music Conference's showcase act Autodrive along with drummer/producer Mark Prator...
(backing vocals) - 2007: Systematic ChaosSystematic ChaosSystematic Chaos is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007 in the United States, Systematic Chaos was the band's first release through Roadrunner Records, which was sold to their previous label...
– Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
(spoken voice) - 2011: "Till Then We Wait" - Sun Domingo (vocals)
- 2011: The Awakening - Edison's Children (vocals)