Steve Prestwich
Encyclopedia
Steven Prestwich was an English
-born Australia
n drummer
, guitarist, singer and songwriter. After relocating from Liverpool
, Prestwich was the founding and long-term drummer for pub rock
ers Cold Chisel
which formed in Adelaide
, South Australia in 1973. He wrote the Cold Chisel's songs, "When the War Is Over
" and "Forever Now
", from the 1982 album Circus Animals
. Prestwich also had a short spell with the Little River Band
. Prestwich released two solo albums. Prestwich died on 16 January 2011 from a brain tumour two months before his 57th birthday.
, England
in 1954. He was a member of the folk/rock band, Sandy, in 1970 in the United Kingdom. His family relocated to Adelaide, South Australia in 1971 when he was aged 17. He was a member of Elizabeth band Ice with bassist Michael Smith and guitarist John Pryer from 1971 to 1973. In 1973, he was the founding drummer for heavy metal
group Orange with the line-up of Jimmy Barnes
, Ian Moss
, Don Walker
and Leszek Kaczmarek. Orange evolved into pub rockers
, Cold Chisel
in 1974 and Prestwich remained a member until early 1983. During his time in Cold Chisel, Prestwich wrote "When the War Is Over
" and "Forever Now". Both songs appeared on their 1982 album, Circus Animals
. He co-wrote with Walker the song Flame Trees
from the 1984 album Twentieth Century. He briefly rejoined Cold Chisel for their Last Stand Tour from October until the group's final show on 12 December 1983. Prestwich joined the Australian group, Little River Band
(1984–1986) toured the United States and released two albums with them. Little River Band recorded "When the War is Over" with John Farnham
on vocals. Prestwich rejoined Cold Chisel in later reformations.
Prestwich released his first solo album, Since You've Been Gone in August 2000, which he also produced
. His second album, Every Highway was released in October 2009.
Prestwich was the father of a daughter, Melody, and a son, Vaughan.
On 16 January, Prestwich died after never regaining consciousness following brain surgery.
Cold Chisel released this update on their website:
"Cold Chisel's drummer, Steve Prestwich, passed away Sunday afternoon. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour less than two weeks ago, underwent an operation last Friday, and never regained consciousness.
Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Phil Small and Don Walker are shattered by the loss. All our thoughts are with Steve's loved ones at this difficult time."
On 14 March 2011, Barnes planted a flame tree
in Prestwich's memory at the National Arboretum Canberra
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-born Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, guitarist, singer and songwriter. After relocating from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Prestwich was the founding and long-term drummer for pub rock
Pub rock (Australia)
Pub rock is a style of Australian rock and roll popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and still influencing contemporary Australian music today....
ers Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
which formed in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia in 1973. He wrote the Cold Chisel's songs, "When the War Is Over
When the War Is Over
"When the War Is Over" is a power ballad originally performed by Australian band Cold Chisel on their 1982 album Circus Animals. The song was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and issued as the third single from the album, peaking at #25 on the national singles chart.-Cold Chisel version:Like many...
" and "Forever Now
Forever Now (Cold Chisel song)
"Forever Now" was a 1982 single from Australian rock band Cold Chisel. The second single from the album Circus Animals, it was the first Cold Chisel single to be penned by Steve Prestwich. The song reached number 2 in the New Zealand charts, and number 4 in Australia, the band highest chart...
", from the 1982 album Circus Animals
Circus Animals
Circus Animals was a studio album released by Australian band Cold Chisel in 1982. It was recorded and mixed at Paradise Studios and EMI Studio 301, Sydney . It reached number one on the Australian charts, remaining in the charts for 40 weeks...
. Prestwich also had a short spell with the Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
. Prestwich released two solo albums. Prestwich died on 16 January 2011 from a brain tumour two months before his 57th birthday.
Biography
Steven William Prestwich was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 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...
in 1954. He was a member of the folk/rock band, Sandy, in 1970 in the United Kingdom. His family relocated to Adelaide, South Australia in 1971 when he was aged 17. He was a member of Elizabeth band Ice with bassist Michael Smith and guitarist John Pryer from 1971 to 1973. In 1973, he was the founding drummer for heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
group Orange with the line-up of Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
, Ian Moss
Ian Moss
Ian Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
, Don Walker
Don Walker (musician)
Don Walker is an Australian musician and songwriter known for writing many of the hits for Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel. He played piano and keyboard with the band from 1973 to 1983, when they disbanded. He has since continued to record and tour, both solo and with Tex, Don and Charlie,...
and Leszek Kaczmarek. Orange evolved into pub rockers
Pub rock (Australia)
Pub rock is a style of Australian rock and roll popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and still influencing contemporary Australian music today....
, Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
in 1974 and Prestwich remained a member until early 1983. During his time in Cold Chisel, Prestwich wrote "When the War Is Over
When the War Is Over
"When the War Is Over" is a power ballad originally performed by Australian band Cold Chisel on their 1982 album Circus Animals. The song was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and issued as the third single from the album, peaking at #25 on the national singles chart.-Cold Chisel version:Like many...
" and "Forever Now". Both songs appeared on their 1982 album, Circus Animals
Circus Animals
Circus Animals was a studio album released by Australian band Cold Chisel in 1982. It was recorded and mixed at Paradise Studios and EMI Studio 301, Sydney . It reached number one on the Australian charts, remaining in the charts for 40 weeks...
. He co-wrote with Walker the song Flame Trees
Flame Trees
"Flame Trees" is a song by Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel from their 1984 album Twentieth Century. It is one of their best known songs, and was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and organist Don Walker...
from the 1984 album Twentieth Century. He briefly rejoined Cold Chisel for their Last Stand Tour from October until the group's final show on 12 December 1983. Prestwich joined the Australian group, Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
(1984–1986) toured the United States and released two albums with them. Little River Band recorded "When the War is Over" with John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
on vocals. Prestwich rejoined Cold Chisel in later reformations.
Prestwich released his first solo album, Since You've Been Gone in August 2000, which he also produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. His second album, Every Highway was released in October 2009.
Prestwich was the father of a daughter, Melody, and a son, Vaughan.
On 16 January, Prestwich died after never regaining consciousness following brain surgery.
Cold Chisel released this update on their website:
"Cold Chisel's drummer, Steve Prestwich, passed away Sunday afternoon. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour less than two weeks ago, underwent an operation last Friday, and never regained consciousness.
Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Phil Small and Don Walker are shattered by the loss. All our thoughts are with Steve's loved ones at this difficult time."
On 14 March 2011, Barnes planted a flame tree
Brachychiton acerifolius
Brachychiton acerifolius, commonly known as the Illawarra Flame Tree, is a large tree of the family Malvaceae native to subtropical regions on the east coast of Australia. It is famous for the bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the whole tree when it is leafless...
in Prestwich's memory at the National Arboretum Canberra
National Arboretum Canberra
The National Arboretum Canberra is an arboretum in Canberra, the national capital of Australia, created after the area was burned out as a result of the Christmas 2001 and 2003 Canberra bushfires: The Himalayan Cedar forest lost about one third of its trees, and the commercial Radiata Pine...
.