Steve Swindells
Encyclopedia
Steve Swindells is an English singer-songwriter
, keyboardist
, party organiser, club promoter and journalist
.
Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his debut solo album, Messages
for RCA
in 1974. Produced by his manager Mark Edwards, Swindells felt the production quality to be poor, despite the presence of quality musicians. A follow up album Swindells' Swallow was recorded, mastered and test pressings manufactured, but the deal fell through with Swindells blaming his manager's behaviour.
Departed from his manager, Swindells joined Pilot
, recording the 1977 album Two's A Crowd. In 1978 he joined a reformed Hawkwind
, renamed as Hawklords
, for the 25 Years On
album and tour. In 1980 he recorded another solo album, Fresh Blood
, released by ATCO
, but was dropped when it failed to hit sufficient sales, despite reaching #3 in the US airplay charts. Swindells would go on to write for Roger Daltrey
on "Martyrs and Madmen" and "Treachery", before temporarily turning his attention away from the music business. In 1983, Swindells switched careers to club promoting and party organizing. In the early 1990s, he decided to re-invent himself as a journalist, writing the internet column for Time Out under the name Spyder for many years, as well as a gadget/lifestyle colourmn for Attitude
, before becoming the editor of the magazine's website. Through-out his career changes, Swindells continued to compose and perform music, as evidenced by Demos For The Departed, a double album of home demos from 1983 through 2008. In 2003, Swindells played keyboards and sang lead vocals in the band Danmingo together with Jerry Richards, Jon Moss
and Winston Blissett. Steve wrote most of the songs, apart from two band collaborations.
Swindells re-discovered two 'lost' albums from 1980: The Invisible Man, and Treachery. His 1980 album Fresh Blood was released on CD for the first time with the label Atomhenge/Cherry Red in August 2009. His 1974 album Messages, along with Swindells' Swallow will be re-released by Esoteric Recordings/Atomhenge on November 26, 2009.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, party organiser, club promoter and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his debut solo album, Messages
Messages (album)
Messages is the debut studio album by English singer and musician Steve Swindells, released in 1974 . Produced by his manager Mark Edwards, Swindells felt the production poor despite the presence of quality musicians....
for RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
in 1974. Produced by his manager Mark Edwards, Swindells felt the production quality to be poor, despite the presence of quality musicians. A follow up album Swindells' Swallow was recorded, mastered and test pressings manufactured, but the deal fell through with Swindells blaming his manager's behaviour.
Departed from his manager, Swindells joined Pilot
Pilot (band)
Pilot was a pop rock musical group, formed during 1973 in Edinburgh, Scotland by the former Bay City Rollers members, David Paton and Billy Lyall.-Career:...
, recording the 1977 album Two's A Crowd. In 1978 he joined a reformed Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
, renamed as Hawklords
Hawklords
Hawklords were an English music group active between 1978 and 1979. They were borne from the disbanded Hawkwind and a local Devon group named Ark with the addition of former Pilot keyboardist Steve Swindells.The use of the name Hawklords instead of Hawkwind may...
, for the 25 Years On
25 Years On
Hawklords is the eighth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1978. It released under the name Hawklords for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name "Hawkwind" at the time. It reached #48 on the UK album charts. It was originally titled 25 Years On and the first 25000 were...
album and tour. In 1980 he recorded another solo album, Fresh Blood
Fresh Blood
Fresh Blood is a 1980 album by the English singer/songwriter Steve Swindells. Swindells is backed on this album by guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton and drummer Simon King, both from Hawkwind, and basist Nic Potter from Van der Graaf Generator....
, released by ATCO
ATCO
ATCO Ltd. is an Alberta based corporation with more than 7,000 employees operating across three main business divisions: Power Generation; Utilities and Global Enterprises, with companies active in industrial manufacturing, technology, logistics and energy services.ATCO Ltd...
, but was dropped when it failed to hit sufficient sales, despite reaching #3 in the US airplay charts. Swindells would go on to write for Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
on "Martyrs and Madmen" and "Treachery", before temporarily turning his attention away from the music business. In 1983, Swindells switched careers to club promoting and party organizing. In the early 1990s, he decided to re-invent himself as a journalist, writing the internet column for Time Out under the name Spyder for many years, as well as a gadget/lifestyle colourmn for Attitude
Attitude (magazine)
Attitude is a British gay lifestyle magazine owned by Vitality Publishing. It is sold worldwide as a physical magazine and a digital download for the iPad and iPhone via the App Store. The first issue appeared in May 1994....
, before becoming the editor of the magazine's website. Through-out his career changes, Swindells continued to compose and perform music, as evidenced by Demos For The Departed, a double album of home demos from 1983 through 2008. In 2003, Swindells played keyboards and sang lead vocals in the band Danmingo together with Jerry Richards, Jon Moss
Jon Moss
Jon Moss is an English drummer best known as a member of the 1980s pop group Culture Club. He has also played with other bands, including London, The Nips and The Damned.-Early life:...
and Winston Blissett. Steve wrote most of the songs, apart from two band collaborations.
Swindells re-discovered two 'lost' albums from 1980: The Invisible Man, and Treachery. His 1980 album Fresh Blood was released on CD for the first time with the label Atomhenge/Cherry Red in August 2009. His 1974 album Messages, along with Swindells' Swallow will be re-released by Esoteric Recordings/Atomhenge on November 26, 2009.
As solo artist
- MessagesMessages (album)Messages is the debut studio album by English singer and musician Steve Swindells, released in 1974 . Produced by his manager Mark Edwards, Swindells felt the production poor despite the presence of quality musicians....
(1974) - Fresh BloodFresh BloodFresh Blood is a 1980 album by the English singer/songwriter Steve Swindells. Swindells is backed on this album by guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton and drummer Simon King, both from Hawkwind, and basist Nic Potter from Van der Graaf Generator....
(1980) - Demos For The Departed (2008)
With Hawklords
- 25 Years On25 Years OnHawklords is the eighth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1978. It released under the name Hawklords for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name "Hawkwind" at the time. It reached #48 on the UK album charts. It was originally titled 25 Years On and the first 25000 were...
(1978) - Weird Tape 1 (1980)
- Weird Tape 2 (1980)
- Weird Tape 4 (1981)
- Hawkwind, Friends and Relations Volume 1Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
(1982) - Hawkwind, Friends and Relations Volume 3Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
(1985) - Hawkwind AnthologyHawkwind AnthologyThe Hawkwind Anthology series of records were originally issued mid-1980s containing live and outtake material from Hawkwind's career to that date....
Volume 1 (1985) - Hawkwind AnthologyHawkwind AnthologyThe Hawkwind Anthology series of records were originally issued mid-1980s containing live and outtake material from Hawkwind's career to that date....
Volume 2 (1986) - Hawklords Live (1992)
- Hawkwind, Friends and Relations Volume 6Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
(1996) - LevitationLevitation (album)Levitation is the tenth studio album by English rock group Hawkwind, released in 1980. It peaked at #21 on the UK Albums Chart.At the time of its release, band leader Dave Brock stated: "with Levitation we’ve come full circle back to the style of our debut album...
2009 re-master (first 5 bonus tracks on disc 1) (2009) - Live '78 (2009)
With The Hawklords
- Robert Calvert Memorial Concert, Kings Hall, Herne Bay 28 Sept 2008 (2009)
- Sonic Rock Solstice 2010 (various artists) (2010)
- Barney Bubbles Memorial Concert (2011)
Other album appearances
- Capdevielle Les Enfants Des Ténèbres Et Les Anges De La Rue (1979)
- Spirits BurningSpirits BurningSpirits Burning is a musical collective that has released a combination of ambient, jazz and full-on space-rock with input from many of the genre's luminaries, most notably Gong's Daevid Allen and members of Hawkwind. Spirits Burning is overseen by American composer/producer Don Falcone.-History:In...
& Bridget WishartBridget WishartBridget Wishart is a vocalist and performance artist who performed with Hawkwind from 1989 to 1991, appearing on the albums Space Bandits, Palace Springs, California Brainstorm and Take Me to Your Future and, among others, the Nottingham 1990 video.She obtained BA in Fine Art from Newport Art...
Earth Born (2008) - Spirits BurningSpirits BurningSpirits Burning is a musical collective that has released a combination of ambient, jazz and full-on space-rock with input from many of the genre's luminaries, most notably Gong's Daevid Allen and members of Hawkwind. Spirits Burning is overseen by American composer/producer Don Falcone.-History:In...
& Bridget WishartBridget WishartBridget Wishart is a vocalist and performance artist who performed with Hawkwind from 1989 to 1991, appearing on the albums Space Bandits, Palace Springs, California Brainstorm and Take Me to Your Future and, among others, the Nottingham 1990 video.She obtained BA in Fine Art from Newport Art...
Bloodlines (2009)