Steve White
Encyclopedia
Steve White is an English
drummer
who has worked extensively with Paul Weller, The Style Council
and other British
musicians.
and Louis Bellson, along with lessons from his drumming teacher Bob Armstrong. White complemented his work gigging with local bands with part time work, spending any spare cash on updating his collection of jazz records. In 1983, White auditioned for an un-named band which turned out to be Paul Weller's new group, The Style Council. Weller was impressed with the 17-year old drummer's jazz background and asked White to come back the following day. White stayed with the band for some years but was never actually invited to join, even though he appeared in most of their videos and on all but a few recordings. He became the youngest drummer on stage at Live Aid
at Wembley
in 1985 (and also played the Live 8
gig at Hyde Park with The Who
).
White left the Style Council in 1988 in order to pursue other projects and went on to play with many well known acts, such as Ian Dury
, The Redskins
, and the Jazz Renegades. When the Style Council reformed for a one off gig for Japanese TV in 1990, Paul Weller invited White to his studio to hear a few demo tracks. White was soon back full time behind the kit for Weller's solo projects which still holds fast today. His brother Alan White
is also a drummer, who played for Oasis
for nine years (1995–2004). Alan White has been quoted as saying about his brother that beside influences such as Ringo Starr
and John Bonham
, his brother was also one of his main influences. During Oasis's tour of the United States in 2001, Alan White had tendinitis leading to Steve standing in several shows.
White is also a member of supergroup
The Players
with ex-Style Council keyboardist Mick Talbot
and ex-Ocean Colour Scene
bassist Damon Minchella
.
He has his own website, where he answers the fans' questions, and discusses his recent activities with Paul Weller, Chad Smith
and many more respected musicians. In 2005, he took over drumming duties for The Who
at Live 8
, after their regular drummer Zak Starkey
, Ringo Starr
's son, joined Oasis
on their tours and recording sessions.
White is currently taking a break from gigging and recording with Paul Weller
. He is now in Trio Valore with Damon Minchella
and Seamus Beaghan. He is also playing with Jon Lord
.
He funded the setting up of a testicular cancer
awareness website www.checkemlads.com after he became aware of a fan ill with testicular cancer and on chemotherapy. It is now one of the biggest young men's cancer awareness websites in the UK.
Steve now is the UK front man for the MAPEX drum company and can be seen in various locations across the country doing drum shows on Mapex kits and busy doing private tuition in Manchester.
Steve now managing artists Abi Phillips and Sam Gray. Both young and talented singer/songwriters
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...
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...
who has worked extensively with Paul Weller, The Style Council
The Style Council
The Style Council were an English band, formed in 1983 by the ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller, with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn also...
and other British
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...
musicians.
Musical career
White was given a small drum as a child by his uncle and upon joining his local Boys Brigade he began to learn his craft. As with White's band mate Paul Weller, he was given full support from his parents who went out of their way to help their son develop. White spent his youth learning from Buddy RichBuddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
and Louis Bellson, along with lessons from his drumming teacher Bob Armstrong. White complemented his work gigging with local bands with part time work, spending any spare cash on updating his collection of jazz records. In 1983, White auditioned for an un-named band which turned out to be Paul Weller's new group, The Style Council. Weller was impressed with the 17-year old drummer's jazz background and asked White to come back the following day. White stayed with the band for some years but was never actually invited to join, even though he appeared in most of their videos and on all but a few recordings. He became the youngest drummer on stage at Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
in 1985 (and also played the Live 8
Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
gig at Hyde Park with The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
).
White left the Style Council in 1988 in order to pursue other projects and went on to play with many well known acts, such as Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
, The Redskins
The Redskins
The Redskins were a 1980s English band, notable for their left-wing politics and catchy, danceable songs. Their music combined influences from soul, rockabilly, pop and punk rock.- History :...
, and the Jazz Renegades. When the Style Council reformed for a one off gig for Japanese TV in 1990, Paul Weller invited White to his studio to hear a few demo tracks. White was soon back full time behind the kit for Weller's solo projects which still holds fast today. His brother Alan White
Alan White (Oasis drummer)
Alan White is an English drummer, best known as being the drummer of the English rock group Oasis between 1995 and 2004, performing on four studio albums, two compilation albums and one live album. He joined the band in May 1995 after the band's original drummer Tony McCarroll was removed from...
is also a drummer, who played for Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
for nine years (1995–2004). Alan White has been quoted as saying about his brother that beside influences such as Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
and John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
, his brother was also one of his main influences. During Oasis's tour of the United States in 2001, Alan White had tendinitis leading to Steve standing in several shows.
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
The Players
The Players (supergroup)
The Players are a supergroup consisting of the core members of Damon Minchella , Mick Talbot and Steve White .Their first album Clear the Decks, released in 2003 had Aziz Ibrahim on guitar, and featured guest musicians Steve Cradock and Chad Smith.Their second album From the Six Corners, released...
with ex-Style Council keyboardist Mick Talbot
Mick Talbot
Michael 'Mick' Talbot is a British keyboardist. He played with the late 1970s mod revivalists The Merton Parkas; Dexys Midnight Runners; The Bureau, and later with Paul Weller in The Style Council....
and ex-Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
bassist Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella is an English bass guitarist, formerly with Ocean Colour Scene, which he left in 2003. He was a regular member of Paul Weller's backing band until 2008, is a member of the supergroup The Players and played for The Who during their performance at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park.He...
.
He has his own website, where he answers the fans' questions, and discusses his recent activities with Paul Weller, Chad Smith
Chad Smith
Chad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
and many more respected musicians. In 2005, he took over drumming duties for The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
at Live 8
Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
, after their regular drummer Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
, Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
's son, joined Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
on their tours and recording sessions.
White is currently taking a break from gigging and recording with Paul Weller
Paul Weller
Paul Weller is an English singer-songwriter. Starting with the band The Jam , Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council...
. He is now in Trio Valore with Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella is an English bass guitarist, formerly with Ocean Colour Scene, which he left in 2003. He was a regular member of Paul Weller's backing band until 2008, is a member of the supergroup The Players and played for The Who during their performance at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park.He...
and Seamus Beaghan. He is also playing with Jon Lord
Jon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
.
He funded the setting up of a testicular cancer
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
awareness website www.checkemlads.com after he became aware of a fan ill with testicular cancer and on chemotherapy. It is now one of the biggest young men's cancer awareness websites in the UK.
Steve now is the UK front man for the MAPEX drum company and can be seen in various locations across the country doing drum shows on Mapex kits and busy doing private tuition in Manchester.
Steve now managing artists Abi Phillips and Sam Gray. Both young and talented singer/songwriters
Albums
- Paul WellerPaul Weller (album)Paul Weller is Paul Weller's first solo album, released in 1992.After disbanding The Style Council and leaving label Polydor in 1989, Weller formed The Paul Weller Movement in 1990, releasing a single, Into Tomorrow, on his own Freedom High record label, in October 1991...
(1992) - #8 UK - Wild WoodWild WoodWild Wood was Paul Weller's second solo record, released in September 1993. It made it to number 2 in the UK charts, and contained three UK hits: "Wild Wood", which reached #14 in the UK charts, "Sunflower", which reached #16 and "Hung Up", which reached #11.The original 1993 UK and European CD...
(1993) - #2 UK - Live WoodLive WoodLive Wood, released in 1994 was Paul Weller's first solo live album, comprising a collection of high energy and melodic numbers selected from his 1993/1994 tour...
(1994) - #13 UK - Stanley RoadStanley Road-Track listing:Disc 1#"The Changingman" #"Porcelain Gods"#"I Walk on Gilded Splinters" #"You Do Something to Me"#"Woodcutter's Son"#"Time Passes / Steam"#"Stanley Road"#"Broken Stones"#"Out of the Sinking"#"Pink on White Walls"...
(1995) - #1 UK - Heavy Soul (1997) - #2 UK
- Modern Classics - The Greatest HitsModern Classics - The Greatest HitsModern Classics – The Greatest Hits is a compilation album of music by English singer-songwriter Paul Weller, originally released in 1998. It featured most of his solo singles up to that point as well as a new track "Brand New Start".- Track listing :...
(1998) - #7 UK - Heliocentric (2000) - #2 UK
- Days Of SpeedDays Of SpeedDays of Speed is Paul Weller's second live album, released on 8 October 2001 in the UK and 2 July 2002 in the US. All songs were performed solo and acoustic from various venues around Europe.-Track listing:All tracks by Paul Weller...
(2001) - #3 UK - IlluminationIllumination (Paul Weller album)Illumination is the sixth album by English singer-songwriter Paul Weller, released on 16 September 2002. "Call Me No.5" is a duet with Kelly Jones of Stereophonics, and "One X One" features Gem Archer on acoustic guitar and Noel Gallagher of Oasis on drums, percussion and bass.-Reception:Initial...
(2002) - #1 UK - Fly On The Wall - B Sides And RaritiesFly On The Wall - B Sides And RaritiesFly On The Wall - B Sides and Rarities is a 2003 compilation album by British artist Paul Weller. It comprises three discs of B-sides, rarities, remixes and unreleased tracks from The Go! Discs and Island Records period of Weller's career between 1991 and 2001.-Track listing:Disc One# Here's A New...
(2003) - #22 UK - Studio 150Studio 150Studio 150 is the seventh album by British artist Paul Weller. It comprises covers of songs by a variety of artists, and showcases Weller's myriad musical influences. It was named after the small Amsterdam studio in which it was recorded...
(2004) - #2 UK - Stanley RoadStanley Road-Track listing:Disc 1#"The Changingman" #"Porcelain Gods"#"I Walk on Gilded Splinters" #"You Do Something to Me"#"Woodcutter's Son"#"Time Passes / Steam"#"Stanley Road"#"Broken Stones"#"Out of the Sinking"#"Pink on White Walls"...
(10th Anniversary Edition) (2005) - #51 UK - As is NowAs Is NowAs Is Now is Paul Weller's eighth studio album. Released in October 2005, it reached number 4 in the UK charts.The singles from the record were "From The Floorboards Up" , "Come On/Let's Go" , "Here's The Good News" and the "The As Is Now EP" which did not qualify for the charts and it had 4...
(2005) - #4 UK - Catch-Flame!Catch-Flame!Catch-Flame! was recorded at London’s Alexandra Palace and is Paul Weller’s third solo live album. Recorded on 5 December – the last date of Weller’s 2005 UK tour – it features live versions of songs spanning his entire career, including those of The Jam and The Style Council.Five songs played at...
(2006)
Singles
- "Into Tomorrow" (as Paul Weller Movement) (1991) - #36 UK
- "Uh Huh Oh Yeh" (1992) - #18 UK
- "Above The Clouds" (1992) - #47 UK
- "Sunflower" (1993) - #16 UK
- "Wild Wood" (1993) - #14 UK
- "The Weaver EP - The Weaver, This Is No Time, Another New Day, Ohio (Live)" (1993) - #18 UK
- "Hung Up" (1994) - #11 UK
- "Out Of The Sinking" (1994) - #20 UK
- "The Changingman" (1995) - #7 UK
- "You Do Something To Me" (1995) - #9 UK
- "Broken Stones" (1995) - #20 UK
- "Out Of The Sinking" re-release (1996) - #16 UK
- "Peacock Suit" (1996) - #5 UK
- "Brushed" (1997) - #14 UK
- "Friday Street" (1997) - #21 UK
- "Mermaids" (1997) - #30 UK
- "Brand New Start" (1998) - #16 UK
- "Wild Wood" re-release (1999) - #22 UK
- "The Keeper" (2000) - #? UK
- "Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea" (2000) - #44 UK
- "Brother To Brother" Terry Callier featuring Paul Weller (2002) - #81 UK
- "It's Written In The Stars" (2002) - #7 UK
- "Leafy Mysteries" (2002) - #23 UK
- "The Bottle" (2004) - #13 UK
- "Wishing On A Star" (2004) - #11 UK
- "Thinking Of You" (2004) - #18 UK
- "Early Morning Rain"/"Come Together" (2005) - #40 UK
- "From The Floorboards Up" (2005) - #6 UK
- "Come On/Let's Go" (2005) - #15 UK
- "Here's The Good News" (2005) - #21 UK
- "As Is Now" EP - "Blink and You'll Miss It", "From The Floorboards Up", "Come On"/"Let's Go", "Here's the Good News". (2006)
- "Wild Blue Yonder" (2006)
Albums
- Café BleuCafé BleuCafé Bleu is the official debut album released by the band The Style Council in March 1984, reaching number 2 in the UK charts. It followed the compilation Introducing The Style Council, which was released only in the Netherlands, Canada and Japan....
(1984) - UK #2 - Our Favourite ShopOur Favourite ShopOur Favourite Shop is the second album from the band The Style Council. The majority of the album's material was released in the USA as Internationalists by Geffen Records Our Favourite Shop is the second album from the band The Style Council. The majority of the album's material was released...
(1985) - UK #1 (Internationalists in U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) - Home and AbroadHome and Abroad-Track listing:# "The Big Boss Groove"# "My Ever Changing Moods"# "The Lodgers"# "Headstart for Happiness"# " Call Me"# "The Whole Point of No Return"# "Our Favourite Shop"# "With Everything to Lose"# "Homebreakers"# "Shout to the Top!"...
(1986) - Cost of Loving (1987) - UK #2
- Confessions of a Pop GroupConfessions of a Pop GroupConfessions of a Pop Group is an album from the band The Style Council. Released on 20 June 1988, the album received moderate success, reaching # 15 on the UK album chart....
(1988) - UK #14 - Modernism: A New DecadeModernism: A New DecadeModernism: A New Decade is an album by the band The Style Council. It represented a departure from the band's core genre of pop, to a new one; deep house, which was then being referred to as "garage" music by the UK press. However upon its completion in 1989, it was rejected by their label...
(1989)