Bernard Butler

Bernard Butler
Bernard Butler
	;
Background information
Birth name	Bernard Joseph Butler
Born	1 May 1970 (age 39); Stamford Hill, East London, England
Genre(s)	Alternative rock, Britpop
Occupation(s)	songwriter, Guitarist,record producer
Instrument(s)	Guitar, Piano
Years active	1989 - present
Associated acts	Suede; The Tears; McAlmont and Butler; Duffy
Website	www.bernardbutler.com
Notable instrument(s)
	Cherry red Gibson ES-355 TD SV (Stereo Varitone) with a Bigsby tailpiece

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For the Irish politician, see Bernard Butler (Irish politician).

Bernard Butler (born Bernard Joseph Butler 1 May 1970 in Stamford Hill, North London, England) is an English musician and record producer.

[edit] Career

He first achieved fame in 1992 as the guitarist with Suede, forging a songwriting partnership with Brett Anderson, at the time an instant phenomenon in UK pop music. He co-wrote and played guitars on every track until 1994, when he left Suede leaving behind the Mercury Music Prize winning debut Suede, as well as the acclaimed follow-up Dog Man Star.

In 1994 Butler formed the duo McAlmont and Butler with David McAlmont. They released two singles, "Yes" and "You Do". A compilation album, The Sound of McAlmont and Butler, was released after the split. He went on to release two solo albums under his own name, People Move On and Friends and Lovers on Creation Records yielding the hit single "Stay" In 2001 Butler teamed up with McAlmont for a second McAlmont and Butler album, Bring it Back, touring the UK with two singles, "Falling" and "Bring it Back".

In 2004 Butler healed his rift with former Suede singer Brett Anderson, forming a new band, The Tears. The Tears released their highly anticipated debut LP, Here Come The Tears, produced by Butler, in June 2005. Singles include "Refugees", which reached #9 in the UK Singles Chart, and "Lovers".

In 2005 He was introduced to Welsh singer Duffy contributing to her 5 million selling debut Rockferry which has been nominated for 3 Grammy Awards. Butler contributed the title track as well as "Syrup & Honey" which was used in a worldwide Nivea ad campaign, produced "Please Stay" for "Telstar - The Movie" and co wrote "Smoke Without Fire " , to be used in the 2009 film "An Education". They also produced a version of Wings "Live & Let Die" for the 2009 Warchild album at Sir Paul McCartney's request. In 2009 Butler has produced the music for the Diet Coke TV advert featuring Duffy, as well as a cover of the "Stay With Me Baby" for the Richard Curtis movie "The Boat That Rocked". The pair continue to collaborate.

He has played on and/or produced records by [2] Aimee Mann, Edwyn Collins, Neneh Cherry, Tim Booth (of James), Duffy, Eddi Reader, Hopper, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch, The Libertines, Heather Nova, Mark Owen, The Veils, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Cribs, Pretenders, The On-Off's, 1990s, The Mescalitas, Cut Off Your Hands, Cajun Dance Party, The View, Arkitekt, Sons and Daughters, Black Kids, Tricky and Sharleen Spiteri. He created the soundtrack to the 1997 film The James Gang and played on the soundtrack of Velvet Goldmine, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. He has played live with The Cranberries, Sparks, Paul Weller, Teenage Fanclub, Manic Street Preachers, Bert Jansch and Duke Special.

Butler names former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as his major inspiration. He is often seen performing with a 1961 cherry red Gibson ES-355 TD SV (Stereo Varitone) with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.

Butler is managed by Rough Trade's Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee.

Butler won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards, Producer Of The Year at the 2008 Music Managers Forum Awards, and has been nominated for Best Producer at the 2009 Music Week Awards.

In 2009 Bernard will be co-writing/producing/playing on tracks by Tommy Reilly, Jonathan Jeremiah, Duffy , Kate Jackson, Florence And The Machine, and Catherine A.D.^[1]

[edit] Suede discography

1993 - Suede - Suede (Mercury Music Prize winner)
- singles: "The Drowners", "Metal Mickey", "Animal Nitrate", "So Young"
1994 - Suede - "Stay Together" (Non-album single)
1994 - Suede - Dog Man Star
- singles: "We are the Pigs", "The Wild Ones", "New Generation"

1997 - Suede - Sci-Fi Lullabies
- (collection of Suede B-sides)

[edit] Solo discography

1998 - Bernard Butler - People Move On
- singles: "Stay", "Not Alone", "A Change of Heart"
1999 - Bernard Butler - Friends and Lovers
- singles: "Friends and Lovers", "You Must Go On"

[edit] McAlmont and Butler discography

1995 - McAlmont and Butler - The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
- singles: "Yes", "You Do"
2002 - McAlmont and Butler - Bring it Back
- singles: "Falling", "Bring it Back"
2006 - McAlmont and Butler
- single: "Speed"