Steve White (drummer)

For other people named Steve White, see Steve White (disambiguation).

Steve White

Steve White (born 31 May 1965, Bermondsey, London) is an English drummer who has worked extensively with Paul Weller, The Style Council and other British 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 Rich 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 Bonzo, 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.

Steve White

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.

Discography

with Paul Weller

Albums

• Paul Weller (1992) - #8 UK
• Wild Wood (1993) - #2 UK
• Live Wood (1994) - #13 UK
• Stanley Road (1995) - #1 UK
• Heavy Soul (1997) - #2 UK
• Modern Classics - The Greatest Hits (1998) - #7 UK
• Heliocentric (2000) - #2 UK
• Days Of Speed (2001) - #3 UK
• Illumination (2002) - #1 UK
• Fly On The Wall - B Sides And Rarities (2003) - #22 UK
• Studio 150 (2004) - #2 UK
• Stanley Road (10th Anniversary Edition) (2005) - #51 UK
• As is Now (2005) - #4 UK
• Catch-Flame! (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)

with The Style Council

Albums

• Café Bleu (1984) - UK #2
• Our Favourite Shop (1985) - UK #1 (Internationalists in U.S.)
• Home and Abroad (1986)
• Cost of Loving (1987) - UK #2
• Confessions of a Pop Group (1988) - UK #14
• Modernism: A New Decade (1989)

with The Players

• Clear the Decks (2003)
• From the Six Corners] (2005)

with Trio Valore

• Return of the Iron Monkey (2008)

References

• Munn, Iain (2006). Mr Cool's Dream. The Complete History Of The Style Council. Wholepoint Publications. ISBN 0-9551443-0-2.

External links

• The official Steve White website
• Mr Cools dream. The complete history of The Style Council
• The Steve White myspace