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Gary Lightbody

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Gary Lightbody
Gary Lightbody at Tempodrom (Berlin, Germany) in 2010
Gary Lightbody at Tempodrom (Berlin, Germany) in 2010
Background information
Born (1976-06-15) 15 June 1976 (age 48)
Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland
GenresAlternative rock, power pop, indie rock
Occupation(s)Singer
Guitarist
Songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar
Vocals
Keyboards
Glockenspiel
Years active1994–present
LabelsR

Gary Lightbody (born 15 June 1976)[1] is a Northern Irish musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol.

Early life

Lightbody, who was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland, attended Rockport School and Campbell College as a youngster.[2][3] He left home for Scotland in 1994 to study English literature and English language at the University of Dundee.[4][5]

Growing up, he listened to artists like Super Furry Animals, Quincy Jones, Kool & the Gang and Michael Jackson. He subsequently got into hard rock bands AC/DC and KISS as a teen, and then alternative acts like Sebadoh, Mudhoney, Pixies and Pavement.[6] Since a child, he dreamed of becoming "the biggest rock star on the planet" like Bono, but was never "cool".[7]

He is a fan of the X-Men and particularly Wolverine, and owns a "stack" of comics related to them. He bought several comics as a kid and has some that he has never opened, hoping they would become rare collectibles someday. In a later interview, he light-heartedly mentioned that they could earn him a small pension someday. He considers himself a "comics freak".[8]

Snow Patrol

Lightbody formed a band with Mark McClelland and drummer Michael Morrison in 1994, called Shrug. Morrison left the band later, and the band were forced to change the name to Polarbear, as another band had claimed the name. In the band's first seven years of existence, they added drummer Jonny Quinn, released two albums (Songs for Polarbears, and When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up), and toured with bands such as Levellers, Ash and Travis. The band stayed in Glasgow during the recording of the first two albums. Lightbody used to hold a job at the Nice n Sleazy's Bar in Sauchiehall Street.[1][9] Today, Lightbody owns a small place in Glasgow and says he will never leave the country behind, though he resides in Belfast. He feels an attachment to the place, as it gave him his first taste of success.[10]

In the early days, Lightbody used to drink very heavily, and in his words, was "irrational, erratic, neurotic". Snow Patrol's lack of financial success had gotten him frustrated, and he felt lost and aimless. He started cursing at the audience and demolishing the band's equipment. He found himself breaking guitars they could not afford. This phase ran for two years. He later gave up drinking and now does it "for fun" and credits his band mates for the turnaround.[11] The song "Disaster Button" (A Hundred Million Suns) deals with this topic. Though a musician, he cannot read music and has said that he "guesses" his way through chords.[7] His voice type is baritone.[12]

In July 2012, he became Dr Gary Lightbody after receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from the University of Ulster at a ceremony in the Millennium Forum, Derry~Londonderry.

Songwriting

Lightbody started writing songs at the age of 15, in a little room under the kitchen of the family's house. He had limited guitar lessons where he learnt the basics of the instrument. He chose not to advance as he felt one should not know any instrument "inside out". He preferred to invent rather than use a formula. Today, he is not too fond of his earliest songs, and thinks they "sucked". His songwriting style is mostly simple and basic, and he acknowledges that, saying he "[never] advanced past rudimentary". He feels the best way to write an honest song is to be simple, and that trying to complicate matters distorts the intended message. He believes the band has always tried to keep things as "simple and pure" as possible and has written from the heart. One of Lightbody's major inspirations to begin writing was notable Irish poet Seamus Heaney; which is alluded to on the B-side track on Snow Patrol's The Planets Bend Between Us single, named 'Reading Heaney To Me'. It also refers extensively to Heaney's poems throughout the lyrics.

Lightbody's lyrics typically deal with the topic of love. He considers himself a political person and has tried writing songs with such themes but eventually abandoned his efforts as he found all of them awkward.[13] Lightbody has said that all of the songs from the first two albums; Songs for Polarbears and When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up were written from personal experience.[14] His lyrics often criticize himself. He has cited "Chocolate" as an example, which he wrote after cheating on his girlfriend. He also considers writing a sort of "therapy" for himself.[13]

Lightbody's songwriting has earned him much praise. In October 2009, he revealed that a certain "public figure", whom he wanted to remain nameless, told him that the band had written songs that were standards in today's world, and that Snow Patrol songs had become a part of the public consciousness. He compared their work to that of artists like Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. Lightbody realises this and cites performances of their songs on reality TV shows as an example.[7]

DJing

When in University, Lightbody met Nick DeCosemo (a fellow student) and the two became friends. DeCosemo also moved in Lightbody's Springfield apartment when he moved out of his parents' house. Nick had formed a club night called The Spaceship at the Tay Hotel. Along with Lightbody, friends Roy Kerr, Tom Simpson and Anu Pillai also used to DJ there. They mixed up various styles of music as house, guitar and hip hop. They gained a loyal following and socialized together for about two years.[15][16][17] Lightbody later co-wrote "What are You Waiting For" on the album Strangest Things, with Anu Pillai for Freeform Five.[15][18] It was written before Snow Patrol released Final Straw, during a time when Lightbody was staying over at the band's place for a few days. Pillai had to literally drag a hungover Lightbody to the studio. Once there, however, Gary would come through for them.[17]

He has filled in for DJ Zane Lowe on his BBC radio show on one occasion during the 2007 takeovers. He was subsequently voted the best fill-in DJ amongst them by the listeners.[19] He has compiled two DJ mix albums, one in The Trip series: The Trip: Created by Snow Patrol, and another with band mate Tom Simpson, called Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol on the Late Night Tales series.

Views

Lightbody holds the view that Snow Patrol may have had an easier time succeeding in the music industry than a band forming at the present time and attempting to become successful, given the changed state of the music industry, specifically how music is obtained by consumers. He questions the public's motive to buy the songs which they have already listened to, and blames Myspace for it. Of Snow Patrol, Lightbody has said that all albums they managed to sell in the early days were from touring, as there were no pirated copies of their music available then. He believes if the current state of the industry continues, it would become impossible for bands starting out to become full-time.[20] Despite this, he observes that the band might not have survived if they had gotten a break early in their career, as they would have subsequently taken success for granted.[21]

Accolades

Year Publication Entity Rank
2005 Scotland on Sunday The Eligibles[22][23][24] 4
2006 1
2007 Top 10
2006 Daily Record 100 Hottest Scots[25] 5
2007 9
2009 Social and Personal Sexiest Irishmen[26] 96
Q Artists of the Century[27][28] *

Other projects

Lightbody performing live at Vega in Copenhagen in 2006

As a songwriter/bandleader, he has written songs and lyrics for a wide variety of artists and genres. In 2001, he formed the Scottish supergroup The Reindeer Section including members of bands like Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai, Idlewild, Teenage Fanclub, Arab Strap and other musicians.[29] He is one of the supporting voices for the growing music-scene in his hometown Belfast in Northern Ireland, and stated once in an interview to have grown up as an "Indie rock-kid"-inspired to become a musician through influences of artists such as Kurt Cobain, Super Furry Animals and Sebadoh.[30] Lightbody prefers to keep his private life very private.

Furthermore he writes as essayist articles or columns in variously music magazines and newspapers like Q magazine[31] and previously wrote for The Irish Times music section[32] as guest-editor. As an impassioned music fan and DJ he recommends in his blogs or essays albums and artists of different and wide-ranging genres of music. In the magazine "The New Statesman", he referred to his journey to Uganda with the aid organisation Save the Children.[33]

Gary Lightbody is currently on the board of directors of the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Northern Ireland, a project set up to give young artists a place where they can share ideas and kick-start their music careers, as often is the trend of talent leaving the country from lack of appraisal. He supported young bands from Northern Ireland and involved them as support bands to shows of Snow Patrol's UK & Ireland Arena Tour of February–March 2009.

Lightbody has been in many doomed relationships, and he blames their failure on only himself, considering himself "rubbish with women". He attributes the failure partly to him "never being in the same place for very long", and admits that at times he's been hopelessly in love.[7]

2000–2002
2005–2006
  • In 2005 he was included in another musical collective, The Cake Sale, formed by Brian Crosby to raise funds and awareness for Ireland's Make Trade Fair campaign. He partnered with Lisa Hannigan to perform "Some Surprise", a song written by Bell X1's Paul Noonan. The song reached #5 on Irish charts as a radio–single release.
  • He contributed vocals to The Freelance Hellraisers Waiting for Clearance debut album in 2006 and for UK producer Kidda's debut album Going Up.[34]
2007–2008
  • As songwriter for the track "Just Say Yes" for Nicole Scherzinger's debut solo album Her Name Is Nicole but due to the album being shelved the single was re-recorded by Pussycat Dolls and remains unreleased by Scherzinger. In 2009 Gary Lightbody announced in an interview that Snow Patrol would be releasing "Just Say Yes" as the first single from their Up to Now compilation record.[35]
  • In 2007 he lent his voice to British House musician and DJ Cut La Roc's track Mishka on his album Larger Than Life which is yet to be released.[36]
Lightbody in 2008, Bloomsbury Theatre in London
2008–2009
  • In 2009, he announced that he'd begun work on two solo side projects, a country group Tired Pony and an avant-garde group with Snow Patrol producer Jacknife Lee: Listen... Tanks!.[37][38]
  • In May 2009 he started to write as essayist his music column Gary Lightbody's Band of the Week in the magazine Q The Music.com[39]
  • August/September 2009: Gary Lightbody joined with bandmates Johnny Quinn and Nathan Connolly to form Polar Music, a publishing music company "run by artists for artists" in cooperation with Universal Music Group and which will be administered by Kobalt Music in London. Polar Music's debut signing is artist Johnny McDaid from Northern Ireland who is currently writing with German Electronica/Trance DJ Paul van Dyk for an album due in 2010.[40]


2010
2011
2012


2013
  • Along with Johnny McDaid, performs at the Derry/Londonderry city of culture sons and daughters festival, plays a three song acoustic set singing Run, Just say yes(the festivals anthem) and Chasing cars.

Musical equipment

Guitars

Amplifiers

Effects

Gary's Pedalboard
  • BOSS TU-2 Tuner
  • BOSS TR-2 Tremolo
  • BOSS CS-3 Compression Sustainer
  • Two BOSS SD-1 Super Overdrives
  • BOSS GE-7 Equalizer
  • BOSS RE-20 Space Echo (seen on 2009 board?)
  • Boss DD6/7 (Seen on 2009 board?)

Misc

  • Picks: Dunlop Tortex Standard Orange .60mm
  • Strings: Gauge .010
  • Pickup Preference: Neck Position. Amplifier EQ set quite bright for jangly tone
  • Vocal Mic: Shure Beta 58

References

  1. ^ a b "Ice cool band warms hearts". BBC. 29 March 2004. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  2. ^ "Where are they now?". Rockport School. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  3. ^ "Run for cover". Daily Mirror. 21 July 2006. Retrieved 2009-10-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Viewpoint: Oh yeah, good idea!". The Belfast Telegraph. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "University of Dundee Ranking, Address, Information and Facts". Plant-biology.com. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  6. ^ Dworken, Arye (2004). "Snow Patrol". CMJ New Music Monthly (122). CMJ Network, Inc.: 11. ISSN 1074-6978. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  7. ^ a b c d Heawood, Sophie (30 October 2009). "Snow Patrol: 'We're not ready for greatest hits'". The Times. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  8. ^ Shirley, Ian (2005). "X Marks the Spot". Can rock & roll save the world?: An illustrated history of music and comics. London, England: SAF Publishing Ltd. p. 168. ISBN 0-946719-80-2. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  9. ^ "Scottish Music in the US". Scotland. March 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: I won't turn my back on Scotland, says Show Patrol's Gary Lightbody". Sunday Mail. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ Wasser, Chris (1 December 2009). "The Light fantastic". Evening Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Gensler, Andy (19 September 2002). "Reindeer Section - Son of Evil Reindeer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  13. ^ a b Debrebant, Serge (29 November 2009). "Interview mit Gary Lightbody" (in German). Frankfurter Rundschau. Retrieved 5 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ van der Linden, Nils (26 November 2009). "Chasing Snow Patrol". iAfrica.com. Primedia Online. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  15. ^ a b "From small beginnings ..." Evening Telegraph (Dundee). Retrieved 2009-11-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Sun, Sunday (17 October 2004). "Five out of four's a top score". Sunday Sun. Retrieved 2009-11-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ a b Barrie, Stuart (24 August 2007). "The DJ Q & A - Freeform Five". Daily Record. Retrieved 2009-11-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "What are You Waiting For - Freeform Five". Macrovision. Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  19. ^ Cashmere, Paul (2007-01-22). "Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol voted BBC's Best DJ". Undercover. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  20. ^ Dowling, Stephen (23 November 2009). "Snow Patrol get revolutionary with back catalogue". Spinner.com. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  21. ^ "Lightbody 'glad first album failed'". 4Music. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  22. ^ "The Eligibles 2005 - Top 50 men". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 5 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ "The Eligibles 2006 - Top 50 men". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 5 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ "Dr Who star tops list of eligible men". Metro. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  25. ^ Dingwall, John (20 December 2007). "The 100 Hottest Scots: The Men". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Baz gets top billing as sexiest man in Ireland". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  27. ^ Baker, Rosie (26 November 2009). "Q special edition celebrates end of the decade". Marketing Week. Retrieved 6 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Yates, Matt (January 2010). "Artists of the Century - Gary Lightbody". Q (282): 82. ISSN 0955-4955. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  29. ^ "Gary Lightbody and the Reindeer Section". Belfast Music. 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  30. ^ "Snow Patrol declare 'Super Furry Animals are our generation's Beatles' | News". Nme.Com. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  31. ^ Q magazine, Gary Lightbody's Band of The Week http://news.qthemusic.com/2009/08/gary_lightbodys_band_of_the_we_9.html
  32. ^ The Ticket http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2009/0703/1224249944350.html
  33. ^ Africa's unsung heores
  34. ^ Skint Records
  35. ^ Praxis Media. "Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles ::: Charts, DJ Promos, Dance, Lyrics, Free Mp3 Samples Downloads". Radio1.gr. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  36. ^ Mishka recorded
  37. ^ "Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody going solo". NME.
  38. ^ Lanham, Tom (8 October 2009). "Gary Lightbody quite busy on patrol". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2009-10-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ Gary Lightbody's Band of the Week
  40. ^ Californiachronicle
  41. ^ Lightbody, Gary (11 January 2010). "Tired Pony". snowpatrol.net. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  42. ^ "Gary Lightbody works with Peter Buck". Hot Press. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) [dead link]
  43. ^ [1]

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