Simon Wright (musician)

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Simon Wright
Simon Wright, drummer for AC/DC: May 1983 – November 1989
Simon Wright, drummer for AC/DC:
May 1983 – November 1989
Background information
Born (1963-06-19) 19 June 1963 (age 60)
Oldham, Lancashire, England
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, blues rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1979–present
LabelsEMI

Simon Wright (born 19 June 1963) is an English drummer best known for his time with rock n' roll bands AC/DC and Dio.[1] He started playing drums at the age of 13[2] and cites Cozy Powell, Tommy Aldridge and John Bonham as his greatest influences. He was also the drummer for the band Rhino Bucket[3] and is currently playing with Hellion and Geoff Tate.[4]

Career

Wright began his career with local band Tora Tora (not to be confused with the American glam metal group), before joining Manchester group A II Z, a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band founded in 1979 in Manchester, England by guitarist Gary Owens. The full line-up consisted of David Owens (vocals), Gary Owens (guitar), Gam Campbell (bass), Karl Reti (drums). They acquired a local following in Manchester, and were signed by Polydor Records, eager to cash in on the exploding NWOBHM boom. A single live album, The Witch of Berkley, followed in 1980. Reti was subsequently replaced by Wright. The band disintegrated and Wright went on to perform in Tytan[5] and recorded on their full-length debut album Rough Justice,[6] however; that band also dissolved shortly before the release of the debut. Often mistaken for Simon Wright of Melbourne.

Wright, just a month shy of turning twenty years old, joined AC/DC after their drummer, Phil Rudd, left in May 1983. AC/DC recorded three albums with Wright in the mid-late 80s; Fly on the Wall, Who Made Who and Blow Up Your Video. Wright left the group in November 1989 to join Dio, and was replaced by Chris Slade. Simon Wright joined Rhino Bucket when he wasn't working with Dio to replace the departed Liam Jason for their third album, 1994's independently released Pain. In 2007, he reunited with the band and is featured on their latest album The Hardest Town.

Wright has had two stints with Dio, 1990–91 and 1998–2010. With the band he has recorded four studio albums (Lock up the Wolves, Magica, Killing the Dragon and Master of the Moon) and two live albums (Evil or Divine - Live In New York City and Holy Diver - Live).

His drumming can be heard on albums by UFO, Michael Schenker Group and John Norum.

In 2005, Wright participated on a tribute album to Heavy metal icons Iron Maiden. It was his second of three times doing a tribute disc; the first experience being in 1998 on an AC/DC tribute album titled Thunderbolt, while in 2013 he took part in the DIO Tribute album "This Is Your Life".

In 2006 Wright is credited in the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" on the album Butchering the Beatles, a heavy metal tribute.

In August 2009, Wright teamed up with Joe Lynn Turner, Phil Soussan and Carlos Cavazo as part of the Big Noize project, playing shows in Iraq and Kuwait.[7]

On 25 January 2013, it was announced that Wright had joined Geoff Tate's band after his dismissal from Queensrÿche.[4] Wright replaced Bobby Blotzer.

Equipment

Drum kit

Simon is an endorser of DW drums. He uses the collectors maple series.
His drum sizes are:

  • 18x22 bass drums (x2)
  • 10x12, 11x13, 13x15, 14x18 Tom-Toms
  • 6.5x14 Edge Snare
  • 6x14 Collector's Maple Snare
  • 5.5x14 Solid Maple Snare
  • 5000TD3 Delta3 Turbo Single Bass Drum Pedal (x2)
  • 5500TD Delta Turbo Hi-Hat Stand
  • 9300 Snare Drum Stand
  • 9934 Double Tom/Cymbal Stand
  • 9700 Straight/Boom Cymbal Stand (x5)
  • 9100 Drum Throne
  • 799 DogBone (x2)[8]

Drumheads

Simon also uses Evans Drum heads.
Products used:

  • AF Patch – Kevlar Single Pedal
  • 13" Onyx 2-ply
  • 15" G2 Coated
  • 18" G2 Coated
  • 14" Hazy 300
  • 15" EC Resonant
  • 18" EC Resonant
  • 13" G1 Clear

Cymbals

Simon uses Sabian Cymbals.

  • 14" AAX Metal Hats w/ Sizzle Bottom Hat
  • 18" AA China
  • 16" AA Metal Crash
  • 18" AAX Metal Crash
  • 19" AAX Metal Crash
  • 22" AAX Heavy Ride
  • 20" AA China
  • 20" AA Rock Crash
  • 20" AA Metal Crash w/ Sizzles

Sticks

  • Vic Firth.
  • American Classic Metal Nylon (CMN)

Discography

With AC/DC

With Dio

With UFO

With Rhino Bucket

With John Norum

With Tim "Ripper" Owens

With Mogg/Way

  • Chocolate Box (1999)
With Geoff Tate

Instructional

References

  1. ^ Saulnier, Jason (22 January 2009). "Simon Wright Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  2. ^ "DIO / RonnieJamesDio.com - Band - Simon Wright". Ronniejamesdio.com. 19 June 1963. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. ^ . Facebook.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rhino-Bucket/195473700009. Retrieved 28 June 2014. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Geoff Tate's Queensryche Signs With Cleopatra Records; Announces New Lineup". Vintage Vinyl News. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Encyclopaedia Metallum – Tytan". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Encyclopaedia Metallum – Tytan – Rough Justice". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Joe Lynn Turner at". Deep-purple.net. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Artist Setups - Drum Workshop Inc. - drums, pedals, hardware, dvds, and more!". Dwdrums.com. Retrieved 28 June 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simon Wright.

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