Richard Vernon (musician)

Richard Vernon
Born 1962 (age 53–54)
Chichester, England
Residence North Wales
Nationality British
Known for Bass guitarist with The Mission
Spouse(s) Noriko Vernon
Children Two

Richard "Rich" Vernon (born 1962) is a British-born musician and songwriter best known as the bass guitarist of UK rock band The Mission UK and previously with The Only Ones vocalist and cult artist Peter Perrett in The One. He has recorded two studio and four live albums with The Mission including the critically acclaimed God is a Bullet,[1] as well as two with The One and one with Helter Skelter. He was also appeared as a guest musician on The Dead Guitars album Flags, in 2008.

Early life

Richard Vernon was born in Chichester, England, and relocated with his family to London until the age of two when his family returned to their native Wales. His first musical instrument was a six-string guitar, followed by a brief dalliance with the drums, and finally bass guitar.

Early career

At the age of 20, Vernon left his home in Wales and moved to London, starting his musical career as a session player in a number of bands including Eddie and the Hot Rods. Over his career, he has played with musicians from The Kinks, Squeeze, The Adventures, The Charlatans, The Waterboys, The Monochrome Set, The Pink Fairies, The Wonder Stuff, The Pretenders, The Damned and many others. A change of pace saw him playing for UK agitpop band A Popular History of Signs on various European tours. Soon thereafter he co-founded Rough Trade and Island Records act Helter Skelter. They recorded a critically acclaimed album and garnered a single of the week award from Melody Maker. They toured Europe to support the album and recorded two BBC Radio 1 sessions, but a combination of limited success and struggles after Polygram took over of Island Records saw them split shortly after.

The One

Vernon then joined Peter Perrett's group The One. The band made two studio albums and one live album as well as extensively touring around the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Japan. Their critically acclaimed Woke Up Sticky album received enthusiastic reviews from The Guardian and Daily Telegraph. With equally good reviews for their live shows, the band promised much but after a busy and productive five-year period they drifted apart. Perrett's biographer, Nina Antonia in her book Homme Fatale,[2] puts this down to Perrett's increasingly erratic behaviour, whilst other band members have been quoted that the band had just run its course.

The Mission

Following a call from Perrett's tour manager, Vernon was asked to join The Mission[3][4] as replacement for departing founder member Craig Adams.[5] During his tenure with the band, Vernon recorded two studio albums (God is a Bullet[6] and Dumb Dumb Bullet).[7][8][9][10][11] God is a Bullet charted in the UK Top 30 Independent Label Album Chart and UK Top 40 Rock Album Chart. The first single, "Keep it in the Family", charted at number 7 in the BBC 1 Rock Chart.[12] The band also recorded a live album from London's Shepherd's Bush Empire over four consecutive sold out nights,[13][14][15][16][17] which was billed as the last Mission shows for the foreseeable future. Vernon also recorded two live DVDs with the band as well as touring all over the UK, Europe, America, Canada and South Africa.[18] He also contributed towards the Mission biography, At War With The Gods, published in 2015.

After The Mission

Since leaving The Mission, Vernon decided to spend more time co-writing music and record production, and to focus on his family. He still finds time to play live shows, including some with UK band, The Sentimentalists,[19] including an appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2015.[20]

In November 2016, Vernon replaced Robbie Crane in Ricky Warwick's band The Fighting Hearts for a UK tour, supported by Vice Squad.[21]

Equipment

Vernon plays bass guitar, guitar and occasionally, drums. Key to his signature bass sound is the use of vintage Fender basses and Trace Elliot backline.

Personal life

He lives in a converted chapel in North Wales with his Japanese wife, their two children, and his father.

Recorded works

The following represent the body of recorded works that Vernon has been involved with:

Date Band Title Format Label
1989 Helter Skelter "Last Train" 7"/12" Single Rough Trade Records
1990 Helter Skelter "Consume" 7"/12" Single Island Records
1990 Helter Skelter "Sense" 7" Single Island Records
1990 Helter Skelter Consume Album Island Records
1990 Helter Skelter "Angel" 7"/12" Single Island Records
1994 The One (Peter Perrett) Cultered Palate EP Dwarf Records
1996 The One (Peter Perrett) "Woke Up Sticky" Single Demon Records
1996 The One (Peter Perrett) Woke Up Sticky Album Demon Records
2000 The One (Peter Perrett) Hearts on Fire Album NMC Music
2005 The Mission Lighting the Candles DVD Oblivion
2007 The Mission "Keep It in the Family" Single SPV / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2007 The Mission God is a Bullet[22] Album SPV / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2007 The Mission Blush EP SPV / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2008 The Mission Dumb Dumb Bullet Album SPV / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2008 The Mission The First Chapter: Live at London Shepherd's Bush Empire Album Let Them Eat Vinyl / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2008 The Mission God's Own Medicine: Live at London Shepherd's Bush Empire Album Let Them Eat Vinyl / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2008 The Mission Children: Live at London Shepherd's Bush Empire Album Let Them Eat Vinyl / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2008 The Mission Carved in Sand: Live at London Shepherd's Bush Empire Album Let Them Eat Vinyl / Eyes Wide Shut Recordings
2008 Dead Guitars "Blue" (track from the album, Flags)[23] Album track Echozone
2009 The Mission The Final Chapter DVD Oblivion

References

  1. ↑ "The Mission - God Is A Bullet". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  2. ↑ "Homme Fatale by Nina Antonia". Thinmanpress.com. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  3. ↑ "The Mission World Information Service | The Mission". Themissionuk.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  4. ↑ "Rich Vernon". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  5. ↑ "Rich Vernon Interview with And The Dance Goes On". And-the-dance-goes-on.de (in German). 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  6. ↑ "The Mission UK* - God Is A Bullet". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  7. ↑ "The Mission UK releasing 'Dum Dum Bullet' comp with new songs, rare B-sides, remix". slicing up eyeballs // 80s alternative music, college rock, indie. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  8. ↑ "God is a Bullet album Credits featuring Rich Vernon". AllMusic. 2007-06-15. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  9. ↑ The Mission UK Videos (2006-10-24). "The Mission - 250505 Interviews - Ritchie Vernon". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  10. ↑ "God Is a Bullet". Cooking Vinyl. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  11. ↑ "God Is a Bullet by The Mission". Rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  12. ↑ 2013, Petra Sümnicht 2001 -. "God Is A Bullet". and-the-dance-goes-on.de. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  13. ↑ "The Final Chapter: Jan-Mar 2008 - The Mission UK | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  14. ↑ "Children: Live - The Mission UK | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  15. ↑ "God's Own Medicine: Live - The Mission UK | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  16. ↑ "Carved in Sand: London Shepherd's Bush Empire 2008 - The Mission UK | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  17. ↑ "The Mission / Claytown Troupe". Rockersdigest.com. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  18. ↑ Vorndran, Daniela. "The Mission - Bochum 2007". Reflectionsofdarkness.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  19. ↑ "About The Sentimentalists". Sentimentalists.co.uk. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  20. ↑ Digital, Pretty Good. "Glastonbury Festival - 2015". Glastonburyfestivals.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  21. ↑ "Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts heading out on UK tour". Real Rock 'n' Roll. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "God Is a Bullet - The Mission UK | Credits". AllMusic. 2007-02-19. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  23. ↑ "LastFM - Dead Guitars 'Blue', Feat. Rich Vernon". Lastfm.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.

External links

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