Steve White (drummer)
Steve White | |
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Steve White performing live | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Steven Douglas White |
Born |
Southwark, London, England | 31 May 1965
Genres |
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Instruments | Drums |
Years active | 1981–present |
Associated acts | Paul Weller, The Style Council, The Players, The Who, Chad Smith, Talbot & White, Trio Valore, The Family Silver |
Website | whiteydrums.com |
Steven Douglas White[1] (born 31 May 1965 in Southwark, London) is an English drummer who has worked extensively with Paul Weller and The Style Council amongst others.
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 having lessons from the late George Scott of Wanstead; learning from recordings of Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson. White later took lessons with drumming teacher Bob Armstrong at Bob's Masterclass studio, then in Hornchurch, Essex. 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 unnamed 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 1989 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. 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 besides influences such as Ringo Starr and John Bonham, 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 on several shows.
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 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 has played with Jon Lord and also featured on the last La Roux album .
Alongside Damon Minchella and Matt Deighton Steve plays in the The Family Silver releasing their debut album on Privilege records in 2015
He funded the setting up of a testicular cancer awareness website www.checkemlads.com after he became aware of a fan who was ill with testicular cancer and on chemotherapy. It is now one of the biggest young men's cancer awareness websites in the UK.
Steve plays Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals Vic Firth sticks, Remo drum heads, and endorses Porter and Davis monitoring products .
Steve manages artist Sam Gray and teaches for both Trinity Laban college in Greenwich and Goldsmiths college in New Cross .
Discography
with Paul Weller
Albums
- Paul Weller (1992) – No. 8 UK
- Wild Wood (1993) – No. 2 UK
- Live Wood (1994) – No. 13 UK
- Stanley Road (1995) – No. 1 UK
- Heavy Soul (1997) – No. 2 UK
- Modern Classics - The Greatest Hits (1998) – No. 7 UK
- Heliocentric (2000) – No. 2 UK
- Days of Speed (2001) – No. 3 UK
- Illumination (2002) – No. 1 UK
- Fly on the Wall: B Sides & Rarities (2003) – No. 22 UK
- Studio 150 (2004) – No. 2 UK
- Stanley Road (10th Anniversary Edition) (2005) – No. 51 UK
- As is Now (2005) – No. 4 UK
- Catch-Flame! (2006)
with The Style Council
Albums
- Café Bleu (1984) – UK No. 2
- Our Favourite Shop (1985) – UK No. 1 (Internationalists in US)
- Home and Abroad (1986)
- Cost of Loving (1987) – UK No. 2
- Confessions of a Pop Group (1988) – UK No. 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)
Liars and cheater EP
Sample CD
- On The Beaten Track
See also
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