Steve Cradock
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| Steve Cradock | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22/8/69 (Age 38) |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Associated acts | Ocean Colour Scene |
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Steve Cradock (born Stephen Cradock, 22 August 1969 in Solihull, England) is a guitarist for the rock group, Ocean Colour Scene. He has also been part of Paul Weller's backing group and appears on all of Weller's solo albums.
He is a distinctive guitarist, who has a very retro, 1960s sound. Cradock's influences include The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Cradock is widely regarded (even by Ocean Colour Scene's critics) as one of the most talented British guitarists. Steve also plays keyboards and drums.
Cradock was educated at Lode Heath School in Solihull. His father is a former policeman, who manages his son's career.
He is married to Sally and has a daughter, Sunny Elizabeth, and a son Casius Earl (born 27 July 2004).
As well as his recording and touring commitments with Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene, Steve has recently started work on his own solo album.
http://www.myspace.com/stevecradock
[edit] The Boys
Steve formed his first band called The Boys around March 1988 with school friends from Solihull.
The band played at various Mod events around the Midlands and their set consisted of a mixture of new wave and 60's classics including The Clash's Should I Stay Or Should I Go' and The Jam's Strange Town
The band extended their gigs to well received audiences in London and Bournemouth amongst others. An August bank holiday festival in Gorleston coincided with the band releasing their first 3 track vinyl EP on their own label, called Happy Days.
Plans for a six track mini-album soon after never materialised. Instead, the band contributed a track called Going Out to a London mod label,Unicorn, compilation LP.
The bands biggest moment came at a gig at the Irish Centre in Digbeth Birmingham when they supported Steve's longtime hero ex-Small Faces frontman Steve Marriott.
The Boys had aroused the interests of labels Polydor & CBS but within a few months they had broken up and Steve had befriended another band who evolved into Ocean Colour Scene
[edit] Ocean Colour Scene
SIMON FOWLER - Lead vocals,acoustic guitar STEVE CRADOCK - Lead Guitar,vocals OSCAR HARRISON - Drums,keyboards,vocals ANDY BENNETT - Guitar,vocals DAN SEALEY - Bass
The Ocean Colour Scene story should already be the stuff of legend; a rip-roaring rock 'n' folk odyssey set to a backdrop of fifteen years of U.K pop culture at its very best. From their days as Breton-shirt wearing disciples of The Stone Roses (debut single Sway) to million selling Britpop superstars (Marchin' Already bumped Oasis Be Here Now from the top spot in 1997) to long-term touring allies with Paul Weller, their story is inseparable from the greats of modern British rock. Throw in eleven top twenty singles, the fact they supplied the soundtrack to the best scene in Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and hundreds of righteous gigs and they could be forgiven for resting on their (tailored) laurels. But with OCS -now a nucleus of Simon Fowler (vocals/guitar), Steve Cradock (guitar/vocals) and Oscar Harrison (drums)- the urge to seek out new horizons always wins out. We really wanted to get back to basics with this album explains Steve. We wanted to make a really stream-lined rock'n'roll record. As it turned out there's some rockier tunes and some mellow stuff as well, but they work really well together. Long term fans can breathe easy. Following the surprise departure of bassist Damon Michella mid-tour in 2003 (temporarily replaced by none other than Primal Scream's Mani) the band have hit their best form since . Moseley Shoals.With the addition of bassist Dan Sealey and guitarist Andy Bennett, they've recovered both their confidence and the fire..n.. brimstone sparkiness of classic singles like Hundred Mile High City. We did an acoustic tour last Summer and backed it up with the Live Acoustic At The Jam House album.. explains Steve. It was a great opportunity to re-interpret the songs and remind people that we're still here. But we played a short tour with the full band just before Christmas and it reminded us that there's nothing better than playing a really full-on gig. Cue On The Leyline, Recording at Simon's house in Stratford-Upon-Avon over a twelve day period last year with producer John Rivers, the emphasis was on capturing the moment in the time-honoured way. We were quite sensible for once laughs Simon. Steve would come over, we'd work on the tunes and then agree to reconvene the next day, rather than head to the nearest bar. It really worked. The next morning he'd have come up with these amazing guitar parts. Brimming over with needle-sharp rockers ( the XTC-esque title track) and joyous Everly Brothers inspired romps (Two Lovers), On The Leyline sees OCS breaking free of their comfort zone at every turn. It's the epic Go To Sea , however, which will see glasses raised in appreciation on their upcoming tour. With lyrics like: When you're twenty one and north of the border the chance is/The military man will come to offer you a hand and advances.. it..s an anti-war protest song in the spirit of Phil Ochs.'It's about the fact the army concentrate on getting young guys in Scotland to sign up when they need to increase recruitment says Simon. . And that album title? After Hyperactive Workout For The Flying Squad' we wanted something a bit more simple' grins Steve. For me, it's about taking risks, and looking beyond the obvious to discover the best things in life. Which, as 2008 slowly comes into focus is a perfect description of OCS.
[edit] Side Projects
As well as his non-stop work with Ocean Colour Scene and Paul Weller, Steve has also worked over the years with other artists on several different projects.
THE SMOKING MOJO FILTERS 1995. In 1995 Steve played on a version of The Beatles' song "Come Together" for the Warchild Charity album 'Help'. Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios the track featured Paul McCartney, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Steve White, and Carleen Anderson.
PP ARNOLD 1997 While working and touring with OCS in 1997 ex-Small Faces backing vocalist PP Arnold agreed to make her first solo album in 25 years to be produced by Steve. A single was released, written by ex-Monkee Mike Nesmith called 'Different Drum'.Steve was not only on production but also the drums. Despite a lot of TV and radio promotion the single failed to chart and the proposed solo album didn't materialise.
FIRE & SKILL : THE SONGS OF THE JAM 1999 In 1999 Cradock recorded a version of Carnation with Liam Gallagher for The Jam tribute album Fire & Skill.
Steve: The first single I ever bought in the shops was ‘Beat Surrender’. I never saw them live but I hooked onto the stories of the people who were older than me, who used to come back from Bingley Hall gigs. It was inspirational really, a good catalyst to my own mind. It baited me, when The Jam split up I bought every record they did, it blew me away. I had to clean a few windows. But the songs are immediate. The songs of The Jam, when I found what I found, were my letter of resignation to school, to anything I thought was dullard and mainstream. I was only 11 at the time.
About Carnation: It’s an amazing lyric, I was talking to Liam about it, how it blows us away. There’s a really dark side to it. The end of it is like really Lucifer, "I am the greed and every ounce of hate in you." Paul is stunning in the way he writes his poetry.
Steve also plays guitar on the albums hidden track, 'No One In The World' with Paul Weller
MOD AID 2005 Steve played guitar on a re-recording of The Small Faces track What'cha Gonna Do About It, along with a host of other musicians. The charity record was to raise funds for victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami Disaster in 2004
HUNGOVER STUNTMEN 2006 A 4-piece band from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne whom Steve met while he was on tour with Paul Weller, the band were his support act. Steve was so impressed with them that he joined them in the studio on some tracks.
AMY McDONALD 2007 Steve has recorded some extra guitar parts for Amy's next single 'Run' which is out in early 2008. She recently supported Steve & Paul Weller on their European acoustic tour.
[edit] Solo Album
Steve has recently started work on his own solo album, recording at Black Barn studios in Surrey. In his own words 'a long way off' but two tracks were played during Steve's recent acoustic tour with Paul Weller. 'Beware of Falling Rocks' & 'I Feel The Truth's Never Worth Hiding'
