Howie Payne

Howie Payne (born Howard Elliot Payne^[1][2][3] 5 November 1970) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist, formerly of The Stands.^[4][5]

Following The Stands' split, Payne embarked on a solo career under the name Howard Eliott Payne and released his debut album Bright Light Ballads in 2009.

Early career

Payne was born in Liverpool and spent some of his teenage years in New York City before returning home with his family and forming The Magic Clock in 1992^[6][7] before fronting later bands The Windmills (with future Cast drummer Keith O'Neill), Telefone and Blueseed.^[8] Blueseed released their debut single "The Only Ones" in 1997 and an EP Special Care and Spare Change in 1998 on Ultimate Records (an extended version of the EP with the debut single material as bonus tracks was released in Europe as a mini album). In 1999 Payne then joined Edgar Summertyme's band The Big Kids on lead guitar^[4] with his brother Sean Payne on drums and Russell Pritchard on bass, who both went on to play in The Zutons.

The Stands

In 2002 Payne formed The Stands with various local musicians before settling on the lineup of Luke Thomson, Steve Pilgrim and Dean Ravera. The band signed to The Echo Label in 2003. The band released two albums, All Years Leaving in 2004 and Horse Fabulous in 2005 and had a succession of 5 top 40 UK singles. Following the recording of Horse Fabulous first Pilgrim and later Thomson^[9] left the band to be replaced by new members. Payne announced the end of The Stands in November 2005.^[10]

Solo career

Following The Stands Payne teamed up with producer Ethan Johns to record his debut solo album Bright Light Ballads under his full name Howard Eliott Payne (with the middle name Elliot spelling changed from double L to double T).^[11] Bright Light Ballads was recorded and mixed in seven days using a vintage 8 track tape machine. Other musicians on the record included singer Candie Payne (Payne's sister) and former The Stands bassist Dean Ravera among others. The album was released digitally through Payne’s own label "Move City Records" on 14 April 2009, and entered the iTunes Singer Songwriter Album Charts at No. 1 and the iTunes Albums Chart at No. 13. The album was then given a physical CD release in the UK on 5 May 2009.

On 21 September 2009 Move City Records released digital LP "Live at the Luminaire" a live album of Payne's sold-out solo performance at The Luminaire club, London, 28 May 2009. "Live at the Luminaire" featured material from Payne's debut solo album as well as songs from The Stands' album "All Years Leaving".^[12] The album entered the iTunes UK Singer Songwriter Charts at No. 10.

Five songs written by Payne were recorded by Ren Harvieu for her debut album Through the Night which was released and entered the UK album chart at number 5 in May 2012. Payne also co-wrote the single "In The Open" by Benjamin Francis Leftwich, released November 2012.^[13]

In 2013, Payne played a handful of low key solo acoustic shows premering new material.^[14]

In 2014, Payne began co-managing "Neon Waltz", a band from Caithness with former Oasis manager Marcus Russell.^[15]

Associated acts

• The Magic Clock (1992)
• The Windmills (1993)
• Telefone (1994–1995)
• Blueseed (1995–1998)
• The Big Kids (1999–2001)
• The Stands (2002–2005)

Solo discography

Albums

• Bright Light Ballads (2009)
• Live at the Luminaire (2009)

Singles

• "Come Down Easy" (2009)
• "I Just Want to Spend Some Time with You" (2009)

References

External links

• Howie Payne discography at Discogs