Barry Sutton

Barry Thomas Sutton (born 1965, Liverpool) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Liverpool who has performed with numerous alternative rock bands since 1981. His career began as the songwriter and vocalist in the unsigned bands Western Diplomats (1981–1983) and Marshmallow Overcoat (1983–1987).^[1] He joined Walkingseeds as guitarist and backing vocalist in 1986 and played on two of their LPs: Skullfuck (1987) and Upwind of Disaster, Downwind of Atonement (1989)^[2] before leaving to join The La's in 1988.

Sutton left The La's after one year and during the 1990s, he performed with his own bands Froth (1990–1993) and Kung Fu (1995–2001) as well as playing live and recording with several artists such as The Stairs, Cast, Peter Coyle and Smaller. Since 1994, Sutton has also performed as a solo artist under the alias Fabian Rothschilde.^[3] During the 2000s, Sutton played in the bands Heavy Lemon (2002–2003)^[4] and Mirrorball (2004–2008)^[5] and he is currently playing as Beatnik Hurricane.^[6]

Career

1980s

Barry Sutton played in his first band at school.

Sutton then formed Marshmallow Overcoat in 1983. Due to politics with the band, Sutton and Lol formed a brand-new line-up in April 1986 with ex-Rileymen Peter "Cammy" Cammell (bass,toy piano-later of The La's and Heavy Lemon) and Tony Mogan (drums). The first gig of this line up was at a party in a house facing Sefton Park an hour after a set by the newly formed La's. The two bands performed together for the next year before The La's employed all three members at various points.

The band performed under the name of Courderoy Cog and the Teenbeat.

Sutton worked as a roadie and occasional backing vocalist for The Fall (1983–86).

Sutton was the drummer for The Goat People in the late 1980s, who played avant-noise over tapes of the UK Top Twenty hits, who featured Bogshed's Tristan King on drums, Marshmallow Overcoat violinist Liz Kay on Guitar, and guest Marshmallow vocalist Chris Clarke on bass.^[7]

Sutton joined The La's in August 1988 appearing in the music video for "There She Goes" and left in July 1989 after 11 months at the conclusion of the aborted Mike Hedges recording sessions for The La's. TV and radio appearances followed, including Night Network in late 1988, Wide Awake Club in January 1989, The Late Show playing a cover of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day" and a live broadcast of a Town & Country club from May 1989. He returned during a European tour in spring 1991, standing in for Cammell, and again in 1992 in a short tour sponsored by Bacofoil.^[8]

1990s

Sutton briefly played with The Stairs standing in for Ged Lynn for a couple of months in March 1991 and Cast^[9] for one month in late 1992.

Froth (1990–93), with Lee Webster (bass) formerly of Walkingseeds was the band where Sutton first became interested in asymmetrical time signatures, with songs like 'Theme' in 5/4 based on a riff written by Webster, which has been a feature of his playing and writing ever since. The band supported The La's in late 1991 at The Picket in Liverpool and the Boardwalk in Manchester. Ian Weldon, later of The Real People joined on guitar in summer 1992. The band split up in late 1993.

During 1992, Sutton as guitar tech accompanied Shack under the guise of Love playing two gigs with psychedelic legend Arthur Lee in London and Liverpool, and played guitar with his idol on A House Is Not A Motel in London and The Daily Planet in Liverpool.

Sutton started playing under the name Fabian Rothschilde in early 1994 (Froth's Childe).

Kung Fu (1995–2001) began with Ian 'Budgie' Jones on drums (beginning a collaboration lasting 18 years to this day, embracing Mirrorball and Beatnik Hurricane) Webster, and featured Ren (later of Shack) on bass. Later, Stu MacDonald joined on bass, and Ged Lynn on lead guitar, using the moniker Chutney Regis. Phil Lucking was a key member on trumpet, and the band played original material and covered such diverse artists as PiL, Ornette Coleman and The 13th Floor Elevators.^[1] Sutton also co-wrote and performed on the Peter Coyle album Earthstate, recorded in 1995,^[10] and released in 2002.^[11]

2000s

Sutton fronted the short-lived Heavy Lemon (2002–03) with ex-La's Neil Mavers and Peter Cammell.^[12] During this time, he diversified into production duties, having always produced and arranged Froth and Kung Fu recording sessions. He worked with Omaha (2002) and Fifteen Stories High (2008).

Sutton then went on to front the band Mirrorball (2005–08). This featured Robin Hartley on bass (bandmate of Starsailor's James Walsh in the short lived Waterface)and Budgie on drums. Another Game.

Beatnik Hurricane formed in December 2010, first performance was live on Radio Merseyside with Barry (vocals, piano, guitar) accompanied by Poppy L'Mour (vocals, guitar, ukulele).

Later members were Stu MacDonald, bass (formerly of Kung Fu) and Matt Duffy, drums who performed a handful of Liverpool gigs in Summer '11 with Jinx Lennon and Wicked Whispers..

In April 2013, Beatnik Hurricane became involved in a weekly residency at Lounge, Smithdown Road currently ongoing. Starting as acoustic sets, this gradually developed into a full band show with a revolving line up of musicians including Budgie, Cammy, Neil Mavers, Tony Elson (Real People), Leon (Ian McCulloch band), Steve (Scarface & The Pigs), Mick (Edgar Jones), Mark (The Proprietor), Beardo (Rampton secure psychiatric unit) The result has been 20–40 minute Can/James Brown/Beefheart style jams.

Associated acts

Sutton has been associated with other acts.

• Walkingseeds (1986–1988)
• The La's (1988–1989)
• The Stairs (1991)
• Cast (1992)
• Smaller (1994–95)

Session discography

• Marshmallow Overcoat – What's Going On EP (1985)
• Walkingseeds – Know Too Much EP (1986)
• Walkingseeds – "Marque Chapman"/"Blathering Out" single (1987)
• Walkingseeds – Skullfuck (1987)
• Walkingseeds – Upwind of Disaster, Downwind of Atonement (1989)
• Smaller – Badly, Badly (1997)
• Peter Coyle – Earthstate (2002)
• The La's – BBC in Session (2006)
• The La's – The La's: Deluxe Edition (2008)
• The La's – Callin' All (2010)
• Beatnik Hurricane-Radio Merseyside session (Dec 2010), featuring Poppy L'Mour. Available via Reverbnation online.

References

External links

• Barry Sutton at AllMusic
• Barry Sutton discography at Discogs