Jeff Wootton

Jeff Wootton

Jeff Wootton at Studio 13 - London, England.
Background information
Birth name Jeffrey Wootton
Born (1987-05-12) 12 May 1987
Manchester, England
Genres Alternative rock, electronica, experimental rock, trip hop
Occupation(s) Musician, guitarist songwriter
Instruments Guitar, Vocals, bass guitar
Years active 2007–present
Associated acts Gorillaz
Damon Albarn
Massive Attack
Damo Suzuki
Africa Express
Brian Eno
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Beady Eye
YOTA
Website www.jeffwootton.net
Notable instruments
Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Jaguar
Gibson Les Paul
Flying V
Airline 3P Custom

Jeffrey Wootton (born 12 May 1987) is an English guitarist and songwriter from Manchester. He is the lead guitarist in Gorillaz. He released his debut solo album, The Way the Light on 26 February 2016, featuring a unique collaboration with British artist Damien Hirst.[1][2]

A long time collaborator with Damon Albarn, he has also collaborated with Brian Eno,[3] Massive Attack,[4] Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Nick Zinner,[5], Mark Ronson. and Damo Suzuki from Can

Musical career

Wootton joined Gorillaz as their lead guitarist in 2010 alongside Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash. Gorillaz kicked off their first ever world tour to rave reviews with performances including headlining Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Glastonbury and Roskilde with guest performances by Lou Reed, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Mark E. Smith, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Snoop Dogg, De La Soul and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. They were the first British band to play a gig in Damascus, Syria [6]

After the departure of Noel Gallagher of Oasis, At the age of 22, Wootton was recruited by Liam Gallagher to play in Beady Eye.[7][8] He joined them on stage for the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, performing "Wonderwall" with the band. In 2013 after a world tour and playing on their second album BE, he left to pursue his own musical project.[9]

In 2013 Wootton joined Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, Nick Zinner and several other musicians and producers on a trip to Mali, in West Africa to record an album as part of Africa Express.[10]

On 24 November 2014, Jeff along with composer Andre de Ridder, Brian Eno and Damon Albarn released a 41-minute African version of Terry Riley's iconic 1964 minimalist piece In C with local Mali musicians through Transgressive Records.[11] It was featured in Rolling Stone's '20 Best Avant Albums of 2014' [12] They premiered it live at the Tate Modern in London.[13]

In 2014 he joined Damon Albarn in The Heavy Seas.[14] On 15–16 November 2014, Damon Albarn & The Heavy Seas' performances at The Royal Albert Hall were recorded to be edited into a live album. The project was released as a two-disc album called Live at the De De De Der.[15]

In 2015 he appeared in Noel Gallagher's music video Ballad of the Mighty I which was released on 12 January 2015,[16] and joined him for a TV performance of the song Riverman on the Channel 4 programme Chatty Man.

In January 2016 he contributed Guitar's on Massive Attack's Ritual Spirit[17] featuring Roots Manuva and Young Fathers.

In mid May 2017 it was revealed that Jeff had formed a collaboration with ex-Klaxons member Jamie Reynolds, New York rapper Young Lazarus, drummer Jay Sharrock and DJ Twiggy Garcia called Youth of the Apocalypse (YOTA). [18]

Solo career

The Way the Light (2016)

In June 2015 Jeff supported the British rock band Blur at three dates including Glasgow Barrowland’s and Blackpool Empress Ballroom.

In July 2015 he premiered his first track 'The Eternal' through The FADER magazine,[19] it became Q Magazine’s Track of the Day[20] and one of NME’S top 20 tracks you need to hear.[21]

Wootton’s first single ‘The Eternal’ was officially released on Nov 6th 2015 [22]

On Dec 2nd 2015 Lauren Laverne from BBC Radio 6 Music premiered a new track entitled The Eternal [Reconstruction] Feat. Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Bootie Brown of The Pharcyde.[23]

On Jan 26th 2016 Vice (magazine) premiered a new track Sonik Drips and announced a collaboration with British artist Damien Hirst. Hirst revealed he has created 10 pieces of original art for Wootton's album for a Limited Edition Vinyl.[24]

In March 2016 he supported The Last Shadow Puppets on Tour.[25]

He supported Kasabian for two nights at King Power Stadium following Leicester City's triumphant Premier League Football Championship.[26]

In Sept 2016 Jeff was chosen by Noel Gallagher to be his support act for the end of his tour show at Brixton Academy.[27]

The Way the Light was released in Japan on October 5 for the only time on CD through Sympathy For Vinyl / Beatnik Records.[28]

He started the website Sympathy For Vinyl as a platform to release his more experimental compositions and collaborations.

References

  1. ↑ "Damien Hirst creates artworks for Gorillaz guitarist Jeff Wootton's debut solo LP". 29 Feb 2016. Retrieved 29 Feb 2016.
  2. ↑ "Watch Jeff Wootton's disquieting Video for Sonik Drips". 26 Jan 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan 2016.
  3. ↑ "Watch Damon Albarn and Brian Eno’s 40-minute tribute to Terry Riley’s ‘In C’ with Africa Express". 26 Jan 2015. Retrieved 26 Jan 2015.
  4. ↑ "Massive Attack - Ritual Spirit". 28 Jan 2016. Retrieved 31 Jan 2016.
  5. ↑ "Nick Zinner’s 41 Strings comes to UK". 19 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Gorillaz become first British band to perform in Damascus". 26 July 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Live4ever’s Interview With Rock’s Greatest Frontman ‘Liam Gallagher’ – Part II". 28 March 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Gorillaz Star Is Member Of Liam Gallagher's New Band!". 25 March 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "Liam Gallagher unveils new Beady Eye track at London club This Feeling". 11 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "Damon Albarn In Mali on Africa Express mission to bring music back". 21 Oct 2013. Retrieved 26 Oct 2013.
  11. ↑ "Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, Nick Zinner Cover Terry Riley's 'In C' with Africa Express". 19 Nov 2014. Retrieved 19 Nov 2014.
  12. ↑ "20 Best Avant Albums of 2014". 21 Dec 2014. Retrieved 26 Dec 2014.
  13. ↑ "Tate Modern and Africa Express present Terry Riley's In C Mali =02 Nov 2014". 2 Nov 2014.
  14. ↑ "Damon Albarn names solo band". 28 Feb 2014. Retrieved 4 Mar 2014.
  15. ↑ http://abbeyroadlive.sandbag.uk.com/Store/DisplayArtist.html?CatID=5702&ViewTourID=5703
  16. ↑ "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Ballad Of The Mighty I - YouTube". 12 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Massive Attack - Ritual Spirit". 28 Jan 2016. Retrieved 31 Jan 2016.
  18. ↑ http://www.nme.com/news/music/band-formed-gorillaz-klaxons-members-announce-debut-show-2073113
  19. ↑ "Become Zen With Jeff Wootton's New Single "The Eternal"". 26 Aug 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  20. ↑ "Jeff Wootton – The Eternal - Q Magazine Track of the Day". 26 Aug 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  21. ↑ "20 Tracks You Need To Hear This Week". 26 Aug 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "Jeff Wootton announces debut single and live dates". 6 Nov 2015. Retrieved 8 Nov 2015.
  23. ↑ "Jeff Wootton on BBC Radio 6 Music with Lauren Laverne". 2 Dec 2015. Retrieved 2 Dec 2015.
  24. ↑ "Watch Jeff Wootton's disquieting Video for Sonik Drips". 26 Jan 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan 2016.
  25. ↑ "Supports Revealed For Kasabian's Week Of Homecoming Shows". 23 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "The Last Shadow Puppets play first UK gig in seven years". 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "Noel Gallagher picks Jeff Wootton to support final ‘Chasing Yesterday’ gig". 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  28. ↑ "Releases > Sympathy For Vinyl > Jeff Wootton > The Way The Light (BRC-531)". 5 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
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