ArtistInfo

Simon Campbell

g, voc, *1958 IM, Metropolitan Borough of Bury
Singer of Blues and Rock

Singer-songwriter, guitar player and music producer. A devotee of sweet sounds and beautifully crafted music: a British Blues Award nominee. Since strapping on his first guitar at the age of 16, Simon Campbell has spent his life immersed in music, a passion which has given him a wealth of experience across decades, countries and genres. In the late 1970s, while still a university student in Salford, Simon furthered his musical education with hard-rockers Whitefire. The band released an EP and toured the UK before taking a 'Punk-esque R & B' direction under their new moniker, Roadrunner. Commercial success came with his next venture, Little Brother, whose Europop sound saw them snapped up by Line Records (Polydor Germany). Although the band unfortunately split after one album (the well-received 'Survival'), Simon was now free to pursue new challenges. Returning to his Rock roots, he formed The Method with Mike Hehir from Sad Cafe and Mick Gilbourne, one time drummer with 10CC. Over a two-year period, the band toured throughout the UK and Europe. During this time, Simon's interest in production led him to work with Rick Dowson and Millhause and, when the latter became The Disciples, Simon joined them as guitarist and lead vocalist. The Disciples disbanded in time but not before releasing a mini-album (favourably reviewed by Q), and leaving a lasting impression on live audiences. Alongside his long and varied band career, Simon has also been a highly sought-after session player, collaborating with numerous high-profile musicians for both studio work and live performances. His move to the Isle of Man in 2008 and subsequent involvement with its vibrant music scene led to a new a chapter in Simon's journey and in 2011 saw the release of his first solo album, ThirtySix. The perfect showcase for Simon's versatility and profound musical understanding, ThirtySix harnesses a wide variety of guitar styles while being grounded in a deep-seated love of Rock and Blues. In the year of its release, he was nominated for a prestigious British Blues Award. In 2013 Simon moved to Valencia, Spain and completed work on his next album, 'The Knife', which will be released towards the end of 2014. This record reflects his increasing love of acoustic music from both sides of the Atlantic. Whether writing, producing, recording or playing, Simon's appetite for musical exploration remains unabated and he intends to keep on running for a long time to come.

Instruments

• Guitar
• Vocals
• Backing Vocals
• Acoustic guitar

Genres

• Blues
• Rock
• Electronic
• Folk
• World

Plays With