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The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of Scottish, Irish, English, Welsh and American musicians, with Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York and Findhorn serving as a base for the group. They have explored a number of different styles, dissolved in 1993 when Scott departed to pursue a solo career and then reformed in 2000. They continue to release albums and tour worldwide. World Party was made up of former Waterboys members. [a]
Over 85 musicians have performed live as a Waterboy. [1] [2] Some have spent only a short time with the band, contributing to a single tour or album, while others have been long-term members with significant contributions. Scott has stated that "We’ve had more members I believe than any other band in rock history" and believes that the nearest challengers are Santana and The Fall. [3]
The Waterboys have gone through different musical phases as well as line-ups. In 2019 Scott wrote "The Waterboys is a timeless, genre-confounding band. We belong in no box." [4]
The Waterboys were formed by Mike Scott in 1982, under the name The Red and The Black. [5] Scott was soon joined by saxophonist Anthony Thistlethwaite. Under this name, the band played nine gigs before starting recording. Scott and Thistlethwaite were joined by drummer Kevin Wilkinson. [5] In March 1983, the band released their first single " A Girl Called Johnny" under the name The Waterboys. [6]
For the band's first performance under this name was in May 1983 on the Old Grey Whistle Test, they were joined by Norman Rodger on bass, Karl Wallinger on keyboards, and Preston Heyman covering for Wilkinson on drums. [5] The band released their first, self titled album in July, it featured demos that Scott had recorded between 1981 and 1982, some featuring Thistlethwaite, Wilkinson and Rodger. [7]
The band's first ever concert took place in February 1984, and included Scott, Thistlethwaite, Wallinger and Wilkinson, alongside trumpeter Roddy Lorimer, backing vocalist Eddi Reader, bassist Martin Swain and lead guitarist John Caldwell. [5] The band returned to a five piece for touring (without Lorimer, Reader and Caldwell). [5] Wilkinson was replaced by Chris Whitten in late 1984. [8] In mid 1985, Steve Wickham joined on fiddle, influencing the band's style into folk music. After a north American tour in November 1985, Whitten and Wallinger both left. The two were replaced by Dave Ruffy and Guy Chambers respectively. [5]
In January 1986, Scott and Thistlethwaite relocated to Dublin (where Wickham is from), creating a new line-up with bassist Trevor Hutchinson and drummer Peter McKinney. [9] Fran Breen briefly replaced McKinney for a show in August. [9] In December, Scott, Thistlethwaite and Wickham did some sessions in San Francisco with legendary drummer Jim Keltner. [9]
The band returned to live performances in April 1987, again with Hutchinson and McKinney, although McKinney was replaced by Breen in May. [9] The band was also joined by pipe and whistle player Vinnie Kilduff. [9] Roddy Lorimer also briefly rejoined. [9] In April 1988, the band returned to recording, with new drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, gaelic singer Tomas Mac Eoin and flautist/pianist Colin Blakey. [9] Breen returned in December for touring, althpugh he was again replaced by Daugherty in February 1989. [9] Accordionist Sharon Shannon joined in May 1989, replacing Kilduff, alongside Noel Bridgeman, replacing Daugherty. [9]
Wickham left in July 1990, causing Shannon, Bridgeman and Blakey to also depart. [9] Scott, Thistlethwaite and Hutchinson continued with drummer Ken Blevins, until Hutchinson left in April 1991. [10] The band entered a hiatus after their contract with Ensign Records expired in May and Scott and Thistlethwaite split in December. [10] In January 1992, Scott began recording Dream Harder in New York with many American musician, most notably Chris Bruce (guitar), Scott Thunes (bass) and Carla Azar (drums), all of whom played with Scott on Top of the Pops. [10] After which Scott continued his solo career.
In Summer 2000, Scott reformed The Waterboys with a line-up including Richard Naiff on keyboards and flute, Livingston Brown on bass and Jeremy Stacey on drums. [11] [12] In October the band were joined by Tom Windriff (drums, backing vocals), John Baggott (keyboards, backing vocals) and Gordon Davis (bass, backing vocals). [12] In January 2001, Jo Wadeson and Ian McNabb replaced Davis and Baggott respectively. [13]
Wickham rejoined in March 2001, alongside Jay Dee Daugherty, although he was replaced by Ray Fean in July, who was then replaced by Geoff Dugmore in August. [13] McNabb returned in May 2002, replacing Wadeson on bass. [14] In June 2002, Brad Waissman and Paul Beavis joined on bass and drums respectively. [14] Dugmore returned in January 2003. [15]
Steve Walters and Carlos Hercules joined as new rhythm section in October 2003. [15] In May 2005, Scott, Wickham and Naiff were briefly rejoined by Thistlethwaite (on bass) and Breen, as well as Sharron Shannon for one show. [16] The band were also briefly joined Liam O'Maonlai on keyboards. Walters and Hercules returned in January 2006. By the time the band started recording in August 2006, they were joined by Leo Abrahams on lead guitar, Mark Smith on bass and Brady Blade on drums. Although when in came to touring in March 2007, Abrahams and Blade did not participate. Damon Wilson took up drums.
In February 2009, longtime keyboardist Richard Naiff departed the band. [17] He was replaced by John McCullough, as well as Carlos Hercules returning on drums. In March 2010, the band expanded the line-up featuring Joe Chester on lead guitar, Simon Wallace on keyboards, Ash Soan on drums, Katie Kim on second vocals, Marc Arciero on bass, Blaise Margail on trombone, Ruby Ashley on oboe and Sarah Allen flute. [17] Paul "Binzer" Brennan replaced Soan in June 2010 and James Hallawell replaced Wallace that August. [17]
In January 2011, the band were joined by Ralph Salmins on drums, Kate St John on oboe and Melvin Duffy on pedal steel and guitar. [18] In February 2013 the band were joined by Elizabeth Ziman on vocals, Jay Barclay on guitar, Daniel Mintseris on keyboards, Malcolm Gold on bass, Ezra Oklan on drums and Chris Layer on flute. [19] In August 2013, Laye, Ziman and Mintseris left. Brother Paul Brown and Chris Benelli joined on keyboards and drums respectively.
Ralph Salmins rejoined in 2014, alongside Shane Fitzsimmons (bass), Zach Ernst (guitar) and Niall C. Lawlor (lap steel). Fitzsimmons was replaced by David Hood by the end of the year, as well as Lawlor departing.
In 2017, the band was reduced to Scott, Wickham and Brown, alongside Bart Walker (guitar), Aongus Ralston (bass), Jon Green (drums) and backing vocalists Jess Kavanagh and Zeenie Summers. Walker and Green departed in 2017, Salmins returned again. Gavin Ralston joined on guitar for a European tour in 2019. Ralston was briefly replaced by Jeff Adams for a North American tour in the same year. [20] All subsequent touring was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The band returned in late 2021, Hallawell rejoined as co-keyboardist and Eamon Ferris replaced Salmins. Wickham retired from touring in February 2022. [21]
Anthony Thistlethwaite was an original member of the band, and remained a member until 1991 when the band broke up, although he also joined a few recording sessions for A Rock in the Weary Land. After Scott and Wickham, Thistlethwaite has more songwriting credits than any other Waterboy. His saxophone (regularly featured in solos) was one half of the early group's distinctive brass section, while his mandolin playing came to the forefront during the group's Irish folk phase; but he has also played bass, keyboards and a number of other instruments for the band. He pressed to return the Waterboys to a rock music sound after Room to Roam, but did not appear on Dream Harder, the result of that decision. He is now a member of The Saw Doctors, and has also released three solo albums.
Original member Kevin Wilkinson was the band's drummer from 1983 to 1984, and continued to play in some studio sessions afterwards. His later appeared on A Rock in the Weary Land. He led the rhythm section of the group during its "Big Music" phase, sometimes without the assistance of any bass guitar. Scott describes Wilkinson's drumming as "bright and angular, an unusual sound". [22]
Karl Wallinger joined the group in 1983, shortly after its formation. He left the group two years later, but in that relatively short period made important contributions to both A Pagan Place and This Is the Sea. He co-wrote " Don't Bang the Drum", the environmentalism anthem on the latter album. His keyboards and synthesiser work expanded the group's sound, and he also did some studio work for demo sessions. Wallinger's World Party project was heavily influenced by his work with the Waterboys and also featured other former members.
Roddy Lorimer's participation began in 1983, contributing his trumpet playing "on and off" [23] until 1990. He and Thistlethwaite took turns leading the brass section of the band, and Lorimer was also a featured soloist, most famously on "The Whole of the Moon" and "Don't Bang the Drum". He further contributed backing vocals to the song. His trumpet style is a combination of his classical training with an experimental approach encouraged by Scott. [24] Lorimer returned for some studio work in 2006. [23]
Steve Wickham transformed the group when he joined in 1985; his interest in folk music directly resulted in the band's change of direction. His initial involvement with the Waterboys ended in 1990 when Scott and Thistlethwaite wanted to return to rock and roll, but Wickham rejoined the group in 2000 and remained until 2022 (when he stepped down from regular involvement). [21] Described by Scott as "the world's greatest rock fiddle player", [25] he has written more songs for the band than anyone other than Scott, including the group's handful of instrumental recordings.
Richard Naiff first recorded with the band in 1999, and joined permanently in 2000. As of 2007, he was a core member, along with Scott and Wickham. He is a classically trained pianist and flautist, and plays keyboards for the Waterboys. Ian McNabb described him as Scott's "find of the century" [26] and reviewers have described him as "phenomenally talented". [27] Naiff officially left the Waterboys in February 2009 to spend more time with his family. [17]
Other notable past members have included Ian McNabb, leader of Icicle Works; Sharon Shannon, who became Ireland's all-time best-selling traditional musician; [28] the experimental musician Thighpaulsandra, producer Guy Chambers, Patti Smith drummers Jay Dee Daugherty and Carlos Hercules, bassists Steve Walters and Mark Smith who was the band's bassist when he died on 3 November 2009. [29]
The Waterboys line-up as of 2010 appeared at the world premiere of An Appointment With Mr Yeats at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin. [30] They expanded into a 9-piece band in the autumn of 2017 for their tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe.
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Scott |
|
|
all releases | |
| James Hallawell |
|
|
| |
| Brother Paul Brown | 2013–present |
| ||
| Aongus Ralston | 2016–present | bass |
| |
| Eamon Ferris | 2021–present | drums |
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| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Thistlethwaite [31] |
|
|
| |
| Kevin Wilkinson [31] | 1982–1985 (died 1999) |
|
| |
| Norman Rodger | 1983 |
|
The Waterboys (1983) | |
| Preston Hayman | drums | none | ||
| Adrian Johnston |
|
|
This Is the Sea (1985) | |
| Karl Wallinger [31] | 1983–1985 (died 2024) |
|
A Pagan Place (1984) | |
| Roddy Lorimer [32] |
|
|
| |
| Martyn Swain | 1984–1985 | bass | This Is the Sea (1985) | |
| John Caldwell [5] | 1984 | lead guitar | none | |
| Eddi Reader [5] | backing vocals | A Pagan Place (1984) | ||
| Chris Whitten [33] | 1984–1985 | drums | none | |
| Frank Biddulph | 1985 | fiddle | ||
| Marco Sin [5] | bass | |||
| Lu Edmonds | This Is the Sea (1985) | |||
| Max Edie | vocals | This Is the Sea (1985) | ||
| Steve Wickham |
|
|
| |
| Guy Chambers [5] | 1985–1986 | piano | The Live Adventures of (1998) | |
| Dave Ruffy [5] |
|
| ||
| Trevor Hutchinson [34] |
|
|
| |
| Peter McKinney [34] | 1986–1988 | drums | Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |
| Fran Breen [9] |
| |||
| Liam O'Connor | 1987 | accordion | none | |
| Vinnie Kilduff [9] | 1987–1989 |
|
Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |
| Colin Blakey [9] | 1987–1990 |
|
| |
| Tomas Mac Eoin [9] | 1988–1989 | vocals | Fisherman's Blues (1988) | |
| Jay Dee Daugherty [9] |
|
drums | ||
| Sharon Shannon [9] |
|
|
| |
| Noel Bridgeman [9] | 1989–1990 (died 2021) | drums |
| |
| Ken Blevins [9] | 1990–1991 | Room to Roam (1990) | ||
| Tim Sanders | 1990 | sax | none | |
| Simon Clarke | ||||
| Chris Bruce | 1992–1993 | lead guitar | Dream Harder (1993) | |
| Scott Thunes | bass | |||
| Carla Azar | drums | |||
| Jeremy Stacey [35] |
|
drums, backing vocals |
| |
| Richard Naiff [35] |
|
|
| |
| Livingstone Brown [35] | 1999–2000 | bass, backing vocals | A Rock in the Weary Land (2000) | |
| Gordon Davis | 2000 | none | ||
| Adam Snyder | keyboards | |||
| John Baggot | ||||
| Jo Wadeson | 2000–2001 |
| ||
| Tom Windriff |
| |||
| Ray Fean | 2001 | drums | ||
| Ian McNabb |
|
|
All Souls Hill (2022) | |
| Geoff Dugmore | 2001–2003 |
|
none | |
| Brad Waissman | 2002–2003 | bass | ||
| Paul Beavis | 2002 | drums | A Rock in the Weary Land (2000) | |
| Carlos Hercules [36] |
|
Karma to Burn (2005) | ||
| Steve Walters [36] | 2003–2006 | bass | none | |
| Liam Ó Maonlaí [37] | 2005 | keyboards | ||
| Mark Smith | 2006–2009 (until his death) | bass |
| |
| Damon Wilson | 2007–2008 | drums | none | |
| John McCullough | 2009 | keyboards | ||
| Katie Kim [38] | 2009–2012 | vocals | An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Ash Soan | 2009–2010 | drums | none | |
| Joe Chester [38] |
|
|
An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Marc Arciero | 2009–2013 | bass | An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Simon Wallace | 2009–2010 | keyboards | none | |
| Blaise Margail [38] | 2010–2011 | trombone | ||
| Ruby Ashley | 2010 |
| ||
| Sarah Allen [38] | 2010–2012 | flute | An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Paul "Binzer" Brennan | drums | none | ||
| Ralph Salmins | 2011–2021 |
| ||
| Kate St John [38] | 2011–2012 |
|
An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011) | |
| Melvin Duffy | 2011–2013 |
|
All Souls Hill (2022) | |
| Sarah Calderwood [39] | 2013 |
|
none | |
| Elizabeth Ziman [39] | vocals | |||
| Chris Layer [39] | flute | |||
| Malcolm Gold | bass | |||
| Daniel Mintseris | keyboards | |||
| Chris Benelli | drums | |||
| Jay Barclay | 2013–2014 | guitar | ||
| Shane Fitzsimons [ sic] | 2014 | bass | ||
| Niall C. Lawlor [2] | lap steel | |||
| Zach Ernst [40] | 2014–2016 | guitar | ||
| David Hood [41] | bass |
| ||
| Neil Mahony [42] |
|
Out of All This Blue (2017) | ||
| Jon Green [43] | 2017 | drums | ||
| Bart Walker [43] | guitar | |||
| Zeenie Summers | 2017–2020 | vocals |
| |
| Jess Kavanagh | ||||
| Jeff Adams [2] | 2019 |
|
Modern Blues (2015) | |
| Gavin Ralston | 2019 (died 2019) | lead guitar | Good Luck, Seeker (2020) |
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| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| April – August 1982 |
|
early demos |
| November 1982 – March 1983 |
with many session musicians |
|
| May 1983 |
|
Old Grey Whistle Test performance |
| September – December 1983 |
|
|
| February 1984 |
|
one live performance |
| April – July 1984 |
|
|
| October 1984 [8] – January 1985 |
| |
| February 1985 |
|
|
| June – July 1985 |
|
|
| October 1985 |
|
|
| November 1985 |
|
|
| December 1985 |
|
|
| Early January 1986 |
|
|
| Late January – March 1986 |
|
|
| April – July 1986 |
|
|
| August 1986 |
|
none |
| September – November 1986 |
| |
| December 1986 |
|
none – sessions only |
| January – August 1987 |
with many guest musicians |
|
| April 1987 |
|
|
| May – October 1987 |
|
|
|
||
| April – October 1988 |
|
|
| December 1988 – January 1989 |
|
|
| February 1989 |
|
|
| February – March 1989 |
|
|
| June 1989 – May 1990 |
|
|
| July 1990 – April 1991 |
|
|
| 1992 – 1993 |
With many other session musicians |
*
Dream Harder (1993)
Also Top of the Pops performance |
| On Hiatus 1994 – 1999 | ||
| June 2000 |
|
|
| October 2000 |
|
|
| October – December 2000 |
|
|
| January – February 2001 |
|
|
| March – April 2001 |
|
|
| April 2001 |
|
|
| June 2001 |
|
|
| July – August 2001 |
|
|
| August – December 2001 |
|
|
| January – March 2002 |
|
|
| May 2002 |
|
|
| June 2002 |
|
|
| June – October 2002 |
|
|
| January 2003 |
|
|
| January – May 2003 |
|
|
| June – September 2003 |
|
|
| October – November 2003 |
|
|
| December 2003 |
|
|
| January – November 2004 |
|
|
| March 2005 |
|
|
| April – May 2005 |
|
|
| May 2005 |
with
|
|
| July 2005 |
|
|
| January – August 2006 |
|
|
| August 2006 – March 2007 |
|
|
| March 2007 – February 2009 |
|
|
| February 2009 |
|
|
| May – November 2009 |
|
|
| March 2010 |
|
|
| June – July 2010 |
|
|
| August 2010 |
|
|
| January 2011 – August 2012 |
|
|
| January – March 2013 |
|
|
| June – August 2013 |
|
|
| August – December 2013 |
|
|
| June – August 2014 |
|
|
| December 2014 |
|
|
| February 2015 [44] – August 2016 |
|
|
| June – July 2017 |
|
|
| August 2017 – December 2018 |
|
|
| May – September 2019 |
|
|
| September – October 2019 |
|
|
| November 2019 – January 2020 |
|
|
| August 2020 |
|
|
| September 2021 – February 2022 |
|
|
| February 2022 – present |
|
|
- ^ "67 Waterboys (2)". Mike Scott on Twitter. Retrieved 15 April 2013
- ^ a b c "Past and Present Waterboys". mikescottwaterboys.com. Retrieved 19 April 2013
- ^ "The Waterboys: The 13th Floor Interview Archived 15 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. 13th Floor. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ [1]. Mike Scott (@mickpuck) on Twitter, 5:37pm, 27 Sep 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Chronology 1978-85". 2 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "The Waterboys RELEASES". The Waterboys. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Scott, Mike (2002). "Recording Notes". The Waterboys. EMI. p. 2.
- ^ a b "The Waterboys 1984". The Waterboys. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Chronology 1986-90". 10 September 2007. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Chronology 1991 - 99". Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Scott 2017, p. 281-283.
- ^ a b "2000 The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b "2001 The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b "2002 The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b "2003 The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "2005 The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Waterboys news updates". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ "Waterboys News". web.archive.org. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Waterboys News". web.archive.org. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ The Waterboys and the amazing Mike Scott... | By Jeff AdamsFacebook. Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ a b Hopper, Alexandrea (14 February 2022). "Steve Wickham is retiring from touring with folk-rock band The Waterboys". Hotpress. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Scott, Mike (2004) Recording Notes in This is the Sea (p. 5) [CD liner notes] London: EMI
- ^ a b "FAQ". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2005.
- ^ "Roddy Lorimer". Kick Horns Line Up. Archived from the original on 24 October 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2005.
- ^ Wickham agrees. "An interview with Steve Wickham". Archived from the original on 15 February 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2005.
- ^ "Karma to Burn reports". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2005.
- ^ "Universal Hall, Findhorn, Scotland, January 2002". Cluas.com Irish music. Retrieved 30 October 2005.
- ^ "Sharon Shannon biography 2005" (PDF). The Daisy Label. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2005.
- ^ "Bassist Mark Smith Dies". Music Week Web. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ "Abbey Events". Abbey Theatre Home. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ a b c Scott (2012) p. 59
- ^ Scott (2012) p. 84
- ^ Scott (2012) p. 70
- ^ a b Mike, Scott (2006). "Fisherman's Blues, Roots and the Celtic Soul". mikescottwaterboys. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Scott (2012) p. 294
- ^ a b "The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "7 Days and Nights in Dingle". mikescottwaterboys.com/Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "The Waterboys". The Waterboys. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "A date with WB Yeats and the Waterboys in New York City". IrishCentral. Retrieved 13 April 2013
- ^ Meighan, Nicola (24 December 2014) " 'Journey songs' chart a career spent conquering new ground". Glasgow. The Herald.
- ^ "The Waterboys share first track from new album, Modern Blues". Uncut. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Mike's Song in Support of Megumi Igarashi". mikescottwaterboys.com Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ a b "New 9-Piece Big Band Line-Up". mikescottwaterboys.com Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ^ Post, Irish. "The Waterboys announce new line-up, tour and album for 2015". The Irish Post. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Karl Wallinger formed the band, Guy Chambers and Chris Whitten later left The Waterboys to join World Party.
- Scott, Mike (2012) Adventures of a Waterboy. Jawbone. London. ISBN 978-1-908279-24-8