Al Westaway
Encyclopedia
Alexander Derek Westaway (born 2 February 1983) is an English musician
, singer and songwriter
from Northampton
. Westaway is the co-founder of British alternative rock
band Fightstar
, for whom he plays lead guitar
and provides vocals. Along with Charlie Simpson
, he writes the lyrics for the bands material.
Westaway grew up with his sisters Fleur and Hannah, in Northamptonshire, Northampton. He attended Rugby school.
His lighter vocals contrast Simpson's deeper voice and screams
to give Fightstar a more versatile range. Westaway is also a potent painter
and has designed cover art
for two of the bands releases. When playing live he favours the use of Fender Telecasters and the Gibson SG
for heavier songs. However he has also used the Fender Stratocaster
the Fender Jazzmaster
and the Gibson Les Paul
.
Westaway had met Simpson during 2003 whilst attending a dinner party
. During the party they decided to have a jam and together did an acoustic cover of Rage Against The Machine
's song "Killing In The Name
". He subsequently dropped out of university
and moved into the spare room of Simpson's London
flat where they began writing songs together. Over the next six months, their debut EP
had been written. Westaway has named his biggest inspiration as the late Jeff Buckley
, while he has also named his all time favourite album as Radiohead
's The Bends
.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
from Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. Westaway is the co-founder of British alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Fightstar
Fightstar
Fightstar are an English alternative rock band from London. They formed in 2003 and their lineup comprises lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and vocalist Alex Westaway, bass guitarist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi...
, for whom he plays lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
and provides vocals. Along with Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson
Charles Robert Simpson , is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was the youngest member of multi BRIT Award-winning band Busted, and is the lead vocalist, guitarist and co-lyricist in alternative rock band Fightstar...
, he writes the lyrics for the bands material.
Westaway grew up with his sisters Fleur and Hannah, in Northamptonshire, Northampton. He attended Rugby school.
His lighter vocals contrast Simpson's deeper voice and screams
Screaming (music)
Screaming is a vocal technique that is most popular in subgenres of heavy metal, punk and hard rock, including metalcore, deathcore, post-hardcore, groove metal, black metal, and grindcore...
to give Fightstar a more versatile range. Westaway is also a potent painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and has designed cover art
Cover art
Cover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
for two of the bands releases. When playing live he favours the use of Fender Telecasters and the Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
for heavier songs. However he has also used the Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
the Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Jazzmaster
The Fender Jazzmaster is an electric guitar designed as an upmarket sibling to the Fender Stratocaster. First introduced at the 1958 NAMM Show, it was initially marketed at jazz guitarists, but found favor among surf rock guitarists in the early 1960s...
and the Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
.
Westaway had met Simpson during 2003 whilst attending a dinner party
Dinner party
Dinner Party or The Dinner Party may refer to:* A type of party* The Dinner Party,an installation artwork by Judy Chicago* The Dinner Party , by Neil Simon* Dinner Party , by Pier Vittorio Tondelli...
. During the party they decided to have a jam and together did an acoustic cover of Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
's song "Killing In The Name
Killing in the Name
"Killing in the Name" is a song by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, featured on their self-titled debut album, and was released as the lead single from the album in November 1992...
". He subsequently dropped out of university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and moved into the spare room of Simpson's London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
flat where they began writing songs together. Over the next six months, their debut EP
They Liked You Better When You Were Dead
They Liked You Better When You Were Dead is the debut EP from British rock band Fightstar, released on February 28, 2005 through Sandwich Leg Records. The release proved a critical success, in spite of the cynics' initial expectations of the band. It has been said that the EP helped "present...
had been written. Westaway has named his biggest inspiration as the late Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
, while he has also named his all time favourite album as Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's The Bends
The Bends
The Bends is the second studio album by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, released on 13 March 1995 by Parlophone. The Bends was produced by John Leckie at EMI's studios in London, and engineered by Nigel Godrich, who would go on to produce all future albums by the band...
.
With Fightstar
- 2005: They Liked You Better When You Were DeadThey Liked You Better When You Were DeadThey Liked You Better When You Were Dead is the debut EP from British rock band Fightstar, released on February 28, 2005 through Sandwich Leg Records. The release proved a critical success, in spite of the cynics' initial expectations of the band. It has been said that the EP helped "present...
- 2006: Grand UnificationGrand Unification (Album)Grand Unification is the debut studio album by British alternative rock band Fightstar, released on March 13, 2006 through Island Records. Based upon the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, Grand Unification was produced by Colin Richardson and is considered a concept album...
- 2007: One Day Son, This Will All Be YoursOne Day Son, This Will All Be YoursOne Day Son, This Will All Be Yours is the second studio album by British alternative rock band Fightstar, released on September 24, 2007 through Institute Recordings, itself a subsidiary of independent label Gut Records...
- 2008: Alternate EndingsAlternate EndingsAlternate Endings is a compilation album by English alternative rock band Fightstar, released August 11, 2008 on Gut Records.It features previously unreleased material, b-sides, covers and live radio recordings from the previous four years....
- 2009: Be HumanBe Human (Fightstar Album)Be Human is the third studio album by British alternative rock band Fightstar, released on April 20, 2009 through independent label Search and Destroy Records, itself distributed by PIAS Recordings. The album was recorded between August and December 2008 in Chesterfield and London, with the band...