Gem Archer
Encyclopedia
Colin Murray "Gem" Archer (born 7 December 1966) is a member of the English rock band Beady Eye
. He is, however, best known for his work with Heavy Stereo
and Oasis
. He joined Oasis as rhythm guitar
ist in November 1999, and handled lead guitarist for acoustics as well. He also contributed towards the writing of some of the band's songs. Oasis broke up in August 2009, but in November 2009, Liam Gallagher
announced he was writing new material with Gem as well as other ex-Oasis members minus his brother Noel, under the name Beady Eye
.
Started at Willington Parkside School in County Durham, The Edge existed in varying incarnations of Jeff Walker, Gem’s high-spirited, best friend also on guitar, with a local doctor’s son Michael Chesters on drums.
Once at Durham New College he recruited a lead singer in Simon Scott, an eclectic performer in the style of the New York Dolls.
Gem, Michael Chesters (aka Chess Chesters, and older brother of Eds Chesters of The Bluetones) and Jeff moved to London and formed The Contenders in early 1987, playing at the Bull & Gate in Kentish Town and other venues, often with friends 2 Lost Sons, who at that time were a three piece using Roland 808 and 909 drum machines for their live act. Gem's Contenders stage outfit was a black boiler suit with "THE CONTENDERS" written down the side in large white type. After The Contenders split, Chess joined the 2 Lost Sons as drummer which laid the foundations for Heavy Stereo, with Gem taking over the role of singer from Pete Downing's Buddy Holly look-a-like brother Phil.
status with Contenders (The Contenders split in the late '80s, before Whirlpool formed) and then with Creation Records
signing Heavy Stereo, a glam-rock sounding band that he formed with bassist
Nez and guitarist
Pete Downing of fellow Bull & Gate regulars 2 Lost Sons. Despite supporting Oasis at their historic Knebworth and Loch Lomond concerts in 1996, the only Heavy Stereo
album, 1996's Déjà Voodoo did not enjoy much critical or commercial success. However, Heavy Stereo's next release did receive more attention through demos of new material, a critically acclaimed contribution to The Jam
tribute album, Fire and Skill - Songs Of The Jam, and opening on a Paul Weller tour. Archer recalls "We'd got a Paul Weller tour and our new music was our best ever... I thought '99 really might be a good year for us." However, work on the record was put on hold when Archer's mother fell seriously ill.
, having returned to care for his mother, Archer – lying in front of the fire – heard a report on The Big Breakfast
that Bonehead
had left Oasis after a massive row with Noel Gallagher
. He claims "I thought, Shit! They'll split now. I was a real fan, and I'm not just saying that. For me, Oasis had breathed life back into rock 'n' roll." He was unaware that Noel Gallagher – who knew Archer from both their days on the Creation Records label – had rung his home in London
where it was Archer's son Joel's birthday party. Once Archer's mother had recovered, Gallagher invited him to Olympic Studios
, where Oasis were mixing Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
. "We went to the pub and I couldn't stand not knowing if I was a part of the band. After less than half a pint of Guinness
I said, "What does Liam
say?" And Noel said, "It's my fucking band. I'll have who I want." Archer claims the rest of Heavy Stereo were pleased for him to join Oasis.
Since Archer did not perform on the Giants
album, he received no royalties and, for the first few performances, was paid a standard session wage, about £85 a gig, as the new Oasis rhythm guitar
ist. His first official duty was to appear on the "Go Let It Out
" video – on which he played lead guitar, as Andy Bell
had yet to take over bass, so Noel played bass with Liam on rhythm – and played his first rhythm guitar set at a session for alternative radio in Philadelphia.
Though Archer was officially referred to as Oasis' rhythm guitarist, his role in Oasis was much more than that. In live setting he and Noel often switch between lead and rhythm guitar and both Noel and Liam Gallagher have praised Archer for his contributions in the studio. Archer also had a role as a songwriter. His first songwriting contribution after joining Oasis
was "Hung in a Bad Place", which appeared on Oasis' 5th album Heathen Chemistry
and was said to resemble Heavy Stereo. This song was picked up for use in a commercial for Victoria's Secret
in the US. His role was expanded on Oasis' sixth studio album, Don't Believe the Truth
, which features Archer's "A Bell Will Ring" and "Love Like a Bomb", the latter of which he co-wrote with singer Liam Gallagher
. He also contributed the B-sides "Eyeball Tickler" and "The Quiet Ones" – an acoustic song. He also wrote "To Be Where There's Life" on the 2008 album Dig Out Your Soul
. Archer has said that he found it quite daunting to submit songs for consideration to the band because of Noel Gallagher
's stature as a songwriter, whom he cites as one of his favourite songwriters. Archer, in rare occasions, contributed backing vocals to Oasis songs, such as on "The Meaning of Soul" (from Don't Believe the Truth), and on live performances of "Force Of Nature" (from Heathen Chemistry) and the band's cover of The Who
's "My Generation".
Andy Bell
highlighted Archer's significance to Oasis saying "Oasis has completely evolved. Noel's old mates have left, he's been divorced and really changed his own life around. He still has Liam
but his relationship with Liam is different — it's more tempestuous. He needs a less extreme mate and Gem's it. Gem chills Noel out. And that makes Oasis a more stable ship."
Although Noel Gallagher's departure from Oasis, Gem Archer and Noel Gallagher have still teamed up for a benefit concert at Royal Albert Hall.
. Gallagher placed part of the blame for his decision to leave on Archer, and Andy Bell, for a lack of support saying "the lack of support and understanding from my... band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.". Soon afterwards the band announced they had split. However, Archer, Bell, Liam Gallagher and Oasis live drummer Chris Sharrock
resolved to work together on a new project under a new name, Beady Eye
. While Gallagher maintains a friendship with Archer, as well as Oasis drummer Chris Sharock, he claims that he has not spoken with his brother Liam or former Oasis bassist Andy Bell.
Archer contributed guitar, bass and backing vocals to Beady Eye's debut album Different Gear, Still Speeding
, released on 28 February 2011.
. He has contributed acoustic guitar
to the song 'One x One' on Weller's 2002 album Illumination
and guitars and Mellotron
to the song 'Echoes Round The Sun on Weller's 2008 album 22 Dreams
. He participated in an acoustic tour of the USA with Weller when Steve Cradock
of Ocean Colour Scene
was unavailable, and provided guitar and backing vocals at the 2010 NME Awards when Weller performed a live set having received the 'Godlike Genius Award'.
He also contributed guitar to David Holmes
' 1997 album Let's Get Killed
.
Archer also had a role in making the Nine Inch Nails
record With Teeth
in middle-2004 before starting final sessions in October 2004 for the Oasis album Don't Believe the Truth. He also assisted Noel Gallagher in producing the first Proud Mary
album, a band signed to Gallagher's Sour Mash record label.
Beady Eye
Beady Eye are an English rock band formed in 2009. The band consists of vocalist Liam Gallagher, guitarist Gem Archer and guitarist Andy Bell, all former members of Oasis, rounded by drummer and percussionist Chris Sharrock who substituted for Oasis during their last tour in 2008/2009, before Oasis...
. He is, however, best known for his work with Heavy Stereo
Heavy Stereo
Heavy Stereo was a British rock band, who were active in the early to mid 1990s. There were known for having had a 1970s glam rock styled sound, and for their album, Deja Voodoo...
and Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
. He joined Oasis as rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
ist in November 1999, and handled lead guitarist for acoustics as well. He also contributed towards the writing of some of the band's songs. Oasis broke up in August 2009, but in November 2009, Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
announced he was writing new material with Gem as well as other ex-Oasis members minus his brother Noel, under the name Beady Eye
Beady Eye
Beady Eye are an English rock band formed in 2009. The band consists of vocalist Liam Gallagher, guitarist Gem Archer and guitarist Andy Bell, all former members of Oasis, rounded by drummer and percussionist Chris Sharrock who substituted for Oasis during their last tour in 2008/2009, before Oasis...
.
The Edge and The Contenders
Archer began his musical career in a group called The Edge in the early 80s. They released two singles Take A Walk and Little Girl Blue.Started at Willington Parkside School in County Durham, The Edge existed in varying incarnations of Jeff Walker, Gem’s high-spirited, best friend also on guitar, with a local doctor’s son Michael Chesters on drums.
Once at Durham New College he recruited a lead singer in Simon Scott, an eclectic performer in the style of the New York Dolls.
Gem, Michael Chesters (aka Chess Chesters, and older brother of Eds Chesters of The Bluetones) and Jeff moved to London and formed The Contenders in early 1987, playing at the Bull & Gate in Kentish Town and other venues, often with friends 2 Lost Sons, who at that time were a three piece using Roland 808 and 909 drum machines for their live act. Gem's Contenders stage outfit was a black boiler suit with "THE CONTENDERS" written down the side in large white type. After The Contenders split, Chess joined the 2 Lost Sons as drummer which laid the foundations for Heavy Stereo, with Gem taking over the role of singer from Pete Downing's Buddy Holly look-a-like brother Phil.
Heavy Stereo
When Whirlpool split in the early 90s, Archer graduated to singer, principal songwriter and guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
status with Contenders (The Contenders split in the late '80s, before Whirlpool formed) and then with Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
signing Heavy Stereo, a glam-rock sounding band that he formed with bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Nez and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Pete Downing of fellow Bull & Gate regulars 2 Lost Sons. Despite supporting Oasis at their historic Knebworth and Loch Lomond concerts in 1996, the only Heavy Stereo
Heavy Stereo
Heavy Stereo was a British rock band, who were active in the early to mid 1990s. There were known for having had a 1970s glam rock styled sound, and for their album, Deja Voodoo...
album, 1996's Déjà Voodoo did not enjoy much critical or commercial success. However, Heavy Stereo's next release did receive more attention through demos of new material, a critically acclaimed contribution to The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
tribute album, Fire and Skill - Songs Of The Jam, and opening on a Paul Weller tour. Archer recalls "We'd got a Paul Weller tour and our new music was our best ever... I thought '99 really might be a good year for us." However, work on the record was put on hold when Archer's mother fell seriously ill.
Oasis
Whilst at home in DurhamDurham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, having returned to care for his mother, Archer – lying in front of the fire – heard a report on The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 and S4C each weekday morning from 28 September 1992 until 29 March 2002 during which period 2,482 shows were produced. The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former...
that Bonehead
Paul Arthurs
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs is an English musician and one of the founding members of the English rock band Oasis, best known as their rhythm guitar player from 1991-1999.-Early life:...
had left Oasis after a massive row with Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
. He claims "I thought, Shit! They'll split now. I was a real fan, and I'm not just saying that. For me, Oasis had breathed life back into rock 'n' roll." He was unaware that Noel Gallagher – who knew Archer from both their days on the Creation Records label – had rung his home in 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...
where it was Archer's son Joel's birthday party. Once Archer's mother had recovered, Gallagher invited him to Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
, where Oasis were mixing Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants is the fourth studio album by English rock band Oasis, released on 28 February 2000. The album is the 16th fastest selling album in UK chart history, selling over 310,000 copies in its first week...
. "We went to the pub and I couldn't stand not knowing if I was a part of the band. After less than half a pint of Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
I said, "What does Liam
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
say?" And Noel said, "It's my fucking band. I'll have who I want." Archer claims the rest of Heavy Stereo were pleased for him to join Oasis.
Since Archer did not perform on the Giants
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants is the fourth studio album by English rock band Oasis, released on 28 February 2000. The album is the 16th fastest selling album in UK chart history, selling over 310,000 copies in its first week...
album, he received no royalties and, for the first few performances, was paid a standard session wage, about £85 a gig, as the new Oasis rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
ist. His first official duty was to appear on the "Go Let It Out
Go Let It Out
"Go Let It Out" is a song by the English rock band Oasis, written by the band's lead guitarist, and chief songwriter, Noel Gallagher. It was released in 2000 as the first single from the fourth studio album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. The song peaked at #1 in the UK charts where it went...
" video – on which he played lead guitar, as Andy Bell
Andy Bell (musician)
Andrew Piran "Andy" Bell is a Welsh musician, currently playing guitar in the band Beady Eye. He is a songwriter, singer, producer, DJ and former member of the early 1990s shoegazing band, Ride, and later, Hurricane #1...
had yet to take over bass, so Noel played bass with Liam on rhythm – and played his first rhythm guitar set at a session for alternative radio in Philadelphia.
Though Archer was officially referred to as Oasis' rhythm guitarist, his role in Oasis was much more than that. In live setting he and Noel often switch between lead and rhythm guitar and both Noel and Liam Gallagher have praised Archer for his contributions in the studio. Archer also had a role as a songwriter. His first songwriting contribution after joining Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
was "Hung in a Bad Place", which appeared on Oasis' 5th album Heathen Chemistry
Heathen Chemistry
Heathen Chemistry is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Oasis, released in 2002.The album was written and recorded with a back-to-basics sound with a more rock feel to it; the more crude and simple sound differs from the musical grandiosity of their previous records, Be Here Now and...
and was said to resemble Heavy Stereo. This song was picked up for use in a commercial for Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
in the US. His role was expanded on Oasis' sixth studio album, Don't Believe the Truth
Don't Believe the Truth
Don't Believe the Truth is the sixth studio album by English rock band Oasis, released on 30 May 2005. It reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart with first week sales of just under 238,000, and is the 32nd fastest selling album ever in the UK. The album entered the U.S...
, which features Archer's "A Bell Will Ring" and "Love Like a Bomb", the latter of which he co-wrote with singer Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
. He also contributed the B-sides "Eyeball Tickler" and "The Quiet Ones" – an acoustic song. He also wrote "To Be Where There's Life" on the 2008 album Dig Out Your Soul
Dig Out Your Soul
Dig Out Your Soul is the seventh and final studio album by English rock band Oasis. It was released in October 2008. The first single, "The Shock of the Lightning", was released on 29 September 2008. In promotion of the album, the band embarked on a world tour, debuting in Seattle, Washington at...
. Archer has said that he found it quite daunting to submit songs for consideration to the band because of Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
's stature as a songwriter, whom he cites as one of his favourite songwriters. Archer, in rare occasions, contributed backing vocals to Oasis songs, such as on "The Meaning of Soul" (from Don't Believe the Truth), and on live performances of "Force Of Nature" (from Heathen Chemistry) and the band's cover of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's "My Generation".
Andy Bell
Andy Bell (musician)
Andrew Piran "Andy" Bell is a Welsh musician, currently playing guitar in the band Beady Eye. He is a songwriter, singer, producer, DJ and former member of the early 1990s shoegazing band, Ride, and later, Hurricane #1...
highlighted Archer's significance to Oasis saying "Oasis has completely evolved. Noel's old mates have left, he's been divorced and really changed his own life around. He still has Liam
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
but his relationship with Liam is different — it's more tempestuous. He needs a less extreme mate and Gem's it. Gem chills Noel out. And that makes Oasis a more stable ship."
Although Noel Gallagher's departure from Oasis, Gem Archer and Noel Gallagher have still teamed up for a benefit concert at Royal Albert Hall.
Beady Eye
Noel Gallagher quit Oasis in August 2009, following an argument with his brother in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Gallagher placed part of the blame for his decision to leave on Archer, and Andy Bell, for a lack of support saying "the lack of support and understanding from my... band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.". Soon afterwards the band announced they had split. However, Archer, Bell, Liam Gallagher and Oasis live drummer Chris Sharrock
Chris Sharrock
Chris Sharrock is an English drummer from Bebington, Merseyside, England who has a long history of being an official member of many noted British bands, including The Icicle Works, The La's, The Wild Swans, World Party, The Lightning Seeds, The Robbie Williams Band, Oasis, and Beady...
resolved to work together on a new project under a new name, Beady Eye
Beady Eye
Beady Eye are an English rock band formed in 2009. The band consists of vocalist Liam Gallagher, guitarist Gem Archer and guitarist Andy Bell, all former members of Oasis, rounded by drummer and percussionist Chris Sharrock who substituted for Oasis during their last tour in 2008/2009, before Oasis...
. While Gallagher maintains a friendship with Archer, as well as Oasis drummer Chris Sharock, he claims that he has not spoken with his brother Liam or former Oasis bassist Andy Bell.
Archer contributed guitar, bass and backing vocals to Beady Eye's debut album Different Gear, Still Speeding
Different Gear, Still Speeding
Different Gear, Still Speeding is the debut album by the English rock band Beady Eye, released on 28 February 2011. It debuted at #3 in the UK albums chart selling 66,817 in the first week, and had sold approximately 157,000 copies in the UK as of November 2011...
, released on 28 February 2011.
Other work
Outside of Oasis, Archer has collaborated with a few other artists, most notably Paul WellerPaul Weller
Paul Weller is an English singer-songwriter. Starting with the band The Jam , Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council...
. He has contributed acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
to the song 'One x One' on Weller's 2002 album Illumination
Illumination (Paul Weller album)
Illumination is the sixth album by English singer-songwriter Paul Weller, released on 16 September 2002. "Call Me No.5" is a duet with Kelly Jones of Stereophonics, and "One X One" features Gem Archer on acoustic guitar and Noel Gallagher of Oasis on drums, percussion and bass.-Reception:Initial...
and guitars and Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
to the song 'Echoes Round The Sun on Weller's 2008 album 22 Dreams
22 Dreams
22 Dreams is the ninth solo studio album by Paul Weller. It was released on June 2, 2008.The album was released on double LP and single CD, as well as a deluxe edition CD, featuring a bonus CD with outtakes and extra tracks. Oasis stars Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer feature on the album, as does...
. He participated in an acoustic tour of the USA with Weller when Steve Cradock
Steve Cradock
Steve Cradock is an English guitarist, most notable for playing in the rock group Ocean Colour Scene. Cradock is also the second guitarist in Paul Weller's band, having appeared on all of Weller's solo records following Weller's self titled debut album.He is a distinctive guitarist, who has a...
of Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
was unavailable, and provided guitar and backing vocals at the 2010 NME Awards when Weller performed a live set having received the 'Godlike Genius Award'.
He also contributed guitar to David Holmes
David Holmes (musician)
David Holmes is a Northern Irish DJ, musician and composer.-Career:Holmes began djing in Belfast from the age of 15. His first hit was the song "DeNiro", with Ashley Beedle, in 1992. In the early to mid 1990s he ran two club nights in the Belfast Art College known as Sugar Sweet and Shake Yer Brain...
' 1997 album Let's Get Killed
Let's Get Killed
Lets Get Killed is the second studio album by Belfast electronica DJ and producer David Holmes. It was released in the UK on 8 September 1997 through Go! Beat Records and contained two UK Top 40 singles: "Don't Die Just Yet" and "My Mate Paul"...
.
Archer also had a role in making the Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
record With Teeth
With Teeth
With Teeth is the fourth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on May 3, 2005, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It was Reznor's first original studio album since The...
in middle-2004 before starting final sessions in October 2004 for the Oasis album Don't Believe the Truth. He also assisted Noel Gallagher in producing the first Proud Mary
Proud Mary (band)
Proud Mary are an English country/blues/rock band from Royton, Oldham, England. The band was discovered by Noel Gallagher in 2001, and was the first to sign to the Oasis star's Sour Mash label....
album, a band signed to Gallagher's Sour Mash record label.
Personal Life
Archer's wife Lou is currently a teacher at Highgate Primary in London. They are happily married like lovers in love.Guitars
- Gibson FirebirdGibson FirebirdThe Gibson Firebird is a solid-body electric guitar manufactured by Gibson from 1963 to the present.-History:The Gibson Guitar Corporation released several new styles during the 1950s to compete with Fender's instruments, such as the Telecaster and Stratocaster. After success with the Les Paul in...
- Archer's main guitar with Oasis and Beady Eye. He owns several, all of which are the rare 'non reverse' models. One of these guitars (specifically, the model with 3 p-90 pickups) is believed to have belonged to Noel Gallagher and can be seen being used by Noel in the Cigarettes and Alcohol video. - Epiphone CasinoEpiphone CasinoThe Epiphone Casino is a thinline hollow body electric guitar manufactured by Epiphone, a branch of Gibson. It is essentially Epiphone's version of the Gibson ES-330...
- His main guitar with Heavy Stereo. Archer used a casino with a natural finish. This guitar can also be seen in use in the studio for Oasis in the 'Gold and Silver and Sunshine' documentary, as well as on a live performance on a Top of the PopsTop of the PopsTop of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
Comic ReliefComic ReliefComic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
special in 2008. - Epiphone Riviera and SheratonEpiphone SheratonThe Epiphone Sheraton is a thinline semi-hollow body electric guitar. Though the Sheraton and all its variations were introduced under the ownership of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, Epiphone is the exclusive manufacturer.- History :...
- Used live with Oasis. Both guitars have a cherry red finish and mini humbucker pickups, but while the Riviera has a white pickguard, the Sheraton has a black one. - Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe 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...
- Archer used a white model for an Oasis gig at the Barrowlands, Glasgow in 2001. - Fender TelecasterFender TelecasterThe Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
- Archer has used several throughout his career. Especially with Oasis and Beady Eye. - Gibson ES-355- Archer uses this guitar to play electric guitar parts over Noel Gallagher's solo acoustic sets. This guitar could belong to Noel as an identical model is Noel's main guitar with Oasis.
- Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe 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...
- Used at an Oasis gig in 2000 when Noel had (temporarily) quit the band. Archer had to take over the role of lead guitar and therefore used Gallagher's main guitar of the time, a sunburst Les Paul. - Rickenbacker 360/12Rickenbacker 360/12The Rickenbacker 360/12 is an electric guitar made by the Rickenbacker company; it was among the first electric twelve-string guitars. This instrument is visually similar to the Rickenbacker 360...
- Used with Beady Eye during the first tour of the new band