George Bellamy
Encyclopedia
George Bellamy England
, is an English musician and was the rhythm guitar
ist from The Tornados
; and is the father of Matthew Bellamy
, frontman
of British
rock band
, Muse
.
-and-western
singer. In the late 1950s, he played in a band and later a duo with Alan Klein
. George decided to audition for a group, formed by Joe Meek
, that was advertised in the Music Press. It was this audition that determined that Bellamy would play rhythm guitar
for the Tornados
, who were firstly a session band for Meek. However, the group reached new heights with their song "Telstar
," which reached number one all over the world and was the first British rock song to be a number-one single in the United States. George wrote one of The Tornados'
tracks, "Ridin' the Wind," which also was a hit single in the USA.
Bellamy left the Tornados
in 1963 when it became necessary to cease touring because of problems with his lower spine. After medical treatment, he worked with Don Charles
, who had set up his own recording company
with Alan Caddy named "Sound Venture". Bellamy continued doing session work in London until 1972, working with arrangers and producers such as Burt Bacharach, George Martin, and Ivor Raymond. George re-recorded "Telstar
" with his own record company "SRT" in 1975 with members of the original Tornados.
In late 1997 he formed a Devon-based band, called Rough Terrain, who played at local events in the UK
. The members were:
Bellamy began working in the building industry of Devon in 1984. He retired to Costa Blanca, south of Alicante, Spain
, in 2004 and formed the rock band Freeway.
The 2009 feature film Telstar
portrays the young Bellamy, played by actor Alan Scally.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, is an English musician and was the 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 from The Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
; and is the father of Matthew Bellamy
Matthew Bellamy
Matthew James Bellamy is an English musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, pianist, and main songwriter of the alternative rock band Muse.-Early life:...
, frontman
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
of British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
.
History
Bellamy is primarily a rock 'n' roll and countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
-and-western
Western music (North America)
Western music originated as a form of American folk music. Originally composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Directly related musically to old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, Western music celebrates the life of...
singer. In the late 1950s, he played in a band and later a duo with Alan Klein
Alan Klein
Alan Klein is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He wrote the soundtrack for the stage play and film, What a Crazy World...
. George decided to audition for a group, formed by Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
, that was advertised in the Music Press. It was this audition that determined that Bellamy would play 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...
for the Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
, who were firstly a session band for Meek. However, the group reached new heights with their song "Telstar
Telstar (song)
"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental record performed by The Tornados. It was the first single by a British band to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also a number one hit in the UK. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in...
," which reached number one all over the world and was the first British rock song to be a number-one single in the United States. George wrote one of The Tornados'
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
tracks, "Ridin' the Wind," which also was a hit single in the USA.
Bellamy left the Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
in 1963 when it became necessary to cease touring because of problems with his lower spine. After medical treatment, he worked with Don Charles
Don Charles
Don Charles was a popular English ballad singer, and record producer, and later in his life, a writer of a self-help book. He is best known for his recordings of "Walk With Me My Angel" and "Bring Your Love to Me". He also produced several of The Tornados' tracks including "Space Walk" and...
, who had set up his own recording company
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
with Alan Caddy named "Sound Venture". Bellamy continued doing session work in London until 1972, working with arrangers and producers such as Burt Bacharach, George Martin, and Ivor Raymond. George re-recorded "Telstar
Telstar (song)
"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental record performed by The Tornados. It was the first single by a British band to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also a number one hit in the UK. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in...
" with his own record company "SRT" in 1975 with members of the original Tornados.
In late 1997 he formed a Devon-based band, called Rough Terrain, who played at local events in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The members were:
- Richard Harris - Lead Guitar
- George Bellamy - Rhythm Guitar/Vocals
- Jodie West - Vocals
- Michael Green - Bass Guitar
- Vic Johns - Drums
Bellamy began working in the building industry of Devon in 1984. He retired to Costa Blanca, south of Alicante, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, in 2004 and formed the rock band Freeway.
The 2009 feature film Telstar
Telstar (film)
Telstar is a film adaptation of James Hicks' play of the same name. It stars Con O'Neill as Joe Meek and Kevin Spacey as Meek's business advisor, Major Banks...
portrays the young Bellamy, played by actor Alan Scally.