Kevin Hewick
Encyclopedia
Kevin Hewick is an English
singer-songwriter
who was an early member of the Factory Records
roster. In the present day he is known for his recording on Pink Box records, an independent label based in Leicester and his recent work with Italian collective Unfolk.
in Graveyard Studios where he recorded two tracks "Haystack" (released on From Brussels with Love compilation in 1981) and "A Piece of Fate" with the three surviving members of Joy Division
, a month after the death of Ian Curtis
and just prior to their adopting the name New Order.
Other Factory releases included the controversial live side of the A Factory Quartet double album (FACT 24) in 1981 - live tracks picked against Hewick's wishes by Tony Wilson of a confrontation between him and a very aggressive audience - and the single "Ophelia's Drinking Song" (FAC 48) which featured producer Donald Johnson of A Certain Ratio
on percussion and was mixed by Peter Hook of New Order
.
For a time Hewick was privy to many pivotal moments in Factory's early history, describing himself as a "gormless bystander" to those events. He often stayed at the Palatine Road flat of Alan Erasmus but as Erasmus became less involved with the label and Hewick's fraught working relationship with Tony Wilson rapidly worsened throughout 1982 (with Hewick even telling Wilson that The Haçienda
was a bad idea as he "couldn't even run a record company properly never mind a club as well") an offer to "jump ship" to Cherry Red
Records in London proved too tempting to resist.
recorded with The Sound
Reality Unreal (1984). These and various items from Hewick's time on Factory were released by Cherry Red on a compilation CD as Tender Bruises and Scars in 2003. Kevin wrote the insert notes for this album which detailed his long fight with depression
in the years following when Cherry Red dropped him from their roster in 1984.
He has developed a live show which has been known to reach 3-4 hours in length where he will play many of his own songs and unusal cover versions such as John Lennon
's "Isolation
", The Doors
"Wishful Sinful
", Led Zeppelin
's "Tangerine
" and various Jimi Hendrix
numbers.
Hewick's support slots over the years have included Roy Harper
, The Fall, Joy Division
, Showaddywaddy
, Durutti Column, New Order
, Section 25
, PJ Harvey
, Martin Carthy
, Kevin Coyne
, Fairport Convention
, Dr.Robert, BJ Cole
and Bobby Valentino, Eyeless In Gaza
, Sonja Kristina, Clive Gregson
, Ben Watt
, Tim Rose
, Sophie Barker
, Tina Dico
, Dan Reed and Jackie Leven
, with whom he has also performed in "The Stornoway Girls". He also appeared on Leven's live albums Greetings from Milford (2001) and Only The Ocean Can Forgive (2003). He has also guested on guitar and/or vocals on albums by The Freed Unit, Steve Cartwright, Meta-Tekki and on ist
's King Martha
(2005) He also co-wrote the song "A Scotsman in a Church" on the ist album Toothpick Bridge
(2009) and has contributed both lyrics and vocals to music written by Alessandro Monti for Italian act Unfolk's album The Venetian Book Of The Dead released in February 2010. A live performance of the album was played in Italy at Musica Continua in Mestre on March 19, 2011.
Hewick has also returned to the London acoustic circuit often performing at 12 Bar Club in Denmark Street, also singing onstage there with Subterraneans
in November 2010.
His 1990s work, including the album Helpline (1999), was issued by Leicester maverick label Sorted Records. He has also appeared on the Pink Box Records roster.
Between late 2004 to Spring of 2005 he managed all girl band Firebrand
who featured Sarah Firebrand later to be the bassist with Tigertailz
.
He has twice paid tribute to his old friend the late Adrian Borland
at concerts in his memory in Holland at the Patronaat Haarlem (2001) and Amsterdam Paradiso (2006) and also toured Germany with The Convent in 2001.
He also contributed occasional album and live reviews to Planet Sound
, the Channel 4
teletext music pages and has written material for The Leicester Mercury
, BBC Radio Leicester
, Tight But Loose (The Official Led Zeppelin
magazine), Wears The Trousers, and a chapter for (The Book Of) Happy Memories, an appreciation of the life of The Sound
's Adrian Borland
, which was published in English and Dutch editions.
The Soar Valley Wayfarers (SVW) debuted at the Attik Club in Leicester on 21 June 2006. SVW is an ongoing folk/avant-garde skiffle group with Mr Plow on guitar and vocals, Flash of ist
on percussion and Kevin.
In 2007 LTM Records re-issued the 1980 Les Disques du Crépuscule
compilation From Brussels With Love which features "Haystack" from the 1980 session with New Order
and Whispers in the Offing a tribute album to Kevin Coyne
on which Hewick contributes a version of Coyne's song "Raindrops on the Window".
Hewick was involved in the development of a musical "School of Hard Rocks" with playwright Jez Simons of Hathi Productions that was staged at Leicester's Phoenix Arts Centre in September 2007 and The Shed in Leicester in February 2008.
Hewick wrote and performed eleven original songs for the production which came out as an album entitled Keep Your Flipped Wigs On on Leicester's Pink Box Records in January 2008.
Also on Pink Box was a limited edition 7" single on yellow vinyl - "Something to Do On The Bus" - and four track downloadable EP - That Side of You which came out in July 2007.
On 15 December 2007 Hewick took part in a performance entitled "A Factory Night (Once Again)" at Brussels Plan K with Section 25
, Crispy Ambulance
, The Names
and DJ's Peter Hook
and Martin Moscrop. This event was filmed and was released as a DVD featuring five of the songs Hewick performed, by LTM records in May 2008.
Further European dates with Section 25
and Peter Hook
took place in Paris
, Brussels
, Oss
in the southern Netherlands
and Krefeld
in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
in November 2008. Hewick opened on all these dates and played guitar with Hook and SXXV on the New Order
classic "Doubts Even Here" at Krefeld. Hewick also took part in the 24 hour Tony Wilson Experience in Manchester on 21–22 June 2008 including playing with Peter Hook
in an improvisational accompaniment to an action painting by artist Phil Diggle in the foyer of Urbis
.
He opened for Peter Hook
and The Light
at Manchester's FAC 251 club on May 18, 2010 when Hook performed Joy Division
's 'Unknown Pleasures
' in full.He was invited back by Peter Hook
to fill the support slots for the May 18th and May 19, 2011 FAC 251 performances of 'Closer
'.
A further Factory Records
connected event was Kevin's appearance at Paul Morley
's 'Tribute To Tony Wilson
' at The Purcell Room at London's Southbank on June 16, 2011 as part of Ray Davies
's Meltdown Festival. Hewick performed 3 songs specially written for this event which also included an appreance by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
.
Hewick appeared at and promoted a show for Section 25
at Leicester Musician in September 2010 and also put on an event there with Viv Albertine
of The Slits
and Jude Rawlins of Subterraneans
on April 3, 2011. A future Musician promotion on September 18, 2011 will see Hewick performing with fellow 80s Cherry Red labelmate's Eyeless In Gaza
.
On 23 August 2008 Hewick debuted on guitar and vocals with a band line up, No Junk Promise also featuring Gemma Warne on drums, Simon Ball on bass and Neil Johnston
on guitar at Leicester Firebug. Warne and Ball had previously performed a one off show with Hewick as The Kevin Hewick Sexperience in May 2008.
Another band line up debuted at Leicester Victoria Park Pavilion on January 31, 2009, Hewick Haynes & James, the Haynes being Mark Haynes AKA longstanding Hewick / Soar Valley Wayfarers / Ist drum cohort Flash and Pete James on bass. HH&J performed at Leicester Summer Sundae festival on the De Montfort Halls indoor stage in August 2009 and at Alan McGee
's (Creation Records
) influential Death Disco night in London at Notting Hill Arts Club
in October 2009. 2011 has seen them appear with Welsh alternative rockers The Holy Coves and acclaimed USA soul rock outfit Vintage Trouble
and they began recording tracks to be featured on the next Kevin Hewick album.
On February 14, 2009 www.kevinhewick.co.uk released a free download album Doomcloud the until-then lost follow up to Helpline, 12 songs recorded in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
Hewick recorded "Personal Loss" for Patrik Fitzgerald
tribute album All Sewn Up which has now been nominated for an Independent Music Award for best tribute album. He also took part in the release concert celebrating Patrik's 50th birthday at Verkstedhallen, Trondheim
, Norway
, on March 6, 2009.
Following two recent appearances together at The Donkey in Leicester Kevin and Sally Barker
intend to debut a full band line up called Liberation Doll with Lee Allatson and Ian Crabtree in October 2011.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who was an early member of the Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
roster. In the present day he is known for his recording on Pink Box records, an independent label based in Leicester and his recent work with Italian collective Unfolk.
The Factory years
Newly added to the Factory roster Hewick had a recording session in June 1980 with producer Martin HannettMartin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
in Graveyard Studios where he recorded two tracks "Haystack" (released on From Brussels with Love compilation in 1981) and "A Piece of Fate" with the three surviving members of Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, a month after the death of Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
and just prior to their adopting the name New Order.
Other Factory releases included the controversial live side of the A Factory Quartet double album (FACT 24) in 1981 - live tracks picked against Hewick's wishes by Tony Wilson of a confrontation between him and a very aggressive audience - and the single "Ophelia's Drinking Song" (FAC 48) which featured producer Donald Johnson of A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio are a Post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk"...
on percussion and was mixed by Peter Hook of New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
.
For a time Hewick was privy to many pivotal moments in Factory's early history, describing himself as a "gormless bystander" to those events. He often stayed at the Palatine Road flat of Alan Erasmus but as Erasmus became less involved with the label and Hewick's fraught working relationship with Tony Wilson rapidly worsened throughout 1982 (with Hewick even telling Wilson that The Haçienda
The Haçienda
Fac 51 Haçienda was a nightclub and music venue in Manchester, England. It became most famous during the "Madchester" years of the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the 1990s it was labelled the most famous club in the world by Newsweek magazine...
was a bad idea as he "couldn't even run a record company properly never mind a club as well") an offer to "jump ship" to Cherry Red
Cherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
Records in London proved too tempting to resist.
Cherry Red
On Cherry Red Records Kevin released an album Such Hunger For Love (1983) a single "Feathering The Nest" (1983) and a 12 inch 4 track EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
recorded with The Sound
The Sound
The Sound were an English post-punk band, formed in 1979 and dissolved in 1988. The band was fronted by Adrian Borland and evolved from his previous band, The Outsiders...
Reality Unreal (1984). These and various items from Hewick's time on Factory were released by Cherry Red on a compilation CD as Tender Bruises and Scars in 2003. Kevin wrote the insert notes for this album which detailed his long fight with depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
in the years following when Cherry Red dropped him from their roster in 1984.
Present day
Hewick has returned to the Leicester music scene, and can be found at frequent gigs within the city both as performer and/or event organiser, including when he booked acts and hosted the monthly Firebug Comfort Zone Sunday afternoon acoustic sessions between September 2005 and October 2006. As of September 2008 to present he hosts The Musician Open Stage on Monday nights.He has developed a live show which has been known to reach 3-4 hours in length where he will play many of his own songs and unusal cover versions such as John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's "Isolation
Isolation (John Lennon song)
"Isolation" is a 1970 song appearing on John Lennon's first official solo album release, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.-Personnel:The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:*John Lennon – vocals, piano, organ...
", The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
"Wishful Sinful
Wishful Sinful
Wishful Sinful is a song written by Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and performed by The Doors. Released in March 1969 from the band's fourth album, The Soft Parade, "Wishful Sinful" follows the general theme of the album by incorporating elements of classical music. It reached #44 on the Billboard...
", Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's "Tangerine
Tangerine
__notoc__The tangerine is an orange-colored citrus fruit which is closely related to the Mandarin orange . Taxonomically, it should probably be formally named as a subspecies or variety of Citrus reticulata; further work seems to be required to ascertain its correct scientific name...
" and various Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
numbers.
Hewick's support slots over the years have included Roy Harper
Roy Harper
Roy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
, The Fall, Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy are a 1970s pop group from Leicester, England. They specialised in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, and dressed as Teddy Boys.-History:...
, Durutti Column, New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
, PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
, Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
, Kevin Coyne
Kevin Coyne
Kevin Coyne was a musician, singer, composer, film-maker, and a writer of lyrics, stories and poems. The former "anti-star" was born on 27 January 1944 in Derby, UK, and died in his adopted home of Nuremberg, Germany, on 2 December 2004....
, Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
, Dr.Robert, BJ Cole
Cochise (band)
Cochise was an English country rock band that performed in the 1970s.This band is more significant for who they included than what they produced. Singer Stewart Brown had grown up with Reggie Dwight, later Elton John, and co-founded the band Bluesology with him. After the demise of Cochise, Mick...
and Bobby Valentino, Eyeless In Gaza
Eyeless in Gaza (band)
Eyeless In Gaza are a Post-punk musical duo of Martyn Bates and Peter Becker, based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. They have described their music as "veer[ing] crazily from filmic ambiance to rock and pop, industrial funk to avant-folk styles." Formed in 1980, the group went into hiatus in...
, Sonja Kristina, Clive Gregson
Clive Gregson
Clive Gregson is an English singer/songwriter, musician and record producer. He has toured in bands, provided backup for well-known musicians, and written songs that have been covered by Kim Carnes, Norma Waterson and Nanci Griffith.-Solo:At the end of 1984 Gregson released his first solo record,...
, Ben Watt
Ben Watt
Benjamin Brian Thomas Watt is a British musician, DJ, and record producer, best known as one half of the duo, Everything but the Girl.-Family:...
, Tim Rose
Tim Rose
Timothy Alan Patrick Rose , best known professionally as Tim Rose, was an American singer-songwriter, who spent much of his life in London, England and had more success in Europe than in his native country...
, Sophie Barker
Sophie Barker
Sophie Barker is a British singer from London, best known for her work with the British downtempo group Zero 7. Sophie left University College London after two years to become a full-time singer, signing with Sony Records. She is the co-writer of the band's biggest hit, "Destiny", and sings the...
, Tina Dico
Tina Dico
Tina Dico is a singer and songwriter inspired by artists such as Tracy Chapman, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.In Denmark she performs under her real name, Tina Dickow.- Beginnings :...
, Dan Reed and Jackie Leven
Jackie Leven
Jackie Leven was a Scottish songwriter and folk musician. After starting his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he first found success with new wave band Doll by Doll...
, with whom he has also performed in "The Stornoway Girls". He also appeared on Leven's live albums Greetings from Milford (2001) and Only The Ocean Can Forgive (2003). He has also guested on guitar and/or vocals on albums by The Freed Unit, Steve Cartwright, Meta-Tekki and on ist
Ist (band)
Ist are a musical group based in Leicester, UK. Their name is meant to denote a lack of prejudice. They are broadly speaking, a pop/rock group, but with a penchant for genre-jumping that has seen ska, jazz, blues and classical influences find their way on to their albums.-History:Ist was formed in...
's King Martha
King Martha
King Martha is the second album by the band Ist, released in 2005.-Track listing:All songs Hall/Haynes/McCourt except * Hall/Haynes/McCourt/Ilett#"Momentary Glitch" – 4:33#"Apologia" – 2:37#"Duty Calls" – 3:14#"Haunted" – 4:05...
(2005) He also co-wrote the song "A Scotsman in a Church" on the ist album Toothpick Bridge
Toothpick Bridge
Toothpick Bridge is the third album by the band Ist, and was released on August 17, 2009.-Track listing:All songs: Hall/Haynes/McCourt/Richardson except'*' Hall/Haynes/McCourt/Richardson/Birtles/Barrowand...
(2009) and has contributed both lyrics and vocals to music written by Alessandro Monti for Italian act Unfolk's album The Venetian Book Of The Dead released in February 2010. A live performance of the album was played in Italy at Musica Continua in Mestre on March 19, 2011.
Hewick has also returned to the London acoustic circuit often performing at 12 Bar Club in Denmark Street, also singing onstage there with Subterraneans
Subterraneans
"Subterraneans" is a song by David Bowie for his album Low . Subterraneans is mostly instrumental, with brief, obscure lyrics sung near the song's end....
in November 2010.
His 1990s work, including the album Helpline (1999), was issued by Leicester maverick label Sorted Records. He has also appeared on the Pink Box Records roster.
Between late 2004 to Spring of 2005 he managed all girl band Firebrand
Firebrand
The word Firebrand has several uses:* A piece of burning wood * A person with a penchant for militancy in speech and/or action-Vehicles:*Blackburn Firebrand, an aircraft constructed for the Royal Navy...
who featured Sarah Firebrand later to be the bassist with Tigertailz
Tigertailz
Tigertailz are a glam metal band hailing from Cardiff, Wales. They are most famous for their 1990 album, Bezerk, which made the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart, and spawned a couple of successful singles...
.
He has twice paid tribute to his old friend the late Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, bestknown as the lead singer of post-punk band The Sound...
at concerts in his memory in Holland at the Patronaat Haarlem (2001) and Amsterdam Paradiso (2006) and also toured Germany with The Convent in 2001.
He also contributed occasional album and live reviews to Planet Sound
Planet Sound
Planet Sound was a Teletext music page on ITV and Channel 4 in the UK. It was broadcast on analogue Teletext from page 340, and on digital Teletext from page 820. From May 24, 2007, Planet Sound was also available to read online via the Teletext website...
, the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
teletext music pages and has written material for The Leicester Mercury
Leicester Mercury
The Leicester Mercury is a British regional newspaper, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, for the city of Leicester and the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland...
, BBC Radio Leicester
BBC Radio Leicester
BBC Radio Leicester is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The station broadcasts from studios in Leicester on 104.9 FM, on DAB, and via the BBC iPlayer.-History:...
, Tight But Loose (The Official Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
magazine), Wears The Trousers, and a chapter for (The Book Of) Happy Memories, an appreciation of the life of The Sound
The Sound
The Sound were an English post-punk band, formed in 1979 and dissolved in 1988. The band was fronted by Adrian Borland and evolved from his previous band, The Outsiders...
's Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, bestknown as the lead singer of post-punk band The Sound...
, which was published in English and Dutch editions.
The Soar Valley Wayfarers (SVW) debuted at the Attik Club in Leicester on 21 June 2006. SVW is an ongoing folk/avant-garde skiffle group with Mr Plow on guitar and vocals, Flash of ist
Ist (band)
Ist are a musical group based in Leicester, UK. Their name is meant to denote a lack of prejudice. They are broadly speaking, a pop/rock group, but with a penchant for genre-jumping that has seen ska, jazz, blues and classical influences find their way on to their albums.-History:Ist was formed in...
on percussion and Kevin.
In 2007 LTM Records re-issued the 1980 Les Disques du Crépuscule
Les Disques du Crepuscule
Les Disques Du Crépuscule was a Belgian independent record label.The label was started in 1980 by Michel Duval and Annik Honoré, residents of Brussels who had previously organised and promoted concerts in the city. Initial releases were by Factory Records artists, and were labelled as being...
compilation From Brussels With Love which features "Haystack" from the 1980 session with New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
and Whispers in the Offing a tribute album to Kevin Coyne
Kevin Coyne
Kevin Coyne was a musician, singer, composer, film-maker, and a writer of lyrics, stories and poems. The former "anti-star" was born on 27 January 1944 in Derby, UK, and died in his adopted home of Nuremberg, Germany, on 2 December 2004....
on which Hewick contributes a version of Coyne's song "Raindrops on the Window".
Hewick was involved in the development of a musical "School of Hard Rocks" with playwright Jez Simons of Hathi Productions that was staged at Leicester's Phoenix Arts Centre in September 2007 and The Shed in Leicester in February 2008.
Hewick wrote and performed eleven original songs for the production which came out as an album entitled Keep Your Flipped Wigs On on Leicester's Pink Box Records in January 2008.
Also on Pink Box was a limited edition 7" single on yellow vinyl - "Something to Do On The Bus" - and four track downloadable EP - That Side of You which came out in July 2007.
On 15 December 2007 Hewick took part in a performance entitled "A Factory Night (Once Again)" at Brussels Plan K with Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
, Crispy Ambulance
Crispy Ambulance
Crispy Ambulance were an English rock band, formed in Manchester, United Kingdom in late 1977 by Alan Hempsall , Keith Darbyshire , Gary Madeley and Robert Davenport...
, The Names
The Names
The Names is the seventh novel written by the American novelist Don DeLillo, first published in 1982. The novel, set mostly in Greece, is primarily a series of character studies, interwoven with a plot about a mysterious "language cult" that is behind a number of unexplained murders...
and DJ's Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
and Martin Moscrop. This event was filmed and was released as a DVD featuring five of the songs Hewick performed, by LTM records in May 2008.
Further European dates with Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
and Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
took place in Paris
Paris
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...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Oss
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
in the southern Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Krefeld
Krefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in November 2008. Hewick opened on all these dates and played guitar with Hook and SXXV on the New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
classic "Doubts Even Here" at Krefeld. Hewick also took part in the 24 hour Tony Wilson Experience in Manchester on 21–22 June 2008 including playing with Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
in an improvisational accompaniment to an action painting by artist Phil Diggle in the foyer of Urbis
Urbis
Urbis is an exhibition centre located in Manchester, England. From 2002 to 2010, the centre hosted changing exhibits on popular culture topics including urban living, art, music, fashion, photography and videogames alongside talks, gigs and special events....
.
He opened for Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
and The Light
The Light
The Light is the 1995 debut release by American progressive rock band, Spock's Beard. The album features two different covers—one for its domestic release, and one for its European release....
at Manchester's FAC 251 club on May 18, 2010 when Hook performed Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
's 'Unknown Pleasures
Unknown Pleasures
Unknown Pleasures is the debut album by the English post-punk band Joy Division, released in 1979 through Factory Records. Martin Hannett produced the record at Strawberry Studios, Stockport, England. The album sold poorly upon release, but due to the subsequent success of Joy Division with the...
' in full.He was invited back by Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
to fill the support slots for the May 18th and May 19, 2011 FAC 251 performances of 'Closer
Closer (Joy Division album)
Closer is the second and final studio album by the English post-punk band Joy Division, released , two months following the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. The album was originally scheduled to be released on . The record was originally released on the Factory Records label as a 12" LP and...
'.
A further Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
connected event was Kevin's appearance at Paul Morley
Paul Morley
Paul Morley is an English journalist, who wrote for the New Musical Express from 1977 to 1983, during one of its most successful periods, and has since written for a wide range of publications...
's 'Tribute To Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
' at The Purcell Room at London's Southbank on June 16, 2011 as part of Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
's Meltdown Festival. Hewick performed 3 songs specially written for this event which also included an appreance by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
.
Hewick appeared at and promoted a show for Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
at Leicester Musician in September 2010 and also put on an event there with Viv Albertine
Viv Albertine
Viv Albertine is a British singer and songwriter, best known as the guitarist for the influential, all-female English punk group, The Slits....
of The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
and Jude Rawlins of Subterraneans
Subterraneans
"Subterraneans" is a song by David Bowie for his album Low . Subterraneans is mostly instrumental, with brief, obscure lyrics sung near the song's end....
on April 3, 2011. A future Musician promotion on September 18, 2011 will see Hewick performing with fellow 80s Cherry Red labelmate's Eyeless In Gaza
Eyeless in Gaza
Eyeless in Gaza is a bestselling novel by Aldous Huxley, first published in 1936. The title originates from a phrase in John Milton's Samson Agonistes:The chapters of the book are not ordered chronologically...
.
On 23 August 2008 Hewick debuted on guitar and vocals with a band line up, No Junk Promise also featuring Gemma Warne on drums, Simon Ball on bass and Neil Johnston
Neil Johnston
Donald Neil Johnston was an American Hall of Fame basketball player at the center position who played 8 years in the NBA from 1951 to 1959....
on guitar at Leicester Firebug. Warne and Ball had previously performed a one off show with Hewick as The Kevin Hewick Sexperience in May 2008.
Another band line up debuted at Leicester Victoria Park Pavilion on January 31, 2009, Hewick Haynes & James, the Haynes being Mark Haynes AKA longstanding Hewick / Soar Valley Wayfarers / Ist drum cohort Flash and Pete James on bass. HH&J performed at Leicester Summer Sundae festival on the De Montfort Halls indoor stage in August 2009 and at Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
's (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...
) influential Death Disco night in London at Notting Hill Arts Club
Notting Hill Arts Club
The Notting Hill Arts Club is a music and arts venue in Notting Hill, central London, England. The club holds clubnights every night of the week. Its range of events covers everything from interactive crafts to themed Soviet nights, but perhaps most famous is its Death Disco clubnight, which is run...
in October 2009. 2011 has seen them appear with Welsh alternative rockers The Holy Coves and acclaimed USA soul rock outfit Vintage Trouble
Vintage Trouble
Vintage Trouble is an American soul and rock band. The band formed in Hollywood, California in 2010.-History:...
and they began recording tracks to be featured on the next Kevin Hewick album.
On February 14, 2009 www.kevinhewick.co.uk released a free download album Doomcloud the until-then lost follow up to Helpline, 12 songs recorded in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
Hewick recorded "Personal Loss" for Patrik Fitzgerald
Patrik Fitzgerald
Patrik Fitzgerald is a singer-songwriter. The son of working-class Irish immigrant parents, he began recording and performing during the punk rock movement in 1977, after working briefly as an actor.-Early recordings:His early songs were generally short, sarcastic efforts, recorded with just an...
tribute album All Sewn Up which has now been nominated for an Independent Music Award for best tribute album. He also took part in the release concert celebrating Patrik's 50th birthday at Verkstedhallen, Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, on March 6, 2009.
Following two recent appearances together at The Donkey in Leicester Kevin and Sally Barker
Sally Barker
Sally Barker is an English folk singer and songwriter, known for her solo work and as a founding member of The Poozies.-Biography:...
intend to debut a full band line up called Liberation Doll with Lee Allatson and Ian Crabtree in October 2011.
External links
- Kevin Hewick official website
- Kevin Hewick on Myspace
- Sorted Records
- Cherry Red Records
- Pineapster
- Factory Records history
- http://www.myspace.com/hewickhaynesjames My Space of Hewick Haynes & James
- http://www.myspace.com/druidicbritskiffle My Space of The Soar Valley Wayfarers
- http://www.myspace.com/nojunkpromise My Space of No Junk Promise