Oscar Harrison
Encyclopedia
Oscar Harrison is a musician who currently plays drums
with Birmingham-based band Ocean Colour Scene
, where he gained prominence. He also plays piano
and bass guitar
, and occasionally sings lead vocals.
, an English performance show, and that he always admired reggae giant Burning Spear
. Echo Base were signed to the same label as fellow Birmingham band UB40
and, despite releasing an album, disbanded after disagreements.
After talking to Echo Base's manager, Harrison met and joined a band called The Fanatics, where he played alongside future friend Simon Fowler
. He had replaced Caroline Bullock, who angrily responded by "outing" homosexual Fowler to British tabloid paper The Sun
a few years later.
After playing together for a while, The Fanatics too disbanded, along with another Birmingham rock band called The Boys.
. This band featured Simon Fowler on lead vocals and acoustic guitar
and Oscar Harrison on the drums, with the addition of lead electric guitar
player Steve Craddock and bassist
Damon Minchella
.
Ocean Colour Scene were hugely successful in the Britpop
era. They were signed with record label Phfftt, who were later bought out by larger label Phonogram
, before signing with other labels such as Island Records
and eventually creating their own label, Moseley Shoals Records
.
Harrison played the drums with Ocean Colour Scene as they played with artists such as Oasis
, Paul Weller
and others. Harrison himself said that he looked up to The Who
s drummer, Keith Moon
Harrison also played a lot of acoustic sessions, playing the piano,with vocalist Fowler singing and playing the guitar for songs such as Profit in Peace. Harrison composed an arranged all the parts of song Don't play, and when playing programmed the instruments onto a Korg
synthesizer.
Harrison first sang lead vocals for Ocean Colour Scene on a cover of the Bob Andy
song My Time.
, Harrison is still touring with Ocean Colour Scene.
. He has two sons, Leon and Damon Stephen Simon Isaac Harrison; the name Isaac is taken from Oscar's father. Harrison is soon expecting a third child.
Harrison said that his biggest ambition is to live on a house boat and is obsessed with gadgets. He is an Aston Villa football fan and a regular golfer.
Harrison's brother, Paul, is the landlord of The Woodman pub on Curzon Street (opposite Millennium Point), Birmingham.
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
with Birmingham-based band 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 :...
, where he gained prominence. He also plays piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and occasionally sings lead vocals.
Early days
Harrison's first musical career began with an eleven-piece reggae band called Echo Base. Harrison had stated that he knew he wanted to be a musician from the moment he watched Top of the PopsTop of the Pops
Top 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...
, an English performance show, and that he always admired reggae giant Burning Spear
Burning Spear
Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...
. Echo Base were signed to the same label as fellow Birmingham band UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
and, despite releasing an album, disbanded after disagreements.
After talking to Echo Base's manager, Harrison met and joined a band called The Fanatics, where he played alongside future friend Simon Fowler
Simon Fowler
Simon Fowler is the lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist in Ocean Colour Scene.-The Fanatics:Simon Fowler commenced his music career as the lead singer and songwriter for Birmingham band The Fanatics, which consisted of Simon Fowler , Damon Minchella , Paul Wilkes and Caroline Bullock...
. He had replaced Caroline Bullock, who angrily responded by "outing" homosexual Fowler to British tabloid paper The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
a few years later.
After playing together for a while, The Fanatics too disbanded, along with another Birmingham rock band called The Boys.
Ocean Colour Scene
After the disbanding of The Boys and the Fanatics, Fowler and Harrison were part of another, new, band called Ocean Colour SceneOcean 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 :...
. This band featured Simon Fowler on lead vocals and 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...
and Oscar Harrison on the drums, with the addition of lead electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
player Steve Craddock and bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella is an English bass guitarist, formerly with Ocean Colour Scene, which he left in 2003. He was a regular member of Paul Weller's backing band until 2008, is a member of the supergroup The Players and played for The Who during their performance at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park.He...
.
Ocean Colour Scene were hugely successful in the Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
era. They were signed with record label Phfftt, who were later bought out by larger label Phonogram
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
, before signing with other labels such as Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
and eventually creating their own label, Moseley Shoals Records
Moseley Shoals Records
Moseley Shoals Records is an independent record label in the United Kingdom. The company was set up by British rock band Ocean Colour Scene in 2004, so that they could release their Live Acoustic at the Jam House album. The name Moseley Shoals is taken from their breakthrough second album Moseley...
.
Harrison played the drums with Ocean Colour Scene as they played with artists such as 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...
, Paul Weller
Paul 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...
and others. Harrison himself said that he looked up to 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 drummer, Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
Harrison also played a lot of acoustic sessions, playing the piano,with vocalist Fowler singing and playing the guitar for songs such as Profit in Peace. Harrison composed an arranged all the parts of song Don't play, and when playing programmed the instruments onto a Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
synthesizer.
Harrison first sang lead vocals for Ocean Colour Scene on a cover of the Bob Andy
Bob Andy
Bob Andy is a Jamaican reggae vocalist and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of reggae's most influential songwriters.-Career:...
song My Time.
, Harrison is still touring with Ocean Colour Scene.
Personal life
Harrison was born to Issac and Susan Harrison. He is the eldest of the four children his parents have: Rose, Peter and Paul Harrison. Harrison currently resides with a girlfriend in EdgbastonEdgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
. He has two sons, Leon and Damon Stephen Simon Isaac Harrison; the name Isaac is taken from Oscar's father. Harrison is soon expecting a third child.
Harrison said that his biggest ambition is to live on a house boat and is obsessed with gadgets. He is an Aston Villa football fan and a regular golfer.
Harrison's brother, Paul, is the landlord of The Woodman pub on Curzon Street (opposite Millennium Point), Birmingham.