Pete Wiggs
Encyclopedia
Pete Wiggs is an English
musician
and DJ
.
(alongside Bob Stanley
and Sarah Cracknell
) for which he co-writes songs, produces and plays keyboards on stage. With the advent of computer based digital recording in the early 2000s, Wiggs set up his home studio "Needham Sound" (named after Chris Needham
from the BBC
documentary In Bed With Chris Needham
)
(2002) used the music from the band's album also titled Finisterre
to create "a hymn to the dark corners and empty hallways of a great city that is subtle and artistic" - The Guardian
.
For their second collaboration, What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day (2005) - "an extraordinarily resonant urban pastoral"
filmed in London's Lower Lea Valley
during the early preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games - Wiggs, Stanley and Ian Catt composed an original soundtrack which was performed live to the film at The Barbican
(who had commissioned the event).
In 2006 Wiggs, Stanley, Kelly and producer Andrew Hinton were 'artists in residence' at The Southbank Centre, the centrepiece of their year in residency was the film, This Is Tomorrow (2007) about the history of the Southbank Centre. The film was premiered with a live performance of the score (composed by Wiggs, Stanley and Ian Catt
- and conducted by Gerard Johnson) including a sixty piece
orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall
.
Wiggs and Stanley were commissioned to compose alternative scores for Designed In Britain (1959) and Design for Today (1965)
the BFI
's COI
collection Volume 2 DVD and Blu-ray.
Wiggs, Stanley and Catt have provided the theme music
and score for the first season of American Greetings
' children's
cartoon series, Maryoku Yummy.
residency at the Kahuna Burger. Wiggs and Stanley ran their own club "Don't Laugh" in the mid 1990s and hosted "Turntable Cafe" events at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
in 2006/2007.
, and together they put on Séance DJ events.
, from 1997 to 1998.
s along with Bob Stanley: Icerink Records (1992–94) and EMIdisc (1996). They currently have a CD imprint called Eclipse via Universal
.
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...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
.
Saint Etienne
Pete Wiggs is a member of the pop/dance group Saint EtienneSaint Etienne (band)
Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...
(alongside Bob Stanley
Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne)
Bob Stanley is a UK musician, film producer and journalist.-Saint Etienne:Stanley is best known as a member of the pop/dance group Saint Etienne for which he co-writes songs and produces...
and Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell is an English pop singer who fronts the band Saint Etienne and is known for her light, smooth singing voice. She is the daughter of Stanley Kubrick's first assistant director Derek Cracknell.-Career:...
) for which he co-writes songs, produces and plays keyboards on stage. With the advent of computer based digital recording in the early 2000s, Wiggs set up his home studio "Needham Sound" (named after Chris Needham
Chris Needham
Chris Needham is best known for his 1992 BBC Teenage Video Diary In Bed With Chris Needham in which he and his school friends formed a thrash metal band called 'Manslaughter' .-External links:Wordwrites - In Bed with Chris Needham...
from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary In Bed With Chris Needham
In Bed With Chris Needham
In Bed With Chris Needham is a 1992 Teenage Video Diary from the BBC about a Loughborough teen and thrash metal fan, Chris Needham, and his friends as they establish their own band and build up to their first proper 'gig'.-External links:*...
)
Film and soundtracks
Wiggs has assisted in the production of several Saint Etienne film projects filmed and directed by Paul Kelly. FinisterreFinisterre (Saint Etienne)
Finisterre is an album by the British pop band Saint Etienne. It was released by Mantra Records in 2002; and as a deluxe edition by Heavenly Records in 2010.-Commentary:...
(2002) used the music from the band's album also titled Finisterre
Finisterre (Saint Etienne)
Finisterre is an album by the British pop band Saint Etienne. It was released by Mantra Records in 2002; and as a deluxe edition by Heavenly Records in 2010.-Commentary:...
to create "a hymn to the dark corners and empty hallways of a great city that is subtle and artistic" - The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
For their second collaboration, What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day (2005) - "an extraordinarily resonant urban pastoral"
filmed in London's Lower Lea Valley
Lower Lea Valley
The Lower Lea Valley is the southern end of the Lea Valley, surrounding the River Lea , which runs along the boundary of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on its western bank and the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest and Newham on its eastern bank, into the River Thames. The river forms the...
during the early preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games - Wiggs, Stanley and Ian Catt composed an original soundtrack which was performed live to the film at The Barbican
The Barbican
Barbican is a type of fortified building.Barbican may also refer to:*Willoughby House, also known as the Barbican, London* Barbican , a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe* Barbican , a thoroughbred horse...
(who had commissioned the event).
In 2006 Wiggs, Stanley, Kelly and producer Andrew Hinton were 'artists in residence' at The Southbank Centre, the centrepiece of their year in residency was the film, This Is Tomorrow (2007) about the history of the Southbank Centre. The film was premiered with a live performance of the score (composed by Wiggs, Stanley and Ian Catt
Ian Catt
Ian Catt is a British record producer and multi-instrumentalist associated with several popular indie groups, notably Saint Etienne of whom he has been a touring member. He has also collaborated with Saint Etienne's vocalist Sarah Cracknell on her solo album, Lipslide...
- and conducted by Gerard Johnson) including a sixty piece
orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
.
Wiggs and Stanley were commissioned to compose alternative scores for Designed In Britain (1959) and Design for Today (1965)
the BFI
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
's COI
Central Office of Information
The Central Office of Information is the UK government's marketing and communications agency. Its Chief Executive, currently Mark Lund, reports to the Minister for the Cabinet Office...
collection Volume 2 DVD and Blu-ray.
Wiggs, Stanley and Catt have provided the theme music
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
and score for the first season of American Greetings
American Greetings
American Greetings Corporation, Inc. is the world's largest publicly-traded greeting card company. It is based in Brooklyn, Ohio and sells paper greeting cards, electronic greeting cards, party products , and electronic expressive content...
' children's
cartoon series, Maryoku Yummy.
DJ career
Wiggs has DJed since the early days of Saint Etienne, with occasional appearances at the Sunday Social and aresidency at the Kahuna Burger. Wiggs and Stanley ran their own club "Don't Laugh" in the mid 1990s and hosted "Turntable Cafe" events at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
in 2006/2007.
Radio
Wiggs co-hosts a weekly radio show,. The Séance with James Papademetrie on Brighton's Radio ReverbRadio Reverb
RadioReverb 97.2FM is a Brighton based non-profit community radio station. The station is based on the Old Steine and is supported by Earshot .- Station ethos :...
, and together they put on Séance DJ events.
Writing
Wiggs co-wrote four issues of fanzine, CAFF in the mid 1980s with his childhood friend Bob Stanley and had a regular column ("Pete Wiggs' life and style") in the dance magazine, Jockey SlutJockey Slut
Jockey Slut was a British music magazine which ran between 1993 and 2004, focusing mainly on dance music and club culture. It started as a self-published bi-monthly fanzine in 1993 before graduating to a monthly by 1999, following a buy-out from Swinstead Publishing...
, from 1997 to 1998.
Record labels
Wiggs was involved in the running of two record labelRecord 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,...
s along with Bob Stanley: Icerink Records (1992–94) and EMIdisc (1996). They currently have a CD imprint called Eclipse via Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.