Rick Witter
Encyclopedia
Rick Witter is a singer, songwriter and frontman of the York
-based Britpop
band, Shed Seven
.
He was educated at Huntington School, York.
in 1986, while still in his teens, and played in various local bands, including Brockley Haven, with Banks, Tom Gladwin and John Leach.
, Banks joined the line-up as their new lead guitarist, replacing the departing Joe Johnson. Rick spent the following 10 years recording and touring with the band, co-writing many of the band's songs as they went on to have fourteen consecutive Top 40 hits in the UK.
, who feature Rob Wilson on guitar and Stuart Fletcher (ex-Seahorses
) on bass
. They independently
released their debut album The Year of The Rat in April 2007. The LP is dedicated to the memory of Roger Witter, Rick's father.
He is a regular guest at Middlesbrough club night Revival held every Friday at The Medicine Bar.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
-based 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...
band, Shed Seven
Shed Seven
Shed Seven are an English indie rock band from York and were one of the groups which contributed to the Britpop music scene that evolved during the 1990s, yet never received the degree of mainstream success achieved by bands such as Oasis and Blur...
.
He was educated at Huntington School, York.
Professional career
Rick Witter formed his first band with schoolfriend Paul BanksPaul Banks (Shed Seven)
Paul Banks is a musician, songwriter and lead guitarist with the rock band, Shed Seven.-Professional career:...
in 1986, while still in his teens, and played in various local bands, including Brockley Haven, with Banks, Tom Gladwin and John Leach.
Shed Seven
In 1990, Witter, along with Gladwin, John’s brother, drummer Alan Leach and guitarist Joe Johnson formed Shed Seven. Rick signed his first record deal with the band in 1993. Just prior to signing their six-album deal with Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, Banks joined the line-up as their new lead guitarist, replacing the departing Joe Johnson. Rick spent the following 10 years recording and touring with the band, co-writing many of the band's songs as they went on to have fourteen consecutive Top 40 hits in the UK.
Rick Witter & The Dukes
Rick also fronts Rick Witter & The DukesRick Witter & The Dukes
Rick Witter & The Dukes are a British alternative rock band from York, England.-Band members:* Rick Witter * Rob Wilson * Stuart Fletcher * Matt Lunn -History:...
, who feature Rob Wilson on guitar and Stuart Fletcher (ex-Seahorses
The Seahorses
The Seahorses were an English rock band, formed in 1996 by guitarist John Squire, following his departure from The Stone Roses.The band released one album in 1997 and began work on a follow up, before splitting up due to musical differences during recording sessions in January 1999.-History:Formed...
) on bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
. They independently
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
released their debut album The Year of The Rat in April 2007. The LP is dedicated to the memory of Roger Witter, Rick's father.
Other projects
Witter is also a DJ and regularly hosts nights throughout the United Kingdom, playing vintage indie classics.He is a regular guest at Middlesbrough club night Revival held every Friday at The Medicine Bar.