Spike Edney
Encyclopedia
Philip 'Spike' Edney is a British
musician who, since early 1970s, has performed with a number of bands, most notably, Queen
, where his participation, starting in 1984, has been so extensive that some writers have described him as the "fifth member of Queen". In the earlier phase of his career, during mid-1970s, he recorded and toured with The Tymes
and Ben E. King
, playing keyboards, bass, guitar and trombone, subsequently, in the late 1970s, he was musical director for Edwin Starr
and, during early 1980s, worked with Duran Duran
, the Boomtown Rats
, Dexys Midnight Runners
, Bucks Fizz
, Haircut One Hundred and the Rolling Stones
.
Spike Edney's collaboration with Queen included mostly keyboards (his main instrument), plus rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Accompanying the band on its tours since 1984, he was an obvious choice for Roger Taylor's side-project The Cross
as well as for Brian May
's Band when they toured in 1993 and 1998.
He can be seeing playing piano and later guitar (during the track "Hammer To Fall"), dressed in a pink top, onstage with Queen on their Queen Live At Wembley 86 DVD.
In 1994, he formed SAS (Spike's All Stars), a band with constantly fluctuating personnel sometimes, but not always, including musicians from Queen, Whitesnake
, Free
, Roxy Music
, Toto
, Spandau Ballet
and solo artists including Fish
, Roy Wood
, Leo Sayer
, Kiki Dee
and Paul Young
.
After the death of Freddie Mercury
, who was also Queen
's primary pianist, he took over Mercury's role as such during Queen + Paul Rodgers
2005, 2006 and 2008 tours, playing all piano parts on a Korg Triton
keyboard, in addition to all other keyboard parts. During the 2005–06 tour, he was often referred to as "The Wizard" by Roger Taylor. He has also been the keyboardist for the London
production of We Will Rock You
since it opened in 2002..
Videos:
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...
musician who, since early 1970s, has performed with a number of bands, most notably, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, where his participation, starting in 1984, has been so extensive that some writers have described him as the "fifth member of Queen". In the earlier phase of his career, during mid-1970s, he recorded and toured with The Tymes
The Tymes
The Tymes are an American soul vocal group, who enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom as their homeland. They share the distinction of being one of the few acts to have one and only one chart-topper in both the U.S...
and Ben E. King
Ben E. King
Benjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S...
, playing keyboards, bass, guitar and trombone, subsequently, in the late 1970s, he was musical director for Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
and, during early 1980s, worked with Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, the Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.-Biography:All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland...
, Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart....
, Bucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
, Haircut One Hundred and the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
.
Spike Edney's collaboration with Queen included mostly keyboards (his main instrument), plus rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Accompanying the band on its tours since 1984, he was an obvious choice for Roger Taylor's side-project The Cross
The Cross
The Cross were a side project of Queen's Roger Taylor that existed from 1987 to 1993 and released three albums. Although the drummer in Queen, Taylor fronted The Cross as rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. On its debut release, the classic rock band incorporated dance influences which they...
as well as for Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
's Band when they toured in 1993 and 1998.
He can be seeing playing piano and later guitar (during the track "Hammer To Fall"), dressed in a pink top, onstage with Queen on their Queen Live At Wembley 86 DVD.
In 1994, he formed SAS (Spike's All Stars), a band with constantly fluctuating personnel sometimes, but not always, including musicians from Queen, Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
, Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
, Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
, Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
and solo artists including Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
, Roy Wood
Roy Wood
Roy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
, Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
, Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
and Paul Young
Paul Young (singer and guitarist)
Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, his following solo success as a solo recording artist turned him into a 1980s teenage pop idol...
.
After the death of Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
, who was also Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's primary pianist, he took over Mercury's role as such during Queen + Paul Rodgers
Queen + Paul Rodgers
Queen + Paul Rodgers was a supergroup collaboration between Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen and Paul Rodgers...
2005, 2006 and 2008 tours, playing all piano parts on a Korg Triton
Korg Triton
Korg Triton is a music workstation synthesizer featuring digital sampling and sequencing created by Korg. All Tritons use Korg's HI Synthesis tone generator. They are available in several models and various upgrade configurations. The Triton is world famous among many musicians for being a...
keyboard, in addition to all other keyboard parts. During the 2005–06 tour, he was often referred to as "The Wizard" by Roger Taylor. He has also been the keyboardist for the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
production of We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You (musical)
We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor...
since it opened in 2002..
Selected discography
Albums- Queen: A Kind of MagicA Kind of MagicA Kind of Magic is a 1986 album by British rock band Queen. It was the band's twelfth studio album and their first to be recorded digitally, and is based on the soundtrack to the film Highlander, the first in a series directed by Russell Mulcahy....
(1986) - Queen: Live MagicLive MagicLive Magic is a live compilation album by British rock band Queen. It was recorded at various 1986 live shows during the European Magic Tour and released on December 1, 1986. However, it was not released in the United States until August 1996. It received strong criticism by fans, due to the heavy...
(1986) - The CrossThe CrossThe Cross were a side project of Queen's Roger Taylor that existed from 1987 to 1993 and released three albums. Although the drummer in Queen, Taylor fronted The Cross as rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. On its debut release, the classic rock band incorporated dance influences which they...
: Shove ItShove itShove It is the first album released by The Cross, founded by Queen drummer Roger Taylor. This album contains a mix of rock with dance influences.-History:...
(1987) - The CrossThe CrossThe Cross were a side project of Queen's Roger Taylor that existed from 1987 to 1993 and released three albums. Although the drummer in Queen, Taylor fronted The Cross as rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. On its debut release, the classic rock band incorporated dance influences which they...
: Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (1990) - The Cross: Blue RockBlue Rock (album)Blue Rock is the third and last album released by The Cross. Like Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know, Blue Rock is a straight rock album which is currently out of print and has become a hard-to-find item...
(1991) - Lucio BattistiLucio BattistiLucio Battisti was an Italian singer-songwriter . He is considered to be one of the best-known and most influential musicians and authors in Italian pop/rock music history....
: Cosa succederà alla ragazzaCosa succederà alla ragazzaCosa succederà alla ragazza is an album by Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti. It was released in October 1992 by Columbia Records.- Track listing :...
(1992) - Queen: Live at Wembley '86Live at Wembley '86Live at Wembley '86 is a double compact disc live album by English rock band Queen.It was recorded live on Saturday July 12, 1986 during the Magic Tour at Wembley Stadium in London, England and released on May 26, 1992...
(1992) - The Brian MayBrian MayBrian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
Band: Live at the Brixton AcademyLive at the Brixton Academy (Brian May album)Live at the Brixton Academy is a recording of The Brian May Band's first show in London on June 15 1993. The album was released on CD, LP and VHS in 1994, and remains the group's only release as a collective....
(1994) - SAS Band: SAS Band (1997)
- Brian May: Another WorldAnother World (Brian May album)Another World is the second full studio album delivered by Queen guitarist, Brian May. Recorded at his home studio after the completion of the last Queen album, Made in Heaven, the album was released in the UK on 1 June 1998 and on 15 September of that year in the US. The album itself started life...
(1998; keyboards on "Slow Down") - Queen + Paul RodgersQueen + Paul RodgersQueen + Paul Rodgers was a supergroup collaboration between Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen and Paul Rodgers...
: Return of the ChampionsReturn of the ChampionsReturn of the Champions is a double live album by English rock band Queen + Paul Rodgers. It was recorded in May 2005 during the Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour at the Hallam FM Arena in Sheffield, England and released on 19 September 2005...
(CD/DVD, 2005) - Queen + Paul Rodgers: Live in UkraineLive in UkraineLive in Ukraine is a double live album and also last release by British rock band Queen + Paul Rodgers. It was recorded in September 2008 during the Rock the Cosmos Tour at Freedom Square in Kharkiv, Ukraine and was released on June 15, 2009...
(CD/DVD, 2009)
Videos:
- Queen: Live in Rio (VHS/DVD, 1985)
- Queen: Live in Budapest (VHS/DVD, 1986)
- The Brian May Band: Live at the Brixton Academy (VHS, 1994)
- Queen+: The Freddie Mercury Tribute ConcertThe Freddie Mercury Tribute ConcertThe Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness was an open-air concert held on Easter Monday, 20 April 1992 at London's Wembley Stadium, for an audience of 72,000. The concert was produced for television by Ray Burdis and broadcast live on television and radio to 76 countries around the...
(DVD, 2002) - Queen: Live at Wembley StadiumQueen Live at Wembley StadiumQueen at Wembley is a video recorded at the original Wembley Stadium, England on Saturday 12 July 1986 during Queen's Magic Tour. It was first released in December 1990 as an edited VHS , then as an audio CD in 1992, followed by a DVD release as Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium to coincide with the...
(DVD, 2003) - 46664 – The Event (DVD, 2004)
- Live AidLive AidLive Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
(DVD, 2004) - Queen + Paul Rodgers: Return of the Champions (CD/DVD, 2005)
- Queen + Paul Rodgers: Super Live in JapanSuper Live in JapanSuper Live in Japan is a DVD by Queen + Paul Rodgers, capturing the performances in Saitama Super Arena in Japan on 27 October 2005 from their world tour, featuring songs from both Queen and Rodgers' catalogues. 15 of these songs will become available on DVD to the rest of the world as a Bonus DVD...
(DVD, 2006) - Queen + Paul Rodgers: Live in Ukraine (CD/DVD, 2009)