Stephen Morris
Encyclopedia
Stephen Paul David Morris (born 28 October 1957) is a musician
best known for his work in the Salford-based rock
band
New Order
and, previously, Joy Division
. He also drummed
in The Other Two
, a band made up of Morris and his wife, Gillian Gilbert
. Currently, Morris performs live with the post-New Order band, Bad Lieutenant
. He is known for his machine-like drumming that seamlessly wove with New Order's and Joy Division's drum machine sounds. He was ranked #5 on Stylus Magazines 50 Greatest Rock Drummers of All Time. Although he is primarily a percussionist
, he also plays keyboards
.
, Cheshire
, England
. He attended The King's School, Macclesfield
(the same school as the late Ian Curtis
who was also in Joy Division
). Early on, Morris was a strong contender to become New Order's lead vocalist, and his voice can be heard on some early tracks (especially live versions). He also contributed musically to as-yet-unreleased demos by Quando Quango
.
Something of an eccentric, Morris has been called "daft as a brush" by bandmate Peter Hook
. Morris used some of his fortune to purchase several military vehicles. He and Gilbert live in Rainow
, outside Macclesfield. Together they formed the side-project The Other Two
.
They have together two daughters, Tilly and Grace.
In 2007, Morris and Gilbert remixed two tracks for the Nine Inch Nails
remix album
Year Zero Remixed
. In June 2009, he, along with other members of New Order (except Peter Hook) formed a new band called Bad Lieutenant
along with Blur
bassist Alex James
, though James did not stay in the band due to travel distance from other members. Tom Chapman replaced Alex James on bass in the final line-up.
Bad Lieutenant
released their debut album "Never Cry Another Tear" in 2009 and toured from October 2009 to April 2010. They are currently working on a second album and performing one-off shows.
Morris is a devoted fan of the science fiction
tv series
Doctor Who
. He has a full-sized Dalek
replica
in his rehearsal room. Sumner has called the Dalek "the sixth member of" Bad Lieutenant.
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....
best known for his work in the Salford-based rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
and, previously, 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...
. He also drummed
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
in The Other Two
The Other Two
AlbumsSingles-External links:* * - Videos :* * * *...
, a band made up of Morris and his wife, Gillian Gilbert
Gillian Gilbert
Gillian Lesley Gilbert is an English musician, keyboardist, guitarist and singer, best known as a member of New Order and a founding member of The Other Two.-Biography:...
. Currently, Morris performs live with the post-New Order band, Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant (band)
Bad Lieutenant are an English alternative rock band formed in 2007 following the breakup of New Order. The band consists of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham, Jake Evans and Tom Chapman....
. He is known for his machine-like drumming that seamlessly wove with New Order's and Joy Division's drum machine sounds. He was ranked #5 on Stylus Magazines 50 Greatest Rock Drummers of All Time. Although he is primarily a percussionist
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, he also plays keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
.
Life and career
Morris was born in MacclesfieldMacclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He attended The King's School, Macclesfield
The King's School, Macclesfield
-Notable former pupils:* Peter Moores, ex-England Cricket Coach* Rev. Thomas Taylor, priest and historian* Alan Beith, politician* Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent of Sky News...
(the same school as the late 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...
who was also in 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...
). Early on, Morris was a strong contender to become New Order's lead vocalist, and his voice can be heard on some early tracks (especially live versions). He also contributed musically to as-yet-unreleased demos by Quando Quango
Quando Quango
Quando Quango was a British, Manchester based new wave and dance project, formed by The Haçienda DJ and Factory Records A&R man Mike Pickering, Hillegonda Rietveld and Reinier Rietveld. Their unique sound influenced the underground dance music scenes in New York and Chicago in the 1980s...
.
Something of an eccentric, Morris has been called "daft as a brush" by bandmate 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...
. Morris used some of his fortune to purchase several military vehicles. He and Gilbert live in Rainow
Rainow
Rainow is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, located, mostly, on the eastern side of the River Dean valley next to the B5470 road, between Macclesfield and Kettleshulme in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It straddles the eastern side of the Peak...
, outside Macclesfield. Together they formed the side-project The Other Two
The Other Two
AlbumsSingles-External links:* * - Videos :* * * *...
.
They have together two daughters, Tilly and Grace.
In 2007, Morris and Gilbert remixed two tracks for the Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
remix album
Remix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
Year Zero Remixed
Year Zero Remixed
-Vinyl:-Critical reception:Year Zero Remixed received generally positive reviews. Virgin Media's review described the album as "a real cornucopia of treats" and "Highly recommended." Pitchfork Media's review, however, criticized the album, writing that it "lacks cohesion and is predictably...
. In June 2009, he, along with other members of New Order (except Peter Hook) formed a new band called Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant (band)
Bad Lieutenant are an English alternative rock band formed in 2007 following the breakup of New Order. The band consists of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham, Jake Evans and Tom Chapman....
along with Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
bassist Alex James
Alex James (musician)
Professionally known as Alex James is an English musician, songwriter, journalist and cheesemaker. He is best known as the bass player and occasional vocalist of band Blur...
, though James did not stay in the band due to travel distance from other members. Tom Chapman replaced Alex James on bass in the final line-up.
Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant (band)
Bad Lieutenant are an English alternative rock band formed in 2007 following the breakup of New Order. The band consists of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham, Jake Evans and Tom Chapman....
released their debut album "Never Cry Another Tear" in 2009 and toured from October 2009 to April 2010. They are currently working on a second album and performing one-off shows.
Morris is a devoted fan of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
tv series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. He has a full-sized Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
replica
Replica
A replica is a copy closely resembling the original concerning its shape and appearance. An inverted replica complements the original by filling its gaps. It can be a copy used for historical purposes, such as being placed in a museum. Sometimes the original never existed. For example, Difference...
in his rehearsal room. Sumner has called the Dalek "the sixth member of" Bad Lieutenant.