Wayne Hussey
Encyclopedia
Wayne Hussey is a British musician, best known as lead singer of The Mission
and guitarist with The Sisters of Mercy
.
Hussey grew up in Bristol
. He was influenced at a young age by Marc Bolan
and his band T.Rex, and was thus inspired to become a guitar
ist. Brought up in the LDS Church, he rebelled against his parents' wishes that he serve as a missionary and moved to Liverpool
in the late 1970s to join the scene around Eric's Club
, a noted nightclub
of the time.
Hussey started to perform, most notably with Pauline Murray
(later lead vocal with successful punk band Penetration & The Invisible Girls
), which is where he cut his teeth as a songwriter
. The first success for Hussey came when he joined Dead or Alive
at the request of frontman Pete Burns
. After Burns retreated to become more studio-based Hussey decided to leave and was offered a position with The Sisters of Mercy
, concentrating on 12-string and 6-string guitars. When the Sisters of Mercy disbanded, Hussey and bassist Craig Adams
set up The Mission
, recruiting Mick Brown on drums and Simon Hinkler
on guitars.
Hussey has produced
and played on records by stablemates All About Eve
and in the late 1990s provided some re-mixes for the Los Angeles
based Cleopatra Records
. He also produced, remixed, and appeared on some tracks for the Columbus, Ohio based band Gossamer including the track 'Run' for the first Unquiet Grave compilation by Cleopatra Records. He also produced and played on Brilliant Mistakes by the Greek band Flowers of Romance. He has played live with both Gary Numan
and The Cure
.
. In the studio he uses both a Fender Telecaster
and Fender Starcaster
. His signature 12 string setup currently has a Fender Electric, a Vox Teardrop
and an Ovation Acoustic. During his time with the Sisters he used an Aria Pro II
.
and is a life-long Liverpool F.C.
supporter. After Liverpool's triumph in Istanbul in 2005 Hussey composed a song entitled "Draped in Red". After he wound up The Mission for the second time in early 2009, he released a solo album called Bare
in October, 2009 on the Sony Music label, (in Germany, there are four bonus tracks). He continues to tour as a solo artist.
In May 2009, Hussey announced on the Mission's website and in an interview on BBC 6 Music
that he and Julianne Regan
were working together on an album of cover songs, reinterpretations of old material and new songs, and invited fans to suggest songs for the duo to cover.
Hussey is currently married to a Brazilian woman, and has two children from a previous marriage.
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
and guitarist with The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
.
Hussey grew up in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. He was influenced at a young age by Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
and his band T.Rex, and was thus inspired to become a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist. Brought up in the LDS Church, he rebelled against his parents' wishes that he serve as a missionary and moved to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in the late 1970s to join the scene around Eric's Club
Eric's Club
Eric's Club was a music club in Liverpool, England. It opened on October 1, 1976 in a building basement on Mathew Street opposite The Cavern Club where The Beatles and other bands of the 1960s played, and became notable for hosting early performances by many punk and post-punk bands.The club was...
, a noted nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
of the time.
Hussey started to perform, most notably with Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray was the lead singer of the punk rock band, Penetration, which was originally formed in 1976.In May 1976 the then 18-year-old Murray saw the Sex Pistols...
(later lead vocal with successful punk band Penetration & The Invisible Girls
The Invisible Girls
The Invisible Girls were a British rock band, formed in Salford, Greater Manchester in 1978, to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poet John Cooper Clarke...
), which is where he cut his teeth as a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. The first success for Hussey came when he joined Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive (band)
Dead or Alive were a British New Wave band from Wirral, England, United Kingdom, Europe. The band rose to fame in the 1980s with their number one single on the UK Singles Chart, "You Spin Me Round ". They were the first group to have a number one single under the production team Stock Aitken Waterman...
at the request of frontman Pete Burns
Pete Burns
Pete Burns is an English singer-songwriter, author and television personality who founded the band Dead or Alive in 1980, for which he acted as the vocalist and songwriter, and which rose to mainstream success with their 1985 single "You Spin Me Round "...
. After Burns retreated to become more studio-based Hussey decided to leave and was offered a position with The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
, concentrating on 12-string and 6-string guitars. When the Sisters of Mercy disbanded, Hussey and bassist Craig Adams
Craig Adams (musician)
Craig Adams is a British musician, bass guitarist and songwriter. Over his career he worked with a variation of rockbands while also being part of a touring crew....
set up The Mission
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
, recruiting Mick Brown on drums and Simon Hinkler
Simon Hinkler
Simon Thomas Hinkler is a guitarist, keyboard player, songwriter and producer from Sheffield, most notable for being the lead guitarist for the British rock group, The Mission from 1986 to 1990....
on guitars.
Hussey has produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and played on records by stablemates All About Eve
All About Eve (band)
All About Eve were a British rock/pop band. The creative core consisted of the Coventry born Julianne Regan , and the Huddersfield born Andy Cousin , with other members changing over the years...
and in the late 1990s provided some re-mixes for the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
. He also produced, remixed, and appeared on some tracks for the Columbus, Ohio based band Gossamer including the track 'Run' for the first Unquiet Grave compilation by Cleopatra Records. He also produced and played on Brilliant Mistakes by the Greek band Flowers of Romance. He has played live with both Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
and The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
.
Equipment
Hussey currently uses the Line 6 Variax 500 when playing live; he has previously used a Gretsch White FalconGretsch White Falcon
The Gretsch White Falcon is a visually distinctive guitar commercially introduced in 1955 by Gretsch. While it has seen vast and substantial changes to its body shape and features through the years, and is currently offered in several styles, the White Falcon has always maintained a striking and...
. In the studio he uses both a Fender Telecaster
Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
and Fender Starcaster
Fender Starcaster
The Fender Starcaster was a semi-hollowbody electric guitar made by the Fender company. The Starcaster was part of Fender's attempt to enter the semi-hollowbody market, which was dominated by Gibson's ES-335 and similar designs.-Design and production:...
. His signature 12 string setup currently has a Fender Electric, a Vox Teardrop
Vox Mark III
The Mark is an electric guitar made by Vox. The instrument is also known as the Vox Teardrop, but this is not the official name. The Vox Mark came in three variations, a 6 string , a 9 string and a 12 string...
and an Ovation Acoustic. During his time with the Sisters he used an Aria Pro II
Aria (guitar company)
Aria is a Japanese manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars and basses.- History :Aria was formed in Japan in 1953 by Shiro Arai as Arai and Company. They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company didn't actually start manufacturing their own until 1964. Aria arranged for...
.
Personal life
He currently lives in BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and is a life-long Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
supporter. After Liverpool's triumph in Istanbul in 2005 Hussey composed a song entitled "Draped in Red". After he wound up The Mission for the second time in early 2009, he released a solo album called Bare
Bare (Wayne Hussey album)
Bare is a solo album by Wayne Hussey, released in 2008. It contains a mixture of songs by the Mission and cover versions from Bands including The Beach Boys and U2, plus one new song, "One Thing Leads to Another".-Track listing:...
in October, 2009 on the Sony Music label, (in Germany, there are four bonus tracks). He continues to tour as a solo artist.
In May 2009, Hussey announced on the Mission's website and in an interview on BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
that he and Julianne Regan
Julianne Regan
Julianne Regan is an English singer, song writer, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboard player. She is best known for being the lead singer of the band, All About Eve.- Early life :...
were working together on an album of cover songs, reinterpretations of old material and new songs, and invited fans to suggest songs for the duo to cover.
Hussey is currently married to a Brazilian woman, and has two children from a previous marriage.