Gerard Starkie
Encyclopedia
Gerard Starkie is an English musician and former lead singer of Witness
. After Witness
split up in 2004, Gerard went onto record his debut album Drawbridge with former Witness band members, releasing it as a free download on his official Myspace site.
Gerard is now due to release his second album Potions
in July 2011 on UK indie label Lupine Records
. He is currently touring as a two piece with Joe Allen, playing a live set of new and old Witness
material.
Gerard has had several of his songs picked up for use on TV and film around the world. Here's One For You featured on the soundtrack to American Pie 2
, whilst Closing Up featured on Cougar Town
in 2009.
alternative rock
band formed in Wigan
, Greater Manchester
in 1997. The band released two albums via Island Records
between 1999 and 2001, before splitting up in 2004.
Despite their brief time together, Witness received widespread critical acclaim. Their debut album Before The Calm gained a 9/10 review in the NME
, which stated;
The media reaction to their debut release led them to be invited to perform on Jools Holland
on the BBC
along with artists such as John Cale
.
Their second album, Under A Sun was a departure to the stripped back sound of their debut, but again received crtical acclain across the media. The well-respected Americana UK website went on to crown the LP their 'Album Of The Year' for 2001:
Uncut magazine meanwhile gave it a 5 star review.
Witness (UK band)
Witness were a British alternative rock band formed in Wigan, Greater Manchester in 1997. The band released two albums via Island Records between 1999 and 2001, before splitting up in 2004.-Formation:...
. After Witness
Witness (UK band)
Witness were a British alternative rock band formed in Wigan, Greater Manchester in 1997. The band released two albums via Island Records between 1999 and 2001, before splitting up in 2004.-Formation:...
split up in 2004, Gerard went onto record his debut album Drawbridge with former Witness band members, releasing it as a free download on his official Myspace site.
Gerard is now due to release his second album Potions
Potions (album)
Potions is the first full release album from Gerard Starkie, formerly of Witness. It is the follow up to the album Drawbridge that was made available for free download in 2006.Potions was released on Lupine Records in July 2011...
in July 2011 on UK indie label Lupine Records
Lupine Record label
Lupine Records is an independent record label based in Wigan, England. Their debut EP Tales From The Lux was released in October 2006.The label has featured releases from Gerard Starkie of Witness fame, Moco, The Loungs, Mat Turner; formerly of Gomez, The V.C's and Dirty Circus; previously signed...
. He is currently touring as a two piece with Joe Allen, playing a live set of new and old Witness
Witness (UK band)
Witness were a British alternative rock band formed in Wigan, Greater Manchester in 1997. The band released two albums via Island Records between 1999 and 2001, before splitting up in 2004.-Formation:...
material.
Gerard has had several of his songs picked up for use on TV and film around the world. Here's One For You featured on the soundtrack to American Pie 2
American Pie 2
American Pie 2 is a 2001 comedy film and sequel to American Pie and is the second film in the American Pie film series. It was written by Adam Herz and David H. Steinberg, and directed by J. B. Rogers. The film picks up the story of the four friends from the first film as they reunite during the...
, whilst Closing Up featured on Cougar Town
Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
in 2009.
Witness
Witness were a BritishUnited 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...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band formed in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
in 1997. The band released two albums via Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
between 1999 and 2001, before splitting up in 2004.
Despite their brief time together, Witness received widespread critical acclaim. Their debut album Before The Calm gained a 9/10 review in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, which stated;
The media reaction to their debut release led them to be invited to perform on Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
on 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...
along with artists such as John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
.
Their second album, Under A Sun was a departure to the stripped back sound of their debut, but again received crtical acclain across the media. The well-respected Americana UK website went on to crown the LP their 'Album Of The Year' for 2001:
Uncut magazine meanwhile gave it a 5 star review.