Steve Cradock
Encyclopedia
Steve Cradock is an English
guitarist
, most notable for playing in the rock
group
Ocean Colour Scene
. Cradock is also the second guitarist in Paul Weller's band, having appeared on all of Weller's solo records following Weller's self titled debut album
.
He is a distinctive guitarist, who has a retro
, 1960s sound. Cradock's influences include The Beatles
and The Rolling Stones
. Widely regarded (even by Ocean Colour Scene's critics) as one of the most talented British guitarists, Cradock also plays keyboards, bass guitar
and drums
.
, West Midlands
to Chris Cradock, a police officer
(who would later become his manager). He was educated at Lode Heath School in Solihull. Cradock is married to Sally Edwards and has a daughter, Sunny Elizabeth, and a son Casius Earl (born 27 July 2004). He admitted on an appearance on Soccer AM
that he is an Aston Villa F.C.
fan, although did not attend many games.
with a set consisting mainly of cover songs - including The Clash
's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go
" and The Jam
's "Strange Town
". Whilst gaining popularity on the Birmingham
gig
circuit, the band extended links to well-received audiences in London and Bournemouth
amongst others. An August Bank Holiday festival
in Gorleston
coincided with the band releasing their first three-track vinyl
EP
, Happy Days, on their own label.
In the late 1980s, Cradock met his idol and future mentor, Paul Weller. Cradock would spend time at Weller's recording studio
in Marble Arch
, London, trying to pass on The Boys' music. While he was always evicted from the premises by technician Kenny Wheeler, Cradock made a lasting impression on Weller. When, in 1991 Cradock returned to the same studio with Ocean Colour Scene, the couple befriended and Ocean Colour Scene were soon invited to tour with Weller.
The band's plans for a six track mini-album soon after never materialised. However, the band contributed "Going Out" to a compilation album
by the London based label
, Unicorn. This was followed by the peak of the band's career - a support slot for Steve Marriott
at the Irish Centre in Digbeth
.
Despite catching the attention of Polydor and CBS
, the band dissolved in the late 1980s and Cradock proceeded to form Ocean Colour Scene with Simon Fowler
, Damon Minchella
and Oscar Harrison
.
, on Fontana Records
. Whilst gaining mild popularity, the band felt their potential had not been reached. Following Cradock's first full tour with Paul Weller, he self-funded the production of the band's second LP, Moseley Shoals
.
Signing to MCA in 1995, Moseley Shoals sold over 3,000,000 world wide. Ocean Colour Scene's then Radio plugger Sally Edwards became Steve's wife in 1996. The couple now have two children, Sunny born 27 March 2003 and Cassius born 27 July 2004.
s by Weller, including playing drums
on 22 Dreams
. In 1999, Cradock was presented with a Rickenbacker
guitar by Weller for his 30th birthday. This guitar can be heard on Ocean Colour Scene's "Free My Name
" single from A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad
.
on several projects such as - PP Arnold , Liam Gallagher ( Oasis ) when they both released The Jam classic "Carnation" - Steve's friendship and Musical Relationship is Strong with both Liam & Noel Gallagher of (Oasis) Liam Garland ( Little Liam ) .
It is also believed that Steve was Noel's Best man when he married Meg Matthews in the Mid 90's.
It was Oasis and Paul Wellar (The Jam) who gave Steve's "Mod Revival" band "Ocean Colour Scene" there big break in 1996 when they gave them a support slot in front of an audience of 250,000 when Oasis played "Live at Knebworth"
It was then that Ocean Colour Scenes 2 albums thereafter great acclaim in the Irish and Uk Album Charts with "Moseley Shoals"(1996) and "Marchin' Already" (1997) reaching Number 1 with both albums and knocking Oasis off the top spot at a point.
The Gallagher Brothers Jokingly sent a trophy to Steve's Ocean Colour Scene camp after both OCS's albums success - The throphy was sarcastically etched with the Following "Congratulations guys on becoming the 2nd Best band ever in the World"
Simon Fowler & Steve Cradock from Ocean Colour Scene wittingly recreated the trophy to read "Thanks Oasis, Considering The Beatles are the greatest band ever in the World, We'll gladly play second violin" The Oasis/OCS friendship is Very Strong.
Steve is also a good friend of Mani from The Stone Roses. NME in 2009 stated that Mani was pleasured to have been asked by Steve to Record & Tour with Steve Cradock on his Solo Works "Kundalini Target"
Mani praised Steve's Solo abilities continuously.
Paul Wellar discovered something unique about Steve having seen OCS at a gig in 1992 (When he then offered OCS a support slot and Stve the chance to play in Pauls band as a session Guitarist, He then decided to help them as best he could as he saw the huge amounts of potential within the 4 piece and branded them as Quirky, New & A Somewhat Mod Revival... Just what England Needs.
Paul joined OCS on Numerous occasions and played with them on "Later with Jools Holland" in 1996 where he played piano to Festival Anthem "The Day we caught the Train" and "You've got it bad"
Steve Cradock and Paul Wellar remain very close friends and Associates to the present day with Steve still playing Lead Guitar with Paul since 1992.
" for the Warchild
release The Help Album
. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios
, the track featured Paul McCartney
, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher
, Steve White, Carleen Anderson
and Damon Minchella
made her first solo album in 25 years. This release was produced by Cradock. Additionally, a single was released - written by Mike Nesmith, "Different Drum". As well as producing the track, Cradock also played the drums. Despite television and radio promotion, the single failed to chart and the proposed solo album did not materialise.
" with Liam Gallagher
for The Jam tribute album, Fire and Skill. Cradock also played guitar on the albums hidden track
, "No One In The World".
". Macdonald reciprocated by supporting Cradock on his European acoustic tour with Weller. Steve and Wife Sally Toured with Amy Mcdonald in Germany as her support Act in 2009.
' 2003 album Clear The Decks; a band formed by Minchella, Steve White and Mick Talbot
.
In 2006, Cradock contributed rhythm guitar to recording of the song "Left, Right and Centre" by the acid jazz
act, Lord Lorge, which featured Dean Parrish
on lead vocals.
The following year, Cradock recorded drums and backing vocals for the Andy Lewis
and Weller collaboration, "Are You Trying To Be Lonely", which peaked at number 35 in the UK Singles Chart
. Cradock also produced a number of songs for the Newcastle
-based band, Hungover Stuntmen.
. During a phone interview on BBC Radio Tees in April 2008, Cradock discussed his solo album and disclosed that he plays all the instruments
on the album. Occasionally, Cradock performed his own songs during his tour with Weller during their acoustic gigs of 2007 and 2008. The Album features Paul Weller and wife Sally Cradock.
Steve and Sally Cradock have since formed Kundalini Music , from which Steve's second solo Album will be released in 2011. The Kundalini Target is now available on this label.
The Kundalini Vynal is signed to Halden Pop in Germany.
The album title was confirmed as The Kundalini Target
, and reached 114 in the album charts. 34 in play.com/30 in iTunes chart.
from the cult TV show The Inbetweeners
and collaborations with Paul Weller, Sally Cradock, Andy Crofts and PP Arnold.
In 2011, Cradock and his band supported Beady Eye
on their UK tour before going on a short tour of his own.
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...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, most notable for playing in the 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...
group
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...
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
. Cradock is also the second guitarist in Paul Weller's band, having appeared on all of Weller's solo records following Weller's self titled debut album
Paul Weller (album)
Paul Weller is Paul Weller's first solo album, released in 1992.After disbanding The Style Council and leaving label Polydor in 1989, Weller formed The Paul Weller Movement in 1990, releasing a single, Into Tomorrow, on his own Freedom High record label, in October 1991...
.
He is a distinctive guitarist, who has a retro
Retrospective
Retrospective generally means to take a look back at events that already have taken place. For example, the term is used in medicine, describing a look back at a patient's medical history or lifestyle.-Music:...
, 1960s sound. Cradock's influences include The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
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...
. Widely regarded (even by Ocean Colour Scene's critics) as one of the most talented British guitarists, Cradock also plays keyboards, bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
.
Personal life
Cradock was born in SolihullSolihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
to Chris Cradock, a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
(who would later become his manager). He was educated at Lode Heath School in Solihull. Cradock is married to Sally Edwards and has a daughter, Sunny Elizabeth, and a son Casius Earl (born 27 July 2004). He admitted on an appearance on Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
that he is an Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
fan, although did not attend many games.
The Boys
Cradock formed his first band called The Boys around March 1988 with school friends from Solihull. The band played at various Mod events around the MidlandsEnglish Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
with a set consisting mainly of cover songs - including The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Should I Stay or Should I Go
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was written in 1981 and featured Mick Jones on lead vocals. It became the band's only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, a decade after it was originally released. In November...
" and The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
's "Strange Town
Strange Town
The song "Strange Town" was released on 17 March 1979 by The Jam and reached #15 in the UK singles chart.Backed by the Paul Weller-penned "The Butterfly Collector", the single was one of many The Jam singles that did not appear on any of the band's studio albums. "Strange Town" appears on the...
". Whilst gaining popularity on the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
gig
Gig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
circuit, the band extended links to well-received audiences in London and Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
amongst others. An August Bank Holiday festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
in Gorleston
Gorleston
Gorleston-On-Sea, also known colloquially as Gorleston, is a settlement in Norfolk in the United Kingdom, forming part of the larger town of Great Yarmouth. Situated at the mouth of the River Yare it was a port town at the time of the Domesday Book. The port then became a centre of fishing for...
coincided with the band releasing their first three-track vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Happy Days, on their own label.
In the late 1980s, Cradock met his idol and future mentor, Paul Weller. Cradock would spend time at Weller's recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in Marble Arch
Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England...
, London, trying to pass on The Boys' music. While he was always evicted from the premises by technician Kenny Wheeler, Cradock made a lasting impression on Weller. When, in 1991 Cradock returned to the same studio with Ocean Colour Scene, the couple befriended and Ocean Colour Scene were soon invited to tour with Weller.
The band's plans for a six track mini-album soon after never materialised. However, the band contributed "Going Out" to a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by the London based label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Unicorn. This was followed by the peak of the band's career - a support slot for Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
at the Irish Centre in Digbeth
Digbeth
Digbeth is an area of Birmingham, England. Following the destruction of the Inner Ring Road, Digbeth is now considered a district within Birmingham City Centre. As part of the Big City Plan, Digbeth is undergoing a large redevelopment scheme that will regenerate the old industrial buildings into...
.
Despite catching the attention of Polydor and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, the band dissolved in the late 1980s and Cradock proceeded to form Ocean Colour Scene with Simon Fowler
Simon Fowler
Simon Fowler is the lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist in Ocean Colour Scene.-The Fanatics:Simon Fowler commenced his music career as the lead singer and songwriter for Birmingham band The Fanatics, which consisted of Simon Fowler , Damon Minchella , Paul Wilkes and Caroline Bullock...
, Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella is an English bass guitarist, formerly with Ocean Colour Scene, which he left in 2003. He was a regular member of Paul Weller's backing band until 2008, is a member of the supergroup The Players and played for The Who during their performance at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park.He...
and Oscar Harrison
Oscar Harrison
Oscar Harrison is a musician who currently plays drums with Birmingham-based band Ocean Colour Scene, where he gained prominence. He also plays piano and bass guitar, and occasionally sings lead vocals.-Early days:...
.
Ocean Colour Scene
Cradock formed Ocean Colour Scene with Fowler, Minchella and Harrison after the dissolution of both The Boys and The Fanatics. Within two years the band had released their debut LP, Ocean Colour SceneOcean Colour Scene (album)
Ocean Colour Scene is the eponymous 1992 debut album by the British rock group Ocean Colour Scene. It was released during the early Britpop era with far less critical interest than their highly successful second album Moseley Shoals...
, on Fontana Records
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
. Whilst gaining mild popularity, the band felt their potential had not been reached. Following Cradock's first full tour with Paul Weller, he self-funded the production of the band's second LP, Moseley Shoals
Moseley Shoals
Moseley Shoals is a 1996 album by the British rock group Ocean Colour Scene, that was released during the Britpop era. The album reached #2 in the UK charts, selling over 600,000 copies....
.
Signing to MCA in 1995, Moseley Shoals sold over 3,000,000 world wide. Ocean Colour Scene's then Radio plugger Sally Edwards became Steve's wife in 1996. The couple now have two children, Sunny born 27 March 2003 and Cassius born 27 July 2004.
Paul Weller
Cradock joined Weller's band in 1992, having supported him with Ocean Colour Scene. Cradock has appeared on all studio albumStudio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s by Weller, including playing drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on 22 Dreams
22 Dreams
22 Dreams is the ninth solo studio album by Paul Weller. It was released on June 2, 2008.The album was released on double LP and single CD, as well as a deluxe edition CD, featuring a bonus CD with outtakes and extra tracks. Oasis stars Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer feature on the album, as does...
. In 1999, Cradock was presented with a Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
guitar by Weller for his 30th birthday. This guitar can be heard on Ocean Colour Scene's "Free My Name
Free My Name
"Free My Name" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene .The song was released in 2005 and reached number 23 in the UK Singles Chart, lasting two weeks in the top 75...
" single from A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad
A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad
A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad is a 2005 album by Ocean Colour Scene ; Hyperactive Workout was originally due to be released in September 2004 but Sanctuary Records requested the band record a live album instead and pushed the release back to 'early 2005'...
.
Side projects
Aside from Cradock's career with Ocean Colour Scene and Weller, he has also worked over the years with other artistsMusician
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....
on several projects such as - PP Arnold , Liam Gallagher ( Oasis ) when they both released The Jam classic "Carnation" - Steve's friendship and Musical Relationship is Strong with both Liam & Noel Gallagher of (Oasis) Liam Garland ( Little Liam ) .
Friendships
Steve Cradocks closest friends are both Mani (Stone Roses) and Noel Gallagher (Oasis/High flying birds)It is also believed that Steve was Noel's Best man when he married Meg Matthews in the Mid 90's.
It was Oasis and Paul Wellar (The Jam) who gave Steve's "Mod Revival" band "Ocean Colour Scene" there big break in 1996 when they gave them a support slot in front of an audience of 250,000 when Oasis played "Live at Knebworth"
It was then that Ocean Colour Scenes 2 albums thereafter great acclaim in the Irish and Uk Album Charts with "Moseley Shoals"(1996) and "Marchin' Already" (1997) reaching Number 1 with both albums and knocking Oasis off the top spot at a point.
The Gallagher Brothers Jokingly sent a trophy to Steve's Ocean Colour Scene camp after both OCS's albums success - The throphy was sarcastically etched with the Following "Congratulations guys on becoming the 2nd Best band ever in the World"
Simon Fowler & Steve Cradock from Ocean Colour Scene wittingly recreated the trophy to read "Thanks Oasis, Considering The Beatles are the greatest band ever in the World, We'll gladly play second violin" The Oasis/OCS friendship is Very Strong.
Steve is also a good friend of Mani from The Stone Roses. NME in 2009 stated that Mani was pleasured to have been asked by Steve to Record & Tour with Steve Cradock on his Solo Works "Kundalini Target"
Mani praised Steve's Solo abilities continuously.
Paul Wellar discovered something unique about Steve having seen OCS at a gig in 1992 (When he then offered OCS a support slot and Stve the chance to play in Pauls band as a session Guitarist, He then decided to help them as best he could as he saw the huge amounts of potential within the 4 piece and branded them as Quirky, New & A Somewhat Mod Revival... Just what England Needs.
Paul joined OCS on Numerous occasions and played with them on "Later with Jools Holland" in 1996 where he played piano to Festival Anthem "The Day we caught the Train" and "You've got it bad"
Steve Cradock and Paul Wellar remain very close friends and Associates to the present day with Steve still playing Lead Guitar with Paul since 1992.
The Smokin' Mojo Filters
In 1995, Cradock played on a version of The Beatles' song "Come TogetherCome Together
"Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road....
" for the Warchild
War Child (charity)
War Child is a non-governmental organisation founded in the UK 1993, which focuses on providing assistance to children in areas of conflict and post-conflict. They use their film and entertainment background to raise money for aid agencies operating in former Yugoslavia...
release The Help Album
The Help Album
The Help Album is a 1995 charity album devoted to the War Child charity's aid efforts in war-stricken areas, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina...
. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, the track featured Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
, Steve White, Carleen Anderson
Carleen Anderson
Carleen Anderson is an American soul singer, who has had success in the United Kingdom. She is the daughter of the singer Vicki Anderson and stepdaughter of Bobby Byrd, and is most well known as the lead singer in the Young Disciples as well as for her own solo career.-Early career:Anderson was...
and Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella is an English bass guitarist, formerly with Ocean Colour Scene, which he left in 2003. He was a regular member of Paul Weller's backing band until 2008, is a member of the supergroup The Players and played for The Who during their performance at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park.He...
PP Arnold
While working and touring with Ocean Colour Scene in 1997, P. P. ArnoldP. P. Arnold
P. P. Arnold is an American-born soul singer who enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and beyond.-Early life:...
made her first solo album in 25 years. This release was produced by Cradock. Additionally, a single was released - written by Mike Nesmith, "Different Drum". As well as producing the track, Cradock also played the drums. Despite television and radio promotion, the single failed to chart and the proposed solo album did not materialise.
Fire and Skill: The Songs of The Jam
In 1999, Cradock recorded a version of "CarnationThe Gift (The Jam album)
The Gift is the sixth and final studio album by British band The Jam. Released on 12 March 1982, it reached #1 on the British charts. Clocking in at 32:17 minutes, the album received a mixed reception from critics and fans....
" with Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
for The Jam tribute album, Fire and Skill. Cradock also played guitar on the albums hidden track
Hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
, "No One In The World".
Amy MacDonald
Cradock recorded some guitar parts for Macdonald's single "RunRun (Amy Macdonald song)
"Run" is the fifth single to be released from Amy Macdonald's debut album This Is the Life. The single was released in the UK on 3 March 2008...
". Macdonald reciprocated by supporting Cradock on his European acoustic tour with Weller. Steve and Wife Sally Toured with Amy Mcdonald in Germany as her support Act in 2009.
Other collaborations and activities
Cradock contributed guitar to The PlayersThe Players (supergroup)
The Players are a supergroup consisting of the core members of Damon Minchella , Mick Talbot and Steve White .Their first album Clear the Decks, released in 2003 had Aziz Ibrahim on guitar, and featured guest musicians Steve Cradock and Chad Smith.Their second album From the Six Corners, released...
' 2003 album Clear The Decks; a band formed by Minchella, Steve White and Mick Talbot
Mick Talbot
Michael 'Mick' Talbot is a British keyboardist. He played with the late 1970s mod revivalists The Merton Parkas; Dexys Midnight Runners; The Bureau, and later with Paul Weller in The Style Council....
.
In 2006, Cradock contributed rhythm guitar to recording of the song "Left, Right and Centre" by the acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
act, Lord Lorge, which featured Dean Parrish
Dean Parrish
Dean Parrish is an American soul singer from New York, best known for the song, "I'm On My Way", which became famous for being the last record that was played at Northern Soul all-nighters at the Wigan Casino.-Career:Anastasi was born to Italian and Spanish parents and was raised in Little Italy,...
on lead vocals.
The following year, Cradock recorded drums and backing vocals for the Andy Lewis
Andy Lewis
Andy Lewis was the original bassist of Australian band The Whitlams. He left The Whitlams in the late 1995, and went to Melbourne, Australia to form another band, The Gadflys...
and Weller collaboration, "Are You Trying To Be Lonely", which peaked at number 35 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Cradock also produced a number of songs for the Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
-based band, Hungover Stuntmen.
The Kundalini Target
Cradock announced he had begun work on his own solo album in early 2008 via the diary section on the official website of Ocean Colour Scene, the recording of which took place at the Black Barn Studios owned by Weller in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. During a phone interview on BBC Radio Tees in April 2008, Cradock discussed his solo album and disclosed that he plays all the instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
on the album. Occasionally, Cradock performed his own songs during his tour with Weller during their acoustic gigs of 2007 and 2008. The Album features Paul Weller and wife Sally Cradock.
Steve and Sally Cradock have since formed Kundalini Music , from which Steve's second solo Album will be released in 2011. The Kundalini Target is now available on this label.
The Kundalini Vynal is signed to Halden Pop in Germany.
The album title was confirmed as The Kundalini Target
The Kundalini Target
The Kundalini Target is the debut solo album from Ocean Colour Scene member and Paul Weller collaborator Steve Cradock due for release in January 2009....
, and reached 114 in the album charts. 34 in play.com/30 in iTunes chart.
Peace City West
Cradock's second solo album Peace City West was released on Kundalini Music on 4 April 2011 and features James BuckleyJames Buckley (actor)
James Patrick Buckley is an English actor, best known for his roles as Jay Cartwright in the British comedy The Inbetweeners and Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in Rock & Chips.-Early life:...
from the cult TV show The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom which aired for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show follows the life of suburban teenager Will , and three of his friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. The Inbetweeners Movie was...
and collaborations with Paul Weller, Sally Cradock, Andy Crofts and PP Arnold.
In 2011, Cradock and his band supported Beady Eye
Beady Eye
Beady Eye are an English rock band formed in 2009. The band consists of vocalist Liam Gallagher, guitarist Gem Archer and guitarist Andy Bell, all former members of Oasis, rounded by drummer and percussionist Chris Sharrock who substituted for Oasis during their last tour in 2008/2009, before Oasis...
on their UK tour before going on a short tour of his own.