Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates
Encyclopedia
Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates is a musician notable for playing the Hammond organ
with Neil Hannon
's band, The Divine Comedy
. Bates was the band's organ player on all of The Divine Comedy's records from Casanova
to Regeneration
. Hannon is an aficionado of the Hammond and was eager to employ a Hammond player with the band.
Hannon and Bates were both disappointed by the amount of Hammond on the final cut of the album due to the advice of professional producer, Nigel Godrich
. Godrich was hired to make The Divine Comedy more of a Britrock band after Neil decided on that image. Bates played the organ, synth, and trombone
on the album as well as touring with the band during the Regeneration tour.
Stuart "Pinkie" Bates is said to have gained the nickname "Pinkie" during one of the band's shows. He wore a red shirt while all the other bands wore dark shirts. The lighting made the red appear pink on-stage, and he has been known as "Pinkie" ever since.
Bates is now teaching music for his vocation at Parmiter's School
.
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
with Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
's band, The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
. Bates was the band's organ player on all of The Divine Comedy's records from Casanova
Casanova (album)
Casanova is The Divine Comedy's fourth album. It was the band's commercial breakthrough. It was released on Setanta and certified gold in the UK in July 1997. This was helped by the release of The Divine Comedy's first single "Something for the Weekend" which reached number 13 on the charts...
to Regeneration
Regeneration (Divine Comedy album)
Regeneration is the seventh studio album by The Divine Comedy - and their first for Parlophone/EMI - released on March 12, 2001. Three singles were released from the album: "Love What You Do", "Bad Ambassador" and "Perfect Lovesong", the latter failing to make top 40.Produced by Nigel Godrich,...
. Hannon is an aficionado of the Hammond and was eager to employ a Hammond player with the band.
Hannon and Bates were both disappointed by the amount of Hammond on the final cut of the album due to the advice of professional producer, Nigel Godrich
Nigel Godrich
Nigel Godrich, , is a recording engineer, record producer and musician. He is best known for his work with the English rock band Radiohead and is sometimes referred to as the "sixth member" of the band...
. Godrich was hired to make The Divine Comedy more of a Britrock band after Neil decided on that image. Bates played the organ, synth, and trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
on the album as well as touring with the band during the Regeneration tour.
Stuart "Pinkie" Bates is said to have gained the nickname "Pinkie" during one of the band's shows. He wore a red shirt while all the other bands wore dark shirts. The lighting made the red appear pink on-stage, and he has been known as "Pinkie" ever since.
Bates is now teaching music for his vocation at Parmiter's School
Parmiter's School
Parmiter's School is a co-educational school in Garston, Hertfordshire on the outskirts of North West London, England with a long history. Although the school admits pupils of all abilities it is partially selective...
.