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Steve Hewitt

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For the footballer, see Steven Hewitt. For the Australian curler, see Stephen Hewitt.

Steve Hewitt
Steve Hewitt backstage at Manchester Academy, February 2011
Steve Hewitt backstage at Manchester Academy, February 2011
Background information
Birth nameSteven James Hewitt
Born (1971-03-22) 22 March 1971 (age 53)
OriginNorthwich, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, electronic rock, hard rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, drums, percussion, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards
Years active1988–present
LabelsAction, Rough Trade, Hut, Virgin, Ancient B

Steven James Hewitt (born 22 March 1971) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the frontman of his own band, Love Amongst Ruin. Hewitt is best known for his tenure as the drummer for Placebo between September 1996 and October 2007.[1] He plays drums and guitar left-handed.[2]

Personal life and influences

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Hewitt was born in Northwich, Cheshire, England and attended Weaverham High School.[3][4] Hewitt has a daughter and had a second child in early 2010.[5][6] His elder daughter Emily performed backing vocals on Love Song, the final track on Love Amongst Ruin's 2010 debut album.

Hewitt was inspired to become a drummer after watching Phil Taylor performing "Ace of Spades" with Motörhead on Top of the Pops.[7] He "hassled" his parents to get him a drum kit and when they did,[7] he taught himself to play.[8] Hewitt also acknowledges drummers Phil Rudd (AC/DC) and John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) as influences.[9] Hewitt was musically active at school, drumming and putting on performances.[3] He lists some of his influences as The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Led Zeppelin,[8] Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead and Can.[10][11] He recalled that his family "loved music" and driving on caravan holidays in the car would be punctuated by the sounds of Bee Gees, Elton John, ELO and The Beatles.[12]

Hewitt worked as a picture framer before leaving school and upon leaving school he began training to be a race car engineer.[13] He progressed to be offered an opportunity to continue his training with Williams and worked on the team's pit crew.[13] He also worked as a sign writer until deciding to pursue music full-time.[13]

Drumming career

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Early years (1988–1996)

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Hewitt began his career in the North West of England, playing with his brother Nick in Misadventure, before leaving in 1988 to join The Mystic Deckchairs.[14][15] Two of The Mystic Deckchairs' tracks, "For The Day" and "Keep Your Head On", appeared on the 1989 compilation LP Drunk released by Emergency Records.[16] Hewitt joined fellow local musician Tim Burgess in Electric Crayons, prior to Burgess joining The Charlatans in 1989.[14] Hewitt also joined Breed at the age of 17 and linked up with the band for a German tour after spying an advert placed by the band in Affleck's Palace.[17] Following the completion of the tour, Hewitt joined The Boo Radleys on a temporary basis and played on the band's 1990 debut album, Ichabod and I.[17] Hewitt rejoined Breed in 1991 and played on the albums Grin in 1991 and Violet Sentimental in 1993.[18][19] Despite a support slot on Nick Cave's Let Love In tour, Breed found commercial success elusive and following a disastrous gig at the Bull & Gate in London in 1996, the band split.[17] While in Breed, Hewitt also played for house act K-Klass.[17] The need for money during these years saw Hewitt take on session work in London, recording jingles and appearing on releases by Baby June and Sharkboy.[17][20][21] On 6 December 2004, Breed reformed for a one-off gig at Lock 17 in Camden Lock Market, London.[22]

Placebo (1996–2007)

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Hewitt met Brian Molko in 1991 through his then-girlfriend and was invited to drum on demos for Molko's band Placebo,[23] though Hewitt was unable to join the band due to his commitments to Breed.[24] The band earned a record deal with drummer Robert Schultzberg, who played on the trio's 1996 debut album.[25] In the autumn of 1996, tensions between Schultzberg, Molko and bassist Stefan Olsdal led to Schultzberg's departure from the band.[23] Breed's breakup around the same time allowed Hewitt to accept the invitation to join Placebo permanently.[26] Hewitt appeared in the video for the band's 1997 "Nancy Boy" single with his face blurred out, because he was still under contract to a different record label.[27] After completing touring for Placebo, the band wrote and recorded their second album, Without You I'm Nothing, released in October 1998.[23] The first official Placebo release to feature Hewitt was the "Pure Morning" single, released in August 1998.[23] Hewitt drummed and contributed to the songwriting on subsequent albums Black Market Music (2000), Sleeping with Ghosts (2003) and Meds (2006) with the band.[8] On 1 October 2007, after the completion of the tour supporting Meds, it was announced via the official Placebo website that Hewitt had parted company with Placebo due to "personal and musical differences".[28] He was replaced in 2008 by Steve Forrest, the band's first right-handed drummer.[29]

Love Amongst Ruin (2007–present)

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Feeling "betrayed" after leaving Placebo and faced with a decision "to go to the pub or the studio",[7][30] Hewitt returned to his home studio and began creating "a new band, a new album and a new sound".[31] He contributed drums, guitars, piano and lead vocals to the album and enlisted Jon Thorne and Donald Ross Skinner as collaborators.[8] Steve's brother Nick Hewitt recorded additional guitars and Hewitt felt that he had captured his best ever drum sound on the album.[31][32] The band was named Love Amongst Ruin in late 2009 and Hewitt assuming frontman duties.[33] The band's debut gig at the Eurosonic Festival in the Netherlands on 14 January 2010 was his first public appearance since leaving Placebo.[34] Love Amongst Ruin's self-titled debut album was released on 13 September 2010 and was supported by UK and European tours through 2010 and 2011.[35][36][37] Hewitt wrote and recorded the band's second album Lose Your Way with Donald Ross Skinner in 2011 and 2012,[7] but the album was withheld from release until 27 June 2015.[38][39] The album was supported by a short European tour.[40]

Six by Seven (2012–2013)

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Hewitt befriended members of the band Six by Seven when they toured as opening act for Placebo in 1998.[41] In 2012, Hewitt and Six by Seven frontman Chris Olley were reintroduced by mutual friend Steve Hove (a then-guitarist for Love Amongst Ruin) and began rehearsing new material for Olley's project (The Death of) Six By Seven.[42] The material they wrote eventually saw the project morph into a reformed Six by Seven.[42] Hewitt was announced as the band's new drummer in August 2012.[41] The band entered Moles Studio in Bath in January 2013 to record the band's seventh album.[43] The album, titled Love and Peace and Sympathy, was released on 16 April 2013 and the band embarked on a UK tour in mid-2013,[44][non-primary source needed] which included a slot at Glastonbury Festival.[45] Hewitt's year was ended by a broken arm suffered in October 2013, which caused him to miss an in-store signing at Fopp in Nottingham and a performance at Soundedit Festival.[46][non-primary source needed][47] Chris Olley reported on his blog in May 2014 that he had recorded a new Six by Seven album by himself,[48] which hinted that Hewitt had left the band.[12]

Republica (2024–present)

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In June 2024, Saffron announced that Hewitt had joined Republica as the band's live drummer.[49]

Collaborations and production career

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Lys

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Hewitt struck up a friendship with French band Lys while touring to support Love Amongst Ruin in 2011.[50] As executive producer, Hewitt and Paul Corkett oversaw the production of six songs on Lys' 2013 debut album Go Your Own Way.[50] He worked on Lys' 2015 second album Rebud in 2015 and has been regular guest at the band's live shows.[51][non-primary source needed][52][non-primary source needed][53][non-primary source needed][54][55]

Other projects

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In 2010, Hewitt joined songwriter/producer Brandun Reed as a collaborator on Reed's Polaroid Kiss project and played on the albums The New Coliseum (2013) and Youth (2015).[56] In 2013, he produced the entirety of Italian band Spiral 69's third album Ghosts in My Eyes.[57][58] As of May 2015, Hewitt was recording and producing pop singer DéDé and recording drums for Paul Draper's Spooky Action.[59] From 2019 onwards, he collaborated with and played live drums for Evi Vine.[60][61] In June 2019, Hewitt played drums for Golden Apes at Wave-Gotik-Treffen.[62] In July 2022, Hewitt joined Georgia Train's live band.[63] In 2023, he began playing live drums for Brighton-based rock band Iamwarface.[64]

Discography

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Albums

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with Baby June
  • Need to Need You (1993)[65]
with Boo Radleys
with Breed
  • Grin (1991)[65]
  • Violent Sentimental (1993)[65]
with Love Amongst Ruin
with Placebo
with Polaroid Kiss
  • The New Coliseum (Expanded Compilation) (2013)
  • Youth (2015)
with Six By Seven

EPs

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Collaborations

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  • Sharkboy – The Valentine Tapes (LP, 1995); drums on "Same Mother of Pearl"[65]
  • Sharkboy – The Valentine Singles (4-part single set, 1995); 8 tracks

Producer

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References

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  1. ^ "Kerrang! Placebo part company with drummer". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Love Amongst Ruin @ Pub Mac Carthy, Nancy (+interview)". Funk You Dear. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  3. ^ a b Bebbington, Gina (3 January 2013). "Amplify hits the right note with the community". The Argus. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Steve Hewitt". Angelfire.com. 22 March 1971. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Steve Hewitt – Placebo Fanpage – Kostenlose Homepage". Lostrosecrazy.sebjo.de. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Interview: Love Amongst Ruin". High Rotation. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d "Q&A: Love Amongst Ruin". Complete Music Update. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "stevehewittinterview". Mudkiss Fanzine. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Love Amongst Ruin – Placebo Interview". Guestlist.net. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  10. ^ Leggett, Tabatha (13 September 2010). "Tab Interview: Steve Hewitt". The Tab Cambridge. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  11. ^ "The Music Freak interview with Steve Hewitt". MusicVita. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  12. ^ a b Millar, Mark. "Interview: Steve Hewitt from 'Love Amongst Ruin' talks new album + tour – Love Amongst Ruin released their brilliant second album "Lose Your Way" in June, it received 9/10 from XS Noize". Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  13. ^ a b c "Q&A: Take Aim with Steve Hewitt of Love Amongst Ruin". Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  14. ^ a b Gregory, Andy (2002). The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. Psychology Press. p. 229. ISBN 9781857431612 – via The Internet Archive.
  15. ^ Robb, John (7 January 1999). The Charlatans, we are rock: lessons in pop survival. Ebury Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0091865689.
  16. ^ "Drunk (1989, Vinyl)". Discogs.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Drummerszone artists – Steve Hewitt". Drummerszone.com. 22 March 1971. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Breed (2) – Grin (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  19. ^ "Breed (2) – Violent Sentimental at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  20. ^ "Baby June – Need To Need You (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  21. ^ "Sharkboy (2) – The Valentine Tapes (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  22. ^ "Steve Breeds With Us Tonight!". Community.livejournal.com. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  23. ^ a b c d "Placebo Biography". Sing365.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  24. ^ "Then It Must Be True – Steve Hewitt (Placebo)". thenitmustbetrue.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  25. ^ "The Story Behind The Song: Nancy Boy by Placebo". Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Steve Hewitt artist, artist pages, artist news". Drummerszone.com. 22 March 1971. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  27. ^ "3 famous people we bet you didn't know were from Northwich". Barons Quay. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Placebo". placeboworld.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  29. ^ "Steve Forrest leaves Placebo to pursue personal musical ambitions – Placebo". placeboworld.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  30. ^ "Voice from the dark side | Saint Placebo Ego. News. English". Placebo.su. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Love Λmoиgst Ruiи – Official Facebook Fan site – The Story – Part I". Loveamongstruin.livejournal.com. 14 August 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  32. ^ Chamberlain, Rich (27 July 2010). "Steve Hewitt: Love Amongst Ruin has 'my best ever drum sound'". MusicRadar. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  33. ^ Reid, Sean (20 August 2009). "Ex-Placebo Drummer Forms Love Amongst Ruin". Alter The Press!. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  34. ^ "EuroSonic Noorderslag 2010 Line Up". Virtual Festivals. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  35. ^ aaamusic. "Love Amongst Ruin – Love Amongst Ruin". aaamusic.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  36. ^ "Love Amongst Ruin – The official website for the band". Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  37. ^ "Love Amongst Ruin support Feeder on UK Tour". Musicrooms.net. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  38. ^ "A History of Love Amongst Ruin, Steve Hewitt's Current Muse". Philthy Mag. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  39. ^ "Love Amongst Ruin | 'Lose Your Way' is out now!". loveamongstruin.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  40. ^ "Love Amongst Ruin | Lose Your Way Tour". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  41. ^ a b Olley, Chris (31 August 2012). "Steve Hewitt joins six by seven". Chrisolley.wordpress.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  42. ^ a b "SNH Interviews...S I X . B Y S E V E N". Scene Not Herd. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  43. ^ "Day One Moles Studio". Chrisolley.wordpress.com. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  44. ^ "S I X . B Y S E V E N hit the road next..." Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2014 – via Facebook.
  45. ^ "Glastonbury Festival". Chrisolley.wordpress.com. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  46. ^ "Six By Seven – Unfortunately six by seven have had to..." Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2014 – via Facebook.
  47. ^ "newsletter". Us2.campaign-archive2.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  48. ^ "New Six.by Seven album finished". SIX BY SEVEN. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  49. ^ "Important announcement !!!". www.facebook.com. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  50. ^ a b "Music: Lys". Moveoramablog. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  51. ^ "LYS – Tijdlijnfoto's". Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2014 – via Facebook.
  52. ^ "Lys – Lys : 2nd Album Soon !". Retrieved 18 August 2015 – via Facebook.
  53. ^ "LYS – Timeline Photos – Facebook". Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2015 – via Facebook.
  54. ^ "Redbud by Lys on Amazon Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  55. ^ Hervé (24 January 2018). "Steve Hewitt batteur de Lys". Rock Made in France (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  56. ^ "Polaroid Kiss works with Martin Sköld and Perry Bamonte". Release Music Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  57. ^ "Biography". Spiral69. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  58. ^ "Spiral69 on Pinterest". Pinterest.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  59. ^ "Love Amongst Ruin : A Talk With Steve Hewitt". Backseat Mafia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  60. ^ "... just got home from 2 inspiring days recording with Steven Hewitt Evi Vine Steven Hill Schecter Guitars thank you Michael Ciravolo for my beautiful guitar & bass #stevehewitt #stevehewittfan #doom #yamahadrums #yamahadrumsofficial #ethereal #newmusic #blacklightwhitedark #schecterguitars". Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  61. ^ "An awesome update is that the brilliant Steve Hewitt from Placebo will be on drums for Evi Vine this Halloween at Tomorrow's Ghosts Festival 2021". Facebook. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  62. ^ "Interview with Golden Apes by Tzina Dovve (DJ Lady Davinia)". Absolution NYC. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  63. ^ "🖤🖤🖤🖤Massive Announcement🖤🖤🖤🖤 When I heard Steve Hewitt of Love Amongst Ruin & Placebo fame was a fan of my music I genuinely did not believe...a few weeks later and he's officially joined the band! Gig announcement tomorrow! Get ready to buy tickets, this will sell out". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  64. ^ "live gig". The Fiddlers Elbow. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  65. ^ a b c d e f g Steve Hewitt discography at Discogs
  66. ^ "Polaroid Kiss – The New Coliseum". Discogs.
  67. ^ "Lys (6) – Go Your Own Way". Discogs. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  68. ^ "Lys – Lys – "Be There" (Hd Lyrics Video)". Retrieved 5 July 2015 – via Facebook.
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