Steve Byrd
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Stephen John Byrd is a British guitarist and session musician who has worked with artists including Kim Wilde, Ian Gillan, ZZebra and many others.
Initially a self-taught guitarist born in Sheffield, England, Byrd joined the band Zzebra for their second album Panic, after his old friend Tommy Eyre had recommended him for the job[1] . With Zzebra he played the Reading Festival in 1975 and recorded another album, Take It Or Leave It
In 1978 he replaced Paul Simon in Ian North's band Neo, a new wave band formed in 1977[2] . Neo recorded an album in Ian Gillan's studio, and after Gillan had heard them he hired Byrd and bassist John McCoy for his own band, which was also called Gillan.[3]
The band recorded their first album Gillan in September 1978. It was not released in the UK but sold well as an import.
In 1982 Byrd auditioned for pop singer Kim Wilde and became a long-term member of Kim's backing band. With Kim, he co-wrote "Another Step", "Hey Mister Heartache" and many other songs as well as played on some of her albums. He toured with Kim Wilde until the mid-90s
In the 90s he was also a member of "4 Bills And A Ben", a band with flexible line-up formed by Johnny Warman which also included Jeff Rich and John Edwards from Status Quo.
In 2001 he played in The Mods at the Steve Marriott tribute in 2001
Other acts Byrd toured with were The Buggles, Martha and the Muffins, Billy Ocean, Ruby Turner, Samantha Fox, A Flock of Seagulls, The Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Bonnie Tyler, Alec Mansion, Shakin' Stevens, Heartbeat UK and Kim Appleby.[citation needed] He is now the MD of the Byrdsongs record label.
References
External links
- Steve Byrd at AllMusic
- Steve Byrd Biography at Kimwildetv.com
