Gem Archer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gem Archer
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Archer in 2025
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| Birth name | Colin Murray Archer |
| Born | December 7, 1966 Hunwick, Durham, England |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
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Colin Murray "Gem" Archer (born December 7, 1966) is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is most famous for being a member of the rock band Oasis, where he played both rhythm and lead guitar. He also played in bands connected to Oasis, like Beady Eye and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Before joining Oasis, Archer led the alternative rock band Heavy Stereo from 1993 to 1999. They released one album called Déjà Voodoo in 1996.
Archer joined Oasis in November 1999. This happened after the band's first guitarist, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, left. Archer was a member of Oasis for ten years until the band broke up in 2009. He helped create the band's last three studio albums: Heathen Chemistry (2002), Don't Believe the Truth (2005), and Dig Out Your Soul (2008). He often helped write songs and even wrote some songs by himself.
After Oasis broke up in August 2009, Archer, along with singer Liam Gallagher, bass player Andy Bell, and drummer Chris Sharrock, formed a new band called Beady Eye. They released two studio albums: Different Gear, Still Speeding (2011) and BE (2013). The band stopped playing together in October 2014. In 2017, Archer joined Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds as the lead guitarist. This brought him back together with Noel Gallagher, another former Oasis member. This made Archer and Sharrock the only Oasis members to play in both Liam and Noel Gallagher's bands after Oasis.
In 2024, after being away from the band for fifteen years, Archer rejoined Oasis. This happened before their Oasis Live '25 Tour.
Contents
Gem Archer's Music Journey
Early Bands and Whirlpool
Archer started his music career in 1981 as the lead guitarist for a group called The Edge. They released two songs, "Take a Walk" and "Little Girl Blue." In 1987, he was part of a band called The Contenders. Then, in 1991, he formed Whirlpool. They signed with Food Records and EMI Publishing. After playing many shows and recording for about 18 months, the group broke up. This led to the creation of Heavy Stereo, where Gem became the singer.
Leading Heavy Stereo
Archer formed Heavy Stereo with bassist Nez and guitarist Pete Downing. Both had been in another band called 2 Lost Sons. Heavy Stereo signed with Creation Records. The band's only album, Déjà Voodoo, came out in 1996. It did not become very popular. However, Heavy Stereo gained more attention later. They released new song demos and contributed to a tribute album for The Jam. They also opened for singer Paul Weller on his tour.
Joining Oasis
Archer heard on a TV show that Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs had left Oasis. He thought the band might break up. Archer was a big fan of Oasis and felt they had brought rock 'n' roll back to life. He did not know that Noel Gallagher had called his home. Noel knew Archer from their time on the Creation Records label. Noel invited him to Olympic Studios, where Oasis was mixing their album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants.
Archer said he wanted to know if he was part of the band. Noel told him that it was his band and he could choose who he wanted. Archer said the other members of Heavy Stereo were happy for him to join Oasis.
Archer did not play on the Giants album. So, he did not earn money from its sales. For his first few shows, he was paid like a session musician. This was about £85 per show as the new Oasis rhythm guitarist. His first official job was to appear in the music video for "Go Let It Out." In the video, he played lead guitar because Andy Bell had not yet joined as the bass player. Noel played bass, and Liam played acoustic guitar and sang. Archer played his first rhythm guitar set for a radio session in Philadelphia.
Even though Archer was called Oasis's rhythm guitarist, his role was much bigger. During live shows, he and Noel often switched between playing lead and rhythm guitar. Both Noel and Liam Gallagher praised Archer for his work in the studio. Archer also helped write songs. His first song for Oasis was "Hung in a Bad Place." This song appeared on Oasis's fifth album, Heathen Chemistry. It was even used in a TV commercial in the US.
Archer's role grew on Oasis's sixth album, Don't Believe the Truth. This album included his song "A Bell Will Ring" and "Love Like a Bomb," which he wrote with Liam Gallagher. He also wrote two B-sides, "Eyeball Tickler" and "The Quiet Ones." For the 2008 album Dig Out Your Soul, he wrote "To Be Where There's Life." Archer said it was a bit scary to offer songs to the band because Noel Gallagher was such a famous songwriter. Archer sometimes sang backing vocals on Oasis songs. He also played piano on "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and harmonica on "Mucky Fingers." In 2025, it was announced that Archer would be part of the Oasis Live '25 Tour.
Forming Beady Eye
Noel Gallagher left Oasis in August 2009 after an argument with his brother in Paris. Gallagher partly blamed Archer and Andy Bell for not supporting him enough. Soon after, the band announced they had broken up. However, Archer, Bell, Liam Gallagher, and Oasis's live drummer Chris Sharrock decided to work together on a new band called Beady Eye.
Archer played guitar, bass, and sang backing vocals on Beady Eye's first album, Different Gear, Still Speeding. This album was released on February 28, 2011. Archer also played guitar, keyboards, and sang backing vocals on Beady Eye's second album, BE. This album came out on June 10, 2013. On October 25, 2014, Liam Gallagher announced that Beady Eye had broken up.
Playing with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
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In December 2015, Archer performed with Noel Gallagher at an acoustic show. He also appeared on BBC Radio 2. In October 2016, Gem joined Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds for a performance. This led to people wondering if he had become a full member of the band. In July 2017, it was confirmed that Gem had officially joined Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Other Music Projects
Outside of Oasis, Archer has worked with other artists, especially Paul Weller. He played acoustic guitar on Weller's 2002 album Illumination. He also played guitars and Mellotron on Weller's 2008 album 22 Dreams. Archer went on an acoustic tour in the US with Weller. He also played guitar and sang backing vocals at the 2010 NME Awards.
He also played guitar on David Holmes' 1997 album Let's Get Killed. Archer helped Noel Gallagher produce the first album for the band Proud Mary. This band was signed to Gallagher's record label. Archer also worked with his friend and former Oasis and Beady Eye bandmate Andy Bell on his solo album. He played some drums, bass, and guitar, and helped with the recording.
Gem Archer's Life
On August 1, 2013, Archer had a serious accident at home. He fell down some stairs and hurt his head and fractured his skull. He was taken to the hospital. Beady Eye's performance at a festival was canceled so he could be watched closely. He was later reported to be in stable condition. On November 26, 2022, Archer married Christine Mary Biller in London.
See also
In Spanish: Gem Archer para niños
