Gem Archer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gem Archer
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Archer in 2017
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Colin Murray Archer |
| Born | December 7, 1966 Hunwick, Durham, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels |
|
Colin Murray "Gem" Archer (born 7 December 1966) is an English guitarist and singer. He is famous for being a member of popular rock bands like Oasis, Beady Eye, and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Gem Archer is one of the few musicians who played in both Liam Gallagher's and Noel Gallagher's bands after Oasis split up. He also played with a band called Heavy Stereo.
Archer joined Oasis as a guitarist in November 1999. He also helped write some of the band's songs. Oasis took a break in August 2009. Later that year, Liam Gallagher started a new band called Beady Eye with Archer and other former Oasis members (but not Noel). Beady Eye released two albums: Different Gear, Still Speeding (2011) and BE (2013). The band broke up in October 2014. In 2017, Archer joined Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, playing guitar. This meant he was working with Noel Gallagher again.
Contents
Gem Archer's Music Career
Early Bands: The Edge and Whirlpool
Gem Archer started his music journey in 1981 with a group called The Edge. They released two singles, which are like small music releases with one or two songs. Later, in 1991, he formed another band named Whirlpool. This band signed deals with record companies and recorded music for about 18 months before they stopped playing together.
Heavy Stereo: A New Start
After Whirlpool, Gem Archer formed a new band called Heavy Stereo. In this band, Gem became the lead singer. Heavy Stereo signed with Creation Records, a well-known record label. Their only album, Déjà Voodoo, came out in 1996. It didn't become a huge hit. However, the band gained more attention later by releasing new demo songs and playing as the opening act for famous musician Paul Weller.
Joining Oasis
Gem Archer heard that Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs had left Oasis. Soon after, Noel Gallagher, who knew Gem from their time at Creation Records, called him. Noel invited Gem to a studio where Oasis was mixing their album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. Gem asked Noel if Liam Gallagher approved of him joining. Noel replied that it was his band and he would choose who played in it. The other members of Heavy Stereo were happy for Gem to join Oasis.
Gem didn't play on the Giants album. For his first few shows, he was paid like a session musician. His first official appearance was in the music video for "Go Let It Out". In the video, he played lead guitar. His first time playing rhythm guitar for Oasis was at a radio session in Philadelphia.
Even though Gem was officially the rhythm guitarist for Oasis, he did much more. In live shows, he and Noel often switched between playing lead and rhythm guitar. Both Noel and Liam Gallagher praised Gem for his work in the studio. Gem also wrote songs for the band. His first song for Oasis was "Hung in a Bad Place" on the album Heathen Chemistry. This song was even used in a TV commercial in the US.
Gem's role in songwriting grew on Oasis's sixth album, Don't Believe the Truth. He wrote "A Bell Will Ring" and co-wrote "Love Like a Bomb" with Liam Gallagher. He also wrote "To Be Where There's Life" for the 2008 album Dig Out Your Soul. Gem has said it was a bit scary to offer his songs to the band because Noel Gallagher is such a famous songwriter. Gem also sometimes sang backing vocals for Oasis songs. He played piano on "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and harmonica on "Mucky Fingers".
Beady Eye: A New Chapter
In August 2009, Noel Gallagher left Oasis after an argument with his brother Liam. Noel said that a lack of support from Gem and Andy Bell was part of his decision to leave. Soon after, Oasis announced they had split up. However, Gem, Andy Bell, Liam Gallagher, and Oasis's live drummer Chris Sharrock decided to start a new band together called Beady Eye. Noel Gallagher remains friends with Gem and Chris Sharrock, but he hasn't spoken to Liam or Andy Bell since the split.
Gem played guitar, bass, and sang backing vocals on Beady Eye's first album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, which came out in 2011. He also played guitar, keyboards, and sang backing vocals on their second album, BE, released in 2013. On 25 October 2014, Liam Gallagher announced that Beady Eye had broken up.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
In December 2015, Gem Archer performed with Noel Gallagher at an acoustic show. This led to people wondering if he would join Noel's band. In October 2016, Gem joined Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds for a TV performance. In July 2017, it was officially confirmed that Gem had become a permanent member of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. This meant he was back playing music with Noel Gallagher.
Other Music Projects
Besides his main bands, Gem Archer has worked with other artists. He has often collaborated with Paul Weller, playing acoustic guitar on some of Weller's songs. He also went on an acoustic tour in the US with Weller. Gem also played guitar and sang backing vocals at the 2010 NME Awards when Weller received a special award.
He also played guitar on David Holmes' 1997 album Let's Get Killed. Gem also helped Noel Gallagher produce the first album for the band Proud Mary. He also worked with his friend and former bandmate Andy Bell on Andy's solo album, playing drums, bass, and guitar.
Personal Life
On 1 August 2013, Gem Archer had an accident at home and needed to go to the hospital. Because of this, Beady Eye had to cancel their performance at a music festival. He recovered well and was later in stable condition. On 26 November 2022, Gem Archer married Christine Mary Biller in London.
See also
In Spanish: Gem Archer para niños
