Jah Wobble facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jah Wobble
Wobble in 2005
Background information
Birth name	John Joseph Wardle
Born	(1958-08-11) 11 August 1958 (age 66) Stepney, London, England
Genres	Post-punk dub world experimental rock electronic
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Bass guitar vocals keyboards drums
Years active	1978–1984, 1986–present
Labels	30 Hertz Island
Associated acts	Public Image Ltd, The Human Condition, Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart, The Damage Manual, Chinese Dub Orchestra

John Joseph Wardle (born 11 August 1958), known as Jah Wobble, is an English bass guitarist and singer. He became well-known as the first bass player for the band Public Image Ltd (PiL) in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He left the band after they released two albums.

After leaving PiL, he started his own music career. In 2012, he worked again with former PiL guitarist Keith Levene on a project called Metal Box in Dub and an album named Yin & Yang. Since 2013, he has been a regular guest on The Virtual Jukebox part of BBC Radio 5 Live's Up All Night radio show with Dotun Adebayo. His book about his life, Memoirs of a Geezer, was published in 2009.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Growing Up in London

John Joseph Wardle was born in Stepney, East London, England. His father, Harry Eugene Wardle, worked as a postman. His mother, Kathleen Bridget, was a secretary. Wobble grew up with his family in the Clichy Estate in London's East End.

He became good friends with John Lydon (also known as Johnny Rotten) in the 1970s. They met at Kingsway College in London. They were part of a group of four friends called "The Four Johns," which also included John Grey and John Simon Ritchie (who later became Sid Vicious). Jah Wobble got his stage name when Sid Vicious, while a bit tipsy, mumbled Wardle's name. Wobble liked it and kept it because he thought people would remember it easily.

Discovering the Bass Guitar

In his early career, Wobble tried playing the guitar. However, he found that playing the bass guitar felt more natural and connected to his whole body. He was inspired by Bob Marley's band, The Wailers, and their bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett, whom he saw perform in 1975.

Wobble had already played music with John Lydon before Lydon's band, The Sex Pistols, broke up. He had created a simple, repeating bassline that Lydon used to write the song "Public Image".

Musical Career Highlights

Joining Public Image Ltd (PiL)

After The Sex Pistols broke up, John Lydon asked Wobble to form a new band. Both of them enjoyed many different types of music, especially reggae and world music. The band started practicing in May 1978. In July, Lydon named the band Public Image (PiL), taking the name from a book called The Public Image.

Wobble's bass playing style was heavily influenced by dub music. This style has remained a key part of his music ever since. PiL released their first song, "Public Image," in October 1978. It reached number 9 on the UK music charts and was also popular in the US. Wobble also helped write and played bass and drums on PiL's second album, Metal Box, which came out in 1979.

Wobble felt that the band's creative atmosphere was not very exciting, and it stopped him from trying new artistic ideas. Because of these disagreements, he left PiL in late 1980.

Starting a Solo Journey

Soon after leaving PiL, Wobble formed a band called The Human Condition. He worked with guitarist Dave "Animal" Maltby and PiL's first drummer, Jim Walker. The Human Condition toured the UK, Europe, and the US in 1981.

Wobble also worked with members of the band Can, Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit. They collaborated on Czukay's solo projects and on an album called Full Circle, released in 1984. In 1983, Wobble was also featured on an album called Snake Charmer with The Edge from U2, Czukay, Liebezeit, and producer François Kevorkian.

Forming Invaders of the Heart

Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart band was formed in 1982. The first members included Ollie Marland on keyboards, Annie Whitehead on trombone, Neville Murray on percussion, and a drummer named Cliff. By 1983, Lee Partis became the drummer. Trumpeter Harry Beckett and pedal steel player B. J. Cole often played with the group.

After taking a break from music and working other jobs, Wobble reformed The Invaders of the Heart in 1987. His friend and former bandmate, Neville Murray, encouraged him to do so. In 1989, Wobble went to New York City to get back into the music business. He secured a record deal with a small European label. The live album, Without Judgement, was recorded in the Netherlands and released in November 1989.

Collaborations and Success

After the success of Without Judgement, Wobble worked with many musicians, including Brian Eno. His interest in world music helped make the genre more popular. Wobble reached a high point in his career with the 1991 album Rising Above Bedlam. This album included his first top-40 hit song, "Visions of You," which featured Sinéad O'Connor.

Jah Wobble's 1994 album Take Me to God was also very successful. It was influenced by world music and featured artists from different cultures, such as Baaba Maal, Dolores O'Riordan, and Chaka Demus.

Later Career and New Projects

Jah Wobble has released many recordings since the late 1970s, especially from the mid-1990s until now. He runs his own record label, 30 Hertz Records. He regularly tours the UK and Europe with his current band, Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart. His music covers many styles, including ambient music and dance music. In 2003, he released new versions of traditional English folk songs.

Wobble was also part of a music group called The Damage Manual, which formed in 2000. He played bass alongside drummer Martin Atkins, guitarist Geordie Walker, and singer Chris Connelly. He appeared on their first album and an EP, but later left the group.

He also worked with his wife, Zi Lan Liao, who plays the Chinese guzheng. Their collaboration was called Chinese Dub. In 2009, Jah Wobble and the Chinese Dub Orchestra won an award for their album Chinese Dub at the Songlines Music Awards.

In September 2009, John Lydon reformed PiL for some concerts. Although Lydon invited him, Jah Wobble did not join the new line-up. He felt the payment offered was not enough.

In 2011, Wobble worked with Julie Campbell, known as Warp Records artist LoneLady, on a project called Psychic Life. Their first album, Psychic Life, was released in November 2011. Keith Levene also contributed to three songs on the album.

In early 2012, Wobble and Levene played shows in UK clubs as Metal Box in Dub. They also performed at the Fuji Rock festival in Japan in July 2012. This was followed by an album called Yin & Yang, released in November 2012.

Wobble has also worked with the British ambient group Marconi Union. Their album, Anomic, was released in June 2013. In October 2013, 30 Hertz Records released Odds & Sods & Epilogues, a book of Jah Wobble's poetry that came with a CD.

In 2015, Cherry Red Records released Redux, a six-CD collection of Wobble's music from nearly four decades. It included new songs like "Merry Go Round" and "Let's Go Psycho." In May 2015, Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart started a long UK tour. They recorded the album The Usual Suspects, which was released in 2017.

Other Activities

Jah Wobble studied part-time for four years at Birkbeck, University of London. He graduated in 2000 with a good degree in humanities.

His autobiography, Memoirs of a Geezer: Music, Life, Mayhem, was released in September 2009. It was well-received by critics. He also sometimes writes book reviews for The Independent newspaper.

Personal Life

Wobble has four children. One of his children is music producer Natalie Wardle, from his first marriage. He has two sons with his second wife, Zi Lan Liao, who is a Chinese-born guzheng player and harpist. Wobble was raised Roman Catholic but later became a Buddhist.

List of Collaborators

• Jah Wobble has worked with many artists, including:
• • Justin Adams
  • African Head Charge
  • Afro Celt Sound System
  • Natacha Atlas
  • Najma Akhtar
  • Shahin Badar
  • Ginger Baker
  • Harry Beckett
  • Bel Canto
  • Clive Bell
  • Björk
  • Bomb the Bass
  • Ken Boothe
  • Julie Campbell
  • Liz Carter
  • Gary Clail
  • Chris Cookson
  • Holger Czukay
  • The Damage Manual
  • Chaka Demus
  • Anneli Drecker
  • Ronnie Drew
  • The Edge
  • Polly Eltes
  • Brian Eno
  • Gavin Friday
  • Paul Gilroy
  • David Harrow
  • Graham Haynes
  • Ozark Henry
  • Joji Hirota
  • David Holmes
  • Joolz
  • François Kevorkian
  • Keiko Kitamura
  • Bill Laswell
  • Zi Lan Liao
  • Jaki Liebezeit
  • Clea Llewellyn
  • Mark Lusardi
  • Baaba Maal
  • Madredeus
  • Dave (Animal) Maltby
  • Ben Mandelson
  • Marconi Union
  • Ollie Marland
  • Massive Attack
  • Nils Petter Molvær
  • Neville Murray
  • Shara Nelson
  • Dolores O'Riordan
  • Sinéad O'Connor
  • One Dove
  • Oui 3
  • The Orb
  • Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra
  • Evan Parker
  • Primal Scream
  • Jean Pierre Rasle
  • Julianne Regan
  • John Reynolds
  • Saffron (singer)
  • Mark Sanders
  • Pharoah Sanders
  • Michel Schoots (Magic Stick)
  • The Shamen
  • Adrian Sherwood
  • Bob Shipton
  • Abdel Ali Slimani
  • Suggs
  • Robin Thompson
  • Spikey Tee
  • Winston Tong
  • Yulduz Usmanova
  • Holly Valance
  • Cat von Trapp
  • Geordie Walker
  • Andrew Weatherall
  • Annie Whitehead
  • Brett Wickens
  • Leslie Winer
  • Bernie Worrell

Discography

Live and Compilation Albums

• 30 Hertz: A Collection of Diverse Works from a Creative Genius (2000)
• Largely Live in Hartlepool & Manchester (with Deep Space) (2001)
• The Early Years (2001)
• Solaris: Live in Concert (2002)
• Live in Leuven (with Jaki Liebezeit & Philip Jeck) (2004)
• I Could Have Been a Contender (2004)
• Redux Anthology 1978 - 2015 (2015)
• Dark Luminosity (2023)

Singles and EPs