Norman Watt-Roy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Norman Watt-Roy |
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Watt-Roy performing at The Water Rats, 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Norman Joseph Watt-Roy |
| Born | 15 February 1951 Bombay, India |
| Origin | Harlow, Essex, England |
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| Years active | 1967–present |
| Labels | Stiff |
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Norman Joseph Watt-Roy, born on February 15, 1951, is a talented English musician. He is also known as a composer and arranger. Norman Watt-Roy has been making music for over 40 years!
He became famous in the late 1970s. This was during the punk and new wave music eras. He was the bass player for Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Before that, he was part of a band called the Greatest Show on Earth. Besides his work with the Blockheads, Watt-Roy has played for many other artists. He has also released his own solo album.
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Norman Watt-Roy's Early Life
Norman Joseph Watt-Roy was born on February 15, 1951. He was born in Bombay, India. His family was Anglo-Indian. In November 1954, his family moved to England. This included Norman, his older brother Garth, and his sister.
They settled in Highbury, North London. Norman went to St. Joan of Arc Primary School there. When Norman was 8, his family moved to Harlow, Essex. At this age, he learned some guitar chords from his father. He played in high school bands with his brother Garth. Garth started playing lead guitar in 1961. Norman left high school at 15. He briefly studied art at Harlow Technical College. Then he moved back to London.
Norman Watt-Roy's First Bands
In early 1967, Norman Watt-Roy started a band called the Living Daylights. He formed it with his brother Garth. They released a song called "Let's Live for Today." It came out in April 1967. They played regular shows in places like the Angel Blues Rooms in Edmonton, London.
In 1968, Norman and Garth formed a nine-person soul band. They toured U.S. military bases in Germany. They played with American soul singers like Sonny Burke. They also had a summer show at the Maddocks Club in Spain.
The Greatest Show on Earth
This band later became known as the Greatest Show on Earth. By 1969, they signed a recording contract with Harvest. In February 1970, they released "Real Cool World." This song was a hit in Europe. It reached number one in Switzerland.
The band released their first album, Horizons. Then came a second album, The Going's Easy. Both were released in 1970. They also had another song called "Tell the Story." In 1970, Garth joined the progressive rock and hard rock band Fuzzy Duck.
Joining Glencoe
In 1972, Watt-Roy joined a band called Glencoe. There, he met guitarist John Turnbull. This band released two albums. They were called Glencoe and The Spirit of Glencoe. They also released three songs and recorded four radio sessions. After Glencoe broke up, Watt-Roy, Turnbull, and keyboardist Mick Gallagher formed a new band. With drummer Charlie Charles, they became Loving Awareness.
Ian Dury and the Blockheads
The Loving Awareness band later joined up with Ian Dury and Chaz Jankel. They became known as Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Their managers were Andrew King and Peter Jenner. These were the original managers of Pink Floyd.
Ian Dury and the Blockheads quickly became a top live band. They were famous in the new wave music scene. They released two albums and several songs. In 1979, their song "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" became number one in the UK.
In 1980, Wilko Johnson joined the band for a while. He replaced Jankel. This led to a strong connection between Johnson and Watt-Roy. By 1985, Watt-Roy became a regular member of Johnson's own band.
Norman Watt-Roy's Other Music Work
During the 1970s and 1980s, Watt-Roy worked as a session musician. This means he played bass on other artists' albums. He played on albums like Nick Lowe's Jesus of Cool. He also played on Rachel Sweet's Fool Around. He was on Jona Lewie's song "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties".
He also played on the Selecter's 1981 album Celebrate the Bullet. Watt-Roy also played on the Clash's Sandinista! album. Fellow Blockhead Mick Gallagher played keyboards on it. Watt-Roy played on the Sandinista! songs recorded in New York City. These included "The Magnificent Seven" and "Hitsville UK". The Clash's drummer, Topper Headon, said Watt-Roy played bass on "Rock the Casbah". This song was on the album Combat Rock.
In 1983, Watt-Roy played bass for the Frankie Goes to Hollywood song "Relax". Other Blockheads like John Turnbull, Mick Gallagher, and Charlie Charles were also in this session. However, this version was not used for the final song. In 1984, he worked with Gallagher again. They played on Wreckless Eric's Captains of Industry's 1985 album A Roomful of Monkeys.
In 1984, he played bass on all songs for the Who's Roger Daltrey's solo album, Parting Should Be Painless. This album had one small hit song, "Walking in My Sleep". Watt-Roy and Ian Dury appeared in its music video.
In 2001, Watt-Roy recorded with members of Madness. He also joined them for live shows sometimes. He worked with a former producer of Depeche Mode. This producer recorded him jamming with drummer Steve Monti. Since then, he has played with Nick Cave for Cave's solo shows. He also continued as the bass player for Wilko Johnson.
Watt-Roy played on Viv Albertine's album The Vermillion Border in 2012. In 2013, he released his own solo album, Faith & Grace. Guests on this album included former Blockheads drummer Dylan Howe. In 2024, Watt-Roy has been playing regularly with the James Oliver Band.
Discography
The Greatest Show on Earth
- Horizons (1970)
- The Going's Easy (1970)
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1975)
The Blockheads
- Do It Yourself (1979)
- Laughter (1980)
- Live! Warts 'n' Audience (1990)
- The Bus Driver's Prayer and other Stories (1994)
- Mr. Love Pants (1998)
- Straight from the Desk (2001)
- Ten More Turnips from the Tip (2002)
- Where's the Party? (2004)
- 30 – Live at The Electric Ballroom (2008)
- Staring Down the Barrel (2009)
- Same Horse Different Jockey (2013)
- Beyond the Call of Dury (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Norman Watt-Roy para niños
