Steve Wickham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Wickham
Wickham with The Waterboys in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Steve Wickham
Born	Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Genres	Rock, folk, folk rock, country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Violin vocals mandolin keyboards guitar
Associated acts	The Waterboys

Steve Wickham is a talented Irish musician. He was born in Marino, Dublin, but now lives in Sligo. Steve was a founding member of a band called In Tua Nua. He also played the violin on the famous U2 song "Sunday Bloody Sunday".

Steve has also recorded music with other well-known artists. These include Elvis Costello, the Hothouse Flowers, Sinéad O'Connor, and World Party. He is also a long-time member of the band The Waterboys. Steve plays both rock and roll and traditional Irish music. He even created a special way of playing the violin for rock music, which he calls the "fuzz fiddle".

Steve is skilled at playing many instruments. Besides the violin, he plays the mandolin, tin whistle, concertina, saxophone, piano, guitar, and bones. He looks up to musicians like Lou Reed, Van Morrison, Toni Marcus, and Mozart. Mike Scott, a bandmate, has called him "the world's greatest rock fiddle player". The music magazine New Musical Express called him a "fiddling legend."

Steve Wickham's Music Career

How Steve Joined The Waterboys

Mike Scott heard Steve playing on a demo tape. He was so impressed that he invited Steve to join The Waterboys. Steve first played his fiddle on the song "The Pan Within" for their album This Is the Sea. After the album came out, Steve officially joined the band.

In 1986, Steve asked Mike Scott to move The Waterboys to Dublin, Ireland. This move and Steve's musical style changed the band's sound. Their album Fisherman's Blues (1988) became known for its traditional Irish music and traditional Scottish music sound.

Steve's Time with The Waterboys

In 1990, Steve left The Waterboys for a while. He preferred acoustic music, while the band was leaning towards a rock sound. But in 2000, Steve joined The Waterboys again for some concerts in Dublin. Everyone enjoyed it so much that he rejoined the band full-time.

The Waterboys still make music and tour today. Steve was a key member until he left the band again in 2021. While some of their recent albums have a rock sound, Steve's love for acoustic music can be heard in albums like Universal Hall. Steve also often performs with the Sligo Early Music Ensemble.

What is a Fuzz Fiddle?

Steve Wickham has created a unique way to play the violin called the "fuzz fiddle." He got some ideas from another rock fiddler, Warren Ellis, and from grunge music.

Developing the Fuzz Fiddle Sound

Steve first tried to make a distorted rock fiddle sound between 1978 and 1981. He put his fiddle through a guitar distortion pedal. But it caused too much feedback and was hard to control. Later, Steve saw Warren Ellis use a fiddle with a fuzz pedal at a Nick Cave concert. This inspired him to try again.

After trying different setups, Steve found a combination of an amplifier, his fiddle, and a pedal that he liked. This is how the "fuzz-fiddle" was truly born! Steve has used this technique in The Waterboys' song "Is She Conscious?". He also used it for a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Independence Day". In a special tribute to Jimi Hendrix's "The Star-Spangled Banner", Steve even used the fuzz fiddle for a performance of "Amhrán na bhFiann" (the Irish national anthem).

Steve Wickham's Albums

Steve Wickham has played on many albums, both as a band member and a guest musician. His first solo album, Geronimo, came out in 2004. He named the album after his favorite violin.

Solo Albums

• Geronimo (2004)
• Beekeeper (2017)

Albums with The Waterboys

• This Is the Sea (1985)
• Fisherman's Blues (1988)
• Room to Roam (1990)
• The Best of the Waterboys 81–90 (1991)
• The Secret Life of the Waterboys 81–85 (1994)
• The Live Adventures of the Waterboys (1998)
• The Whole of the Moon: the Music of Mike Scott and the Waterboys (1998)
• Too Close to Heaven (2001)
  • also known as Fisherman's Blues, Part 2 (2002) in the United States
• Universal Hall (2003)
• Karma to Burn (2005)
• Book of Lightning (2007)
• An Appointment with Mr Yeats (2011)

Albums as a Featured Musician

• Rafa Bocero:
  • The Fiddler Of Dooney (2019)
• Declan O'Rourke:
  • Since Kyabram (2004)
• Cali:
  • Menteur (2005)
• Elvis Costello:
  • Spike (1989)
• Hothouse Flowers:
  • Home (1990)
• Sinéad O'Connor:
  • The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
  • I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990)
  • Sean-Nós Nua (2002)
• U2:
  • War (1983)
• World Party:
  • Private Revolution (1986)
  • Goodbye Jumbo (1990)

Songs on Geronimo

Here are the songs from Steve Wickham's solo album Geronimo:

• "Lazy Days"
• "Mouth of the Shannon"
• "Fado"
• "The Hunter"
• "One of these Days"
• "A Snow Year"
• "Midnight Boy"
• "Lament for Pearl"
• "The Livestock Polka"
• "Polka Art O Leary"
• "Point to Point"
• "The Eclipse"