Tim Wheeler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim Wheeler
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Wheeler in Singapore in 2024
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| Birth name | Timothy James Arthur Wheeler |
| Born | 4 January 1977 Downpatrick, Northern Ireland |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
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Timothy James Arthur Wheeler, born on January 4, 1977, is a talented singer, songwriter, and musician from Northern Ireland. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band Ash. Tim has written many of Ash's most famous songs. These include "Oh Yeah", "Shining Light", "Girl from Mars", "Kung Fu", and "Goldfinger". In November 2014, he released his first solo album, Lost Domain.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Tim Wheeler was born in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. He went to Down High School. There, he met his future bandmates, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray. They would later form the band Ash together.
Music Career Highlights
Ash's Success
Tim Wheeler is a key part of Ash's success. In 2001, he won a special award called the Ivor Novello Award. He received it for "Best Contemporary Pop Song" for Ash's hit song "Shining Light".
Working with Other Artists
Tim has also worked with many other musicians. In 1999, he played guitar and sang backing vocals on The Rentals' album Seven More Minutes. He also sang backing vocals on Bob Geldof's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 2004. This song was for the Band Aid 20 charity project. He also worked with Arthur Baker on a song called "Glow".
In 2011, Tim joined a special TV program called The JD Set. He worked with artists like Emmy The Great and The Crookes. They covered songs by the band Pixies and performed them live.
Tim has also created music for movies and TV shows. His work includes the films Ashes (2012) and Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015). He also worked on the TV series Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (2014).
Collaborating with Emmy the Great
Tim Wheeler has often worked with Emma-Lee Moss, known as Emmy The Great. They have performed Ash songs together. In 2011, Tim, Emma, and Euan Hinshelwood covered a song called "Washington Parks". This cover helped raise awareness for multiple sclerosis. They also played acoustic sets of their own songs and covers at Willowstone Festival.
In November 2011, Tim and Emmy released a Christmas album together. It was called This Is Christmas.
His Solo Album: Lost Domain
In September 2014, Tim Wheeler announced his first solo album, Lost Domain. This album was very personal. It was his way of dealing with the loss of his father, George, who passed away from dementia. The album was released on November 3, 2014. A part of the money from the album sales goes to The Alzheimer's Society. This is a charity Tim has supported since his father's death in 2011.
Lost Domain tells the story of his father's illness and its impact on Tim. He explained that he wanted to do something to fight Alzheimer's. He had already helped organize a concert in 2011 with Ash and other bands to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society.
Tim recorded Lost Domain in Ash's studio in New York. He played most of the instruments himself. Some musician friends also helped out. These included Andy Burrows (from Razorlight) and Fred Aspelin (from Alberta Cross) on drums. Ilan Eshkeri and Oliver Kraus helped with string and brass music. Leanne Macomber (from Ejecta and Neon Indian) sang, and Wenzl McGowen played saxophone. The album even includes a sample of his father playing the piano on the song "Medicine".
Tim played his first solo concerts to support the album in November 2014. He performed in London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Belfast. He also opened for Andy Burrows in Amsterdam and Brussels.
Musical Style and Gear
Tim's Guitars and Amps
Tim Wheeler is often seen playing a Gibson Flying V guitar. He has used it live since 1998. His Flying V has a special pickup. It was even changed once to shoot flames, like a flamethrower! Before this, Tim mostly used different Gibson Les Paul guitars. He also plays a Gibson SG and a Gretsch Silver Jet. For heavier songs, he has used a Fender Telecaster. In 2011, he bought a Gretsch 1966 Sal Fabrio for studio work. He also uses a Gibson Custom KS-336 guitar for some songs. On the Kablammo! tour, he used an Elliot Easton signature Gibson Firebird.
For his sound, Tim mainly uses a Mesa Boogie Road King Series II amplifier. He also sometimes uses a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier amplifier. He has many effects pedals that change his guitar's sound. These include pedals like the Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer and a Dunlop Crybaby Wah pedal. He also uses a Death By Audio Fuzz War and a Carl Martin HeadRoom Reverb.
The Flaming Flying V guitar that Tim used on Ash's Meltdown tour is now on display. You can see it at the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast. This center celebrates the music of Northern Ireland. It was named after Ash's song "Oh Yeah".
Songwriting Process
Tim Wheeler has talked about his songwriting. He said that if Ash hadn't toured so much, he would have written more songs. He explained that writing needs to be a relaxing process. He needs peace and quiet to create new music. When the band takes a break, he can write a song almost every day.
Personal Life
Tim Wheeler is a big fan of Arsenal Football Club. He became a fan when he lived in Highbury for nine years. Since 2018, he has been dating French model and art director Julia Restoin Roitfeld. In September 2021, they shared that they were expecting a baby. Their son, George, was born in February 2022.
In 2016, The Open University gave Tim an honorary Doctor of the university title. They recognized his "exceptional contribution to education and culture."
Discography
Studio albums
- This Is Christmas (with Emmy the Great; 2011)
- Lost Domain (2014)
