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 an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician from Northern Ireland. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative rock band Ash. Tim has written almost all of Ash's famous songs, including "Oh Yeah", "Shining Light", "Girl from Mars", "Kung Fu", and "Goldfinger". In November 2014, he released his first solo album, Lost Domain.
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Tim Wheeler's Early Life
Timothy James Arthur Wheeler was born in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, on January 4, 1977. He went to Down High School with his future bandmates, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray.
Tim Wheeler's Music Career
Tim Wheeler has had a successful career both with his band Ash and through other projects. He is known for his songwriting and musical talent.
Ash: The Band's Journey
Tim Wheeler won an Ivor Novello Award in 2001 for "Shining Light". This award is very important for songwriters in the United Kingdom.
Other Music Projects
Tim has worked with many other musicians. In 1999, he played guitar and sang backup on The Rentals' album Seven More Minutes. He also sang backup on Bob Geldof's Band Aid 20 song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 2004.
In 2011, Tim joined a special project for Channel 4's 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. Some of 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, also known as Emmy The Great. They have performed Ash songs together, like "Tracers". In 2011, they covered "Washington Parks" by Robert Manning to help raise awareness for multiple sclerosis.
In November 2011, Tim and Emmy released a Christmas album together called This Is Christmas.
Lost Domain: A Solo Album
In September 2014, Tim Wheeler announced his first solo album, Lost Domain. This album was a very personal project for him. He wrote it to express his feelings after his father passed away from dementia.
Lost Domain was released on November 3, 2014. A part of the money from the album sales was given to The Alzheimer's Society. This charity helps people with Alzheimer's disease and their families. Tim has worked closely with them since his father's death in 2011.
Tim explained that he wanted to do something to fight Alzheimer's. He said that after losing his father, he felt a strong need to help. He even organized a concert in Belfast with other bands to raise money and awareness for the Alzheimer's Society.
Tim recorded Lost Domain in Ash's studio in New York. He played most of the instruments himself. He also had some musician friends help him, like Andy Burrows on drums and Leanne Macomber on vocals. The album even includes a sample of his father playing the piano on the song "Medicine".
To support the album, Tim played his first solo concerts in November 2014. He performed in London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Belfast.
Tim Wheeler's Musical Style and Gear
Tim Wheeler is known for his unique guitar playing and the equipment he uses.
Instruments and Gear
Tim is often seen playing a Gibson Flying V guitar. He has used this guitar live since 1998. His Flying V has a special pickup and has even been changed to shoot flames! Before this, he mostly used different Gibson Les Paul guitars.
He also plays a Gibson SG and a Gretsch Silver Jet guitar. For heavier songs, he sometimes uses a Fender Telecaster. In 2011, he bought a Gretsch 1966 Sal Fabrio for studio work and rehearsals. He also uses a Gibson Custom KS-336 guitar for some songs.
For his sound, Tim mainly uses a Mesa Boogie Road King Series II amplifier. He also uses many effects pedals to change his guitar sound. These pedals include an Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer and a Dunlop Crybaby Wah pedal.
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 centre celebrates the music of Northern Ireland. It was even named after Ash's song "Oh Yeah".
Songwriting Process
When Ash released their fifth album, Twilight of the Innocents, in 2007, Tim talked about his songwriting. He said that if the band hadn't toured so much, they would have written more songs. He explained that writing needs to be a calm process. He said he could write a new song almost every day when he has a break from touring.
Tim Wheeler's Personal Life
Tim Wheeler is a big fan of Arsenal FC. 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 Wheeler an honorary Doctor of the university. They gave him this award for his "exceptional contribution to education and culture".
Discography
Studio albums
- This Is Christmas (with Emmy the Great; 2011)
- Lost Domain (2014)
Images for kids
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Wheeler in Singapore in 2024
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Tim Wheeler in 1999
