Timothy James Arthur Wheeler (born 4 January 1977) is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician from Northern Ireland. He is the lead vocalist and guitarist of the alternative rock band Ash. He has written nearly all of Ash's notable works, such as "Oh Yeah", "Shining Light", "Girl from Mars", "Kung Fu", and "Goldfinger". In November 2014, he released his debut solo album Lost Domain.[1]
Tim Wheeler | |
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 Wheeler in Singapore in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Timothy James Arthur Wheeler |
| Born | 4 January 1977 Downpatrick, Northern Ireland |
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| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | ash-official.com |
Early life
editTimothy James Arthur Wheeler[2] was born in Downpatrick on 4 January 1977,[3] the son of Rosalind E. M. (née Dickson), the daughter of a Northern Bank manager, and George Bomfforde Wheeler (1932–2011), a solicitor and later judge.[4][5] He is a great-great-grandson of Rev. George Bomfforde Wheeler, who was editor of The Irish Times from 1859 to 1877.[4][6][7] He attended Down High School with his fellow band members Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray.
Music career
editAsh
editWheeler won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Pop Song in 2001 for "Shining Light".[8]
Other work
editIn 1999, Wheeler contributed guitar and backing vocals on The Rentals' album Seven More Minutes. He has also contributed backing vocals Bob Geldof's Band Aid 20 2004 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?"[9] and on Arthur Baker's song, "Glow".[10]
As part of Channel 4's program The JD Set, Wheeler worked with Emmy The Great, The Crookes, And So I Watch You From Afar, and Ma Mentor, joining each band in covering songs by Pixies, and then performing at London's XOYO on 24 March 2011.[11]
Wheeler has also been involved with film and TV soundtrack work, most notably Ashes (2012), Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (2014)[12] and the Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015).[13]
Emmy the Great
editWheeler has collaborated frequently in recent years with Emma-Lee Moss, AKA Emmy The Great, the duo have performed Ash track "Tracers" on several occasions, and in 2011 Tim, Emma and Euan Hinshelwood covered Robert Manning's song "Washington Parks", the cover was released as part of a collection of covers to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis.[14][15] The pair acoustically performed a set of Ash and Emmy The Great songs, as well as some covers at Willowstone Festival on 1 July 2011.[16]
In November 2011 the pair released a Christmas album, entitled This Is Christmas (Infectious, 2011).[17]
Lost Domain
editIn September 2014, Wheeler announced the release of his first solo album, Lost Domain, a heartfelt and emotional response to the loss of his father George to dementia. Lost Domain was released on Sony Red on 3 November 2014, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to The Alzheimer's Society, a charity Wheeler has worked closely with since his father's death in 2011.[1]
Lost Domain is an album in which Wheeler battles to come to terms with his loss, charting his father's rapid decline into illness, his death and the tumultuous effect that it had on his life over the course of 11 songs. As Wheeler explains: “After losing my father to dementia, I felt the need to personally do something to fight Alzheimer’s. My friend Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy's father also has Alzheimer's so we put on a concert in Belfast in November 2011 with The Divine Comedy, The Undertones and Ash to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer's Society. Since then I've had close links with The Alzheimer's Society and this year was involved with the Dementia Friends campaign. I'm proud to continue to support them and raise more awareness with the album Lost Domain."[18]
Recorded in Ash's New York studio, Wheeler played almost everything himself, roping in musician friends when he needed a hand: Andy Burrows formerly of Razorlight and Fred Aspelin (Alberta Cross) each played some drums; Ilan Eshkeri and Oliver Kraus helped with the string and brass arrangements performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra; Leanne Macomber from Ejecta and Neon Indian sang; and Moon Hooch's Wenzl McGowen played saxophone.[19] There is even a sample of Wheeler's father's piano playing on the album's epic centerpiece "Medicine".[20]
The album track "The First Sign of Spring" is available to listen to on YouTube now.[21]
Wheeler announced his first solo dates to support the release of the album on 4–7 November. He played Bush Hall – London, Night & Day- Manchester, ABC2 – Glasgow and Oh Yeah Centre – Belfast.[22] In addition, he supported Andy Burrows in Amsterdam and Brussels.
Musical style
editEquipment
editWheeler is perhaps most recognised for using a Gibson Flying V, which he has frequently used live since 1998 onwards. His Flying V has a 1950s Zebra Coil PAF pickup, and has also been modified in the past for pyrotechnics; the Flaming Flying V acts as a flamethrower, firing from between the V part of the guitar body.[23][24] Prior to this, Wheeler mainly used various Gibson Les Paul models. He also plays a Gibson SG and Gretsch Silver Jet, which was frequently used both live and in the studio since Ash's album Twilight of the Innocents. For heavier tracks such as "The Dead Disciples", Wheeler has used a Fender Telecaster. In 2011, he purchased a Gretsch 1966 Sal Fabrio, for work in the studio and rehearsals. He also uses a Gibson Custom Inspired By Kiefer Sutherland Semi-Hollow KS-336 guitar on a number of tracks live, including songs such as "Walking Barefoot". He used an Elliot Easton signature model Gibson Firebird on a number of songs during the Kablammo! tour.
Wheeler predominately uses a Mesa Boogie Road King Series II amplifier, and also sometimes uses a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier amplifier. He uses numerous effects pedals which are housed in a rack and controlled via MIDI. His effects pedals include; an Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer, a Dunlop Crybaby 95Q Wah pedal, a Death By Audio Fuzz War, a Carl Martin HeadRoom Reverb, an Electro-Harmonix Poly Chorus, a Morpheus Droptune, a Catalinbread Karma Suture Fuzz, a Mesa Boogie Tone Burst, a Coloursound Tonebender, a Moog Moogerfooger Phaser, an ADA Flanger pedal, and a Nocto Loco octave pedal which replaced a Korg synthesiser in his effects rack. Wheeler controls his pedals in his effects rack using a Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro MIDI foot controller.
The Flying V guitar that Wheeler set on fire on the Ash Meltdown tour is now on display at the Oh Yeah centre in Belfast.[25] The Oh Yeah centre is dedicated to the music of Northern Ireland and was named after the song "Oh Yeah" by Ash.[8]
Lyrical themes and writing
editWith the release of the band's fifth studio record Twilight of the Innocents, in 2007, Wheeler spoke of how if the group hadn't toured so heavily they would have been more prolific, that: "It would have been cool to have twice as many songs by now. I definitely could have done it, but if I go on tour I have to stop writing. Writing needs to be a relaxing process and you need peace and quiet and the right stuff around you. Whenever we take a break I could write a song every day, pretty much."[26]
Personal life
editWheeler is an Arsenal FC fan, which began during his nine-year stint living in Highbury.[27] He has been dating French model and art director Julia Restoin Roitfeld since 2018. On September 9, 2021, they announced via Instagram that they were expecting a baby together.[28] In February 2022, they announced the birth of their son George.[29]
In 2016 the Open University awarded Wheeler an honorary Doctor of the university, citing his "exceptional contribution to education and culture".[30]
Discography
editStudio albums
- This Is Christmas (with Emmy the Great; 2011)
- Lost Domain (2014)
References
edit- ^ a b Wright, Lisa (1 September 2014). "Ash's Tim Wheeler announces debut solo album 'Lost Domain' – hear first song now". NME. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Works written by: Wheeler, Timothy James Arthur". ASCAP. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- ^ "About the Band". Walking-Barefoot.com. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Judge was descendant of 'Irish Times' editor and father of Ash lead singer". The Irish Times. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Obituary: George Bomfforde Wheeler (1932–2011)" (PDF). Trinity College Association of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ The Illustrated London News, 10 November 1877, p. 462
- ^ timwheeler1977 (4 September 2015). "My ancestor GBW, quite a distinguished gent". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Music Hall of Fame". Discover Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ "McCartney confirms Band Aid role". BBC News. 5 November 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Arthur Baker feat. Tim Wheeler – Glow (Underwater)". MusicOMH. 20 March 2006. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Rock and Pop: It's back! The JD Set...Tim Wheeler and friends pay tribute to the Boston indie Godheads Pixies. XOYO, 24 March". Islington Tribune. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Ilan Eshkeri & Tim Wheeler Scoring 'Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond'". Film Music Reporter. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "'Feels Like Summer' Song Available to Download Now!". ShaunTheSheep.com. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Tim Wheeler and Emmy the Great Music for MRI Project Digital Release". Ash-Official.com. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "'Washington Parks' Project for MS Society". EmmyTheGreat.com. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Tim Wheeler & Emmy the Great to Play Willowstone Festival". Ash-Official.com. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Tim Wheeler & Emmy The Great release 'This Is Christmas' today". Music-News.com. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Debut Solo Album – Lost Domain Released on Sony Red on November 3rd 2014". LostDomainAlbum.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ "Ash Singer Tim Wheeler Announces Debut Solo Album Lost Domain". HMV. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ "Debut Album Pre-order 'Lost Domain' by Tim Wheeler: Signed albums, bonus content & exclusive merchandise". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ "Tim Wheeler – First Sign of Spring". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ "Tim Wheeler Announces Solo UK Dates for November Around His Debut Solo Album". Trust Management. 3 September 2014. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ "Ash frontman presents iconic Flying V to the Belfast Music exhibition". BelfastMusic.org. 7 December 2009. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Steal Their Sound: Tim Wheeler (Ash)". MusicRadar.com. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Tim Wheeler Donates his Golden Guitar". CultureNorthernIreland.org. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ Collins, Robert (23 September 2007). "The Mysterious Mr Wheeler: An Interview with Ash". PopMatters. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Parry, Sian; Mannion, Damian (18 November 2010). "Interview: Arsenal fan Tim Wheeler from Ash on disliking his ranga beard and his hopes for the Gunners this season". Talksport. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Model Julia Restoin Roitfeld Is Pregnant with Second Child: 'Our Hearts Are Full'". People.com. 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Julia Restoin Roitfeld Welcomes Second Baby: 'Thank You for Choosing Us'". People.com. 26 February 2022.
- ^ Doyle, Simon. "Ash's Tim Wheeler honoured by The Open University". The Irish News. Retrieved 15 December 2020.