Steve Rothery (born 25 November 1959) is the guitarist of the English rock band Marillion. He was born in Brampton, South Yorkshire, England. From the age of six he lived in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
Biography
Rothery began to play the guitar at the age of 15. In 1979, he saw an ad in the music press for a band called Silmarillion that needed a guitarist. He auditioned successfully for the band (19 August 1979). From this point he concentrated more on melody, composition and mood, and less on his technique. Later, Silmarillion shortened its name to Marillion. Rothery is the only member of Marillion's founding lineup who remains in the band to this day. As well as work with Marillion, he started a solo project under the name The Wishing Tree (with Hannah Stobart providing vocals), and released an album called Carnival of Souls. He has a daughter, Jennifer, who attends Aylesbury High School, and a son, Michael, who currently attends Aylesbury Grammar School. :)Fx = xxx
Style
Rothery is regarded by many fans of the band as providing their defining sound - with his signature clean toned, high-sustain Stratocaster soloing. His style of playing is heavily influenced by that of Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. In a 2001 interview with Total Guitar Magazine, Rothery named Jeff Beck and Larry Carlton as his favourite guitarists. Like Gilmour, Rothery is very tonal and is considerate of every note, as opposed to extreme speed and other forms of technical wizardry. When required, Rothery can still pull out all the stops. It has also been said of him that he knows, importantly, 'what not to play'...a case of 'less is more'.
Some of his important personal quotes
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My wife to be, Jo, asked me to explain how I came up with my musical ideas, picking up a nearby guitar I started improvising what later became the "Kayleigh" riff whilst explaining that I tried to combine melody and rhythm. I sometimes wonder if we would still have written "Kayleigh" if she had asked me if there was anything good on the telly instead! |
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We still sell a lot of records. It's just people's perceptions that have changed. Unless you have a single in the charts, people don't know you're around. |
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Some people have already made up their minds about what the band stands for. The only way to get round that is radio play. We've had more airplay than in years, but on digital, so most people can't hear it. |
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The thing about the guitar is that it's such an emotional instrument, and I'm sure that people would much rather hear a guitar if it's played with emotion and feeling than just racing up and down the fret-board. |
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Equipment
- Laney Amplification
- Laney VC50 & TT50 Heads
- Laney 4x12 cabinet
- Groove Tubes Dual 75 power amp
- Groove Tubes Trio valve pre-amp
- Roland Jazz Chorus 120 Amp
- TC Electronic 2290 effects processor
- Ground Control Pro MIDI foot controller
- Lexicon MPX G2 effects processor
- Roland GP16 effects processor
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- Adrena-Linn effects processor
- Analogman distortion pedal
- Rockman sustainer/stereo chorus & delay
- Sound Sculpture switchblade 16 controller
- Alesis quadraverb effects processor
- Ebtech hum eliminator
- Sennheiser wireless system
- Hughes and Kettner Rotosphere
- Jim Dunlop Crybaby Wah
- Ernie Ball volume pedal
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- Ernie Ball super slinky 9-42 strings
- Blade RH4 Classic Stratocaster
- Blade Delta Telecaster
- Blade Texas Standard Stratocaster
- Steinberger Custom made double neck 12/6
- Takamine 12 string acoustic
- Takamine Santa Fe 6 string acoustic
- Squier Stratocaster
- Khaler Pro Tremolo System
- Lindy Fralin Pickups
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Discography
Steve Rothery appears on every Marillion release since their 1982 debut single; see Marillion discography
Guest Appearances
- Jadis - Jadis (1989, production)
- Arrakeen - Patchwork (1990, guitar)
- Rock Against Repatriation - Sailing (1990, guitar)
- Enchant - A Blueprint of the World (1994, production, guitar)
- John Wesley - Under the Red and White Sky (1994, guitar)
- Arena - Crying for Help, The Cry (1994, guitar)
- Mr. So and So - The Overlap (1998, production, guitar)
- John Wesley - The Emperor Falls (1999, guitar)
- Ian Mosley & Ben Castle - Postmankind (2001, guitar)
- The Reasoning - Awakening (2007, guitar)
- Gazpacho - Firebird (2005, guitar)
External links
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Marillion |
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Steve Rothery · Mark Kelly · Pete Trewavas · Ian Mosley · Steve Hogarth
Fish · Mick Pointer · Jonathan Mover · Doug Irvine · Brian Jelliman · Diz Minnitt |
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| Studio albums |
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| Compilations |
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| Live albums |
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| Singles |
"Market Square Heroes" · "He Knows You Know" · "Garden Party" · "Punch and Judy" · "Assassing" · "Kayleigh" · "Lavender" · "Heart of Lothian" · "Lady Nina" · "Incommunicado" · "Sugar Mice" · "Warm Wet Circles" · "Freaks" (Live) · "Hooks in You" · "The Uninvited Guest" · "Easter" · "Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)" · "No One Can" · "Dry Land" · "Sympathy" · "No One Can" (1992) · "The Great Escape" · "The Hollow Man" · "Alone Again in the Lap of Luxury" · "Beautiful" · "Man of a Thousand Faces" · "80 Days" · "These Chains" · "Deserve" · "Between You and Me"/"Map of the World" · "You're Gone" · "Don't Hurt Yourself" · "You're Gone" (Remix) · "See It Like a Baby" · "Thankyou Whoever You Are"/"Most Toys" · "Whatever Is Wrong With You"
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