Bernard Butler

Bernard Butler (born Bernard Joseph Butler, 1 May 1970, Stamford Hill, North London, England) is an English musician and record producer.

Career

He first achieved fame in 1992 as the guitarist with Suede, forging a songwriting partnership with Brett Anderson, at the time an instant phenomenon in UK pop music. He co-wrote and played guitars on every track until 1994, when he left Suede leaving behind the Mercury Music Prize winning debut Suede, as well as the acclaimed follow-up Dog Man Star.

In 1994 Butler formed the duo McAlmont and Butler with David McAlmont. They released two singles, "Yes" and "You Do". A compilation album, The Sound of McAlmont and Butler, was released after the split. He went on to release two solo albums under his own name, People Move On and Friends and Lovers on Creation Records yielding the hit single "Stay" In 2001 Butler teamed up with McAlmont for a second McAlmont and Butler album, Bring it Back, touring the UK with two singles, "Falling" and "Bring it Back".

In 2004 Butler healed his rift with former Suede singer Brett Anderson, forming a new band, The Tears. The Tears released their highly anticipated debut LP, Here Come The Tears, produced by Butler, in June 2005. Singles include "Refugees", which reached #9 in the UK Singles Chart, and "Lovers".

In 2005 He was introduced to Welsh singer Duffy contributing to her 5 million selling debut Rockferry which has been nominated for 3 Grammy Awards. Butler contributed the title track as well as "Syrup & Honey" which was used in a worldwide Nivea ad campaign, produced "Please Stay" for "Telstar - The Movie" and co wrote "Smoke Without Fire " , to be used in the 2009 film "An Education". They also produced a version of Wings "Live & Let Die" for the 2009 Warchild album at Sir Paul McCartney's request. In 2009 Butler has produced the music for the Diet Coke TV advert featuring Duffy, as well as a cover of the "Stay With Me Baby" for the Richard Curtis movie "The Boat That Rocked". The pair continue to collaborate.

He has played on and/or produced records by Aimee Mann, Edwyn Collins, Neneh Cherry, Tim Booth (of James), Duffy, Eddi Reader, Hopper, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch, The Libertines, Heather Nova, Mark Owen, The Veils, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Cribs, Pretenders, The On-Off's, 1990s, The Mescalitas, Cut Off Your Hands, Cajun Dance Party, The View, Arkitekt, Sons and Daughters, Black Kids, Tricky and Sharleen Spiteri. He created the soundtrack to the 1997 film The James Gang and played on the soundtrack of Velvet Goldmine, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. He has played live with The Cranberries, Sparks, Paul Weller, Teenage Fanclub, Manic Street Preachers, Bert Jansch and Duke Special.

Butler names former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as his major inspiration. He is often seen performing with a 1961 cherry red Gibson ES-355 TD SV (Stereo Varitone) with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.

Butler is managed by Rough Trade's Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee.

Butler won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards, Producer Of The Year at the 2008 Music Managers Forum Awards, and has been nominated for Best Producer at the 2009 Music Week Awards.

In 2009 Bernard will be co-writing/producing/playing on tracks by The Veils, Tommy Reilly, Jonathan Jeremiah, Duffy, Kate Jackson, Catherine A.D. and Kate Nash.

Suede discography

1993 - Suede - Suede (Mercury Music Prize winner)
singles: "The Drowners", "Metal Mickey", "Animal Nitrate", "So Young"
1994 - Suede - "Stay Together" (Non-album single)
1994 - Suede - Dog Man Star
singles: "We are the Pigs", "The Wild Ones", "New Generation"
1997 - Suede - Sci-Fi Lullabies
(collection of Suede B-sides)

Solo discography

1998 - Bernard Butler - People Move On
singles: "Stay", "Not Alone", "A Change of Heart"
1999 - Bernard Butler - Friends and Lovers
singles: "Friends and Lovers", "You Must Go On"

McAlmont and Butler discography

1995 - McAlmont and Butler - The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
singles: "Yes", "You Do"
2002 - McAlmont and Butler - Bring It Back
singles: "Falling", "Bring it Back"
2006 - McAlmont and Butler
single: "Speed"

The Tears discography

2005 - The Tears - Here Come The Tears
singles: "Refugees", "Lovers"

Collaborator/Producer discography

Aimee Mann - I'm With Stupid (1995)
Neneh Cherry - Man (1996)
Booth and the Bad Angel - Booth And The Bad Angel (1996)
Bernard Butler & Edwyn Collins - "Message For Jojo" (2001) , "I Hear A New World" (1995)
Bert Jansch - Crimson Moon (2000) and Edge of a Dream (2002)
Heather Nova - South (2001)
The Libertines - "What a Waster" (2002), "Don't Look Back Into The Sun" (2003)
Mark Owen - "Four Minute Warning" (2003), co-wrote b-side "Jay Walker"
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Shoot from the Hip (2003)
The Veils - The Runaway Found (2003) , "Sun Gangs" (2009)
The Cribs - "You're Gonna Lose Us" (2005)
1990s - Cookies (2007), Kicks (2009)
Sharleen Spiteri - Melody (2008)
Sons And Daughters - This Gift (2008)
Cajun Dance Party - The Colourful Life (2008)
Duffy - Rockferry (2008)
Black Kids - Partie Traumatic (2008)
Tricky - Knowle West Boy (2008)
Duke Special - I Never Thought This Day Would Come (2008)
Cut Off Your Hands - You And I (2008)
Findlay Brown - Love Will Find You (2009)
Tommy Reilly - Words On The Floor (2009)
Kate Jackson - Untitled First Album (2009/10)
Kate Nash - Untitled Second Album (2010)
Awards and achievements
Preceded by

not awarded
BRIT Award Producer's Award


2009
Succeeded by

incumbent