Simon Wright (musician)

For other people named Simon Wright, see Simon Wright (disambiguation).
Simon Wright

Wright with AC/DC in 1988
Background information
Born (1963-06-19) 19 June 1963
Oldham, Lancashire, England
Genres Hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums
Years active 1979–present
Labels EMI
Associated acts

Simon Wright (born 19 June 1963) is an English drummer best known for his work with rock n' roll bands AC/DC and Dio.[1] He started playing drums at the age of 13[2] and cites Cozy Powell, Tommy Aldridge and John Bonham as his greatest influences. He was also the drummer for Rhino Bucket. He currently plays in the band Operation: Mindcrime.[3]

Career

Wright began his career with local band Tora Tora (not to be confused with the American glam metal group), before joining Manchester group A II Z, a new wave of British heavy metal band founded in 1979 in Manchester, England by guitarist Gary Owens. The full line-up consisted of David Owens (vocals), Gary Owens (guitar), Gam Campbell (bass), Karl Reti (drums). They acquired a local following in Manchester, and were signed by Polydor Records, eager to cash in on the exploding NWOBHM boom. A single live album, The Witch of Berkley, followed in 1980. Reti was subsequently replaced by Wright. The band disintegrated and Wright went on to perform in Tytan[4] and recorded on their full-length debut album Rough Justice,[5] however; that band also dissolved shortly before the release of the debut.

Wright, just a month shy of turning twenty years old, joined AC/DC after their drummer, Phil Rudd, left in May 1983. AC/DC recorded three albums with Wright in the mid-late 80s; Fly on the Wall, Who Made Who and Blow Up Your Video. Wright left the group in November 1989 to join Dio, and was replaced by Chris Slade. Simon Wright joined Rhino Bucket when he wasn't working with Dio to replace the departed Liam Jason for their third album, 1994's independently released Pain. In 2007, he reunited with the band and is featured on their latest album The Hardest Town.

Wright has had two stints with Dio, 1990–91 and 1998–2010. With the band he has recorded four studio albums (Lock up the Wolves, Magica, Killing the Dragon and Master of the Moon) and two live albums (Evil or Divine - Live In New York City and Holy Diver - Live).

His drumming can be heard on albums by UFO, Michael Schenker Group and John Norum.

In 2005, Wright participated on a tribute album to Heavy metal icons Iron Maiden. It was his second of three times doing a tribute disc; the first experience being in 1998 on an AC/DC tribute album titled Thunderbolt, while in 2013 he took part in the DIO Tribute album "This Is Your Life".

In 2006 Wright is credited in the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" on the album Butchering the Beatles, a heavy metal tribute.

In August 2009, Wright teamed up with Joe Lynn Turner, Phil Soussan and Carlos Cavazo as part of the Big Noize project, playing shows in Iraq and Kuwait.[6]

On 25 January 2013, it was announced that Wright had joined Geoff Tate's band Operation:Mindcrime after his dismissal from Queensrÿche.

Equipment

Drum kit

Simon is an endorser of DW drums. He uses the collectors maple series.
His drum sizes are:

Drumheads

Simon also uses Evans Drum heads.
Products used:

Cymbals

Simon uses Sabian Cymbals.

Sticks

Discography

With AC/DC

With Dio

With UFO

With Rhino Bucket

With John Norum

With Tim "Ripper" Owens

With Mogg/Way

With Geoff Tate's Queensryche

Instructional

References

  1. ↑ Saulnier, Jason (22 January 2009). "Simon Wright Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "DIO / RonnieJamesDio.com - Band - Simon Wright". Ronniejamesdio.com. 1963-06-19. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  3. ↑ . Facebook.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rhino-Bucket/195473700009. Retrieved 2014-06-28. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "Encyclopaedia Metallum – Tytan". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Encyclopaedia Metallum – Tytan – Rough Justice". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Joe Lynn Turner at". Deep-purple.net. 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  7. ↑ "Artist Setups - Drum Workshop Inc. - drums, pedals, hardware, dvds, and more!". Dwdrums.com. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
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