Howie Payne (born Howard Elliot Payne[1][2][3] 5 November 1970) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer, formerly of the Stands.[4][5]

Howie Payne
Black and white image of Howie Payne
Howie Payne (right) with Noel Gallagher
Background information
Birth nameHoward Elliot Payne
Born (1970-11-05) 5 November 1970 (age 53)
Liverpool, England
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, folk, acoustic Americana
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano, harmonica
Years active1992–present
LabelsUltimate, The Echo Label, Move City Records, BMG Rights Management, Full Stack Records

Following the Stands' split, Payne embarked on a solo career under the name Howard Eliott Payne and released his debut album Bright Light Ballads in 2009.

Early career edit

Payne was born in Liverpool and spent some of his teenage years in New York City before returning home with his family and forming The Magic Clock in 1992[6][7] before fronting later bands the Windmills (with future Cast drummer Keith O'Neill), Telefone and Blueseed.[8] Blueseed released their debut single "The Only Ones" in 1997 and an EP Special Care and Spare Change in 1998 on Ultimate Records (an extended version of the EP with the debut single material as bonus tracks was released in Europe as a mini album). In 1999, Payne then joined Edgar Jones's band the Big Kids on lead guitar[4] with his brother Sean Payne on drums and Russell Pritchard on bass, who both went on to play in the Zutons.

The Stands edit

In 2002, Payne formed the Stands with various local musicians before settling on the lineup of Luke Thomson, Steve Pilgrim and Dean Ravera. The band signed to The Echo Label in 2003. The band released two albums, All Years Leaving in 2004 and Horse Fabulous in 2005 and had a succession of 5 top 40 UK singles. Following the recording of Horse Fabulous, first Pilgrim and later Thomson[9] were replaced by new members. Payne announced the end of the Stands in November 2005.[10]

Solo career edit

Following the Stands, Payne teamed up with producer Ethan Johns to record his debut solo album Bright Light Ballads under his full name Howard Eliott Payne. Bright Light Ballads was recorded and mixed in seven days using a vintage 8 track tape machine. Other musicians on the record included singer Candie Payne (Payne's sister) and former Stands bassist Dean Ravera, among others. The album was released digitally through Payne's own label, Move City Records on 14 April 2009, and entered the iTunes Singer Songwriter Album Chart at No. 1 and the iTunes Albums Chart at No. 13.[citation needed] The album was then given a physical CD release in the UK on 5 May 2009.

On 21 September 2009, Move City Records released the digital LP Live at the Luminaire, a live album of Payne's sold-out solo performance at The Luminaire club, London, on 28 May 2009. Live at the Luminaire featured material from Payne's debut solo album as well as songs from the Stands' album All Years Leaving.[11] The album entered the iTunes UK Singer Songwriter Chart at No. 10.[citation needed]

Five songs written by Payne were recorded by Ren Harvieu for her debut album Through the Night which was released in May 2012 and which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 5. Payne also co-wrote the single "In the Open" by Benjamin Francis Leftwich, released November 2012.[12]

In 2013, Payne played a handful of low key solo acoustic shows premiering new material.[13]

In 2014, Payne began co-managing Neon Waltz, a band from Caithness with former Oasis manager Marcus Russell[14] and produced several tracks on their debut album Strange Hymns.

In September 2016, Payne toured the UK for the first time in several years before releasing a vinyl edition of his solo LP Bright Light Ballads via Pledge Music. In November 2016, Payne released a free digital download of new home recordings titled High Times, Home Recordings.[15] In March 2017, Payne announced both the release of a 3 disc vinyl collection of recordings by the Stands to be titled The Stands Recordings 2003-2005, and a UK tour to take place in October.[16]

In October 2017, Payne released his second solo album, Mountain with singles "The Brightest Star" and "Hold Steady the Wire".

Associated acts edit

  • The Magic Clock (1992)
  • The Windmills (1993)
  • Telefone (1994–1995)
  • Blueseed (1995–1998)
  • The Big Kids (1999–2001)
  • The Stands (2002–2005)
  • The Band of the Sun

Solo discography edit

Albums edit

Singles edit

  • "Come Down Easy" (2009)
  • "I Just Want to Spend Some Time with You" (2009)
  • "The Brightest Star" (2017)
  • "Some Believer, Sweet Dreamer" (2017)
  • "Hold Steady the Wire" (2017)
  • "Into Daylight" (2020)
  • "In Dreams" (2020)
  • "Faster Than Light" (2020)
  • "It Feels Like Summer" (2020)

References edit

  1. ^ "findmypast.co.uk". Search.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Songwriter/Composer: PAYNE HOWARD ELLIOT". Repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Archivio Opere Musicali". Operemusicali.siae.it. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b Alex McCann. "The Stands - Interview at Designer Magazine". Designermagazine.tripod.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Live | Howie Payne, Paul Thomas Saunders & Ellen Smith @ Munro House, Leeds | For Folk's Sake". Forfolkssake.com. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  6. ^ Debbie Johnson. "The man who got the cream with the Kittens; Atomic Kitten might be about to stage their final gig, but their manager certainly isn't.He tells Debbie Johnson why there's life after the country's biggest girl band. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Howard Eliott Payne's first band the Magic Clock. - People & Portrait Photos - Mark McNulty's Analog Archive". Analogarchive.aminus3.com. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  8. ^ Daniel Hegarty. "Foxy Music". Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Luke Thompson Leaves The Stands". Gigwise. 14 June 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  10. ^ "The Stands split". NME. IPC Media. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Live At the Luminaire by Howard Eliott Payne - Download Live At the Luminaire on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  12. ^ "Howie Payne". The List. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Goodnight Lenin headline The Old Rep Theatre". Birminghampromoters.com. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  14. ^ "goNORTH: Neon Waltz | Whatson-North | Whats-On | Music". Whatson-North. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Howie Payne returns with new tour and a free download of 10 demos". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  16. ^ Robin Murray (21 June 2017). "Howie Payne's 'The Brightest Star' Is A Real Joy". Clash. Retrieved 15 January 2019.

External links edit