Andy Bell from Wales formed Ride with Mark Gardener, the band produced a tape demo including the tracks Chelsea Girl and Drive Blind. After supporting The Soup Dragons in 1989 Alan McGee then signed them to (later Oasis') Creation Records. This was a key musical event in Andy's life.
Enough critical praise was received to make Ride the darlings of music journalists. Nowhere was hailed as a critical success, with the media dubbing Ride "the brightest hope" for 1991. The twin rhythm guitars of Bell and Gardener, both distorted, both using Wah-wah pedals and both feeding back on each other was seen as the highlight of the album's critical and chart success.
Despite having a solid fanbase and some mainstream success, the lack of a breakthrough contributed to inter-band tension, especially between Gardener and Andy. After shoegazing had given way to Britpop, the sales were sluggish and the shift in musical tastes devastated much of their original audience. The band were joined at Creation Records by Oasis. As label mates, Andy came to know the band's Gallagher brothers well and often shared in their partying, if not their success.
1995 saw the dissolution of the band while recording their fourth album, Tarantula, due to creative and personal tensions between the two guitarists. Andy penned most of the songs for the album, one of which was a lament for the band's situation and contains references to Gardener's self imposed exile from the group. Upon release of the album, it was announced that it would be deleted after one week. Since the break-up, both Andy and Gardener have been more reflective on the reasons why the group disintegrated, with Andy especially admitting his own part in the process. It appears that they had just been too young and too stubborn and had no real idea of where the band was heading when they changed their style.
Andy returned in 1997 with Hurricane #1, another Creation signing. Aware of his own vocal fragility, he had drafted in a more gutsy singer, Alex Lowe, who would sing the songs Andy wrote for him. Hurricane #1 drew criticism, bordering on ridicule, for their similarity to Oasis (because of Lowe's voice). Andy himself said "Hurricane #1 is not so much influenced by Oasis, it's inspired by Oasis". Their albums did not sell well and in 1999 Andy took time out to tour as guitarist with the band Gay Dad.
Andy moved from Oxford to live with his wife Idha and daughter in Sweden. He was invited to join Oasis because they were looking for replacements for founding members Bonehead and Guigsy. The idea to choose Andy came to Liam, while Noel was doubtful, because Andy wasn't a bassist. At the last minute he had to learn to play bass as well as the entire Oasis catalogue before his first Oasis gig. As he had no part in performing on 2000 album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, he was originally paid the wage of a touring musician – about £85 a night, just like Gem Archer.
Since joining Oasis, Andy regularly made songwriting contributions to the band: A quick peep (instrumental on Heathen chemistry), the great Thank you for the good times (your eyes are telling lies...so much storm is on the way...but it's so nice... b-side of Stop crying your heart out), the great Turn up the sun (he said he wrote it during a night in a forest near his house in Sweden, under the effect of drugs...it was my alarm clock from 2005 to 2008, can you imagine what a great day :) and Keep the dream alive (on Don't believe the truth), The nature of reality (on Dig out your soul).
Turn up the Sun was inspired by the music of the great film Midnight Cowboy, feat. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight (father of Angelina Jolie).
Noel Gallagher left Oasis and placed part of the blame for his decision to leave on Andy and Gem for a lack of support saying "the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new". According to Gallagher, he is still on friendly terms with Archer and Chris Sharrock, however Noel has not spoken with his brother or Andy since.
Andy claimed that the accusations by Noel about Liam "bullying the band" were false ("bollocks, he lies and manipulates the press, that's his life").
Following the demise of Oasis Andy is now a full-time member of Beady Eye, changing from playing bass, to play guitar both live and in the studio - as he had previously done for both Ride and Hurricane#1. Beady Eye's debut album contains four good songs written by Andy and subsequently developed by the band, namely Four Letter Word, Millionaire, Kill For A Dream and The Beat Goes On.
Noel Gallagher left Oasis and placed part of the blame for his decision to leave on Andy and Gem for a lack of support saying "the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new". According to Gallagher, he is still on friendly terms with Archer and Chris Sharrock, however Noel has not spoken with his brother or Andy since.
Andy claimed that the accusations by Noel about Liam "bullying the band" were false ("bollocks, he lies and manipulates the press, that's his life").
Following the demise of Oasis Andy is now a full-time member of Beady Eye, changing from playing bass, to play guitar both live and in the studio - as he had previously done for both Ride and Hurricane#1. Beady Eye's debut album contains four good songs written by Andy and subsequently developed by the band, namely Four Letter Word, Millionaire, Kill For A Dream and The Beat Goes On.
As Gem, Andy is a fan of Pretty Green and was deejay for some PG nights.
In addition to being a songwriter and musician, Andy has for a number of years actively been involved in record production. He receives co-production credit for both albums recorded by Hurricane#1- the eponymous and Only The Strongest Will Survive. Andy undertook production duties on Britpop band The Kynd's debut single, and album Fear & Love by Swedish band Weeping Willows. He brought some English folk music influences, and a some 1960s styled British Invasion sounds. Scandinavian music critics have given a warm welcome and compared some songs to The Coral, The Verve, Talk Talk and Oasis.
Andy has been good friends with Magnus Carlson of Swedish band Weeping Willows, together they have embarked on some musical projects. The two run and DJ at the club, Bangers 'n' Mash. Andy also undertakes occasional DJ sets in UK clubs, for example, This Feeling night club night in London. Andy collaborated with the Stockholm based Irish-Swedish electronica/acid house duo, DK7. Carlson and Andy teamed up (with Janne Schaffer) and performed at an event dedicated to the late 1970s singer-songwriter, Ted Gärdestad. Andy played a number of instruments on Fear & Love ranging from glockenspiel, piano to guitar. He has also performed solo gigs at smaller Swedish summer festivals including the 2006 'Fest-i-val' in UmeåSweden. He also played at the tribute concert for Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett, together with David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright, the song Arnold Layne. He appeared with Mark Gardener with Californian rock band The Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Oxford 'Truck' Music Festival. Andy joined Weeping Willows for an event called "An Evening With Weeping Willows At Chinateatern". He lined up with other prominent guests such as The Soundtrack of Our Lives' Martin Hederos, Echo & the Bunnymen vocalist Ian McCulloch and Jens Lekman. And has worked with Swedish band The Most.
In addition to being a songwriter and musician, Andy has for a number of years actively been involved in record production. He receives co-production credit for both albums recorded by Hurricane#1- the eponymous and Only The Strongest Will Survive. Andy undertook production duties on Britpop band The Kynd's debut single, and album Fear & Love by Swedish band Weeping Willows. He brought some English folk music influences, and a some 1960s styled British Invasion sounds. Scandinavian music critics have given a warm welcome and compared some songs to The Coral, The Verve, Talk Talk and Oasis.
Andy has been good friends with Magnus Carlson of Swedish band Weeping Willows, together they have embarked on some musical projects. The two run and DJ at the club, Bangers 'n' Mash. Andy also undertakes occasional DJ sets in UK clubs, for example, This Feeling night club night in London. Andy collaborated with the Stockholm based Irish-Swedish electronica/acid house duo, DK7. Carlson and Andy teamed up (with Janne Schaffer) and performed at an event dedicated to the late 1970s singer-songwriter, Ted Gärdestad. Andy played a number of instruments on Fear & Love ranging from glockenspiel, piano to guitar. He has also performed solo gigs at smaller Swedish summer festivals including the 2006 'Fest-i-val' in UmeåSweden. He also played at the tribute concert for Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett, together with David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright, the song Arnold Layne. He appeared with Mark Gardener with Californian rock band The Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Oxford 'Truck' Music Festival. Andy joined Weeping Willows for an event called "An Evening With Weeping Willows At Chinateatern". He lined up with other prominent guests such as The Soundtrack of Our Lives' Martin Hederos, Echo & the Bunnymen vocalist Ian McCulloch and Jens Lekman. And has worked with Swedish band The Most.
Andy has on several occasions stated his intention to record and release a solo album in the future (oh, Beady Eye could split :). "I will get around to it, it’s just waiting for the songs to turn up that suit my voice. I've got one so far, give me about five years and I'll have an album's worth."
He collaborated with SPC-ECO, a British American shoegazing/electronica/psychedelic group, playing an electronic sitar drone machine and an old custom Dulcimer as well as devising the songs lyrics.
2009 saw Andy release his first solo recording under the Grapefruit name, an instrumental track also entitled Grapefruit which he contributed to the One by One: KZK Adidas Originals by Originals compilation album, a Japan only release.
It was reported that a former member of Oasis, Andy, had collaborated with Adam Ant.
Andy was previously married to former Swedish singer and model Idha Ovelius. They have two children, a daughter, Leia, and a son, Leon. He currently resides in London and is married to Shiarra, a label rep from Universal Music. Andy revealed in an interview that he suffers from deafness in his left ear as a result of standing too close to Alan White's drumkit whilst playing bass during his first tour with Oasis.
He collaborated with SPC-ECO, a British American shoegazing/electronica/psychedelic group, playing an electronic sitar drone machine and an old custom Dulcimer as well as devising the songs lyrics.
2009 saw Andy release his first solo recording under the Grapefruit name, an instrumental track also entitled Grapefruit which he contributed to the One by One: KZK Adidas Originals by Originals compilation album, a Japan only release.
It was reported that a former member of Oasis, Andy, had collaborated with Adam Ant.
Andy was previously married to former Swedish singer and model Idha Ovelius. They have two children, a daughter, Leia, and a son, Leon. He currently resides in London and is married to Shiarra, a label rep from Universal Music. Andy revealed in an interview that he suffers from deafness in his left ear as a result of standing too close to Alan White's drumkit whilst playing bass during his first tour with Oasis.
"the way I see it now so clear, like diamonds on the water..."
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