Tom Smith (musician)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tom Smith

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Img_capt = Tom Smith on stage at the Eurockéennes 2007
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date and age|1981|4|29|df=yes Stroud, Gloucestershire, England
Died =
Origin = Birmingham, England
Instrument = guitars
Piano
vocals
Genre = Indie rock
Art rock
Occupation = Songwriter
Years_active = 2002–present
Label = Kitchenware
Associated_acts = Editors
Notable_instruments = Gibson ES-335
Fender Telecaster Custom

Tom Smith (born 29 April 1981) is an English musician. He is lead singer, lyricist, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for Birmingham-based indie rock band Editors.

His vocal style has been compared to that of post-punk singers such as Ian Curtis of Joy Division, Paul Banks of Interpol, Robert Smith of The Cure and Michael Stipe of REM. His guitar of choice is a Gibson ES-335,Vaziri, Aidin [http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Recommends/Gibson%20Recommends%20Editors_%20_em "Gibson Recommends Editors An End Has a Start"] 11 October 2007. Accessed 24 October 2007] however he also plays a Fender Telecaster Custom.

When Smith lost his voice during the 2006 SXSW, the band had to cancel the last song of their first gig. [Stellastarr [http://citybeat.com/2006-04-12/soundadvice.shtml "Upcoming Concert Reviews of the Editors, Metric and More..."] Cincinnati CityBeat, 12 April 2007. Accessed 24 October 2007]

In July 2008, he contributed a cover of "Bonny" (by Prefab Sprout) for the UK edition of the "Independents Day" charity album.

Background

Smith is from Stroud, Gloucestershire and attended Woodchester Endowed Primary School, where he learnt to play the guitar under the guidance of Headteacher Mr Holland. He later attended Archway School.

As a teenager Smith listened to Britpop bands Oasis "Definitely Maybe" and Blur's "Parklife" albums. "Suddenly, all I wanted to do was to be in a band," Smith has said. "I learned to play the guitar by playing those records."

He later studied music technology at Staffordshire University where he met his fellow Editors band members. He lives in London with his partner, BBC Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman, [cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/live/live.html?in_article_id=454151&in_page_id=1889|title=Festival Queen Edith Bowman gets down and dirty|publisher=Daily Mail|date=2007-05-12|accessdate=2008-01-27] and they have a baby boy called Rudy Brae Bowman Smith, who was born on the 10th June 2008. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/entertainment/newsid_7446000/7446926.stm BBC - Newsbeat - Entertainment - DJ Edith Bowman has baby boy ] ]

He stated in 2006 that Murmur by R.E.M. was his favourite album of all time. Editors drummer Edward Lay said during an interview in Winter 2005 "Tom’s favourite album is REM’s "Murmur", so they were his favourite band whilst growing up and I think they’ve always maintained a certain cool vibe about everything they’ve released. They haven’t sold out at all, so they’re big influences not just in songwriting, but the way they’ve protected themselves as musicians and as a band." [Hannah Bayfield [http://www.rockfeedback.com/article.asp?nObjectID=3271 "Editors - Manchester, UK - Winter 2005 Meeting in the Back Room"] rockfeedback.com, 30 January 2006. Accessed 12 November 2007]

Smith's Converse All-Stars basketball shoes, worn at 2007's V festival, went on sale on internet site eBay in a charity auction to raise money for MAG (Mines Advisory Group). They raised £52. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20071014190922rn_1/www.popworld.com/pages/artist?4A966138-9ED9-49EE-B1B6-534D87711B4E "EDITORS - Popworld"] . Original page deleted. Accessed from web archive 15 September 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.editorsmusic.co.uk/index.php/Band/Tom-Smith.html Tom Smith Biography]