- Nick Sheppard
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Nick Sheppard Born 1960
Bristol, EnglandGenres Rhythm and blues
Rock
Punk rockOccupations Guitarist Years active 1976–present Labels CBS Records Associated acts The Cortinas
The Viceroys
The Spics
The Clash
Head
The DomNicksNick Sheppard is a Bristol-born guitarist best known for being in the well-known punk band The Clash for a short time.
Contents
Biography
Nick Sheppard was educated at Bristol Grammar School, one of Bristol's leading public schools, and was in the same year as fellow musician Mark Stewart of The Pop Group. He started at 16 with The Cortinas, named after a well-known British car, the Ford Cortina. The band moved from R&B towards covering songs by punk forerunners like the New York Dolls and The Stooges. "In retrospect, I suppose we were very hip," Sheppard says. "We were listening to the right records, as we were right there at the right time." The Cortinas' singles, "Fascist Dictator" and "Defiant Pose" both appeared on Step Forward, the label run by Police manager Miles Copeland. The band split up in September 1978, after which Sheppard played in a number of bands, including The Viceroys and The Spics, a Bristol-based Big-band.[1]
Sheppard moved to California, then back to Britain. When The Clash sacked Mick Jones in 1983, Sheppard and Vince White replaced him, and he toured America and Europe with them in 1984, playing on their final album Cut the Crap. The album attracted criticism through manager Bernie Rhodes' intrusive production and use of a drum machine. When "This Is England" reached a number 24 in the UK charts, Sheppard is quoted as saying: "I remember sitting in a different city watching it, thinking, 'There isn't a band'". The Clash finally split up shortly afterwards.
From 1986 to 1989 he collaborated with Gareth Sager (formerly of The Pop Group and Rip Rig + Panic) in Head, but their three albums made little impact. Sheppard next worked with Koozie Johns in Shot, which signed with I.R.S. Records in 1991, with Copeland as manager; the band's recordings were never released.
Sheppard moved to Perth, Australia in 1993, and has formed/played in two local bands, Heavy Smoker and the New Egyptian Kings with Shakir Pichler. In July 2002, it was suggested that he would be guest guitarist on a Japanese tour with Johns' new band, Sinnerstar. The tour was cancelled.
In 2007 Sheppard formed The DomNicks with Dom Mariani (The Stems, The Someloves, DM3), together with bass player Howard Shawcross (The Elks) and drummer Marz Frisina (The Chevelles). This combo play a mix of Mariani and Sheppard originals with a spread of '60s and '70s garage rock and soul material. In 2009 they released an EP, Hey Rock 'n' Roller, which was produced by Wayne Connolly (The Vines, You Am I). The DomNicks toured with the Hoodoo Gurus and performed in Sydney and Melbourne at the Joe Strummer tribute concert, 'Revolution Rock'.[2]
Notes
- ^ The Colourtapes, The Spics and The Review
- ^ "Honest rock from a seasoned combo". Subiaco Post (Post Newspapers): p. 54. 25 September 2010.
References
- Gilbert, Pat (2005) [2004]. Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (4th edition ed.). London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1845131134. OCLC 61177239.
- Gray, Marcus (2005) [1995]. The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town (5th revised edition ed.). London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1905139101. OCLC 60668626.
- Green, Johnny; Garry Barker (2003) [1997]. A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash (3rd edition ed.). London: Orion. ISBN 0752858432. OCLC 52990890.
- Gruen, Bob; Chris Salewicz (2004) [2001]. The Clash (3rd edition ed.). London: Omnibus. ISBN 1903399343. OCLC 69241279.
- Needs, Kris (2005-01-25). Joe Strummer and the Legend of the Clash. London: Plexus. ISBN 085965348X. OCLC 53155325.
- Topping, Keith (2004) [2003]. The Complete Clash (2nd edition ed.). Richmond: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1903111706. OCLC 63129186.
External links
Categories:- English punk rock guitarists
- The Clash members
- Living people
- People from Bristol
- 1960 births
- Old Bristolians
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