Nigel Pulsford

Nigel Pulsford
Birth name	Nigel Pulsford
Born	11 April 1963 (1963-04-11) (age 48) Newport, Monmouthshire
Origin	London, England
Genres	Alternative rock Grunge Post-grunge Hard rock
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, violin
Associated acts	Bush King Blank
Notable instruments
Fender Stratocaster Gibson Les Paul Doublecut

Nigel Pulsford (born 11 April 1963, Newport, Monmouthshire) is a British guitarist, best known as the original lead guitarist of the alternative rock band Bush.^[1]

Early life

Pulsford grew up one of three children. He first started playing music when he began taking violin lessons when he was 10, due to parental pressure. (He would later play violin on certain Bush songs, as well as on one of Cyndi Lauper's albums.)

Pulsford attended the University of Bradford in Bradford, West Yorkshire before dropping out with the intent of playing in a rock band. Some of the earlier bands that Pulsford played with include Michael Byrd and the Commercials, Taming the Outback, F1 Electric, and The Charms. None of these bands worked out, although he wrote music for the first time while playing with the short-lived Charms, who only played one gig before splitting.

Eventually Pulsford formed the band King Blank, which eventually got signed to the Beggar's Banquet/Situation Two label. The band also featured Ian Lowery (who later joined The Screaming Blue Messiahs). The band released two albums without much success, and as a result Pulsford quit.

Bush

In 1992, Pulsford met Gavin Rossdale in a London club and they discovered a mutual apprection for several musical groups and artists. They formed a band called Future Primitive and were joined by bassist Dave Parsons and drummer Robin Goodridge. Shortly thereafter the band was renamed Bush after Shepherd's Bush, London. Pulsford was the band's lead guitarist.

Bush released their debut album, Sixteen Stone, in 1994. The album went six times platinum, riding the strength of the grunge movement and such hit singles as "Comedown," "Glycerine," "Machinehead," "Little Things," and "Everything Zen." They achieved further success with three more albums and hit singles such as "Swallowed," "Greedy Fly," "The Chemicals Between Us," "Letting the Cables Sleep," and "The People That We Love."

While still with Bush, Pulsford released a solo album in 1999 entitled Heavenly Toast on the Paradise Road, named for the street on which he once lived. All material on the album was written by Pulsford. A jazz feel not present in Bush's music was prominent on this album, just as it was with his previous band, King Blank.

In 2002, after the release of the album Golden State, Pulsford took a break from touring with the band while his wife was pregnant. He was replaced by Chris Traynor temporarily and his future in the band became the subject of much speculation among fans. Rossdale later confirmed that he intended to make the next Bush album with Traynor and said that Pulsford had quit the band.^[2] However, Pulsford later responded that he had not quit but in fact Rossdale had sent him an e-mail telling him he did not want the lead guitarist to return. Pulsford admitted that he had been considering quiting the band for some time but felt let down by everybody in the band.^[3]

Despite Rossdale affirming that he wanted to continue Bush with Traynor, the band went on an indefinite hiatus following the end of the "Golden State" tour. Rossdale later formed Institute with Traynor. Backtracking on his previous assertion that Bush could continue without Pulsford, Rossdale stated that he started a new band because he didn’t want to dilute everything Bush had accomplished by changing members.^[4]

After Bush

Since the break up of Bush Pulsford has spent time with his family. However, he has remained musically active recording in his home studio and producing other artists' work. In 2003 he made an album with a friend which he titled "Book Club",^[5] however this was never released officially. In 2008 he was working with British alternative rock group Furlined as a producer and occasional guitarist.^[6] Pulsford also worked with singer Emma Holland on her second album. In addition to working with other artists, Pulsford has expressed his intent to release another solo album.^[7]

Bush Reformation

Three months before Bush's reformation was announced, Pulsford hinted in an interview that he had turned down the opportunity to reunite with his former band and make an album.^[8] Pulsford implied that he didn't feel a new album would stay true to the sound and style he felt was synonymous with the band's previous output. He described Bush in its 'prime' as an "edgy, searching band trying to push ourselves in a more left of centre position".

In June 2010 Bush's return was announced and Chris Traynor, who had played with Gavin Rossdale since Bush ended, was installed as the band's new lead guitarist. Pulsord was joined by bassist Dave Parsons in turning down the opportunity to rejoin the band. Rossdale stated that Pulsford didn't rejoin the band because he was happy with his family.

Personal life

Pulsford married his wife, Judith, on 20 July 1996. They have three children.

References

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography: Bush". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p141705/biography. Retrieved 7 June 2010. 
2. ^ http://onesecondbush.com/bush/press/_55/
3. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.NET/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=3728
4. ^ http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1126584000
5. ^ http://onesecondbush.com/bush/biography/nigel_pulsford/
6. ^ "Former Bush guitarist shepherding young band". Reuters. 8 June 2008. http://in.reuters.com/article/2008/06/08/us-pulsford-idINN0827848620080608. 
7. ^ http://www.stereozeitgeist.com/2009/03/26/a-chat-with-nigel-pulsford/
8. ^ http://onesecondbush.com/bush/2010/03/25/nigel-pulsford-01-on-0001/

External links

• Bush Fansite

Persondata
Name	Pulsford, Nigel
Alternative names
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Date of birth	11 April 1963
Place of birth
Date of death
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