Phil Palmer


Philip John Palmer is a British rock sideman and session guitarist who has toured, recorded, and worked with numerous artists. He is best known for his work with Eric Clapton and Dire Straits.

Biography

Palmer grew up in north London. Ray and Dave Davies of The Kinks are his uncles on his mother's side.
He produced the 1996 album The View from the Hill, by Justin Hayward.
Palmer has supported artists that include Lucio Battisti, Pet Shop Boys, Murray Head, Steve Harley, Wishbone Ash, Joan Armatrading, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Iggy Pop, Scott Walker Paul Brady, Thomas Anders, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Dire Straits, Pete Townshend, Eros Ramazzotti, Alejandro Sanz, Paola e Chiara, Pino Daniele, Geri Halliwell, Katey Sagal, Chris de Burgh, Bryan Adams, Johnny Hallyday, David Knopfler, George Michael, Ivano Fossati, Renato Zero, Claudio Baglioni, Massimo Di Cataldo, Melanie C, Robbie Williams, David Sylvian and Hajime Mizoguchi. He often works with producer Trevor Horn. In 1986, he worked as a studio musician on Alphaville's album Afternoons in Utopia.
He co-wrote "I'm No Angel", recorded separately by Bill Medley and the Gregg Allman Band.
In 1993, Palmer assembled a band called Spin 1ne 2wo, with Paul Carrack, Steve Ferrone, Rupert Hine and Tony Levin. They released one album, a self-titled project, made up of classic rock covers including songs by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Blind Faith, Steely Dan and Bob Dylan.
Palmer performed with the numerous artists and was the musical director of The Strat Pack, at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Fender Stratocaster guitar which was held in 2004 at Wembley Arena in London. He performed in 2002 as a member of the backing band at the Queen's 50th anniversary rock concert at Buckingham Palace, "Party at the Palace".
As of 2021, he had appeared on over 500 albums and over 5000 songs.
In 2021, Palmer released an autobiography entitled Session Man.

Personal life

His uncles are Ray and Dave Davies of The Kinks. He has appeared and performed with both of them on stage.
He has named Davey Graham and Big Bill Broonzy as key influences on him while growing up.
In January 2012, he married Italian singer and TV personality Numa Palmer. Italian pop megastar Renato Zero was Palmer's best man for the ceremony in Rome. Palmer and his wife are involved in several humanitarian projects, in particular with UNICEF.
While touring with Eric Clapton's band, Palmer performed alongside Stevie Ray Vaughan on stage. Palmer was among the band members travelling in parallel helicopters when Vaughn was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 1990.
Palmer has two children from his first marriage - Oliver and Charlie.

Appearances

With Bryan Adams
With Alphaville
  • Afternoons in Utopia
With Thomas Anders
  • Different
With Tasmin Archer
  • Great Expectations
With Joan Armatrading
  • To the Limit
  • The Shouting Stage
With Gary Barlow
With Blue Zone
  • Big Thing
With Pet Shop Boys
  • Fundamental
With Sam Brown
  • Stop!
With Melanie C
  • Reason
With Ray Charles
With Eric Clapton
  • Journeyman
With Clark Datchler
  • Raindance
With Franco De Vita
With Jim Diamond
  • Desire for Freedom
  • Jim Diamond
With Céline Dion
  • Unison
With Dire Straits
  • On Every Street
With Sheena Easton
  • Take My Time
  • You Could Have Been with Me
  • Madness, Money & Music
  • My Cherie
With David Essex
  • Gold & Ivory
  • Imperial Wizard
  • Hot Love
  • Silver Dream Racer
  • Stage - Struck
  • This One's for You
With Delta Goodrem
  • Mistaken Identity
With Geri Halliwell
  • Passion
With Steve Harley
  • The Candidate
With Johnny Hates Jazz
  • Tall Stories
With Murray Head
  • Shade
  • Restless
  • Sooner or Later
  • Pipe Dreams
  • Rien n'est écrit
With Trevor Horn
  • Echoes: Ancient & Modern
With John Illsley
  • Never Told a Soul
  • Glass
  • Long Shadows
With Duncan James
  • Future Past
With Howard Jones
  • Dream into Action
  • One to One
  • Cross That Line
With Juanes
  • P.A.R.C.E.
With Ronan Keating
  • Songs from Home
With Nick Lachey
  • SoulO
With Lulu
  • Together
With George Michael
With Olly Murs
  • Olly Murs
With Jimmy Nail
With The Overtones
  • Higher
With Iggy Pop
  • The Idiot
With Cliff Richard
  • Cliff at Christmas
With Andrew Ridgeley
  • Son of Albert
With Jennifer Rush
  • Credo
With Katey Sagal
  • Well...
With Seal
  • Soul 2
  • 7
With Skin
  • Fleshwounds
With Lisa Stansfield
  • The Moment
With Amii Stewart
  • Time for Fantasy
With David Sylvian
  • Brilliant Trees
  • Gone to Earth
  • Secrets of the Beehive
With Take That
  • Nobody Else
With Tears For Fears
  • The Hurting
With Tina Turner
  • Foreign Affair
  • Twenty Four Seven
With Judie Tzuke
With Robbie Williams
  • Sing When You're Winning
  • Escapology
  • Reality Killed the Video Star
With Lucio Battisti
  • ''Una giornata uggiosa''