Simon Smith (drummer)


Simon Smith has been the drummer with several British Indie rock bands, most notably The Wedding Present from Leeds, which he joined in 1988, and also worked with its offshoot The Ukrainians.

Career

Simon Smith started out briefly as a member of The Chorus with Peter Solowka, who also became a member of The Wedding Present. The Chorus released tracks on the AAZ record label from 1983 to 1985 including the 7" double A side single "These Stones" / "Diamond Mine".
Simon left The Chorus to join stable mates The Sinister Cleaners in 1985, replacing the drum machine that had featured on their earlier releases. He released 3 12" EPs with The Sinister Cleaners and toured the UK and Europe with them from 1985 to 1987. Simon left The Sinister Cleaners to join The Wedding Present as drummer in 1987, working briefly with Sinister Cleaner Len Liggins and Pete Solowka in The Wedding Present offshoot band The Ukrainians. Simon, along with Keith Gregory, Paul Dorrington and Jaqui Cohen, started a new group called Cha Cha Cohen in 1994. Simon split his time between Cha Cha Cohen and The Wedding Present until 1997, when Wedding Present singer / guitarist David Gedge took a break in order to start a new group, Cinerama. Cha Cha Cohen went on to make two albums on the Glasgow-based Chemikal Underground Records label, and, thanks to their help, Simon began tour managing for a living.
Simon also played gigs and recorded with Beachbuggy, brainchild of former Wedding Present bass player and guitarist Jack Straker.
In 2004, David Gedge and Wedding Present guitarist Simon Cleave began using the name The Wedding Present again but Simon Smith was not asked to join the band's new line-up.

Discography

With The Wedding Present

UK singles

  1. Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?
  2. Давні Часи/Davni Chasy
  3. Kennedy
  4. Brassneck
  5. 3 Songs EP
  6. Dalliance
  7. Lovenest
  8. Blue Eyes
  9. Go-Go Dancer
  10. Three
  11. Silver Shorts
  12. Come Play with Me
  13. California
  14. Flying Saucer
  15. Boing!
  16. Loveslave
  17. Sticky
  18. The Queen of Outer Space
  19. No Christmas
  20. Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
  21. It's a Gas
  22. Sucker
  23. 2, 3, Go
  24. Montreal

Albums

  1. Українські Виступи в Івана Піла
  2. Bizarro
  3. Seamonsters
  4. Hit Parade 1
  5. Hit Parade 2
  6. Peel Sessions 1987-1990
  7. Watusi
  8. Mini
  9. Saturnalia
  10. Evening Sessions 1986-1994
  11. John Peel Sessions 1992-1995
  12. Singles 1995-1997
  13. Singles 1989-1991
  14. ''The Hit Parade''

With Cha Cha Cohen

Singles

  1. Sparky's Note
  2. 538 ep
  3. Spook on the High Lawn
  4. Freon Shortwave

Albums

  1. Cha Cha Cohen
  2. All Artists Are Criminals