Steve Abbott (musician)

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Steve Abbott
Steve "Abbo" Abbott
Background information
Birth nameSteven Paul Abbott
BornJanuary 1960 (age 64)
Luton, England
Occupation(s)Producer, A&R executive, artist manager and concert promoter
LabelsBig Cat Records UK
Formerly ofUK Decay

Steven Paul Abbott

concert promoter. Formerly a singer/songwriter, Abbott was lead singer of the band UK Decay
from 1979 to 1983.

Early life

Abbott grew up on the Farley Hill Estate in Luton in the 1960s.[2][3] He attended Luton Sixth Form College,[4][5] where in 1978 he joined local punk band The Rezistors as a guitarist.[6][7]

Punk career

UK Decay

Moving to vocals and guitar, Abbott renamed The Rezistors as "UK Decay" in 1979, after a front-page headline in the Daily Mirror. In an interview with Steve Keaton for

Goth" and has since been credited with being one of the first to use the term for the music and fashion movement.[8]

The band toured extensively around Europe on the rock and art circuits. Having supported the

DOA, Circle Jerks, Subhumans, Flipper
and Social Unrest. The band were outspoken against racism and discrimination and were often targeted by right-wing political groups.[9] They made one album, entitled For Madmen Only and five singles between 1979 and 1983, spending months in the UK Independent Charts, including the punk standard "For My Country".[10] Abbott split from UK Decay in 1983 and formed
mini-album and EP
in the UK and a full-length album in Japan.

Return to UK Decay

In 2008, the band reformed to perform at a number of festivals across Europe. In 2012 they recorded a new album, New Hope for the Dead, produced by

Luton Town Football Club and Luton Foodbank, all proceeds going to the latter charity.[11]

Record and managerial career

Big Cat Records UK, 1989–

In 1989, Abbott worked as an office-equipment delivery van driver to fund starting the record label known as

Carter USM's album 101 Damnations
, which spawned the singles "Sherriff Fatman" and "Rubbish".

Arc of Light Classical Recordings

Abbott started this classical label by signing

Westminster Abbey Choir, James Bowman and Martin Neary
.

Further recordings included a

Princess Diana's funeral. He also compiled and recorded the subsequent tribute record Diana, Princess of Wales – Tribute,[12] which included new recordings by Aretha Franklin, Bryan Ferry and Peter Gabriel
.

Bedlam Management 1979–2007

Bedlam Management was started with Abbott's business partner Linda Obadiah. Management clients in popular music included

Universal Japan
.

V2 Records 1998–2002

Abbott joined

The Jungle Brothers and The White Stripes
.

Artist manager and promoter

Abbott's company Harmonic Artists Ltd is an artist management and concert agency for a number of artists, including Max Richter, Guy Chambers, Cerys Matthews, Lang Lang (UK and Ireland), Jules Buckley and Zara McFarlane.[14]

Abbott is on The advisory board at

Birmingham Symphony Hall.[15]

Abbott is a trustee of Tomorrow's Warriors and of Poet in the City.[14][16]

The Good Life Experience Festival, Hawarden

This festival, focusing on the food, artisan-brewed drinks, bushcraft and a diverse range of live music, was started and is owned by Abbott and his partners in 2014. The first year drew more than 2,000 people and increased to 5,000 for the 2017 festival.[17][18]

Public appearances

In 2007, Abbott was a judge on the BBC Two television reality show Classical Star.[19]

In 2011, Abbott was an on-screen mentor for the BBC Two series titled Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment. With the help of mentors composer

Prince Harry and an invited audience.[20]

Personal life

Abbott married Cerys Matthews in January 2011.[21][22]

References

  1. ^ "BMI – Repertoire Search".
  2. ^ Lillywhite, James (24 February 2016). "News: Arts festival hopes to change public opinion of Luton". Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Hatters through the generations & Lutonia". Luton Town. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  4. ^ Creagh, Ben (23 December 2015). "A fabulous assembly of talent". Luton Today. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  5. ^ "It's time to back Lutonia festival". Luton Today. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  6. ISBN 0-85112-939-0
    .
  7. ISBN 978-1-901447-24-8
    .
  8. ISBN 9780313386053
    .
  9. ^ "UKDecay-1981.jpg (image)". 2.bp.blogspot.com.
  10. ^ "Uk Decay – For Madmen Only CD Album". CD Universe.
  11. ^ "UK DECAY: A WONDERFUL TOWN". www.lutontown.co.uk. Luton Town Football Club. 1 May 2014.
  12. ^ "Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  13. ^ "Branson Readies V2 for the Runway". Billboard. 14 December 1996.
  14. ^ a b Dethekar, Manasvi (5 January 2022). "Manager Spotlight: Steve Abbott". MMF. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Brassed Off is coming to the Royal Albert Hall with a live score by the actual Grimethorpe Colliery Band". www.digitalspy.com.
  16. ^ "People". Poet in the City. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  17. ^ Hodgson, Sarah (22 September 2014). "LOOK: The Good Life Experience is hailed a massive success". NorthWalesLive. Daily Post.
  18. ^ "The Good Life Experience". The Good Life Experience.
  19. ^ "Classical Star: The judges". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC – Press Office. 27 September 2007.
  20. ^ "BBC Two - Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment". BBC.
  21. ^ WalesOnline (8 January 2011). "Cerys Matthews marries her manager in style in Cardiff". walesonline. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Cerys Matthews marries manager". independent.ie. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steve Abbott.
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