The Waterboys are a British folk rock and Celtic rock group formed in Edinburgh in 1983 by Scottish musician Mike Scott. Their music is chiefly associated with a blend of Celtic folk and rock and roll, and the band also sits within rock, pop rock and alternative contexts.

Background

Scott writes most of the group’s songs and remains its lead vocalist, principal songwriter and guiding figure. The band’s lyrics often include literary references and focus on spirituality. Its members have mainly come from the British Isles, and London, Dublin, Spiddal and Findhorn all serve as important bases in the group’s history.

The Waterboys work with a large and changing line-up. More than thirty musicians perform live as Waterboys at different points, with some appearing only for a single tour or recording and others becoming long-term contributors. The band’s membership includes Kevin Wilkinson, Anthony Thistlethwaite, Roddy Lorimer, Karl Wallinger, John Caldwell, Eddi Reader, Martyn Swain, Chris Whitten, Frank Biddulph, Marco Sin, Guy Chambers, Dave Ruffy, Steve Wickham, Peter McKinney, Noel Bridgeman, Trevor Hutchinson, Fran Breen, Vinnie Kilduff, Colin Blakey, Jay Dee Daugherty, Tomás Mac Eoin, Sharon Shannon, Simon Clarke, Tim Sanders, Kenneth Blevins, Livingstone Brown, Jeremy Stacey, Richard Naiff, John Baggott, Gordon Davis, Jo Wadeson, Tom Windriff, Ray Fean, Ian McNabb, Geoff Dugmore, Paul Beavis, Brad Weissman, Steve Walters, Carlos Hercules, Damon Wilson, Mark Smith, John McCullough, Simon Wallace, Katie Kim, Ruby Ashley, Ashley “Stixman” Soan, Sarah Allen, Marc « Archie » Arciero, Joe Chester, Blaise Margail, Paul Brennan, Melvin Duffy, James Hallawell, Ralph Salmins and Kate St John.

History

The group is active from 1983 to the present. It first records and tours for about ten years, then disbands in 1993 before Scott continues solo work. The band reforms in 2000 and continues to record and tour worldwide.

Key members and contributions

Early line-up

Kevin Wilkinson plays drums from 1983 to 1984 and returns for later studio sessions, with his last appearance on A Rock in the Weary Land. Scott describes his drumming as bright and angular, and his playing helps define the band’s early “Big Music” period.

Anthony Thistlethwaite is an original member and remains with the band until 1991, later also joining a few recording sessions for A Rock in the Weary Land. He has more songwriting credits than any Waterboy apart from Scott and Steve Wickham, and he plays saxophone as well as guitar, keyboards and other instruments. His saxophone helps form the band’s early brass sound.

Karl Wallinger joins in 1983 soon after formation and leaves two years later, but he makes major contributions to A Pagan Place and This Is the Sea. He co-writes “Don’t Bang the Drum”, plays keyboards and synthesizer, and helps broaden the group’s sound. His later World Party project draws heavily on his work with The Waterboys.

Roddy Lorimer also begins in 1983 and contributes trumpet intermittently through 1990, returning for studio work in 2006. He and Thistlethwaite alternate in leading the brass section, and he appears as a soloist on “The Whole of the Moon” and “Don’t Bang the Drum”, also providing backing vocals.

Later development

Steve Wickham joins in 1985 and strongly shapes the band’s move towards folk music. He leaves in 1990 when Scott and Thistlethwaite seek a return to rock and roll, then rejoins in 2000 and remains a core part of the group. Scott describes him as “the world’s greatest rock fiddle player”, and he writes more songs for the band than anyone other than Scott, including several instrumental pieces.

Richard Naiff first records with the band in 1999 and becomes a permanent member in 2000. A classically trained pianist and flautist, he plays keyboards and becomes one of the core Waterboys alongside Scott and Wickham. Ian McNabb describes him as Scott’s “find of the century”, and reviewers call him highly talented.

Associated musicians

Other musicians closely linked with the band include Ian McNabb, Trevor Hutchinson, Sharon Shannon, Guy Chambers and Jay Dee Daugherty. McNabb is known as leader of The Icicle Works; Hutchinson is a founding member of Lúnasa; Shannon becomes Ireland’s best-selling traditional musician; Chambers is a producer; and Daugherty is a drummer with the Patti Smith Group.