{{Multiple issues| {{COI|date=April 2017}} {{BLP sources|date=October 2009}}}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Steve Swindells | image = | caption = Swindells in 2013 | birth_name = | background = solo_singer | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1952|11|21}} |birth_place = Ipswich, Suffolk, England | instrument = {{flatlist| * Vocals * keyboards }} | genre = {{flatlist| * Rock * space rock * psychedelic rock * hard rock }} | occupation ={{flatlist| * Singer–songwriter * musician * poet * journalist * producer * writer * painter * photographer }} | years_active = 1973–present | label = {{flatlist| * RCA * Atomhenge/Cherry Red * Esoteric Recordings }} | website = }} '''Steve Swindells''' (born 21 November 1952) is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organiser, club promoter and journalist.
==Life and career== ===Early life=== Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd (which was put together by drummer and fantasy artist, Rodney Matthews<ref>{{Cite book|last=Matthews|first=Rodney|title=In Search of Forever|publisher=Guild|year=1985|location=London|pages=105}}</ref>). Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his debut solo album, ''Messages'' for RCA in 1974. Produced by his manager Mark Edwards, Swindells felt the production quality to be poor, despite the presence of quality musicians.<ref name=":0">Swindells, Steve (2009). ''Messages'' (CD sleeve notes). London: Esoteric. ECLEC2163.</ref> A follow-up album ''Swindells' Swallow'' was recorded, mastered, and test pressings were manufactured, but the deal fell through.<ref name=":0" />
Departing from his manager, Swindells joined Pilot, recording the 1977 album ''Two's a Crowd''. In 1978, he joined a reformed Hawkwind, renamed as Hawklords, for the ''25 Years On'' album and tour.
===1980s=== In 1980, he recorded another solo album, ''Fresh Blood'', released by ATCO, but was dropped when it failed to hit sufficient sales,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://steveswindells.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/club-running-concerts-chords-conundrums-conceptions-creativity-coercion-comfort-cognac-and-cocaine/|title=Club-running, Concerts, Chords, Conundrums, Conceptions, Creativity, Coercion, Comfort, Cognac and Cocaine.|date=29 August 2014|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> despite reaching No. 3 in the US airplay charts.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Swindells would go on contribute songs to Roger Daltrey on "Martyrs and Madmen" and "Treachery" for Daltrey's 1982 compilation album ''Best Bits'', before temporarily turning his attention away from the music business. In 1983, Swindells switched careers to club promoting and party organising.
===1990s=== In the early 1990s, he decided to re-invent himself as a journalist, writing the internet column for ''Time Out'' under the name Spyder for many years, as well as a gadget/lifestyle column for ''Attitude'', before becoming the editor of the magazine's website. Throughout his career changes, Swindells continued to compose and perform music. {{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
===2000s=== In 2003, Swindells played keyboards and sang lead vocals in the band Danmingo together with Jerry Richards, Jon Moss and Winston Blissett. Swindells wrote all of the songs, apart from two band collaborations and one co-write with Stephen Meade (aka Shanks) and the late Kent Brainerd. As of 10 December 2013, Swindells had been number 1 on the 'Reverb Nation Singer-songwriter Chart For London' for several days.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} He then released the double download ''DanMingo'' album under his own name.
In 2009, Swindells was instrumental in the formation (or reformation) of the Hawklords, a musical collective of ex-Hawkwind members, playing a special show in memory of artist Barney Bubbles. The show was advertised as 'a benefit concert with a view to setting up a foundation/annual award for innovative album cover design, and a memorial plaque for him.'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacerockreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/hawklords-gig-november-29th.html|title=Hawklords Gig - November 29th|website=Spacerockreviews.blogspot.co.uk|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> However, there is no evidence that the proceeds of the concert were used for any of these purposes.
===2010–present=== In 2010, Hawklords performed a mini-tour of the UK. In 2011, the group were active in several appearances across the UK, and a touring line-up underwent a full national tour in October 2011. In 2012, they announced they were working on an album titled 'We Are One'. In May 2012, via the band's Facebook page, it was announced that, for health reasons, Swindells would not be participating in the planned 2012 tour and subsequently ended his involvement with the band.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
Swindells re-discovered two 'lost' albums from 1980: ''The Invisible Man'', and ''Treachery''. They were released on Flicknife Records on 27 February 2012. His 1980 album ''Fresh Blood'' was released on CD for the first time on the label Atomhenge/Cherry Red in August 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/atomhenge/product.php?display=ATOMCD1015 |title=Atomhenge: artists |website=Cherryred.co.uk |access-date=4 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605182127/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/atomhenge/product.php?display=ATOMCD1015 |archive-date=5 June 2010 }}</ref> His 1974 album ''Messages'', along with a bonus CD of the hitherto unreleased ''Swindells' Swallow'', was re-released by Esoteric Recordings/Atomhenge on 26 November 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/esoteric/artists/steveswindells.php|title=Esoteric Records : Steve Swindells|website=Cherryred.co.uk|access-date=19 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113162529/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/esoteric/artists/steveswindells.php|archive-date=13 November 2009}}</ref>
Early in 2012, Swindells put together an ad-hoc 'all-star' jamming band called 'The Plastic Sturgeons'. Special guest musicians have included Guy Pratt and Dale Davis. There have been only two gigs to date, recorded by Roy Weard. As of 10 December 2013, The Plastic Sturgeons have been number 1 in The Reverb Nation London Jam Chart for several weeks.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
==Discography== ===As solo artist=== * ''Messages'' (1974) * ''Fresh Blood'' (1980) * ''The Lost Albums'' (Double CD) (released 27 February 2012 on Flicknife Records). * ''New Crescent Yard'' (2011) * ''The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon'' * ''DanMingo''
===With Pilot=== * ''Two's a Crowd'' (1977)
===With Hawklords=== * ''25 Years On'' (1978) * ''Weird Tape 1'' (1980) * ''Weird Tape 2'' (1980) * ''Weird Tape 4'' (1981) * ''Hawkwind, Friends and Relations Volume 1'' (1982) * ''Hawkwind, Friends and Relations Volume 3'' (1985) * ''Hawkwind Anthology Volume 1'' (1985) * ''Hawkwind Anthology Volume 2'' (1986) * ''Hawklords Live'' (1992) * ''Hawkwind, Friends and Relations Volume 6'' (1996) * ''Levitation'' 2009 re-master (first 5 bonus tracks on disc 1) (2009) * ''Live '78'' (2009)
===With The Hawklords=== * '' Robert Calvert Memorial Concert'', Kings Hall, Herne Bay, 28 September 2008 (2009) * '' Sonic Rock Solstice 2010'' (various artists) (2010) * '' Barney Bubbles Memorial Concert'' (2011) * '' We Are One'' (2012)
===Other album appearances=== * Capdevielle ''Les Enfants Des Ténèbres Et Les Anges De La Rue'' (1979) * Spirits Burning & Bridget Wishart ''Earth Born'' (2008) * Spirits Burning & Bridget Wishart ''Bloodlines'' (2009)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web|url=http://steveswindells.wordpress.com/about|title=About|date=15 January 2013|website=Steveswindells.wordpress.com|access-date=19 December 2017}} * [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-swindells-mn0000042598 Steve Swindells discography and album reviews, credits & releases] at AllMusic * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/471199-Steve-Swindells Steve Swindells discography, album releases & credits] at Discogs * [https://open.spotify.com/artist/63erzshesQTdReJmsLfOho Steve Swindells albums to be listened] as stream on Spotify
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Swindells, Steve}} Category:1952 births Category:20th-century British pianists Category:20th-century English LGBTQ people Category:20th-century English male singers Category:21st-century British pianists Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people Category:21st-century English male singers Category:English gay musicians Category:English keyboardists Category:English LGBTQ singers Category:English LGBTQ songwriters Category:English male songwriters Category:English rock pianists Category:English rock singers Category:Gay singers Category:Gay songwriters Category:Hawkwind members Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Ipswich Category:Rock songwriters