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Steven James Hewitt (born 22 March 1971) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the
frontman The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
of his own band,
Love Amongst Ruin Love Amongst Ruin are an English rock supergroup, led by Steve Hewitt after his tenure as the drummer for Placebo. The band released their self-titled debut album in September 2010 and second album ''Lose Your Way'' was released in June 2015 ...
. Hewitt is best known for his tenure as the drummer for
Placebo A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures. In general ...
between September 1996 and October 2007. He plays drums and guitar
left-handed In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the dominant hand, due to it being stronger, faster or more dextrous. The other hand, comparatively often the weaker, less dextrous or simply less subjecti ...
.


Personal life and influences

Hewitt was born in
Northwich {{Infobox UK place , static_image_name = Northwich - Town Bridge.jpg , static_image_caption = Town Bridge, the River Weaver and the spire of Holy Trinity Church , official_name = Northwich , country ...
, Cheshire, England and attended Weaverham High School. Hewitt has a daughter and had a second child in early 2010. His elder daughter Emily performed backing vocals on ''Love Song'', the final track on
Love Amongst Ruin Love Amongst Ruin are an English rock supergroup, led by Steve Hewitt after his tenure as the drummer for Placebo. The band released their self-titled debut album in September 2010 and second album ''Lose Your Way'' was released in June 2015 ...
's 2010 debut album. Hewitt was inspired to become a drummer after watching Phil Taylor performing ''Ace of Spades'' with
Motörhead Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precu ...
on
Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...
. He "hassled" his parents to get him a drum kit and when they did, he taught himself to play. Hewitt also acknowledges drummers
Phil Rudd Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd (born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecius, 19 May 1954) is an Australian drummer, best known as the drummer of AC/DC across three stints. On the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans from AC/DC, Rudd became ...
(
AC/DC AC/DC (stylised as ACϟDC) are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm Young, Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and Heavy metal ...
) and
John Bonham John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Led Zeppelin. Esteemed for his speed, power, fast single-footed kick drumming, distinctive sound, and feel for groove,J ...
(
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
) as influences. Hewitt was musically active at school, drumming and putting on performances. He lists some of his influences as
The Cure The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith (musician), Robert Smith has re ...
,
Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex, in 1980. The band currently consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting) and Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting). Depeche ...
,
The Smiths The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They comprised the singer Morrissey, the guitarist Johnny Marr, the bassist Andy Rourke and the drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerg ...
, AC/DC,
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy met ...
,
Thin Lizzy Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Their music reflects a wide range of influences, including blues, soul music, psychedelic rock and traditional Irish folk music, but is generally classified as hard rock or some ...
, Led Zeppelin,
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
,
Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass) ...
and Can. He recalled that his family "loved music" and driving on caravan holidays in the car would be punctuated by the sounds of
Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in ...
,
Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
, ELO and
The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
. Hewitt worked as a
picture frame A picture frame is a protective and decorative edging for a picture, such as a painting or photograph. It makes displaying the work safer and easier and both sets the picture apart from its surroundings and aesthetically integrates it with them. ...
r before leaving school and upon leaving school he began training to be a race car engineer. He progressed to be offered an opportunity to continue his training with Williams and worked on the team's
pit crew In motorsports, a pit stop is a pause for refuelling, new tyres, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, as a penalty, or any combination of the above. These stops occur in an area called the pits, most commonly accessed via a pit la ...
. He also worked as a sign writer until deciding to pursue music full-time.


Drumming career


Early years (1988–1996)

Hewitt began his career in the
North West The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
of England, playing with his brother Nick in Misadventure, before leaving in 1988 to join The Mystic Deckchairs. Two of The Mystic Deckchairs' tracks, "For The Day" and "Keep Your Head On", appeared on the 1989 compilation LP ''Drunk'' released by
Emergency Records Emergency Records was an American independent record label from 1979 to 1989. Founded in the United States in early 1979, Emergency Records specialized in products of the Italian disco sound of the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, the majority ...
. Hewitt joined fellow local musician Tim Burgess in Electric Crayons, prior to Burgess joining The Charlatans in 1989. Hewitt also joined Breed at the age of 17 and linked up with the band for a German tour after spying an advert placed by the band in
Affleck's Palace Afflecks (formerly Affleck's Palace) is an indoor market in Manchester, England, in the city's Northern Quarter on the junction of Church Street/Tib Street and Dale Street with Oldham Street. Dozens of independent stalls, small shops and boutiq ...
. Following the completion of the tour, Hewitt joined
The Boo Radleys The Boo Radleys are an English alternative rock band who were associated with the shoegazing and Britpop movements in the 1990s. They originally formed in Wallasey, England in 1988, with Rob Harrison on drums, singing, singer/electric guitar, g ...
on a temporary basis and played on the band's 1990 debut album, ''
Ichabod and I ''Ichabod and I'' is the debut album by British indie rock band The Boo Radleys, released in 1990 on the indie label Action Records. It has never been released on CD. Steve Hewitt, the drummer for this album, would later join Placebo. Track li ...
''. Hewitt rejoined Breed in 1991 and played on the albums ''Grin'' in 1991 and ''Violet Sentimental'' in 1993. Despite a support slot on
Nick Cave Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian singer, songwriter, poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, composer and occasional actor. Known for his baritone voice and for fronting the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Ca ...
's ''Let Love In'' tour, Breed found commercial success elusive and following a disastrous gig at the Bull & Gate in London in 1996, the band split. While in Breed, Hewitt also played for
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
act
K-Klass K-Klass are a British electronic music musical ensemble, group from Wrexham, Wales and Chester, England, who are based in Manchester, England. Its original members were Andy Williams, Carl Thomas, Russ Morgan and Paul Roberts. In 1991, K-Klass ...
. The need for money during these years saw Hewitt take on session work in London, recording
jingles A jingle is a short song or tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. Jingles are a form of sound branding. A jingle contains one or more hooks and meaning that explicitly promote the product or service being advertised, usually t ...
and appearing on releases by Baby June and Sharkboy. On 6 December 2004, Breed reformed for a one-off gig at Lock 17 in
Camden Lock Market The Camden markets are a number of adjoining large retail markets, often collectively referred to as Camden Market or Camden Lock, located in the historic former Pickfords stables, in Camden Town, London. It is situated north of the Hampstead ...
, London.


Placebo (1996–2007)

Hewitt met
Brian Molko Brian Molko (born 10 December 1972) is a Belgian-born Scottish-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of the band Placebo. He is known in particular for his distinctive nasal, high-pitche ...
in 1991 through his then-girlfriend and was invited to drum on
demos Demos may refer to: Computing * DEMOS, a Soviet Unix-like operating system * DEMOS (ISP), the first internet service provider in the USSR * Demos Commander, an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems * plural for Demo (computer programming) ...
for Molko's band
Placebo A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures. In general ...
, though Hewitt was unable to join the band due to his commitments to Breed. The band earned a record deal with drummer
Robert Schultzberg Klas Robert Schultzberg is a Swedish musician. He is best known as the original drummer for the English alternative rock band Placebo. Schultzberg had known Stefan Olsdal from a school band in Sweden in 1993 and joined Placebo when the band form ...
, who played on the trio's 1996 debut album. In the autumn of 1996, tensions between Schultzberg, Molko and bassist Stefan Olsdal led to Schultzberg's departure from the band. Breed's breakup around the same time allowed Hewitt to accept the invitation to join Placebo permanently. Hewitt appeared in the video for the band's 1997 " Nancy Boy" single with his face blurred out, because he was still under contract to a different record label. After completing touring for ''Placebo'', the band wrote and recorded their second album, '' Without You I'm Nothing'', released in October 1998. The first official Placebo release to feature Hewitt was the " Pure Morning" single, released in August 1998. Hewitt drummed and contributed to the songwriting on subsequent albums '' Black Market Music'' (2000), ''
Sleeping with Ghosts ''Sleeping with Ghosts'' is the fourth studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. It was recorded from late 2002 to early 2003 and released on 1 April 2003 by record labels Virgin and Hut. ''Sleeping with Ghosts'' reached number 11 ...
'' (2003) and '' Meds'' (2006) with the band. On 1 October 2007, after the completion of the tour supporting ''Meds'', it was announced via the official Placebo website that Hewitt had parted company with Placebo due to "personal and musical differences". He was replaced in 2008 by Steve Forrest, the band's first right-handed drummer.


Love Amongst Ruin (2007–present)

Feeling "betrayed" after leaving Placebo and faced with a decision "to go to the
pub A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...
or the studio", Hewitt returned to his home studio and began creating "a new band, a new album and a new sound". He contributed drums, guitars, piano and lead vocals to the album and enlisted
Jon Thorne Jon Thorne (born 12 February 1967) is an English double bassist, producer and composer. Career Thorne is self-taught and started playing at the age of 23. He has studied and played jazz for a number of years following and considers Danny Thomps ...
and
Donald Ross Skinner Donald Skinner is a guitarist, songwriter and producer primarily known for his work with Julian Cope. Skinner is commonly known by the name Donald Ross Skinner with the addition of the middle name of ''Ross'' attributed to him by Cope after Glen ...
as collaborators. Steve's brother Nick Hewitt recorded additional guitars and Hewitt felt that he had captured his best ever drum sound on the album. The band was named Love Amongst Ruin in late 2009 and Hewitt assuming frontman duties. The band's debut gig at the
Eurosonic Festival Eurosonic Noorderslag is an annual four-day music showcase festival and conference held in January in Groningen, Netherlands. The first three days of the festival (Eurosonic) feature artists from all over Europe, the last day of the festival (N ...
in the
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
on 14 January 2010 was his first public appearance since leaving Placebo. Love Amongst Ruin's self-titled debut album was released on 13 September 2010 and was supported by UK and European tours through 2010 and 2011. Hewitt wrote and recorded the band's second album ''
Lose Your Way ''Lose Your Way'' is the second studio album by the British rock band Love Amongst Ruin. It was released by Ancient B Records on 29 June 2015 and has been described as "an album from an artist over the hump, head high to the future and all engines ...
'' with Donald Ross Skinner in 2011 and 2012, but the album was withheld from release until 27 June 2015. The album was supported by a short European tour.


Six by Seven (2012–2013)

Hewitt befriended members of the band
Six by Seven Six by Seven (also written as SIX.BY SEVEN or six.by seven or six.byseven) are an English indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Nottingham. The classic lineup of the band featured singer/guitarist Chris Olley, guitarist Sam Hempton, drummer Chri ...
when they toured as
opening act A opening act, also known as a warm-up act, support act, or supporting act, is an entertainment act (musical, comedic, or otherwise), that performs at a concert before the featured act, or "headliner". Rarely, an opening act may perform again a ...
for Placebo in 1998. In 2012, Hewitt and Six by Seven frontman
Chris Olley Chris Olley is a Nottingham based musician and photographer. He was the lead singer and guitarist for Six By Seven and also the band's main creative influence. He studied art at Wakefield College (1990–91) and gained a BA (Hons) in photography a ...
were reintroduced by mutual friend Steve Hove (a then-guitarist for Love Amongst Ruin) and began rehearsing new material for Olley's project (The Death of) Six By Seven. The material they wrote eventually saw the project morph into a reformed Six by Seven. Hewitt was announced as the band's new drummer in August 2012. The band entered Moles Studio in Bath in January 2013 to record the band's seventh album. The album, titled '' Love and Peace and Sympathy'', was released on 16 April 2013 and the band embarked on a UK tour in mid-2013, which included a slot at
Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemp ...
. Hewitt's year was ended by a broken arm suffered in October 2013, which caused him to miss an in-store signing at
Fopp Fopp may refer to: * "Fopp" (song), a 1975 song by the Ohio Players from ''Honey'' * ''Fopp'' (EP), a 1988 EP by Soundgarden, featuring the song of the same name * '' Screaming Life/Fopp'', a 1990 compilation album by the American rock band Sound ...
in
Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...
and a performance at
Soundedit Festival SOUNDEDIT (International Festival of Music Producers and Sound Designers SOUNDEDIT) − an annual, international festival dedicated to music producers and sound designers. Since its beginning in 2009, the festival has been taking place in Łódź ...
. Chris Olley reported on his blog in May 2014 that he had recorded a new Six by Seven album by himself, which hinted that Hewitt had left the band.


Collaborations and production career


Lys

Hewitt struck up a friendship with French band Lys while touring to support ''Love Amongst Ruin'' in 2011. As executive producer, Hewitt and Paul Corkett oversaw the production of six songs on Lys' 2013 debut album ''Go Your Own Way''. He worked on Lys' 2015 second album Rebud in 2015 and has been regular guest at the band's live shows.


Other projects

In 2010, Hewitt joined songwriter/producer Brandun Reed as a collaborator on Reed's Polaroid Kiss project and played on the albums ''The New Coliseum'' (2013) and ''Youth'' (2015). In 2013, he produced the entirety of Italian band Spiral 69's third album ''Ghosts in My Eyes''. As of May 2015, Hewitt was recording and producing pop singer DéDé and recording drums for Paul Draper's ''
Spooky Action ''Spooky Action'' is the debut solo album by English singer songwriter and ex-Mansun frontman Paul Draper (musician), Paul Draper, released on 11 August 2017. It entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 19 and peaked at No. 3 on the UK Independent Alb ...
''. From 2019 onwards, he collaborated with and played live drums for Evi Vine. In June 2019, Hewitt played drums for Golden Apes at
Wave-Gotik-Treffen The Wave-Gotik-Treffen (WGT; ) is an annual world festival for "dark" music and "dark culture" in Leipzig, Germany. 150+ bands and artists from various backgrounds (gothic rock, gothic metal, EBM, industrial, noise, darkwave, neo-folk, neo-cl ...
. In July 2022, Hewitt joined Georgia Train's live band.


Discography


Albums

; with Baby June * ''Need to Need You'' (1993) ; with Boo Radleys * ''
Ichabod and I ''Ichabod and I'' is the debut album by British indie rock band The Boo Radleys, released in 1990 on the indie label Action Records. It has never been released on CD. Steve Hewitt, the drummer for this album, would later join Placebo. Track li ...
'' (1989) ; with Breed * ''Grin'' (1991) * ''Violent Sentimental'' (1993) ; with Love Amongst Ruin * ''
Love Amongst Ruin Love Amongst Ruin are an English rock supergroup, led by Steve Hewitt after his tenure as the drummer for Placebo. The band released their self-titled debut album in September 2010 and second album ''Lose Your Way'' was released in June 2015. ...
'' (2010) * ''
Lose Your Way ''Lose Your Way'' is the second studio album by the British rock band Love Amongst Ruin. It was released by Ancient B Records on 29 June 2015 and has been described as "an album from an artist over the hump, head high to the future and all engines ...
'' (2015) ; with Placebo * '' Without You I'm Nothing'' (1998) * '' Black Market Music'' (2000) * ''
Sleeping with Ghosts ''Sleeping with Ghosts'' is the fourth studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. It was recorded from late 2002 to early 2003 and released on 1 April 2003 by record labels Virgin and Hut. ''Sleeping with Ghosts'' reached number 11 ...
'' (2003) * '' Meds'' (2006) ; with Polaroid Kiss *''The New Coliseum'' (Expanded Compilation) (2013) *''Youth'' (2015) ; with Six By Seven * '' Love and Peace and Sympathy'' (2013)


EPs

* Breed – '' Clawfist – The Peel Sessions'' (
split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enterta ...
with Gallon Drunk) (1992) * Love Amongst Ruin – ''
Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...
'' (2010) * Polaroid Kiss – ''The New Coliseum'' (2011)


Collaborations

* Sharkboy – ''The Valentine Tapes'' (LP, 1995); drums on "Same Mother of Pearl" * Sharkboy – ''The Valentine Singles'' (4-part single set, 1995); 8 tracks


Producer

*Lys – ''Go Your Own Way'' (2013, album, with
Paul Corkett Paul Corkett is a British record producer, engineer and arranger. Biography Paul got his start as an engineer in the mid-1980s, engineering singles and albums for bands as varied as ABC, the Chameleons, Twelfth Night and the Heart Throbs. He l ...
); 7 tracks * Lys – ''Redbud'' (2015, album, with Paul Corkett) *Spiral 69 – ''Ghosts in My Eyes'' (2013, album, with Paul Corkett)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hewitt, Steve 1971 births Living people English rock drummers People from Northwich Placebo (band) members 21st-century drummers