Ben Harding (born 1965) is an English lead and rhythm guitarist, vocalist and songwriter from London, best known for performing in the punk/ rock bands

Senseless Things Senseless Things were an English pop punk band, formed in 1986 in London. The band released four studio albums and achieved two UK Top 20 hit singles before splitting up in 1995. Senseless Things reformed in 2017 to play several gigs includin ...

3 Colours Red 3 Colours Red were an English rock band, formed in 1994 in London. They achieved their biggest chart success at the end of the 1990s, along with other British rock bands such as Ash and Feeder. The band was named by sticking a pin in a Londo ...

and Thee Faction. Louder Than War called him "one of the UK's finest rock guitarists."

Biography

Harding joined vocalist/guitarist Mark Keds, bassist Morgan Nicholls and drummer Cass Browne in pop punk/alternative rock group

in 1987, completing the line-up of the band. Senseless Things released four studio albums and a Peel Sessions album between 1989 and 1995, had two Top 20 singles, and toured internationally. Harding is credited as songwriter on tracks including the 1993 single "Homophobic Asshole", from album Empire of the Senseless. After Senseless Things split in 1995, Harding joined 'Britrock'/punk band

with vocalist/bassist Pete Vuckovic, guitarist Chris McCormack and drummer Keith Baxter. Three Colours Red released two LPs and a series of singles/EPs between 1996 and 1999, achieving two UK Top 20 albums, and six Top 40 singles, including the Top 20 hit " Beautiful Day" before dissolution in 1999. The band played

Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...

' Finsbury Park comeback gig in 1996; they also supported KISS and

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whi ...

. After a hiatus from the London music scene, Harding returned in 2009 joining Thee Faction as lead guitarist, a self-styled 'Socialist RnB' band in which members performed under pseudonyms. Thee Faction released four studio albums between 2010 and 2015 and played gigs on the post-punk circuit with artists such as the Membranes, Jon Langford,

TV Smith Timothy "T. V." Smith (born 5 April 1956) is an English singer-songwriter who was part of punk band The Adverts in the late 1970s. Since then he has fronted other bands, as well as pursuing a solo career. Biography Smith and Gaye Black (a.k.a ...

, and the Darling Buds, as well as for political events and campaigns. With Thee Faction no longer active, Harding joined garage band the Charlemagnes as lead guitarist in 2016; their first album ''Three Chords and a Half-Truth'' was released in 2018. The band have performed with groups such as Moving Targets, the Cravats, the Bellrays, Eight Rounds Rapid,

Dealing With Damage Dealing With Damage are a British four-piece punk/ melodic hardcore band from London, England.Glasper, Ian ''The Scene That Would Not Die: Twenty Years Of Post-Millennial Punk In The UK,'' Earth Island Books, 2021, ISBN 9781999758158 The band w ...

, the Men of Gwent,

Crazyhead Crazyhead are an English garage punk band from Leicester, England. Though lumped in with the largely media-created grebo scene, they were more influenced by the garage rock of the late 1960s, as well as bands like The Ramones, The Stooges and ...

and

Gaye Bykers on Acid Gaye Bykers on Acid (GBOA) are an English psychedelic rock band from Leicester, and one of the founder members of the grebo music scene. They later released both thrash punk and dance music albums under various aliases. Personnel * Mary By ...

. Harding joined Senseless Things for three reunion concerts in 2017, culminating in a farewell gig at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Ben Harding appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 2003.

Selected discography

with
Senseless Things Senseless Things were an English pop punk band, formed in 1986 in London. The band released four studio albums and achieved two UK Top 20 hit singles before splitting up in 1995. Senseless Things reformed in 2017 to play several gigs includin ...

*1989: ''Postcard C.V.'' (album) *1991: ''The First of Too Many'' (album) *1993: '' Empire of the Senseless'' (album) *1994: ''Peel Sessions'' (compilation) *1995: ''Taking Care of Business'' (album) *1998: ''The Singles'' (compilation)

with
3 Colours Red 3 Colours Red were an English rock band, formed in 1994 in London. They achieved their biggest chart success at the end of the 1990s, along with other British rock bands such as Ash and Feeder. The band was named by sticking a pin in a Londo ...

*1997: '' Pure'' (album) *1999: ''

Revolt Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...

'' (album) *2005: '' If You Ain't Got a Weapon...'' (compilation)

with Thee Faction

*2011: ''Up the Workers! or, Capitalism Is Good for Corporations That's Why You've Been Told Socialism Is Bad All Your Life'' (album) *2012: ''Singing Down the Government, or, The War of Position and How We're Winning It'' (album) *2013: ''Good Politics: Your Role as an Active Citizen in Civil Society'' (album) *2015: '' Reading Writing Revolution: The Tendency of the Rate of Profit to Fall'' (album)

with The Charlemagnes

*2018: ''Three Chords and a Half-Truth'' (album)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Ben English male guitarists Musicians from London 1965 births 20th-century British male musicians 21st-century British male musicians Living people