Bruce Smith (musician)
| Bruce Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bruce Neal Smith |
| Also known as | Minty |
| Origin | Bristol, England |
| Genres | Post-punk, alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Associated acts | The Pop Group, The Slits, Rip Rig + Panic, Public Image Ltd |
Bruce Neal Smith is a British musician best known as the drummer for post-punk band The Pop Group. He has also been a member of The Slits and the New Age Steppers and is currently performing with Public Image Ltd. He was once married to Neneh Cherry.
Career
Smith helped co-found The Pop Group in 1977 and would play with them until they disbanded in 1981.[1] Smith was also part of the line-up when the band re-formed in 2010.[2][3]
While the Pop Group was still active, Smith also joined The Slits in 1979 and would play with them until they disbanded in 1981.[1]
After the Pop Group and the Slits, Smith teamed up with Adrian Sherwood and performed with the New Age Steppers and various other acts on Sherwood's On-U Sound Records label. He married Neneh Cherry, who was also involved with the New Age Steppers, during this period. Smith and Cherry then went on to form Rip Rig + Panic with former Pop Group guitarist Gareth Sager. This band performed from 1981-1983.[4][5]
In 1986 Smith joined PiL for the tour to support their Album release and became a permanent member of the band, playing on their next two studio albums Happy? and 9.[6] Smith left PiL in 1990 a few years before the band broke up. However, Smith re-joined the band when John Lydon reformed it in 2009.[7]
In addition to working with his regular bands, Smith has also done a lot of session work, recording with artists such as Terrence Trent D'Arby, Guided By Voices, The The and Björk.[4][6][8]
Partial discography
The Pop Group
- Y - The Pop Group (1979)
- For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? - The Pop Group (1980)
- We Are Time - The Pop Group (1980)
- We Are All Prostitutes (comp) - The Pop Group (1998)
- Idealists in Distress From Bristol (comp) - The Pop Group (2007)
- Citizen Zombie - The Pop Group (2015)
Rip Rig + Panic
- God - Rip Rig + Panic (1981)
- I Am Cold - Rip Rig + Panic (1982)
- Attitude - Rip Rig + Panic (1983)
- Knee Deep in Hits (comp) - Rip Rig + Panic (1990)
Public Image Ltd
- Happy? - Public Image Ltd (1987)
- 9 - Public Image Ltd (1989)
- ALiFE 2009 (live) - Public Image Ltd (2009)
- Live at Isle of Wight Festival 2011 (live) - Public Image Ltd (2011)
- This is PiL - Public Image Ltd (2012)
Others
- New Age Steppers - New Age Steppers (1980)
- Threat To Creation - Creation Rebel / New Age Steppers (1981)
- Return of the Giant Slits - The Slits (1981)
- Environmental Studies - African Head Charge (1982)
- Sir Henry at N'didi’s Kraal - Vivian Stanshall (1984)
- Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby - Terence Trent D'Arby (1987)
- Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia - Guided by Voices (1989)
- Dusk - The The (1992)
- Debut - Björk (1993)
- Sweetback - Sweetback (1996)
References
- 1 2 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 757–758. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ↑ Wilkinson, Peter (14 September 2010). "Review: Pop Group returns, raucous and defiant". CNN.
- ↑ "The Pop Group Reform — Bristol post-punk band announce gigs". Clash (magazine). 10 July 2010.
- 1 2 "Bruce Smith biography". On-U Sound Records.
- ↑ Bruce Smith at AllMusic
- 1 2 "PiL Members". Public Image Ltd.
- ↑ Goldsmith, Belinda (9 September 2009). "Sex Pistol singer John Lydon to reform Public Image". Reuters.
- ↑ "PiL People Bios". Public Image Ltd.