Henry Priestman

biography

AFTER over 30 years in the music business – and with a credit list longer than both your arms Henry Priestman reinvented him as a singer-songwriter in 2009 finally releasing his debut solo album entitled ‘The Chronicles of Modern Life’.” It’s the sound of a man who’s seen the music world explode from punk (he supported the Sex Pistols in 1977) through to pop (three million albums with The Christians; a top five single for Mark Owen) through to the digital age (soundtracks for James Bond/Xbox, BBC’s Wildlife on One and writing/production duties with the likes of singer/songwriters Marli Harwood, Amy Wadge and Lotte Mullan) and still has something worth singing about.

Live at Beverley Festival

 On Breakfast TV:

So in this age of genre’s, niches and “tribes”, where does Henry fit in?

 Amazon.com seem to think he’s folk :“Chronicles...” topped the Amazon “Folk and World” charts on it’s release. Radio 2’s Johnnie Walker describes Henry’s new direction as “music for grumpy old men”, The Daily Mail said he is “a master of the rueful observation”, and elsewhere the phrase “post-punk-folk-protest” has been bandied about. Says Henry: “I’m just trying to write scruffy songs of pith, wit and poignancy…with the emphasis on scruffy,” (referring to the fact that he played almost everything on the album himself).

 Henry Priestman’s “got form,” his “previous” includes Yachts, Bette Bright’s Illuminations (alongside Suggs and Sex Pistol Glen Matlock), It’s Immaterial, The Christians (writing all songs on their 1987 triple-platinum debut), sharing a mic and a number one single with Paul McCartney, and composing the title song for London West End musical “Dreamboats and Petticoats”. To say nothing of a roll call of sessions for fellow North West luminaries including Lightening Seeds, Johnny Marr, Ian McCulloch, Pete Wylie, Ian McNabb and Echo & The Bunnymen, plus vocals on Jools Holland/Tom Jones’ 2004 CD.

In late 2008, Island Records (home of Amy Winehouse and Sugababes) picked up Henry’s album from Stiff making him at 53, the oldest-ever artist to be signed to a major label for a debut solo album! The track “Grey’s The New Blonde” was play-listed at Radio 2 and further singles “Don’t You Love Me no More” and “He Ain’t Good Enough for You” also picked up extensive Radio 2 airplay.  

Henry is currently working on the follow up to “Chronicles…” interspersed with a new-found love of live-work which is taking him all over the UK including a recent support slot on Radio 2 Folk Award-winning “The Fishermans Friends” tour. He can perform solo, duo and with other musicians to suit and has a charming affect on audiences everywhere. His appearance at this year’s Beverley Festival showed him off at his best with a rousing show and also inspirational songwriting workshops involving local schools- yet another string to his bow.

“Rough-hewn charm that should appeal to listeners for whom thumping disappointment & bloody-minded stoicism are the new rock and roll”
The Sunday Times

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