Date of Birth

Mini Biography

Steve Rothery, the guitarist with melodic rock band Marillion, was born in Brampton, South Yorkshire on 25 November 1959. From the age of six he lived in Whitby, North Yorkshire. He began to play the guitar at the age of 15 and in 1979 saw an ad in the music press for a band called Silmarillion that needed a guitarist. He travelled 250 miles south to audition successfully for the band. From this point he concentrated less on technique and more on melody and composition. This paid off, and after recording two studio albums with Marillion (the name had been shortened), Steve developed a catchy riff on his guitar. The band's singer, Fish, put some romantic lyrics to the riff and Marillion had a big hit on their hands - Kayleigh.

In 2001 Rothery was voted Yorkshire and Humberside's best guitarist in Total Guitar Magazine's poll of the greatest 12 British guitarists by regional vote. As well as Marillion, Steve has a solo project called The Wishing Tree.

Spouse

Trivia

Daughter, Jennifer.

Guitarist with rock band Marillion, who had a UK number 1 album in 1985 with "Misplaced Childhood" and two top five hit singles, "Kayleigh" and "Lavender".

Started playing the guitar at the age of 15 and decided it was to be his vocation.

Voted the best guitarist from the Yorkshire and Humberside region in the Total Guitar Magazine poll of the greatest 12 British guitarists. [July 2001]

Rothery performed Marillion's most famous song, Kayleigh, on a chorused strat, using the pick and his second and third fingers to play it.

Steve Rothery is the only member of Marillion's original lineup who remains in the band to this day.

His bandmates in Marillion are singer Steve Hogarth, keyboardist Mark Kelly, bass guitarist Pete Trewavas and drummer Ian Mosley.

Likes the Fender Stratocaster.

Marillion's 1985 album "Misplaced Childhood" came fourth in Classic Rock Magazine's list of the 30 greatest concept albums of all time. [March 2003]

Marillion's 1994 album "Brave" came 23rd in Classic Rock Magazine's list of the 30 greatest concept albums of all time. [March 2003]

In a 2001 interview with Total Guitar Magazine, Rothery named Jeff Beck and Larry Carlton as his favourite guitarists.

With bandmates Steve Hogarth and Pete Trewavas, played a live acoustic set for Matthew Wright on BBC Radio 2. [8 April 2004]

His favorite albums are "Song to a Seagull" and "Hejira" by 'Joni Mitchell', "Bellybutton" by Jellyfish, "Hounds of Love" by Kate Bush, "Little Earthquakes" by Tori Amos, "So" by Peter Gabriel, "Crowded House" by Crowded House, "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, "Bladerunner" by Vangelis and "Hats" by The Blue Nile.

Plays the Blade RH4 Classic Stratocaster, Blade Delta Telecaster, Blade Texas Standard Stratocaster, Steinberger Custom made double neck 12/6, Takamine 12 string acoustic, Takamine Santa Fe 6 string acoustic and Squier Stratocaster.

Personal Quotes

Considering some people had written us off after Fish had left, it (Seasons End) was a very strong statement that the band still had a lot going for it. And proved that what we found with Steve Hogarth was something equally exciting and original as we had with Fish. It is an album that I am extremely proud of, and includes some classic songs.

My wife to be, Jo, asked me to explain how I came up with my musical ideas, picking up a nearby guitar I started improvising what later became the 'Kayleigh' riff whilst explaining that I tried to combine melody and rhythm. I sometimes wonder if we would still have written 'Kayleigh' if she had asked me if there was anything good on the telly instead!

We've definitely evolved to a point where we have our own particular sound. I can't really see where 'Kayleigh' sounds like any Genesis tracks I know.

We pay for our own marketing and promotion. A lot of major labels won't pay for it, it's not worth their while, at least as far as they're concerned.

"We still sell a lot of records. It's just people's perceptions that have changed. Unless you have a single in the charts, people don't know you're around." (Speaking in 2004)

There's some good music - Coldplay I like a lot. The others I like don't make the charts, like Sigur Rós.

"Some people have already made up their minds about what the band stands for. The only way to get round that is radio play. We've had more airplay than in years, but on digital, so most people can't hear it." (Speaking in 2004)

Doing it ourselves, we've noticed the turnaround. If you get a

... Hogarth,Steve Rothery,

Guitarist Steve Rothery, bassist ...