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 Born
in Hastings, England in 1965, young Wesley Stace (now known
as the inimitable John Wesley Harding) brought laughter, joy
and a lot of noise to the family home. His mother was a singing
teacher and music examiner while his father enjoyed a studious
career as a classics scholar - this combination forever forging
a link between music and writing.
Teaching himself guitar, prompted by unhealthy exposure to the
Beach Boys and David Bowie, JWH developed a taste for popular
music strengthened by a chance encounter at the age of 14 with
the work of Bob Dylan.
After pursuing a degree in English Literature at Cambridge University,
his Ph.D. was, naturally, abandoned and it was to music that
JWH turned his full attention, starting to write his own songs
and get the odd gig. Upon moving to London, JWH soon acquired
a reputation as someone with something to say and a tune to
say it with - he secured choice opening slots on a variety of
stages for artists as diverse as Hothouse Flowers, Ted Hawkins
and John Hiatt.
By now, a variety of talent scouts were circling, but it was
London based Demon Records that moved to secure Harding's signature
by issuing a tight and energetic live album in 1989 titled It
Happened One Night. Critics applauded and his audience
expanded resulting in an enthusiastic approach from American
music mogul Seymour Stein. This led to a contract with Sire
Records and the release in 1990 of Here Comes The Groom,
taped by in-house producer Andy Paley. An entirely impressive
debut with copious nuances, stinging lyrical observation and
tell-tale Harding hooks, the album also featured musical support
from the Attractions - Elvis Costello's familiar backing band.
The LA Times called it "the first great rock album
of the 90's."
Finding a very receptive audience in America, JWH uprooted and
moved lock, stock and barrel to San Francisco undertaking numerous
tours, sometimes in support (The Band, Michelle Shocked, Ray
Davies, Los Lobos and Joan Baez, among many more) and often
as a headliner. This ground swell of support provided a firm
foundation for his next studio album, 1991's The Name Above
The Title produced, again, by Andy Paley and stuffed to
the brim with wit, wisdom and wonder.
Why We Fight, produced by Steve Berlin (and newly reissued
on DRT), followed the next year and, having the unique appeal
of having been recorded in and during the LA Riots, displays
a deeper, less jovial approach - a style mainly comprised of
caustic lyricism and poignant melodies. It was an impressive
statement and one that caught the ear of a number of movers
and shakers, not least of all Bruce Springsteen. The Boss was
so impressed that he immediately and personally drafted Harding
as the opening act on dates on the Ghost of Tom Joad
solo tour - Springsteen's first opening act since 1978.
With a new label, the much loved Rhino Records, JWH's 1995 album
John Wesley Harding's New Deal hit the racks to instant
acclaim and a degree of notoriety introducing an entirely new
genre: 'Gangsta Folk'. The fusion continued, unbridled, with
the recording of Awake. The release heralded a somewhat
happier Harding, brandishing songs of love, devotion and a degree
of irony not seen this side of Oscar Wilde. With work to do
and audiences to impress, he enlisted a full backing band, making
the rounds in Europe and North America, delving into metaphysical
areas where few singer-songwriters had gone before.
Harding relocated to Seattle, and set about writing and recording
Trad Arr Jones, a unique and studied tribute to the
work of trad English folky Nic Jones whose career was tragically
cut short by an automobile accident. A radical departure from
his regular pop rock, Harding's tribute received unexpected
support among fans and critics who cited his performances as
both exciting and enigmatic with an unexpected twist of pathos.
Immersed in this world of traditional folk, JWH formed the roguish
'The Minstrel In The Galleries,' a Seattle based folk combo
designed and built to entertain and engage with traditional
folk music in its widest sense.
Despite the musical detours, Harding's eye had never left the
ball and so with a new contract with Mammoth Records he entered
the pop rock realm once again with a defiant glint in his eye
and recorded perhaps his best record thus far. The Confessions
Of St. Ace was recorded in Nashville, ably assisted by
producer Gary Burnette, a determined backing band, and some
help from Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Steve Earle.
A move to New York City, more touring, more songwriting and
more recording led to the release on
WOW (Way Out Wes) of Swings & Roundabouts (2003),
the fourth in the series of Dynablob self-releases. More importantly
however, Harding's New York relocation brought him into contact
with his latest label, the recently formed DRT Records and a
deal to release Adam's Apple, unquestionably his greatest
and most dangerously hypnotic work to date. The album, produced
by Julian Raymond, Erik Kupper, and Harding covers a wide range
of topics and soundscapes: "Monkey and His Cat," a song inspired
by an 18th Century woodcut, "Sussex Ghost Story," which features
The Gavin Bryars Ensemble, and the album's first single, the
pop-infused "Negative Love."
Harding recently completed a solo acoustic tour of the U.S.
Soon after the album's release, Harding will again tour the
U.S. with his band The Radical Gentleman.<
Later in 2004, Harding will have another reason to celebrate.
Signed to publishers Little, Brown Books in a two book deal,
he will have his debut novel Misfortune published in
September, under his real name, Wesley Stace.
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