BAND BEATING THEIR HEROES
Band Shader have come together to outdo their heroes in singles charts
THE first time Stu Whiston heard the Oasis album Definitely Maybe he knew he wanted to become a musician – and now his band’s single is beating both the Gallagher brothers in the charts.
Former Westwood High School pupil Stu first formed a covers band with friends Darren Edwards, of Cheddleton, and Mike Lo-bosco, in 2000, before they eventually went their separate ways.
But they remained good friends and now, after years performing with other bands, and as a solo artist, Stu is finally back in a band called Shader with Darren and Mike.
And the time is right for success, as Shader find themselves in the top 10 of the physical singles charts.
Their single, suitably called Time Is Right, pictured, debuted in the charts at number three, then rose to number two a week later. It is now in the top 10 for the third week in succession and continues to outperform artists including Noel and Liam Gallagher.
Stu, of Leek, said: “I’ve been in music for a fair few years. We have stuck at it and stuck at it. It has been a lot of hard work.
“We started Shader in 2017 but some of the songs had been written years before.
“Once we started the band we booked some studio time and rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed.
“We got a new drummer, Tom Turney, and that took us up a gear and we were lucky enough to get a slot supporting Shaun Ryder and we did the music festival Kendal Calling.
“We put a few singles out ourselves, then three months ago we got signed by 42’s Records.
“Time Is Right went in at number three in the physical singles chart, which was brilliant. We were above Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.
“We were told that we probably wouldn’t be in the charts at all the following week, but we went up to number two. We were ahead of Liam Gallagher, David Bowie, New Order – all of our influences. It was pretty magical.”
Stu, who works full-time for a builders’ merchants, first became interested in music while listening to the U2 albums his dad would play in his car.
He grew up listening to artists including Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Abba and The Pet Shop Boys.
But it was discovering Oasis which changed his life.
Stu, a former student at Stoke-on-trent College, said: “When I heard Definitely Maybe, that made me want to be a musician. I was friends with Darren at school and I met Mike at music college. We both loved Oasis and the dream was always there.
“The first band I was in was a covers band called Slight Return – everyone used to think we were a Bluetones tribute band. We played songs by The Beatles, Oasis, and the Manic Street Preachers.
“That was around 2000. Then we all went our separate ways. I was in different bands, exploring my musical influences.
“In 2014 I went solo. I had saved up some money and I went to Parr Street Studios in Liverpool. I recorded three tracks with Rich Turvey who has worked with Blossoms and Doves.
“That got me a lot of attention as a solo artist. I was going around the country playing acoustic songs. It gave me confidence as a front man. Before that I had been a songwriter and guitarist in bands but we had always had someone else singing.
“Then in late 2017, I sent some tracks I’d written to Mike and he said, ‘do you want to start a band’?”
The coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to live music, at a point where Shader would normally be building on their chart success with a national tour.
But the band have continued to find ways to perform to fans.
Dad-of-two Stu said: “We decided to keep busy and we have done a couple of isolation videos on Youtube.
“The first was Sometimes, a Gerry Cinnamon cover. After that we decided to do something a bit different.
“So we did a Simple Minds cover, Don’t You (Forget About Me). That was unbelievable.
“Bret Easton Ellis, the author who wrote American Psycho, shared the link on his page and it went crazy.
“The Simple Minds drummer shared it. It’s insane, it’s taken on a life of its own. We are really proud of it.”
Stu added: “It’s frustrating that we can’t play live at the moment.
“So many people have been sharing our music, it’s built up a bit of a buzz.
“I’ve been in bands before but I think this time the difference is the chemistry between the four of us.
“Me, Mike and Daz go back years and Tom has fitted in really well. We get on really well and it all works.”