b. 1 May 1970, Stamford Hill, London, England. Guitarist Bernard Butler studied violin and piano before rising to fame with Suede as the perceived inheritor of Johnny Marr's mantle as the guitar player of the 90s. Indeed, he had first learnt the instrument by playing along to Smiths records. As a 13-year-old, Butler formed his first band, Slowdive (nothing to do with the Creation Records outfit of the same name), with his brothers. It lasted only a short time, and by his mid-teens he was subsidizing his bedroom study of guitar with part-time work. After failing his first-year history exams at London's Queen Mary College, he joined Suede in 1989, answering an advertisement in the New Musical Express. Butler wrote all the band's music and provided the perfect antidote to Brett Anderson's mannered vocals and lyrics, until his acrimonious departure in June 1994. By that time he had secured a reputation for being the least forthcoming and most antagonistic member of a band judged to be one of the greatest hopes for the UK's pop future, while also being lauded as a brilliant, original guitarist.
The break from Anderson was seen in much the same light as Marr's from Morrissey, and like Marr, Butler immediately took on the role of itinerant guitarist. His first post-Suede employment came alongside former All About Eve singer Julianne Regan in France. After a period of recuperation, he began writing songs in the north London flat he shared with wife Elisa, framing one composition in particular, "Yes", which was only fully realized when he made the acquaintance of flamboyant former Thieves singer David McAlmont. Butler played all the instruments beneath McAlmont's sweet soul vocal, surprising many critics in the process with his new direction. A second single, "You Do", and a hastily assembled album, McAlmont And Butler (released as McAlmont And Butler), followed, before the partnership dissolved in yet more acrimony.
Further collaborations with Bryan Ferry (a version of John Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Through The Night"), old friend Edwyn Collins, Aimee Mann (two tracks on her 1995 set I'm With Stupid), Eddi Reader, Neneh Cherry and Tim Booth And Angelo Badalamenti were also released, while Butler set about recording his debut solo album for Creation. Premiered by the singles "Stay" and "People Move On", the album proved to be an elegant showcase for his Neil Young style of guitar rock, although the biggest surprise was hearing Butler's fragile voice singing his own songs. That element of surprise was sorely missing from the follow-up Friends And Lovers, a pedestrian collection of 70s styled rock songs.
In an unexpected move, Butler reunited with McAlmont in the new millennium to record a new McAlmont And Butler album. Even more surprising was the guitarist's renewed working partnership with former Suede sparring partner Brett Anderson. The duo teamed up in late 2004 to record an album as the Tears.
