Ed Graham

Ed Graham
Performing with The Darkness at Download Festival, Donington Park, England on 10 June 2011
Background information
Birth name Edwin James Graham
Also known as Ed
Born (1977-02-20) 20 February 1977
Genres Rock, Alternative, Pop
Instruments Drums, percussion
Years active 2000–2008, 2011–present
Labels Atlantic, Must Destroy
Associated acts Stone Gods, The Darkness, Q*Sling, KFB (Karaoke for Beginners), Puppets to the Supreme Commander, The Venus Reaction
Website www.thedarknesslive.com

Edwin James Graham (born 20 February 1977) is an English musician who is best known as the original drummer of the rock band The Darkness, as well as the subsequent successor band Stone Gods fronted by guitarist and singer Richie Edwards.

Early life

Graham grew up in Oulton Broad in Lowestoft, attending Kirkley High School with the Hawkins brothers. Not particularly sporty, Graham would spend his break times isolated in the music room where he began to play the drums. After school Graham studied art at Lowestoft college. In the years 1998 and 1999 Graham studied Film and Television at Salisbury College, gaining an HND.

Career

After leaving Salisbury College Graham returned to Lowestoft and worked in a Sanyo factory for six months to raise money to move to London. In the year 2000 he moved to Finsbury park, soon relocating to Camden Town where he remained for over ten years. His first band in London was Q*Sling fronted by Norwegian born Paul Ronney Angel who later went on to form The Urban Voodoo Machine.

The Darkness was conceived at a millennium eve party by the Hawkins brothers, Justin and Dan. The line up was completed some months later by Graham and bass player Frankie Poullain.

Graham played on three Studio albums: Permission to Land, One Way Ticket to Hell and back and Hot Cakes. After the huge success of the band's debut album, The Darkness toured relentlessly and played many major festivals in the UK and Europe including Reading and Leeds, Download, and T In The Park as well as filming promotional videos in Australia's Blue Mountains and on a glacier in Iceland. The band won numerous awards including three Brit Awards and the prestigious Ivor Novello award.

In 2006 The Darkness split due to Justin Hawkins leaving. Graham and Dan Hawkins went on to form The Stone Gods, recruiting Toby Macfarlaine and promoting Darkness guitar technician Richie Edwards to Frontman.

In July 2008 it was announced that he was permanently leaving the band due to health issues.[1]

SPIN magazine confirmed that Graham was suffering with "Avascular Necrosis", a rare condition causing lack of blood supply to the femur. In 2009 Graham underwent bilateral hip surgery (a major operation) which was a complete success. [2]

Subsequently, he formed the band Karaoke for Beginners with ex Silverfish guitarist Andrew "Fuzz" Duprey.

In 2011 The Darkness reunited with all four founding members, with Download 2011 being one of their first come back shows. Following this, the band played numerous European and U.S festivals and toured with Lady Gaga

In October 2014, it was announced that the band were no longer working with drummer Ed Graham, stating that "for various reasons, we have all decided to move on. We love Ed and we wish him happiness."

Since 2015, Graham has been the subject of a fine art photographic documentary by rock photographer Nick Elliott recording Graham's personal and professional life since his departure from The Darkness.

In 2015, Graham formed another band with singer/songwriter Angus Duprey, brother of Fuzz Duprey. The pair are currently recording an album in Norfolk, which is due for completion in late Summer/Autumn 2016. The band, Puppets to the Supreme Commander, intend to release an E.P and play U.K shows ahead of the album release.

In 2017, Graham performed drums for a one-off band, The Venus Reaction. The project, set up by friend and Puppets to the Supreme Commander bandmate David Donley, also featured Amie Conradine, Jim Lowe, and Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols. The band released a double A side vinyl single, in a limited run of 500 copies. [3].

References

  1. ↑ Sad but True Archived 6 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Spin Magazine". Spin-cdnsrc.texterity.com. June 2009. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  3. ↑ https://burningshed.com/the-venus-reaction_crashing-up_vinyl. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • FlamingWhopper.com, UK-based fan site for The Darkness, Stone Gods, Hot Leg & British Whale (Est. 2005)
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