Hello,

very recently my good friend and good guitarist Ian Nimmo-Smith left my band. He decided it was time to get a real job and spend loads of time with his girlfriend. Which was pretty much a very good decision. It was sad but amicable. Ian has been in my band right from the start and has been a massive part of the way my music has developed over the last few years. Ian's departure got me thinking of how many musicians I've had play for me over the last couple of years - its A LOT. Probably enough for about 3 bands worth. I do get through them a bit. Like Spinal Tap drummers.


SAM ISAAC: OCT 05 - PRESENT (Sam Isaac)

This is me. I was there from the start. Blates.

I am still Sam Isaac.

WILLIAM HOWICK: OCT 05 - JUNE 07 (piano/cello/bass)

William Howick recorded everything I did up until the "Sideways" single. He is incredible. He also played some piano and cello for me at many shows. We are best friends.

William is now doing a normal boring job. He claims to be "happy."

SIMON PUTTICK: FEB 06 (singing)

Simon Puttick is a massive friend of mine from school. We played in a band together in high school. Simon sang for me at a show in February 2006 at the G-Lounge in Camden. Afterwards there was a party at my house where people danced in their boxers on the sofa and someone did a wee out of my bedroom window on to my bike.

Simon is now doing a doctorate or something because he is very clever. He also directs musicals.

JAMES SOUTHERN: JUNE 06 - FEB 06 (drums)

James Southern was the drummer in my school band with Simon. I roped him in in the summer of 2006 to play drums for me in the first ever full Sam Isaac band. James knew some very disgusting things. Also he has the body of a king. The last show he played for me was The Sticker, Star and Tape mini album launch party in London in February 2007.

James is now training to be an architect at uni in Sheffield.

TOMMY C: JUNE 06 - FEB 06 (singing/piano)

Tommy C was also a friend of mine from school. He is well known for being a massive joker. Tommy sang and played piano for me for the same period that James did. They were good times. We spent a whole summer of 06 rehearsing in a not-finished extension at William Howick's house.

Tommy amazingly managed to graduate from Reading University with a degree in drinking and is now working in London. He is really good at skiing.

IAN NIMMO-SMITH: JUNE 06 - NOV 08 (guitar)

Ian was my original guitarist and had a massive influence over songs like "Sticker, Star and Tape" and "Carbon Dating." Ian was in my original full band and stuck with me for two years. This included Maida Vale sessions for Radio 1, countless tours and many different vans. I once shouted at Ian when I was drunk. I said "Ian! Look at me!" It was funny in context. Ian recorded the amazing guitars on my album. He shall be sadly missed.

Ian has an engineering degree and is essentially going to save the world with his good will.

LUKE LEIGHFIELD: JAN 07 - JAN 08 (piano)

Luke Leighfield is a pop star that I went on tour with for a year straight when I properly started out on this whole shebang. Because we were touring together and both playing solo, Luke used to play piano for me and then played piano in my band. People used to think that we were an acoustic duo. They just couldn't understand. Luke left my band because he needed to spend more time being Luke Leighfield. As Luke gets ready to tour China(!), it would appear that this policy has worked.

Luke continues to be Luke Leighfield to this very day.

JONATHAN 'BURT' HILL: APRIL 07 - PRESENT (cello/piano/synth/guitar)

Burt played his first show with me at The Social in London, at the release party for the split single I released with Luke Leighfield on Sam Duckworth's Mannequin Republic label. He learned all the parts and then turned up and played perfectly with barely any rehearsing. Apart from going to America for the summer of 2007, Burt has played masses of shows with me and we even went to Sweden together.

Burt still plays in the Sam Isaac band.

HYWEL POTHECARY: JUNE 07 - AUG 08 (bass)

Hywel Pothecary was a leather-wearing, chain-smoking, pony-tailed man from the depths of hell. Not really, he is literally the most technically gifted bass player I have ever seen. Apart from being in possession of some of the darkest wit I have ever experienced, Hywel joined my band for a performance at Wireless festival in June 2007 and never looked back. We did many tours together, including the Electric Proms tour in Autumn 2007. He once ran into the sea whilst completely naked. Hywel left this summer so that he could continue his engineering degree.

Hywel is currently in his second year of an engineering degree at Birmingham uni.

DAN HALLIDAY: JUNE 07 (drums)

Dan Halliday played drums for me at Wireless Festival in June 2007 and was also involved in some recording we did on some demos at that time. Dan is the drummer for Luke Leighfield and has also recorded both of Luke's albums. The picture above is what Dan looks like 70% of the time on tour. He loves to sleep and does it very well.

Dan is in the middle of a music recording production thingy degree at a great college in Guildford.

STEPHEN DAVIDSON: JUNE 07 (singing)

Stephen Davidson is the lead singer of amazing rock band Tellison. I adore his singing so much that he has sung loads of backing vocals on many of my recordings. He sang on stage with us for the whole set at our Wireless Festival performance in June 2007. He then giggled because he got to drink expensive champagne from crystal glasses.

Stephen is in the final year of his degree at Cambridge University. Tellison are writing their second album and are more amazing than ever.

JON HAMMOND: JULY 07 - SEPT 07 (drums)

Jon Hammond plays drums for a band called The Late Greats. He played a mini drum kit with me on acoustic guitar and several shows including Latitude Festival and 2000 Trees. He also came up with original drum ideas for "I Traded My Friends For You."

Jon still plays for The Late Greats. They have just released their amazing debut album.


MARTIN RADFORD: JULY 07 - SEPT 07 (cello)

Martin Radford first played cello for me for a Radio 1 session I did for Huw Stephens. He then played for me at a few shows in London for the rest of that summer. He is a seriously incredible cellist, having played loads of classical stuff as well as playing for bands like Larikin Love.

Martin Radford continues to be incredible at the cello.

SIMON BRAY: SEPT 07 - PRESENT (drums)

Simon Bray became my drummer for the tour with Tellison and Luke Leighfield in September 2007. I first met Simon when I played a show in Manchester with Luke Leighfield and we stayed in his halls and I kept Simon up half the night drunkenly ranting about nothing in particular. He was originally only going to be drummer for the one tour, but has stayed on and played festivals, Maida Vale sessions and many tours with me.

Simon is still my drummer and now plays the drums much louder than he used to.

MIKEY GLENISTER: SEPT 07 (cornet)

Mikey is the cornet and trumpet player for Get Cape, which makes him very cool. He played some cornet for me on shows during the September 2007 tour with Tellison and Luke Leighfield. Mikey is totally safe. Believe.

Mikey is still playing horns for Get Cape and has also started a band with his twin brother called Lions.

MATT RANDALL: FEB 08 - PRESENT (piano/guitar)

Matt 'Fucking' Randall began life in the Sam Isaac band as a guitar tech on the September 2007 tour with Tellison. He then joined me as guitar player for the February 2008 tour supporting Kate Walsh at lovely theatres all over the country. We spent weeks in a car together and even went on a ferry to Ireland. Matt then started playing piano in my full band and has recently taken over the duties of electric guitar. He also tour manages. He has a GREAT beard.

Matt is still in the Sam Isaac band. He now wears silver shoes.

SOPHIE GALPIN: SEPT 08 - PRESENT (bass/singing)

I met Sophie Galpin when I toured with incredible My First Tooth from Northampton. Touring with MFT is some of the most fun I have ever had on tour. Sophie plays violin and bazooki and sings in MFT. She is also a great bass guitar player. She joined the band in September 2007 and also sang lots of backing vocals on my album. She followed on the great tradition set by Matt Randall of being a guitar tech at several festivals this summer before actually joining the band.

Sophie is still in the Sam Isaac band. Her punning skills go from strength to strength.

MATT GRIMBLE: SEPT 08 - OCT 08(bass)

Matt Grimble is an old friend of Simon Bray's from Winchester. He joined us at short notice for our Autumn tour when Sophie was unavailable with MFT commitments. He learned all the parts in three days and then his first performance was on television for Channel M. He brightened up the whole tour with his incredible wit and sarcasm.

Matt has returned to Bristol uni to continue his economics degree. Matt and I set matching alarms in our phone calendars to make sure we call each other every few weeks.

ALEX SZYMANSKI: NOV 08 - PRESENT (piano/synth)

Alex first got involved with the Sam Isaac band when he joined as guitar tech for some of the summer festivals. Then he shaved off all his hair for charity. Then he did some more teching before coming in to play piano and synth. Alex has an amazing knowledge of obscure music and is also incredibly strong. He is the third guitar tech for the band that has gone on to play as well.

Alex is playing for the Sam Isaac band right now, but has plans to go to university next year to do something arty. He's a creative and talented chap.


Wow. This took an amazingly long time to do. If I've left anyone out, I apologise. That's 18 members in total. Completely ridiculous. Let me know if you have enjoyed reading this. Maybe also leave a comment with your favourite anecdotes of band members you have met past and present.

Thanks!

Sam
xx