Simone Butler

Biography

Simone grew up in a musical environment, with her father having previously been a member of 60s band The Honeycombs. Trained in a classical background, she played her first concerts at the age of 12 in school orchestras where she was first violinist. After studying art and leaving school, she started playing in local bands, meeting fellow musicians such as Barrie Cadogan and Primal Scream guitarist Andrew Innes. She was the first female manager to run a guitar shop in London's Denmark street, Bass Cellar. Before rejoining Bobby Gillespie and the other musicians of Primal Scream, she played bass for several rock and roll and electronica bands. She also worked as both radio and live DJ, which included playing gigs to provide atmospheric soundscapes to spoken word poetry. Also a keen photographer, she has had work used in Brian Eno's project Lux - Day Of Light, and plans her own exhibits in the future. She currently hosts her own afternoon radio show on Soho Radio every Wednesday and started with the show since its conception. She has recently recorded with James Williamson of Detroit legends The Stooges for the latest record "Re-licked" with Allison Mosshart, Mark Lanegan and many more. She has been the support DJ for bands such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Allah-Las, The Vacant Lots, The Black Ryder and Nick Cave as well as future shows with The Strokes and New York legends Suicide, and DJ sets at Glastonbury Festival (residency) and Secret Garden Party and other European festivals and clubs and has a yearly residency at Razzmatazz in Barcelona. She is co-curator of part of Secret Garden Party with XFM DJ Eddy Temple-Morris. As well as playing with Primal Scream, Simone also played shows with orchestral electronic pop band Cat's Eyes the summer of 2015.

Simone is endorsed by the clothing label Religion, British fashion label Pretty Green -founded by Liam Gallagher, musical instrument manufacturer Fender, designer label Yves Saint Laurent, Japanese bespoke clothing label Ashes to Ashes, Alternative Japanese clothing label 666, Iconic Fashion label Hysteric Glamour, Adidas, musical accessory brand Couch straps and effects pedal manufacturers Jim Dunlop and Earthquaker Devices.

Influences

Simone has several favourite bass players, such as Simon Gallup, J.JBurnel, Jah Wobble and Charles Mingus. She mentions MC5, The Stooges, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, and Suicide as some of her favourite bands, and is also heavily influenced by Motown and soul and psychedelia.