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==Bloc Party==
==Bloc Party==
Moakes became a member of Bloc Party after responding to an advertisement placed in the NME music magazine by [[Kele Okereke]] and [[Russell Lissack]], who were seeking a [[bass guitar|bass]] player. Moakes, who was not not originally a bassist, was the only player the band auditioned who was able to play the bassline for a song that Okereke and Lissack had presented (apparently titled "Life of the Party"). In 2002, Moakes, Lissack, and Okereke formed the first incarnation of Bloc Party—known as The Angel Range—and played shows across London. Moakes also ran and updated the band's website at the time.
Moakes became a member of Bloc Party after responding to an advertisement placed in the [[NME]] music magazine by [[Kele Okereke]] and [[Russell Lissack]], who were seeking a [[bass guitar|bass]] player. Although not originally a bassist, Moakes was the only player the band auditioned who was able to play the bassline for a song that Okereke and Lissack had presented. In 2002, Moakes, Lissack, and Okereke formed the first incarnation of Bloc Party—known as The Angel Range—and played shows across London. Moakes also ran and updated the band's website at the time.


Moakes shares co-writing credits with Okereke on some of the band's earlier lyrics. In the early days of the band, he contributed lyrics mostly to the band's more political songs, and he composed an early song titled "Diet".
Moakes shares co-writing credits with Okereke on some of the band's earlier lyrics. In the early days of the band, he contributed lyrics mostly to the band's more political songs, and he composed a song titled "Diet".


His bass playing is often sparse and usually involves very little playing until latter verses, such as in "Like Eating Glass", "Banquet", and "Hunting for Witches", where he plays very little in the first verses.
His bass playing is often sparse and usually involves very little playing until latter verses, such as in "[[Like Eating Glass]]", "[[Banquet]]", and "[[Hunting for Witches]]".


Moakes added new instruments to his repertoire on Bloc Party's second and third albums, ''[[A Weekend in the City]]'' and [[Intimacy (Bloc Party album)|Intimacy]]. He played [[drum]]s on "Sunday"; electronic drums on "Ares"; [[glockenspiel]] on "Waiting for the 7.18" and "SRXT"; and a [[Korg]] [[microKORG]] synthesizer on [[Flux (song)|Flux]] (although he now uses a Korg X50).
Moakes added new instruments to his repertoire on Bloc Party's second and third albums, ''[[A Weekend in the City]]'' and ''[[Intimacy (Bloc Party album)|Intimacy]]''. He played [[drum]]s on "Sunday"; electronic drums on "Ares"; [[glockenspiel]] on "Waiting for the 7.18" and "SRXT"; and a [[Korg]] [[microKORG]] synthesizer on [[Flux (song)|Flux]] (although he now uses a Korg X50).


==Other works==
==Other works==
Moakes also worked with [[yourcodenameis:milo]] on the track "[[Wait a Minute (yourcodenameis:milo song)|Wait a Minute]]" taken from the album ''[[Print Is Dead Vol 1]]''. "Wait a Minute" was released on a limited edition 7" single on 4 October 2006. The cover art was designed by Moakes himself.<ref name="Print Is Dead">{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/yourcodenameismilo/24868|title=News - Artists - yourcodenameis:milo|publisher=[[NME.com]]|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref>
Moakes worked with [[yourcodenameis:milo]] on the track "[[Wait a Minute (yourcodenameis:milo song)|Wait a Minute]]" from the album ''[[Print Is Dead Vol 1]]''. "Wait a Minute" was released on a limited edition 7" single on 4 October 2006. Moakes designed the cover art.<ref name="Print Is Dead">{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/yourcodenameismilo/24868|title=News - Artists - yourcodenameis:milo|publisher=[[NME.com]]|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref>


In [[December]] [[2009]] Gordon, [[Paul Mullen]]; vocalist & guitarist of [[The Automatic]] and William Bowerman; drummer of [[La Roux]] worked in the studio together on a new side project, with Bloc Party on hiatus and both The Automatic and La Roux inactive over the Christmas break. In January 2010 the group were revealed to be named "Young Legionnaire" and they are set to play their first show at the end of January in London. <ref>[http://twitter.com/williambowerman/status/6614891961 3 days recording with an exciting new side project starting tomorrow with @paulmullen and Gordon Moakes] william bowerman, [[twitter]], December 13, 2009</ref>
In [[December]] [[2009]], Moakes; [[Paul Mullen]], the vocalist and guitarist of [[The Automatic]]; and William Bowerman, drummer of [[La Roux]], worked in the studio together on a new side project, with Bloc Party on hiatus and both The Automatic and La Roux inactive over the Christmas break. In January 2010, the group were revealed to be named Young Legionnaire and were set to play their first show at the end of January in London. <ref>[http://twitter.com/williambowerman/status/6614891961 3 days recording with an exciting new side project starting tomorrow with @paulmullen and Gordon Moakes] william bowerman, [[twitter]], December 13, 2009</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Moakes was educated at [[Ousedale School]] in [[Newport Pagnell]], [[Milton Keynes]], and formerly of [[Tilehurst]], [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. He has a daughter, Scarlet, and, after her birth, took paternity leave from the band in July and August of 2008. Moakes has a tattoo of a heart on his left arm, as does his wife. Much like his other bandmates, he is considered to be shy and quiet. During the mid- to late 1990s, he created and edited the short-lived fanzine Conform or Die.
Much like his other bandmates, Moakes is considered to be shy and quiet. He was educated at [[Ousedale School]] in [[Newport Pagnell]], [[Milton Keynes]], and formerly of [[Tilehurst]], [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. He has a daughter, Scarlet, and, after her birth, he took paternity leave from the band in July and August of 2008. Moakes has a tattoo of a heart on his left arm, as does his wife. During the mid- to late 1990s, he created and edited the short-lived fanzine Conform or Die.


==Equipment==
==Equipment==
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* [[Fender Precision Bass]]-Butterscotch Blonde, tortoiseshell pickguard, rosewood fretboard. Used at [[Live Earth]]
* [[Fender Precision Bass]]-Butterscotch Blonde, tortoiseshell pickguard, rosewood fretboard. Used at [[Live Earth]]


Moakes plays various [[Fender Precision Bass]]es through an [[Ashdown]] [[ABM 500 EVO II]] [[amplifier]] head and an [[Ashdown]] [[ABM 410T]] cabinet.
Moakes plays his bass through an [[Ashdown]] [[ABM 500 EVO II]] [[amplifier]] head and an [[Ashdown]] [[ABM 410T]] cabinet.
He plays the [[Glockenspiel]] on the tracks [[SRXT]] and [[Waiting For The 7.18]]
On [[Flux]], Moakes plays a [[Korg]] [[MicroKorg]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 21:55, 7 August 2010

Gordon Moakes

Gordon Peter Moakes (born 22 June 1976) is an English multi-instrumentalist and backing singer for English Indie rock band Bloc Party.[1]

Bloc Party

Moakes became a member of Bloc Party after responding to an advertisement placed in the NME music magazine by Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack, who were seeking a bass player. Although not originally a bassist, Moakes was the only player the band auditioned who was able to play the bassline for a song that Okereke and Lissack had presented. In 2002, Moakes, Lissack, and Okereke formed the first incarnation of Bloc Party—known as The Angel Range—and played shows across London. Moakes also ran and updated the band's website at the time.

Moakes shares co-writing credits with Okereke on some of the band's earlier lyrics. In the early days of the band, he contributed lyrics mostly to the band's more political songs, and he composed a song titled "Diet".

His bass playing is often sparse and usually involves very little playing until latter verses, such as in "Like Eating Glass", "Banquet", and "Hunting for Witches".

Moakes added new instruments to his repertoire on Bloc Party's second and third albums, A Weekend in the City and Intimacy. He played drums on "Sunday"; electronic drums on "Ares"; glockenspiel on "Waiting for the 7.18" and "SRXT"; and a Korg microKORG synthesizer on Flux (although he now uses a Korg X50).

Other works

Moakes worked with yourcodenameis:milo on the track "Wait a Minute" from the album Print Is Dead Vol 1. "Wait a Minute" was released on a limited edition 7" single on 4 October 2006. Moakes designed the cover art.[2]

In December 2009, Moakes; Paul Mullen, the vocalist and guitarist of The Automatic; and William Bowerman, drummer of La Roux, worked in the studio together on a new side project, with Bloc Party on hiatus and both The Automatic and La Roux inactive over the Christmas break. In January 2010, the group were revealed to be named Young Legionnaire and were set to play their first show at the end of January in London. [3]

Personal life

Much like his other bandmates, Moakes is considered to be shy and quiet. He was educated at Ousedale School in Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes, and formerly of Tilehurst, Reading. He has a daughter, Scarlet, and, after her birth, he took paternity leave from the band in July and August of 2008. Moakes has a tattoo of a heart on his left arm, as does his wife. During the mid- to late 1990s, he created and edited the short-lived fanzine Conform or Die.

Equipment

Basses:

Moakes plays his bass through an Ashdown ABM 500 EVO II amplifier head and an Ashdown ABM 410T cabinet.

References

  1. ^ Phares, Heather. "Biography: Bloc Party". AMG. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  2. ^ "News - Artists - yourcodenameis:milo". NME.com. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  3. ^ 3 days recording with an exciting new side project starting tomorrow with @paulmullen and Gordon Moakes william bowerman, twitter, December 13, 2009
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