Draft:Sean Oliver (musician)
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| Submission declined on 25 April 2025 by Jannatulbaqi (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of music-related topics). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by Jannatulbaqi 3 months ago. | |
Sean Oliver | |
|---|---|
 Sean Oliver playing bass with The Elevators, circa 1978 | |
| Born | Sean Oliver 1963 London, England |
| Died | 1990 |
| Other names | Jon Oliver |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Relatives |
|
Sean Oliver (born 1963) was a British musician and the sister of British chef, television and radio broadcaster, Andi Oliver. He is best known for being a musician with the the band Rip Rig + Panic.[1] and for co-writing the international number 1 best-selling hit Wishing Well with American singer-songwriter Terence Trent D'Arby.
Early life
[edit]Oliver and his sister Andi, were born in London to Antiguan parents[2] and brought up in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, from the age of 11[3]. His father served in the Royal Air Force and was based at RAF Honington, and his mother taught at a primary school in the town.[4]
Early career
[edit]Playing the bass guitar, Oliver's first band was a Bury St Edmunds based band called Phaze II, formed in the early 1970s with his school friends David "Harry" Harris (guitar/vocals), Nick Pamment (drums) and Steven Gosbee (backing vocals). They were later joined by Harry's best friend Paul Hopfensperger on keyboards and guitar.[5] They initially practiced in Hopfensperger's bedroom, before moving into his father's garage where they were occasionally joined by Oliver's sister Andi Oliver on vocals. Being made of tin, the Police were regularly called due to complaints about the noise from neighbours.
After Phaze II dis-banded, Harry, Oliver, and Pamment went on to form a three-piece band in Bury St Edmunds called The Elevators, before both Harry and Oliver moved to London to pursue their respective musical careers.
In 1981 Oliver became one of the founding members of the band Rip Rig + Panic[6], a London-based post-punk band[7], along with Mark Springer (piano, sax, vocals), Gareth Sager (guitar, sax, keyboards, vocals) and Bruce Smith (drums, percussion)—the latter two formerly of The Pop Group) with Neneh Cherry on vocals.[8] Other members included saxophonist Flash (David Wright), singer Andi Oliver, trumpeter David De Fries, and viola-player Sarah Sarhandi. The band made a guest appearance in an episode of Series 1 of the British sitcom The Young Ones performing their 1982 single "You're My Kind of Climate".[9]
Most members of Rip Rig + Panic including Oliver (but without Mark Springer) became Float Up CP[10] in 1984 and released a single, "Joy's Address", and the album Kill Me in the Morning, but amicably dissolved the band shortly thereafter;[11]
Session Musician with Terence Trent D'Arby
[edit]Oliver's breakthrough came when he became a session musician with American singer/songwriter Terence Trent D'Arby in 1986. D'Arby's album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby was recorded between 1986-1987 and released in the UK on July 13, 1987 with Oliver credited on bass guitar on tracks 2 - "If You Let Me Stay" and 6 - "Seven More Days". The album was a number 1 hit in Australia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
His greatest success came from co-writing the international Number 1 bestselling hit from the album Wishing Well with D'Arby. Wishing Well was a number 1 hit in Canada, Netherlands, United States, and reached number 4 in the United Kingdom.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[12] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Other Music Projects
[edit]Oliver also played in bands; Crucial, Float Up CP, New Age Steppers and Playgroup (3)[13]
In 1990 Oliver joined forces with his sister Andi, forming the Mighty Hog.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Sadly, Oliver died in 1990 of sickle cell anaemia at the very youg age of 27, depriving the world of more of his very special musical talent.
Speaking to sheerluxe.com in 2022[15], his sister Andi Oliver said:
When I was 11, we settled in Suffolk, but growing there as a young Black girl wasn’t the easiest. My older brother also had sickle cell anaemia and it loomed large over our family. He had attacks all the time and his life expectancy was only 13. We all grew up knowing it was probably going to take him early. In the end, he died when he was 27 and when I was 25. It was sad and terrible, but I look back on it now and think how grateful I am for the time we had together; I’m so glad I had him as a brother. He was a great brother – a terrible boyfriend, mind you – but at the core he was a good person.
References
[edit]- ^ "Rip Rig & Panic". Discogs. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Interview with Andi Oliver". The Citizen. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Chapters In My Life: Andi Oliver". sheerluxe.com. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "An interview with Andi Oliver". Great British Life. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "The Teazers - Everything Starts with a Dream". Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ "Rip Rig & Panic". Discogs. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ Laszlo, Skip (1982). "Rip Rig & Panic". The Wire (2): 27.
- ^ "Rip Rig & Panic". Discogs. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Rip Rig and Panic". Bristol Archive Records. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Float Up CP Members and Releases". Discogs. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ Cameray, Bob (1986). "Easr Across the Water". Spin. 2 (1): 60.
- ^ "American single certifications – Terence Trent D'Arby – Wishing Well". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Sean Oliver in Groups". Discogs. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Long Before Great British Menu, Andi Oliver Was In A Band With 80s Icon Neneh Cherry". Twisted Food. 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Chapters In My Life: Andi Oliver - Chapter One: Growing Up & Moving Around". sheerluxe.com. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2025.