Steve Negus
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| Steve Negus | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 19, 1952 |
| Origin | Hamilton, Ontario,Canada   |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Prog Rock |
| Years active | 1977 - Present |
| Website | www.stevenegus.com www.cyclonerecords.ca |
Steve Negus, is a Canadian drummer and songwriter whose intricate and powerful rhythms helped define the sound of platinum selling progressive rock band Saga for twenty-six years. Having appeared on over 20 albums and having sold over 8,000,000 copies, Negus' playing is easily definable as among the best in the world.
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[edit] Biography
While playing a well known club in Toronto, (Larry's Hideaway), Steve Negus' hard driving rhythms came to the attention of one of Canada's premier rock bands, Fludd. The band was on the hunt for a new drummer and offered Steve the gig that night. It was an offer he couldn't refuse, and several weeks later Fludd had a new drummer.
This was the first time that Steve met bassist, Jim Crichton and keyboardist Peter Rochon, who would later join Steve as founding members of Pockets, the original working name of Saga. Brian and Ed Pilling were the driving force behind Fludd, and about a year after Steve joined, Brian was stricken with leukemia and the band couldn't continue to perform.
Pockets was formed out of the rhythm section, and Negus, Crichton, and Rochon went into eight months of intense rehearsal to piece together the new band with Jim Crichton's younger brother Ian Crichton on guitar, and Mike Sadler as the singer. A name change to Saga about a year later, and the stage was set for one of Canada's most adventurous progressive rock bands!
Steve’s success with Saga over the next twenty six years is well documented, with many gold and platinum selling CDs in Europe, Canada and the U.S. The rhythms in the songs are easily identifiable as some of Steve's best work. In 1981, the band went to England to work with Rupert Hine as producer, and “Worlds Apart” was recorded at Farmyard Studios.
This album went on to hit top 30 in the U.S. and number 2 on the German charts, but couldn't move the Chris de Burgh album, The Getaway, which held the number one spot. Interestingly enough, Rupert, who loved Steve's playing, had Negus fly back to England to play drums on that CD as well! “Don't Pay the Ferryman” was the hit single from that CD.
For a couple of years in the late 80's, Negus and keyboardist Jim Gilmour left Saga and put together GNP (Gilmour Negus Project) with singer Robert Bevan for Virgin Records. The CD Safety Zone - produced by Steve - came out in 1989. Before a follow-up CD could be written and recorded, the boys reunited with Saga and the GNP project was shelved.
Saga continues to tour and record today. In 2003 Steve decided it was time for a change and left the band.
In 2007, Steve released his first true solo project "Dare to Dream" through Cyclone Records.
Source: www.SteveNegus.com
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums (Saga)
- Saga (1978)
- Images at Twilight (1979)
- Silent Knight (1980)
- Worlds Apart (1981)
- Heads or Tales (1983)
- Behaviour (1985)
- Wildest Dreams (1987)
- The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes (1989)
- The Security of Illusion (1993)
- Steel Umbrellas (1994)
- Generation 13 (1995)
- Pleasure & the Pain (1997)
- Phase One (1997)
- Full Circle (1999)
- House of Cards
- Marathon (2003)
[edit] Studio albums (Other)
- The Getaway (1982) with Chris de Burgh
- Waving Not Drowning (1982) with Rupert Hine
- Safety Zone (1989) with GNP
- Dare to Dream (2007) with Negus (solo project)
[edit] Live albums
- In Transit (CD; 1982)
- How Do I Look (CD; 1998)
- Detours - Live (2CD; 1998)
[edit] Compilations
- The Works (1990)
- All the Best (1993)
- The Very Best Of (1994)
- Defining Moments (1994)
- Remember When - The Very Best of Saga (2006)
