Steven Wells | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1960-05-10)10 May 1960 Swindon, England |
| Died | 24 June 2009(2009-06-24) (aged 49) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Pen name | Seething Wells, Susan Williams, Swells |
| Occupation | Music critic, journalist, screenwriter, poet, novelist, film producer, publisher, comedian |
| Period | 1984–2009 |
| Genre | Punk lit |
| Subject | Rock music,punk culture, politics,anti-fascism |
Steven Wells (10 May 1960 – 24 June 2009)[1] was a British journalist, author, comedian andpunk poet born inSwindon, Wiltshire.[2] He was best known for ranting poetry and his provocative, unapologetic music journalism.[3] In June 2006, he wrote in thePhiladelphia Weekly about his treatment forHodgkin's lymphoma.[4][5] After being in remission for a short time, he was diagnosed withenteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma in January 2009[6] and died on 24 June 2009 in Philadelphia.[7]
Wells was born in Swindon but moved toBradford when young. He left school with minimal qualifications in 1977 and later worked in a factory and as a bus conductor. It was at this time that he became involved withpunk rock, including the radical socialistLeeds art-punk bandthe Mekons.
In 1981, whilst living in Leeds, Wells began performing as aranting poet and comedian under the namesSeething Wells, Swells and Susan Williams. He was a support act to various northern English punk bands, such asthe Fall,Delta 5, the Mekons andGang of Four, along with fellow ranting poetsAttila The Stockbroker, Swift Nick, Little Brother, Mark Miwurdz, andPorky The Poet.[citation needed]
After moving to London, Wells began to write forNME, initially under the name Susan Williams. He championed socialist soul/punk bandthe Redskins; Americanhardcore punk bands such asBlack Flag and theButthole Surfers; British bands that mergedthrash, hardcore andheavy metal, such asExtreme Noise Terror,Napalm Death; and certain pop artists, such asDaphne and Celeste.[8][better source needed]
Wells was also critical of some artists and individuals such asRichard Branson, and when covering his appearance in issue #160 of the BritishTransformers comic, mockingly called Branson "the world's richest bearded git" andTransformers a "crap comic".[9] In the 1990s, he diversified, occasionally writing comedy (for shows such asOn the Hour[10] andThe Day Today) and other non-music related journalism.
In 1992, Wells and Nick Small formed GobTV, a music video directing partnership. GobTV videos were characterised by extreme visuals, rapid edits, a political agenda and humour. GobTV made promos forthe Wildhearts,Manic Street Preachers, andSkunk Anansie amongst others, and were the top UK directors in 1994 and 1995.[11] The partnership ended in 1996. In 1999 he started theAttack! Books publishing house and his debut novel wasTits Out Teenage Terror Totty. His illustrated historyPunk: The Stories Behind the Songs was published in 2004.[12] In 2009 he contributed a story to theLove Hotel City anthology.[13]
Wells became a sports columnist forThe Guardian,[14]FourFourTwo,90 Minutes,The Quietus music website and thePhiladelphia Weekly, and was in the process of writing several books.
There were many tributes to Wells after his death.[15]Billy Bragg wrote: "The antithesis of the bonehead racist, he was in fact an articulate left-winger and unlike the bully boy who only picks on those weaker than him, Swells chose to target the powerful, the popular, the hip and the cool."[16]
Music journalistEverett True described Wells as "a tastemaker. He informed people's opinions, challenged them, led them, changed them…most of this by default, by sheer force of his personality and peerless ability to entertain.".[17]
Boff Whalley, of anarcho-punk bandChumbawamba wrote: "Seething (Steven) Wells died two days ago. Then tonight, starting to write this, I find out that Michael Jackson has died. One of these two men owned a ranch called Neverland and had three children called Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II. The other one was the King of Pop."[18]
A man gets lost in the Philadelphia health system
His last column.
Looking for dignity in the fight against cancer.
You write to make an impact.
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