Starlite Campbell Band - Suzy Starlite

SUZY STARLITE

CUSTODIAN OF THE GROOVE

It was difficult to graduate and ‘not’ be in a band after studying Media & Performance at Salford University in the 90’s.

It was here, inside the walls of the old Adelphi building with its maze of basement recording studios, labyrinthine corridors and intense creative energy where Suzy met Tim Allen (of the band K), John Smith (John Lennon Songwriting Award Winner) and Alan Lowles (session musician including I am Kloot / engineer at Airtight Studios, Manchester. England).

Together they formed folk/rock band Megiddo and released their debut EP of original songs ‘On the Outside’ in 1996, featuring two acoustic guitars, a mandolin and fretless bass. The band were regulars on the UK Folk Circuit featuring at The Mean Fiddler, London, Band on the Wall - Manchester, Winchester Folk Festival, Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival and Monmouth Music Festival to name a few.

As well as their music being syndicated by one of the UK’s largest cinema chains, the band was also invited to record an original arrangement of the 60’s classic ‘Georgy Girl’ for London record label, Future Legend Records. It was released on CD and vinyl as part of their critically acclaimed cult series ‘Themes from the Sixties.’

Due to other music-related work commitments, Megiddo disbanded in 1997 and Suzy formed a new project band ‘Trade’ with Tim Allen, fusing acoustic folk/rock with electronica. Their debut gig saw them headline at Manchester’s Night & Day and then, under the moniker of ‘Starlite’, perform at Norfolk’s Eastern Haze Festival and across Manchester.

Following a move to the Isle of Man in 2009 Suzy started working with musician and producer Simon Campbell. She was soon out playing the live circuit with her band ‘Starlite’, featuring all her own original songs, including Mannifest, the island’s largest outdoor three day festival; this time with a full band and a rockier edge to the music.

In 2014, Suzy moved to Valencia with her now husband Simon where they continued to write and record, releasing their ambient piece Happiness in Halos, having also worked in the studio and performed on Simon’s 2014 album, The Knife, co-writing the track Do You Want Me.

That year also changed her life in a massive way when Suzy became completely addicted to playing bass guitar. She has already worked as a session musician in the recording studio and recently played bass in Simon’s band on his 2015 UK tour. Following the tour they formed the Starlite Campbell Band.

Along with Simon, Suzy co-wrote a healthy catalogue of songs which could fill up the next three albums and went on to record their debut album, 'Blueberry Pie' in November 2016. It was released on 1st February, 2017 to staggering critical acclaim and was nominated for Best Album in the 2017 European Blues Awards.

In late 2020, Suzy and Simon relocated their semi-mobile recording studio to the north of Lisbon in Portugal and will be working on completing 'The Language of Curiosity', a new contemporary folk album 'The Coat' and other exciting projects to be announced plus touring internationally with a series of European and UK dates in October / November 2021.

Article in Bass Guitar Magazine on Suzy Starlite

Suzy has played bass / added backing vocals on a number of sessions for Cartesian Jetstream, The Mighty Revelators, Supertone artist Joe Marshall and the Ground Pilots.

In September 2018 she was featured in Bass Guitar Magazine with a front cover mention and in depth interview about all things bass!

Suzy Starlite at the Great British Rock and Blues Festival, Skegness. Picture by Tony Cole

Want to know more?

Read Suzy's blog

SUZY'S GEAR

BASSES

Mike Lull M4V fitted with Lindy Fralin pickups and Hipshot drop D tuner
Mike Lull T4 'Starlite' fitted with Hipshot drop D tuner
Fender Precision Bass (vintage 1974) fitted with a Ellio Martina Guitars Bass Mute
Gretsch Thunder Jet Short Scale with TV Jones pickups
Fylde King John Acoustic bass with Headway pickup