The Waterboys are a folk rock band formed in London in 1983 by Scottish musician Mike Scott. The band’s membership has changed numerous times over the years, but Scott has remained the sole constant member throughout. Some of the more notable musicians to play in The Waterboys include fiddler Steve Wickham, drummer Kevin Wilkinson, bassist Scott Thunes, and keyboardist Brother Paul.
In the opening paragraphs, it’s important to establish the basic facts about the band – when and where they formed, the founder and leader Mike Scott, and that the lineup has changed over time but Scott has remained at the helm. This introduces readers to The Waterboys and provides context for diving deeper into the various members who have come and gone over the band’s 40+ year history.
Founding Members
The Waterboys began as a trio with:
- Mike Scott – vocals, guitar, piano
- Anthony Thistlethwaite – saxophone, mandolin
- Kevin Wilkinson – drums
Mike Scott had previously been in a band called Another Pretty Face in the late 1970s and early 1980s before forming The Waterboys. Thistlethwaite and Wilkinson came aboard to round out the initial three-piece lineup.
Scott was the group’s leader and songwriter, establishing the band’s mix of rock and roll, Celtic folk, and American roots music from the beginning. Thistlethwaite and Wilkinson helped flesh out the arrangements.
Early Members
Other musicians joined The Waterboys in the first few years:
- Karl Wallinger – keyboards, vocals
- Roddy Lorimer – trumpets
- Colin Blakey – whistle, flute
- Trevor Hutchinson – bass
Wallinger was an important early addition, contributing keyboards and another strong vocal presence alongside Scott. The horns of Lorimer and woodwinds of Blakey expanded the band’s textures. Hutchinson took over on bass guitar.
This early lineup recorded the band’s first two albums – The Waterboys (1983) and A Pagan Place (1984) – establishing their signature sound blending rock, folk, Celtic, and gospel influences.
Mid-1980s Lineups
By 1985’s This Is the Sea album, the lineup underwent some changes:
- Mike Scott
- Anthony Thistlethwaite
- Kevin Wilkinson
- Steve Wickham – electric fiddle
- Trevor Hutchinson
Fiddler Steve Wickham joined and made an immediate impact with his energetic, improvisational playing. His electric fiddle added new layers to the Celtic folk side of the band’s style.
This lineup recorded the breakthrough album This Is the Sea which spawned hits like “The Whole of the Moon” and “Don’t Bang the Drum.” The bigger sound helped the band gain more mainstream popularity.
Late 1980s Lineups
By 1988’s Fisherman’s Blues, the lineup evolved again:
- Mike Scott
- Steve Wickham
- Trevor Hutchinson
- Peter McKinney – drums
- Noel Bridgeman – drums
- Colin Blakey – whistle, flute
McKinney briefly took over on drums before Bridgeman joined. Blakey returned on whistles and flute. The core trio of Scott, Wickham, and Hutchinson remained.
This folk-influenced Fisherman’s Blues lineup marked a new musical direction for The Waterboys. They moved away from rock and spent time recording in Ireland, inspired by traditional Celtic music.
1990s Members
The 1990s saw Scott completely change The Waterboys lineup:
- Mike Scott
- Steve Wickham
- Carlos Hercules – drums
- Martyn Swain – bass
- Scott Thunes – bass
- Carla Azar – drums
- Leo Abrahams – guitar
Drummers like Hercules, Swain, and Azar came and went during this decade. Thunes took over on bass for a period. Abrahams contributed guitar, including on the 1993 album Dream Harder.
But Mike Scott and Steve Wickham remained the constants throughout the 1990s. The band explored more hard rock and alternative pop/rock sounds.
Late 1990s-Early 2000s
In the late 90s into early 2000s, the lineup stabilized again:
- Mike Scott
- Steve Wickham
- Richard Naiff – keyboards
- Philip King – drums
Keyboardist Richard Naiff and drummer Philip King joined Scott and Wickham. This quartet recorded the albums A Rock in the Weary Land (2000) and Universal Hall (2003). The Waterboys returned to a guitar-driven rock sound mixed with Celtic folk instrumentation.
2000s and Beyond
From the mid-2000s onward, The Waterboys’ lineup has been:
- Mike Scott
- Steve Wickham
- Joe Chester – guitar
- Marc Arciero – bass
- Ralph Salmins – drums
Guitarist Joe Chester, bassist Marc Arciero, and drummer Ralph Salmins have formed a consistent band behind Scott and Wickham over the past 15+ years and counting. This has lent stability to the group’s recordings and live performances.
They have released solid albums including Book of Lightning (2007) and Out of All This Blue (2017) that revisit The Waterboys’ signature blend of rock and folk. Scott and Wickham remain the heart of the band all these years later.
Member Summary by Instrument
Here is a summary of the key members of The Waterboys by instrument:
Guitar | Bass | Drums | Piano/Keyboard | Violin/Fiddle |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Scott | Trevor Hutchinson | Kevin Wilkinson | Karl Wallinger | Steve Wickham |
Leo Abrahams | Scott Thunes | Noel Bridgeman | Richard Naiff | |
Joe Chester | Marc Arciero | Carlos Hercules | ||
Philip King | ||||
Ralph Salmins |
This table summarizes the key musicians who played each instrument over the years. It shows both long-running core members like Scott, Wickham, and Hutchinson as well as short-term contributors.
Conclusion
In summary, while Mike Scott has been the sole constant member of The Waterboys since forming the band in 1983, he has brought together different talented musicians over the years to record albums and perform live. Long-running key members have included Steve Wickham on violin/fiddle, Trevor Hutchinson on bass, and Kevin Wilkinson on drums in the 1980s.
More recent longtime members have been Joe Chester on guitar, Marc Arciero on bass, and Ralph Salmins on drums. But Scott’s singular musical vision has always defined the band’s blend of rock and roll, Celtic folk, spiritual searchings, and American roots music despite its changing lineups over 40+ years and counting. The Waterboys continue moving forward with Scott and Wickham leading the latest incarnation.