Tim Wheeler

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title: "Tim Wheeler" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1977-births", "living-people", "people-from-downpatrick", "rock-guitarists-from-northern-ireland", "male-guitarists-from-northern-ireland", "ivor-novello-award-winners", "ash-(band)-members", "britpop-musicians", "rock-singers-from-northern-ireland", "people-educated-at-down-high-school", "musicians-from-county-down", "20th-century-male-singers-from-northern-ireland", "21st-century-male-singers-from-northern-ireland", "20th-century-guitarists-from-northern-ireland", "21st-century-guitarists-from-northern-ireland", "male-singer-songwriters-from-northern-ireland"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Wheeler" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

FieldValue
nameTim Wheeler
image1 tim wheeler ash.jpg
captionWheeler in Singapore in 2024
backgroundsolo_singer
birth_nameTimothy James Arthur Wheeler
birth_date
birth_placeDownpatrick, Northern Ireland
instrument{{flatlist
genre{{flatlist
occupation{{flatlist
years_active1992–present
label{{flatlist
associated_acts{{flatlist
websiteash-official.com
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| name = Tim Wheeler | image = 1 tim wheeler ash.jpg | caption = Wheeler in Singapore in 2024 | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Timothy James Arthur Wheeler | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Downpatrick, Northern Ireland | death_date = | instrument = {{flatlist|

Timothy James Arthur Wheeler (born 4 January 1977) is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and guitarist of the alternative rock band Ash. He has written nearly all of Ash's notable works, such as "Oh Yeah", "Shining Light", "Girl from Mars", "Kung Fu", and "Goldfinger". In November 2014, he released his debut solo album Lost Domain.

Early life

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Tim_Wheeler_in_BKK.jpg" caption="Wheeler in 1999"] ::

Timothy James Arthur Wheeler was born in Downpatrick on 4 January 1977, the son of Rosalind E. M. (née Dickson), the daughter of a Northern Bank manager, and George Bomfforde Wheeler (1932–2011), a solicitor and later judge. He is a great-great-grandson of Rev. George Bomfforde Wheeler, who was editor of The Irish Times from 1859 to 1877. He attended Down High School with his fellow band members Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray.

Music career

Ash

Wheeler won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Pop Song in 2001 for "Shining Light".

Other work

In 1999, Wheeler contributed guitar and backing vocals on The Rentals' album Seven More Minutes. He has also contributed backing vocals Bob Geldof's Band Aid 20 2004 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and on Arthur Baker's song, "Glow".

As part of Channel 4's program The JD Set, Wheeler worked with Emmy The Great, The Crookes, And So I Watch You From Afar, and Ma Mentor, joining each band in covering songs by Pixies, and then performing at London's XOYO on 24 March 2011.

Wheeler has also been involved with film and TV soundtrack work, most notably Ashes (2012), Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (2014) and the Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015).

Emmy the Great

Wheeler has collaborated frequently in recent years with Emma-Lee Moss, AKA Emmy The Great, the duo have performed Ash track "Tracers" on several occasions, and in 2011 Tim, Emma and Euan Hinshelwood covered Robert Manning's song "Washington Parks", the cover was released as part of a collection of covers to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis. The pair acoustically performed a set of Ash and Emmy The Great songs, as well as some covers at Willowstone Festival on 1 July 2011.

In November 2011 the pair released a Christmas album, entitled This Is Christmas (Infectious, 2011).

''Lost Domain''

In September 2014, Wheeler announced the release of his first solo album, Lost Domain, a heartfelt and emotional response to the loss of his father George to dementia. Lost Domain was released on Sony Red on 3 November 2014, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to The Alzheimer's Society, a charity Wheeler has worked closely with since his father's death in 2011.

Lost Domain is an album in which Wheeler battles to come to terms with his loss, charting his father's rapid decline into illness, his death and the tumultuous effect that it had on his life over the course of 11 songs. As Wheeler explains: “After losing my father to dementia, I felt the need to personally do something to fight Alzheimer’s. My friend Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy's father also has Alzheimer's so we put on a concert in Belfast in November 2011 with The Divine Comedy, The Undertones and Ash to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer's Society. Since then I've had close links with The Alzheimer's Society and this year was involved with the Dementia Friends campaign. I'm proud to continue to support them and raise more awareness with the album Lost Domain."

Recorded in Ash's New York studio, Wheeler played almost everything himself, roping in musician friends when he needed a hand: Andy Burrows of Razorlight and Fred Aspelin (Alberta Cross) each played some drums; Ilan Eshkeri and Oliver Kraus helped with the string and brass arrangements performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra; Leanne Macomber from Ejecta and Neon Indian sang; and Moon Hooch's Wenzl McGowen played saxophone. There is even a sample of Wheeler's father's piano playing on the album's epic centerpiece "Medicine".

The album track "The First Sign of Spring" is available to listen to on YouTube now.

Wheeler announced his first solo dates to support the release of the album on 4–7 November. He played Bush Hall – London, Night & Day- Manchester, ABC2 – Glasgow and Oh Yeah Centre – Belfast. In addition, he supported Andy Burrows in Amsterdam and Brussels.

Musical style

Equipment

Wheeler is perhaps most recognised for using a Gibson Flying V, which he has frequently used live since 1998 onwards. His Flying V has a 1950s Zebra Coil PAF pickup, and has also been modified in the past for pyrotechnics; the Flaming Flying V acts as a flamethrower, firing from between the V part of the guitar body. Prior to this, Wheeler mainly used various Gibson Les Paul models. He also plays a Gibson SG and Gretsch Silver Jet, which was frequently used both live and in the studio since Ash's album Twilight of the Innocents. For heavier tracks such as "The Dead Disciples", Wheeler has used a Fender Telecaster. In 2011, he purchased a Gretsch 1966 Sal Fabrio, for work in the studio and rehearsals. He also uses a Gibson Custom Inspired By Kiefer Sutherland Semi-Hollow KS-336 guitar on a number of tracks live, including songs such as "Walking Barefoot". He used an Elliot Easton signature model Gibson Firebird on a number of songs during the Kablammo! tour.

Wheeler predominately uses a Mesa Boogie Road King Series II amplifier, and also sometimes uses a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier amplifier. He uses numerous effects pedals which are housed in a rack and controlled via MIDI. His effects pedals include; an Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer, a Dunlop Crybaby 95Q Wah pedal, a Death By Audio Fuzz War, a Carl Martin HeadRoom Reverb, an Electro-Harmonix Poly Chorus, a Morpheus Droptune, a Catalinbread Karma Suture Fuzz, a Mesa Boogie Tone Burst, a Coloursound Tonebender, a Moog Moogerfooger Phaser, an ADA Flanger pedal, and a Nocto Loco octave pedal which replaced a Korg synthesiser in his effects rack. Wheeler controls his pedals in his effects rack using a Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro MIDI foot controller.

The Flying V guitar that Wheeler set on fire on the Ash Meltdown tour is now on display at the Oh Yeah centre in Belfast. The Oh Yeah centre is dedicated to the music of Northern Ireland and was named after the song "Oh Yeah" by Ash.

Lyrical themes and writing

With the release of the band's fifth studio record Twilight of the Innocents, in 2007, Wheeler spoke of how if the group hadn't toured so heavily they would have been more prolific, that: "It would have been cool to have twice as many songs by now. I definitely could have done it, but if I go on tour I have to stop writing. Writing needs to be a relaxing process and you need peace and quiet and the right stuff around you. Whenever we take a break I could write a song every day, pretty much."

Personal life

Wheeler is an Arsenal FC fan, which began during his nine-year stint living in Highbury. He has been dating French model and art director Julia Restoin Roitfeld since 2018. On September 9, 2021, they announced via Instagram that they were expecting a baby together. In February 2022, they announced the birth of their son George.

In 2005, Paul McCartney presented Wheeler a companionship from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts). In 2016 the Open University awarded Wheeler an honorary Doctor of the university, citing his "exceptional contribution to education and culture".

Discography

Studio albums

References

References

  1. Wright, Lisa. (1 September 2014). "Ash's Tim Wheeler announces debut solo album 'Lost Domain' – hear first song now".
  2. "Works written by: Wheeler, Timothy James Arthur".
  3. (1 May 2013). "About the Band".
  4. (26 February 2011). "Judge was descendant of 'Irish Times' editor and father of Ash lead singer". [[The Irish Times]].
  5. "Obituary: George Bomfforde Wheeler (1932–2011)".
  6. ''The Illustrated London News'', 10 November 1877, p. 462
  7. timwheeler1977. (4 September 2015). "My ancestor GBW, quite a distinguished gent".
  8. "Music Hall of Fame".
  9. (5 November 2004). "McCartney confirms Band Aid role".
  10. (20 March 2006). "Arthur Baker feat. Tim Wheeler – Glow (Underwater)".
  11. (15 March 2011). "Rock and Pop: It's back! The JD Set...Tim Wheeler and friends pay tribute to the Boston indie Godheads Pixies. XOYO, 24 March". [[Islington Tribune]].
  12. (24 January 2014). "Ilan Eshkeri & Tim Wheeler Scoring 'Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond'".
  13. "'Feels Like Summer' Song Available to Download Now!".
  14. (17 May 2011). "Tim Wheeler and Emmy the Great Music for MRI Project Digital Release".
  15. (19 May 2011). "'Washington Parks' Project for MS Society".
  16. (9 June 2011). "Tim Wheeler & Emmy the Great to Play Willowstone Festival".
  17. (21 November 2011). "Tim Wheeler & Emmy The Great release 'This Is Christmas' today".
  18. "Debut Solo Album – Lost Domain Released on Sony Red on November 3rd 2014".
  19. (2 September 2014). "Ash Singer Tim Wheeler Announces Debut Solo Album Lost Domain".
  20. "Debut Album Pre-order 'Lost Domain' by Tim Wheeler: Signed albums, bonus content & exclusive merchandise".
  21. "Tim Wheeler – First Sign of Spring".
  22. (3 September 2014). "Tim Wheeler Announces Solo UK Dates for November Around His Debut Solo Album".
  23. (7 December 2009). "Ash frontman presents iconic Flying V to the Belfast Music exhibition".
  24. (7 July 2010). "Steal Their Sound: Tim Wheeler (Ash)".
  25. "Tim Wheeler Donates his Golden Guitar".
  26. Collins, Robert. (23 September 2007). "The Mysterious Mr Wheeler: An Interview with Ash".
  27. (18 November 2010). "Interview: Arsenal fan Tim Wheeler from Ash on disliking his ranga beard and his hopes for the Gunners this season".
  28. (September 9, 2021). "Model Julia Restoin Roitfeld Is Pregnant with Second Child: 'Our Hearts Are Full'".
  29. (February 26, 2022). "Julia Restoin Roitfeld Welcomes Second Baby: 'Thank You for Choosing Us'".
  30. The Hot Press Newsdesk. (3 August 2005). "Liverpudlian honour for Ash - picture exclusive". [[Hot Press]].
  31. "Ash's Tim Wheeler honoured by The Open University".

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1977-birthsliving-peoplepeople-from-downpatrickrock-guitarists-from-northern-irelandmale-guitarists-from-northern-irelandivor-novello-award-winnersash-(band)-membersbritpop-musiciansrock-singers-from-northern-irelandpeople-educated-at-down-high-schoolmusicians-from-county-down20th-century-male-singers-from-northern-ireland21st-century-male-singers-from-northern-ireland20th-century-guitarists-from-northern-ireland21st-century-guitarists-from-northern-irelandmale-singer-songwriters-from-northern-ireland