George Vjestica

George Vjestica
Rocker playing guitar
George Vjestica rehearsing
Background information
Born (1967-05-02) 2 May 1967 (age 57)
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
OriginNewcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England
GenresAlternative rock, electronica, house
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, piano
Years active1993–present

George Vjestica is a British guitarist[4][5] and songwriter. He leads the group Bandante.[6] Vjestica is also known for working with Australian singer Nick Cave[7][8] and with Warren Ellis[9] on film soundtracks, The Proposition and Lawless. He has also performed on the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds albums Push the Sky Away (as a guest) [10][11] and Skeleton Tree (as a full-time band member). His last name Vjestica means "witch" in Croatian.

Career

From 2006 to 2010 Vjestica toured and recorded with Groove Armada, appearing on albums, Black Light and Soundboy Rock.[12]

He has also toured with John Squire (Stone Roses), appearing on the Marshall's House album, and played guitar on KT Tunstall's debut EP False Alarm which features on the multi-million selling album Eye to the Telescope.

Although best known for his guitar work in various bands, Vjestica has released one double-sided single, "Bang Bang/She Put a Spell in Me".[13]

Personal life

George Vjestica was born and grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England to Serbian-Croatian[14] parents Nikola and Marta Vjestica (died on January 31, 2021).[15]

In 2009, Vjestica married the writer Rosie Mortimer[12] with whom he has two sons.

References

  1. ^ "Nick Cave: 'We get a sense of awe when we're in the presence of a good song' ". The Telegraph.
  2. ^ "the Unsigned Band Review". theunsignedbandreview.com.
  3. ^ "Groove Armada - Big beat boys chart new waters". The Independent.
  4. ^ Joao Sarmento. " Tabernacle's NYE Review" By James Simms]. thesourcemag.net.
  5. ^ "High Above The Storm". Die Shellsuit, Die.
  6. ^ "Henley on Thames News | Sixties-style psychedelic 'happening' at Nettlebed". Archived from the original on 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  7. ^ "A Nick Cave concert so riveting, it gets five stars out of four". Toronto Star
  8. ^ "The Quietus | Features | Three Songs No Flash | Searching For The Cave Man: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Live". The Quietus.
  9. ^ "The Quietus | Reviews | Nick Cave & Warren Ellis". The Quietus.
  10. ^ "Review: Lawless by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis · Readings.com.au". readings.com.au.
  11. ^ Mark Mordue. "Astral travelling: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ ‘Push the Sky Away’". The Monthly.
  12. ^ a b "What it feels like to be married to an older rock star".
  13. ^ "Nick Cave's bandmate Geoerge Vjestica releases a solo song". Venia-Mag. Anastazija Vrzina | September 30, 2014
  14. ^ "Music Q&A: Bandante". Big Issue North.
  15. ^ "96 death notices made in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire this week, section Marta VJESTICA". Stoke on Trent Live.