Richard Ian Lees (born 21 December 1985) is an English musician, DJ and artist, best known as the former bass guitarist of English indie rock band Twisted Wheel.
Lees was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Fellow Twisted Wheel rocker Jonny Brown was originally in a band called 'The Children' with Rick; however, the band failed and the two school friends decided to form another band called Twisted Wheel.[2] After meeting at Leeds Festival one year, the band was completed as they found their drummer Adam Clarke.[3]
In the summer of 2010, it was announced on Twisted Wheel's Facebook page that Lees had left the band. In 2012 he formed Howling Rhythm with younger brother Max, a music agency, and signed bands 'The Gramotones' and "The Wax Collection" to it. Alongside managing the band, Howling Rhythm clubnights are now a common sight in Manchester, playing 1960s / 1970s soul, motown and funk. In 2013, the clubnight hosted the aftershow party for Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.[4]
In 2017, alongside his brother Max, Lees launched Cotton Clouds Festival, a boutique music festival taking place in his hometown of Saddleworth, Oldham.[5]