Biography Dave Rotheray

David Rotheray (born in Hull on 9 February 1963) is an English rock and pop musician, best known for being the lead guitarist and co-writer for The Beautiful South until their spilt in 2007. He also led the folk-pop band Homespun from 2003-8. He subsequently released the albums "The Life of Birds" (2010), "Answer Ballads" (2013),

Rotheray joined his first band, called Mammoth, when he was aged 13. Eventually, Mammoth evolved into a band called The Newpolitans. Both Mammoth and The Newpolitans featured Hugh Whitaker on drums, who later became the drummer for The Housemartins. The Newpolitans also later featured Dave Hemingway on drums, who also became drummer for The Housemartins and then a singer with The Beautiful South. The Newpolitans recorded a self-financed single, but the failure of the single provided the catalyst for the band's demise. Rotheray and Hemingway then went on to form The Velvetones with other musician friends from Hull.

Whilst studying for a PhD at Hull University, Rotheray met Paul Heaton who formed The Beautiful South and they began writing songs together. Rotheray continued with The Beautiful South until the group broke up in January 2007.

In 2003, as a side project during a hiatus, Rotheray formed the folk-pop band Homespun. The band released three albums before splitting in 2008.

Rotheray released his first 'solo' album, The Life of Birds, in 2010 on the Proper Music label. Although ostensibly a solo effort, the record featured collaborations with ten different singer/songwriters including Alasdair Roberts, Jim Causley, Eliza Carthy and Camille O'Sullivan.

Rotheray's album "Answer Ballads" was released in 2013. It, too, featured collaborations with different singer/songwriters.

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