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issue 1 june 2004

richard oakes – guitar
“best band in the world seeks guitarist. apply within.”

it seemed ridiculous. absolutely ludicrous. but if suede have had one consistent theme throughout their long and winding history, it’s about battling against the odds – and coming out triumphant. not just winning, but shattering every possible pre-conception.

432 and a half people applied for the highly-publicised surprise vacancy of guitarist-cum-tunesmith with suede. four guitarists were auditioned. but the successful applicant wasn’t a freelance celebrity guitar slinger, or even a well respected session player. he was richard oakes, an unknown 17 year old school boy from poole in dorset. the first band he had ever seen live was suede. not much more than a year later he was in suede.

sure, he had played bass with his school dixie-land combo and even delighted the aunties with renditions of such catchy family favourites as the cure’s pornography and pil’s under the house. but the mccartney to brett’s lennon?

after some unsettlingly assured warm up dates, the detractors had to admit that the lad sure could play. but, hey, anyone can copy someone else’s guitar patterns, right?

but suede hadn’t put their faith in richard as some kind of perverse practical joke. and they knew something we didn’t: the boy could write. and how.