John Wesley (guitarist)

John Wesley Dearth III is an American guitarist and singer, best known as touring guitarist for Porcupine Tree between 2002 and 2010, and also for performing with Mike Tramp, Fish, Sound of Contact, Edison's Children and Vertical Horizon, as well as for his solo work.

John Wesley
Wesley performing with Porcupine Tree in 2008
Wesley performing with Porcupine Tree in 2008
Background information
BornBrandon, Florida, U.S.[1]
OriginTampa Bay area, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1979–present
Member ofVertical Horizon
Formerly of
Websitejohn-wesley.com

Biography

His professional career began in the early 1980s in the Tampa Bay area where he founded 1991 Southwestern Music Conference's showcase act Autodrive along with drummer/producer Mark Prator. The following year, Wesley embarked on a solo career and became the opening act for British rockers Marillion on seven consecutive tour legs around the world, especially North and South America, the UK and Europe.

His debut album Under the Red and White Sky was released in 1994 and Mark Kelly played keyboards and produced the album, with guest appearances from both Ian Mosley and Steve Rothery. Also Marillion singer Steve Hogarth recorded backing vocals on two tracks on Wesleys second album The Emperor Falls.[2]

In 1998, Wesley and ex–White Lion frontman Mike Tramp were the opening act for the Peter Frampton/Lynyrd Skynyrd tour. Following this was several world tours with Marillion's former singer Fish. In 2001, John Wesley was the primary co-writer of Fish's Fellini Days album. He has performed as sideman, guitarist/vocalist for Porcupine Tree, during the In Absentia, Deadwing, Fear of a Blank Planet and The Incident world tours.

In 2005, Wesley produced and recorded his fifth studio release, Shiver. The album was co-produced by drummer and co-owner of his Tampa, Florida. recording studio, RedRoom Recorders, Mark Prator, and mixed by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree.

On August 24, 2007, Wesley announced that he was making his back catalog of solo material available for free download on his website. In 2011, Wesley partnered with UK native Dean Tidey (live guitarist with Feeder), to produce his EP, The Lilypad Suite.

Wesley performing in 2009

In March 2013, Wesley performed with Sound of Contact as their live guitarist for the Marillion Weekend concert in Montreal, Quebec.[3] He then joined the band for their European tour in May 2013[4] and was a part of two Sound of Contact music videos produced in relation to the band's debut album, Dimensionaut.

On Wesley's sixth full-length studio album Disconnect, released in 2014, Alex Lifeson made a guest appearance, playing a guitar solo on the track Once a Warrior.[5]

Other musicians Wesley has worked beside include Sean Malone; as well as a live performer with Edison's Children featuring Marillion's Pete Trewavas and starring Neil Armstrong's son guitarist Rick Armstrong. He has also performed as an occasional fill-in bassist and lead guitarist for Florida-based group Sister Hazel.

In 2018, Wesley performed lead vocals with international artists ÚMÆ on their debut album titled Lost in the View, which was released on January 3, 2019. Guest performers on this project also include Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson, Miles Davis) and Conner Green (Haken).

In July 2019, Wesley and drummer Mark Prator played with Edison's Children and Alan Parsons Project in an outdoor concert near the Kennedy Space Center celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's landing a crewed spacecraft on the Moon for the first time.

In 2021, Wesley began touring as guitarist and backing vocals for Vertical Horizon.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Discography

Studio albums
  • 1994 – Under the Red and White Sky
  • 1995 – The Closing of the Pale Blue Eyes [EP]
  • 1998 – The Emperor Falls
  • 2002 – Chasing Monsters
  • 2005 – Shiver
  • 2011 – The Lilypad Suite [EP]
  • 2014 – Disconnect
  • 2016 – A Way You'll Never Be

Studio albums with other artists

Compilation
  • 2004 – John Wesley: TEN

Singles
  • 1994 – The Last Light
  • 1995 – Into the Night
  • 1995 – Domino
  • 2003 – Fly Boy

Live releases
  • 1998 – Waiting for the Sun to Shine in Paris
  • 1998 – Wesfest 98
  • 1999 – Starting the Engine II
  • 1999 – WesFest 1999
  • 2000 – The John Wesley Bachelor Party Tour
  • 2002 – The Chicago and Frisco Bootlegs
  • 2006 – Live at Katie Fitzgerald's
  • 2009 – Oxford
  • 2010 – Live at the L'Olympia
  • 2013 – Live at Morrisound 30th Anniversary Show

Live albums with other artists

Videos

References
  1. "Brandon guitarist tours with British rock band Porcupine Tree". The Tampa Tribune. April 22, 2010. Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  2. CD inner sleeve notes.
  3. Sound of Contact LIVE in Montreal March 24 Opening for Marillion. Archived October 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Sound of Contact. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  4. Sound of Contact Announce European Tour With Spock's Beard. Archived October 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Sound of Contact. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  5. "rushisaband.Alex-Lifeson-on-his-involvement-with-John-Wesleys-Disconnect-in-new-Guitar-Player-interview". August 14, 2023.
  6. "john-wesley". August 14, 2023.
  7. "prsguitars featured artist john_wesley". August 14, 2023.
  8. "Dose of Reality by Anil Prasad". August 14, 2023.
  9. "musicradar.10-questions-for-john-wesley". August 14, 2023.
  10. "guitarmessenger.john-wesley-interview-porcupine-tree". August 14, 2023.
  11. "thenewmanpodcast.john-wesley-own-your-power". August 14, 2023.
  12. "progarchives". April 14, 2023.
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