Editing Gem Archer (section)

==Career==
=== The Edge and the Contenders ===
Archer began his musical career in a group called the Edge in the early 1981. They released two singles, "Take a Walk" and "Little Girl Blue".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stewart-piercy.com/blog/?p=121 |title=Stewart Piercy |publisher=Stewart-piercy.com |access-date=2011-11-01}}</ref> In early 1987, he was part of a band called the Contenders. He then formed Whirlpool in 1991 and signed to [[Food Records]] and [[EMI Publishing]]. Simon Scott was also involved on a live basis playing keyboards and backing vocals. After gigging around the UK and recording for 18 months the group folded. This laid the foundations for [[Heavy Stereo]], with Gem taking over the role of singer.

=== Heavy Stereo ===
Archer formed [[Heavy Stereo]] with bassist Nez and guitarist Pete Downing both previously of [[Redcar]] indie band [[2 Lost Sons]] who were subsequently signed with [[Creation Records]]. The band's only album, 1996's ''Déjà Voodoo'', did not enjoy much critical or commercial success. However, Heavy Stereo's next release did receive more attention through demos of new material, a critically acclaimed contribution to [[The Jam]] tribute album, ''[[Fire and Skill: The Songs of the Jam]],'' and opening on a [[Paul Weller (singer)|Paul Weller]] tour.

=== Oasis ===
Archer heard a report on ''[[The Big Breakfast]]'' that [[Paul Arthurs|Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs]] had left Oasis after a massive row with [[Noel Gallagher]]. He claims, "I thought, Shit! They'll split now. I was a real fan, and I'm not just saying that. For me, Oasis had breathed life back into rock 'n' roll." He was unaware that Noel Gallagher – who knew Archer from both their days on the Creation Records label – had rung his home in London and invited him to [[Olympic Studios]], where Oasis were mixing ''[[Standing on the Shoulder of Giants]]''. "We went to the pub and I couldn't stand not knowing if I was a part of the band. After less than half a pint of [[Guinness]] I said, 'What does [[Liam Gallagher|Liam]] say?' And Noel said, 'It's my f*cking band. I'll have who I want.'" Archer claims the rest of Heavy Stereo were pleased for him to join Oasis.

Since Archer did not perform on the ''Giants'' album, he received no royalties and, for the first few performances, was paid a standard session wage, about £85 a gig, as the new Oasis rhythm guitarist. His first official duty was to appear on the "[[Go Let It Out]]" video – on which he played lead guitar, as [[Andy Bell (Welsh musician)|Andy Bell]] had yet to take over bass, so Noel played bass with Liam on acoustic guitar and vocals. Archer played his first rhythm guitar set at a session for alternative radio in [[Philadelphia]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}}

Though Archer was officially referred to as Oasis' rhythm guitarist, his role in Oasis was much more than that. In live settings, he and Noel often switched between lead and rhythm guitar and both Noel and Liam Gallagher have praised Archer for his contributions in the studio. Archer also had a role as a songwriter. His first songwriting contribution after joining Oasis was "Hung in a Bad Place", which appeared on Oasis' fifth album ''[[Heathen Chemistry]]''. This song was picked up for use in a commercial for [[Victoria's Secret]] in the US. His role was expanded on Oasis' sixth studio album, ''[[Don't Believe the Truth]]'', which features Archer's "A Bell Will Ring" and "Love Like a Bomb", the latter of which he co-wrote with singer Liam Gallagher. He also contributed the B-sides "Eyeball Tickler" and "The Quiet Ones" – an acoustic song. He also wrote "To Be Where There's Life" on the 2008 album ''[[Dig Out Your Soul]]''. Archer has said that he found it quite daunting to submit songs for consideration to the band because of Noel Gallagher's stature as a songwriter, whom he cites as one of his favourite songwriters. Archer, in rare occasions, contributed backing vocals to Oasis songs, such as on "The Meaning of Soul", "Force of Nature", and on the band's cover of [[The Who]]'s "[[My Generation]]", played piano on "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and harmonica on "Mucky Fingers".{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}}

=== Beady Eye ===
[[File:Gem Archer 2011.png|thumb|upright=0.8|Archer in 2011]]
Noel Gallagher quit Oasis in August 2009, following an argument with his brother in Paris. Gallagher placed part of the blame for his decision to leave on Archer, and Andy Bell, for a lack of support saying "the lack of support and understanding from my... band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oasisinet.com/DiaryArticle.aspx?n=113 |title=29/08/09 |first=Noel |last=Gallagher |work=Tales from the Middle of Nowhere |date=29 August 2009 |access-date=29 August 2009 |publisher=[[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091009193705/http://www.oasisinet.com/DiaryArticle.aspx?n=113 |archive-date=9 October 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Soon afterwards the band announced they had split.<ref>Paine, Andre. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267137/liam-gallagher-confirms-oasis-split-plans-next-step "Liam Gallagher Confirms Oasis Split, Plans 'Next Step'"]. [[billboard.com]]. 9 October 2009.</ref> However, Archer, Bell, Liam Gallagher and Oasis live drummer [[Chris Sharrock]] resolved to work together on a new project under a new name, [[Beady Eye]].<ref name="liam2010">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10000000/newsid_10003000/10003070.stm |title=Liam Gallagher outlines solo LP plan |publisher=BBC |date=19 November 2009 |access-date=2009-11-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/oasis/48692 |title=Liam Gallagher: I don't wish Noel any bad, I love him to death |publisher=Nme.com |date=2 December 2009 |access-date=2011-11-01}}</ref> While Noel Gallagher maintains a friendship with Archer, as well as Oasis drummer Chris Sharrock, he claims that he has not spoken with his brother Liam or former Oasis bassist [[Andy Bell (Welsh musician)|Andy Bell]].

Archer contributed guitar, bass and backing vocals to Beady Eye's debut album ''[[Different Gear, Still Speeding]]'', released on 28 February 2011.

Archer also contributed guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals on Beady Eye's second album ''[[BE (Beady Eye album)|BE]]'', released on 10 June 2013.

On 25 October 2014, Liam Gallagher announced, via Twitter, that Beady Eye had disbanded.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.fit4talent.com/news/beady-eye-announce-the-band-have-split-up/2014/|title=Beady Eye announce the band have split up|date=25 October 2014|publisher=Fit4Talent|access-date=27 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026021403/http://www.fit4talent.com/news/beady-eye-announce-the-band-have-split-up/2014/|archive-date=26 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/beady-eye-5-1234361|title=Liam Gallagher says Beady Eye are 'no longer'|website=Nme.com|date=25 October 2014}}</ref>

=== Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ===
In December 2015, Archer appeared with Noel Gallagher at an acoustic gig in Lincoln on 6 December 2015, followed by an appearance for BBC Radio 2 the following night.

In October 2016, Gem joined [[Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds]] for their performance of "Half the World Away" dedicated to Caroline Aherne for Channel 4's Stand Up to Cancer telethon; leading to speculation he had become a permanent member of the band.

In July 2017, it was confirmed that Gem had become a permanent member of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.celebretainment.com/music/noel-gallagher-confirms-gem-archer-is-in-high-flying-birds/article_2b929205-5e56-58f2-9127-9a337d51b169.html | title=Noel Gallagher confirms Gem Archer is in High Flying Birds | date=7 July 2017 }}</ref>

=== Other work ===
Outside of Oasis, Archer has collaborated with a few other artists, most notably [[Paul Weller]]. He has contributed acoustic guitar to the song 'One x One' on Weller's 2002 album ''[[Illumination (Paul Weller album)|Illumination]]'' and guitars and [[Mellotron]] to the song 'Echoes Round The Sun on Weller's 2008 album ''[[22 Dreams]]''. He participated in an acoustic tour of the US with Weller when [[Steve Cradock]] of [[Ocean Colour Scene]] was unavailable, and provided guitar and backing vocals at the 2010 NME Awards when Weller performed a live set having received the 'Godlike Genius Award'.

He also contributed guitar to [[David Holmes (musician)|David Holmes]]' 1997 album ''[[Let's Get Killed]]''.

He also assisted Noel Gallagher in producing the first [[Proud Mary (band)|Proud Mary]] album, a band signed to Gallagher's Sour Mash record label.

According to album notes, Gem also worked with his good friend and previous Oasis and Beady Eye colleague [[Andy Bell (Welsh musician)|Andy Bell]] on his debut solo album (not under the “Glok” alias) called “The View from Halfway Down”, contributing some drums, bass and guitar tracks, and also providing some of the recording work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The View From Halfway Down, by Andy Bell |url=https://andybell.bandcamp.com/album/the-view-from-halfway-down |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Andy Bell |language=en}}</ref>