List of Snow Patrol band members

left to right: Mark McClelland, Jonny Quinn, Gary Lightbody, Tom Simpson and Nathan Connolly

left to right: Paul Wilson, Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn, Nathan Connolly and Tom Simpson

left to right: Paul Wilson, Jonny Quinn, Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid

left to right: Johnny McDaid, Gary Lightbody, Ben Epstein, Nathan Connolly and Ash Soan

Four line-ups of Snow Patrol performing in 2004, 2009, 2018 and 2024

Snow Patrol are a Northern Irish–Scottish rock band formed in 1994 in Dundee, Scotland by Gary Lightbody (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Mark McClelland (bass, keyboards), and Michael Morrison (drums) under the name Shrug. The band currently consists of Lightbody, guitarist Nathan Connolly (since 2002), pianist/guitarist Johnny McDaid (since 2011) and touring members Ben Epstein (bass) and Ash Soan (drums) (both since 2024).

## History

[edit]

Snow Patrol were formed in early 1994 by University of Dundee students Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland, and Michael Morrison under the name Shrug.[1] In 1996, they changed their name to Polarbear to avoid clashing with any American bands that were also named Shrug. Shortly afterwards, drummer Michael Morrison left the group after suffering a breakdown and returned to Northern Ireland.

The drummer position was briefly filled by Richard Colburn,[2] before Jonny Quinn joined as full time drummer. In 2001, the band were joined on tour by songwriter Iain Archer, who performed guitar and backing vocals.[3] In 2002, Archer was replaced by Nathan Connolly who became an official member.[4] The band parted ways with McClelland,[5] he was replaced by Paul Wilson who had previously toured with the band on guitar and keyboards.[6] The band also added long-time touring keyboardist Tom Simpson as an official member.[7]

In 2007, Quinn was briefly replaced by Graham Hopkins (ex-Therapy?) after the drummer broke his arm.[8] Guitar tech Troy Stewart also played additional guitars from 2008 to 2013. In 2008, the band were re-joined by Colburn, who played percussion and keyboards from 2008 to 2009.[9] On the band's reworked tour in 2009, they were joined by Ruth O’Reilly on French horn and Stella Page on violin,[10] they were also briefly re-joined by Archer after Connolly suffered nerve damage.[3]

In 2011, the band were joined by Jonny McDaid on piano and guitar, initially as a guest musician, playing on Fallen Empires (2011) and it's tour, and later as a full-time member.[11] Tom Simpson left the band in August 2013.[12] This band's line-up stayed stable for 10 years.

In 2019, the band did another reworked tour, featuring many additional musicians, Archer and Colburn both returned,[13] alongside Miriam Kaufmann (keys, glockenspiel, vocals) who had toured with the band between 2006 and 2013, O’Reilly and Page,[10] both returned alongside trumpeter, Colm MacAthlaoich, second violinist Jote Osahn,[14] violaist Vince Greene and cellist Ivan Hussey.[15]

In 2023, the band parted ways with both Quinn and Wilson,[16] Quinn departed due to tensions with McDaid,[17] and Wilson to focus on his heavy metal project, Above as Below.[18]

## Members

[edit]

### Current members

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Years active  | Instruments  | Studio release contributions

|
|
|
|

| Gary Lightbody | 1994–present  |

* lead vocals
* guitar
* keyboards and piano (1994–2005)

| all releases

| Nathan Connolly | 2002–present  |

* guitar
* backing vocals

| all releases from Final Straw (2003) onwards

| Johnny McDaid | 2011–present  |

* piano
* guitar
* keyboards
* programming
* backing vocals

| all releases from Fallen Empires (2011) onwards

### Current session/touring musicians

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Years active  | Instruments  | Studio release contributions

|
|
|
|

| Ben Epstein  | 2024–present  |

* bass
* backing vocals

| The Forest Is the Path (2024)

| Ash Soan | drums

### Former members

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Years active  | Instruments  | Studio release contributions

|
|
|
|

| Mark McClelland | 1994–2005  |

* bass
* keyboards
* piano
* backing vocals

| all releases until Final Straw (2003)

| Michael Morrison  | 1994–1996  |

* drums
* percussion

| The Yogurt vs. Yogurt Debate (1995)

| Jonny Quinn | 1997–2023  | all releases from Songs for Polarbears (1998) to Wildness (2018)

| Tom Simpson | 2005–2013 (touring 1996–2005) |

* keyboards
* piano
* samples

| all releases from Eyes Open (2006) to Fallen Empires (2011)

| Paul Wilson | 2005–2023 (touring 2000–2005) |

* bass (2005–2023)
* guitar (2000–2005)
* backing vocals
* additional keyboards[19]

| all releases from Eyes Open (2006) to Wildness (2018)

### Former touring musicians

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Years active  | Instruments  | Studio release contributions

|
|
|
|

| Richard Colburn |

* 1996–1997
* 2008–2009
* 2019

* percussion
* drums (1996–1997, 2019)
* keyboards (1996–1997, 2008–2009)

* Starfighter Pilot (1997)
* Songs for Polarbears (1998)
* When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001)

| Iain Archer |

* 2001–2002
* 2009
* 2019

* guitars
* lap steel guitar
* backing vocals

* Final Straw (2003)
* Eyes Open (2006)

| Colm MacAthlaoich  |

* 2001–2002
* 2019

| trumpet  | none
| Miriam Kaufmann  |

* 2006–2007
* 2008–2012
* 2019

* backing vocals
* keyboards
* glockenspiel

| Graham Hopkins | 2007  | drums
| Troy Stewart  | 2008–2013  | additional guitars
| Ruth O’Reilly  |

* 2009
* 2019

* french horn
* backing vocals

| Stella Page  |

* violin
* backing vocals

| Jote Osahn  | 2019
| Vince Greene  | viola
| Ivan Hussey  | cello

## Timeline

[edit]

## Line-ups

[edit]

Period  | Members  | Studio releases

|
|

early 1994 – late 1996  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, keyboards
* Mark McClelland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
* Michael Morrison – drums

* The Yogurt vs. Yogurt Debate (1995)

late 1996 – mid 1997  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, keyboards
* Mark McClelland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
* Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples (touring)
* Richard Colburn – drums, keyboards (session/touring)

* Starfighter Pilot (1997)
* Songs for Polarbears (1998) one track

mid 1997 – early 2001  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, keyboards
* Mark McClelland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
* Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples (touring)
* Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion

* Songs for Polarbears (1998) remaining tracks
* When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001)

March 2001 – spring 2002  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, keyboards
* Mark McClelland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
* Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples (touring)
* Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion
* Iain Archer – guitar, backing vocals (touring)

spring 2002 – March 2005  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, keyboards
* Mark McClelland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
* Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples (touring)
* Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion
* Nathan Connolly – guitar, backing vocals

* Final Straw (2003)
* Sessions@AOL (2004)

March 2005 – mid 2011  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar
* Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples
* Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion
* Nathan Connolly – guitar, backing vocals
* Paul Wilson – bass, backing vocals, keyboards

* Live and Acoustic at Park Ave (2005)
* Eyes Open (2006)
* A Hundred Million Suns (2008)

mid 2011 – August 2013  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar
* Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples
* Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion
* Nathan Connolly – guitar, backing vocals
* Paul Wilson – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
* Johnny McDaid – piano, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

* Fallen Empires (2011)

August 2013 – September 2023  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar
* Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion
* Nathan Connolly – guitar, backing vocals
* Paul Wilson – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
* Johnny McDaid – piano, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

* Wildness (2018)

late 2023 – present  |

* Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar
* Nathan Connolly – guitar, backing vocals
* Johnny McDaid – piano, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
* Ben Epstein – bass, backing vocals (session/touring)
* Ash Soan – drums (session/touring)

* The Forest Is the Path (2024)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Snow Patrol". Channel 4. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
2. ^ O'Dornan, David (3 July 2023). "I always knew Snow Patrol would make it big, says Belle and Sebastian star". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
3. ^ a b "'Dear friend' Iain Archer to join Snow Patrol as scan reveals guitarist's nerve damage". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 14 June 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
4. ^ Frenette, Brad (27 October 2008). "On tour with Snow Patrol: Dublin homecoming". nationalpost. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
5. ^ NME (17 March 2005). "SACKED SNOW PATROL BASSIST SPEAKS". NME. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
6. ^ Snow Patrol [@snowpatrol] (1 September 2023). "Paul Wilson". Retrieved 11 November 2023 - via Instagram.
7. ^ "NEW PATROL MEMBER". snowpatrol. 31 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
8. ^ Newsdesk, The Hot Press (22 January 2007). "Snow Patrol in injury drama". Hotpress. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
9. ^ Welsh, Andrew (11 November 2008). "Sticksman on Snow Patrol". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
10. ^ a b @snowpatrol (18 November 2019). "Stella and Ruth were on the last reworked tour in 2009 and it's so great to have them back with us again" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 September 2024 - via Twitter.
11. ^ Namee, Dalton Mac (7 September 2023). "Two Bandmembers Leave Snow Patrol Amid Rumours Of Discontent". Nova.ie. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
12. ^ "Snow Patrol star quits". Express.co.uk. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
13. ^ @snowpatrol (18 November 2019). "2. Iain Archer – guitars, lap steel, vocals 3. Richard Colburn – drums and percussion" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 November 2023 - via Twitter.
14. ^ @snowpatrol (18 November 2019). "4. Jote Osahn - violin, vocals. 5. Colm MacAthlaoich – trumpet" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 November 2023 - via Twitter.
15. ^ @snowpatrol (18 November 2019). "Vince and Ivan are out with us for the first time and they have been brilliant!" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 November 2023 - via Twitter.
16. ^ Wilson, Rebekah (1 September 2023). "Snow Patrol: Jonny Quinn and Paul Wilson leave band". BBC News.
17. ^ Reid, Kurtis (2 September 2023). "Wife of ex-Snow Patrol drummer hints at divisions in band after husband quits". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
18. ^ Grow, Kory (28 September 2023). "Paul Wilson Left Snow Patrol to Make Heavier Music. Now He's Rising Above a Messy Split". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
19. ^ Raph_PH (8 June 2019), FlMacWerchter080619_6, retrieved 11 November 2023

* v
* t
* e

Snow Patrol

* Nathan Connolly
* Gary Lightbody
* Johnny McDaid

* Tom Simpson
* Mark McClelland
* Michael Morrison
* Jonny Quinn
* Paul Wilson

Studio albums|

* Songs for Polarbears
* When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up
* Final Straw
* Eyes Open
* A Hundred Million Suns
* Fallen Empires
* Wildness
* The Forest Is the Path

Compilation albums|

* The Trip: Created by Snow Patrol
* Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol
* Up to Now
* Greatest Hits

Extended plays|

* Starfighter Pilot

Singles|

* "Little Hide"
* "One Hundred Things You Should Have Done in Bed"
* "Velocity Girl / Absolute Gravity"
* "Starfighter Pilot"
* "Ask Me How I Am"
* "One Night Is Not Enough"
* "Spitting Games"
* "Run"
* "Chocolate"
* "How to Be Dead"
* "You're All I Have"
* "Chasing Cars"
* "Hands Open"
* "Set the Fire to the Third Bar"
* "Open Your Eyes"
* "Shut Your Eyes"
* "Signal Fire"
* "Take Back the City"
* "Crack the Shutters"
* "If There's a Rocket Tie Me to It"
* "The Planets Bend Between Us"
* "Just Say Yes"
* "An Olive Grove Facing the Sea"
* "Called Out in the Dark"
* "This Isn't Everything You Are"
* "New York"
* "In the End"
* "Lifening"
* "The Lightning Strike (What If This Storm Ends?)"

Video albums|

* Live at Somerset House

Tours|

* Final Straw Tour
* Eyes Open Tour
* Taking Back the Cities Tour
* Fallen Empires Tour

Related|

* Discography
* Awards
* Shrug
* Terra Diablo
* Oh Yeah
* The Reindeer Section
* Listen... Tanks!
* Tired Pony
* Iain Archer
* Bradley Quinn
* Richard Colburn

* Category

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