Gem Archer

Colin Murray "Gem" Archer ( ; born 7 December 1966) is an English guitarist and singer.

He is best known as a member of the rock bands Oasis, Beady Eye and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, making him, alongside Chris Sharrock, one of the only members of Oasis to have been part of both Liam and Noel Gallagher's post-Oasis projects.

He is also known for his work with Heavy Stereo.

Archer began his musical career in a group called The Edge in the early 1980s.

They released two singles, "Take a Walk" and "Little Girl Blue".

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 back-up 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.

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 tour.

Whilst at home in Durham, having returned to care for his mother, Archer – lying in front of the fire – heard a report on The Big Breakfast that Bonehead 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 where it was Archer's son Joel's birthday party.

Once Archer's mother had recovered, Gallagher 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 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 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.

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.

Archer joined Oasis as rhythm guitarist in November 1999, and handled lead guitar for acoustic songs as well.

He also contributed to the writing of some of the band's songs.

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".

Andy Bell highlighted Archer's significance to Oasis, saying "Oasis has completely evolved. Noel's old mates have left, he's been divorced and really changed his own life around. He still has Liam but his relationship with Liam is different – it's more tempestuous. He needs a less extreme mate and Gem's it. Gem chills Noel out. And that makes Oasis a more stable ship."

Although Noel Gallagher departed Oasis, Archer and he remained friends, and teamed up for a charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Oasis broke up in August 2009, but in November 2009, Liam Gallagher announced he was writing new material with Archer as well as other ex-Oasis members excluding his brother Noel, under the name Beady Eye.

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."

After two albums with Beady Eye, 2011's Different Gear, Still Speeding and 2013's BE, the band officially disbanded in October 2014.

In 2017, Archer joined Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds as lead guitarist, thus reuniting with former Oasis member Noel Gallagher.