Howard Bernstein (born 18 April 1963, Glasgow, Scotland), professionally known as Howie B, is a Scottish breaks/ambient/trip-hop musician and producer, who has worked with artists including: Björk, U2, Robbie Robertson, Elisa, Tricky, Mukul Deora and The Gift. Born into a Jewish family amidst the Catholic/Protestant sectarianism of Glasgow, Bernstein attended socialist Jewish youth clubs in the city and later on life squatted in Limehouse, London with a desire to work in the music industry, and after establishing himself as a DJ, eventually found a job working as a teaboy at Lillie Yard studios. He then later became tape operator, then assistant engineer and worked three years as assistant to soundtrack composer Stanley Myers. Later on he produced music for himself and for others including soundtracks for films.
Links To Peel[]
During his youth, Howie would spend time listening to Peel's shows and described in the Sonic PR, how he was influenced by Peel:
"When I was in secondary school I started listening to Peel. Then it was an awful lot of alternative music and dub. Peel turned me on to dub music something awful. I’d be sitting with a little Philips recorder, ready to record, waiting for him to play something I liked. And those tapes were mainly of the reggae stuff. Then I got into punk, Santana, Journey, John McLaughlin, Gentle Giant, jazz. But it was all coming from Peel: he was the one sewing seeds in my head." [1]
Peel played some of Howie B's music (including groups he was involved in) on his shows and both performed at the 2003 Big Chill festival as DJ's.
Shows Played[]
- 13 May 1994: ‘Fanfare (12 inch - Have Mercy)’ Mo Wax
- 07 August 1997 (BFBS): 'Switch (CD-Turn The Dark Off)' (Polydor)
- 14 February 1999 (BFBS): 'Anniversary (CD-Snatch)' (Pussyfoot)
- 20 February 1999 (BFBS): 'Maniac Melody (2xLP-Snatch)' (Pussyfoot)
- 24 February 1999: Cotton High (LP - Snatch) Pussyfoot
- 25 February 1999: To Kiss You (CD - Snatch) Pussyfoot
- 03 March 1999: Maniac Melody (CD - Snatch) Pussyfoot
- Skylab (Howie Bernstein, Mat Ducasse, Masayuki Kudo, and Toshio Nakanishi)
- 03 June 1995 (vs. Dom T): 'Exotica (12")' (L'Attitude)
- 25 January 1997: Spy Versus Spy (v/a album - Pussy Galore!) Pussyfoot
- 15 February 1997 (BBC World Service): Spy Versus Spy (v/a album - Pussy Galore!) Pussyfoot
- 17 August 1999: 'Pony Express (CD-Horse)' (Pussyfoot)
- 23 September 1999 (Radio Eins): When Betty Comes To Town