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 Snow Patrol were formed in early 1994 by University of Dundee students Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland, and Michael Morrison under the name Shrug. 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, 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. In 2002, Archer was replaced by Nathan Connolly who became an official member. The band parted ways with McClelland, he was replaced by Paul Wilson who had previously toured with the band on guitar and keyboards. The band also added long-time touring keyboardist Tom Simpson as an official member.
In 2007, Quinn was briefly replaced by Graham Hopkins (ex-Therapy?) after the drummer broke his arm. 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. On the band's reworked tour in 2009, they were joined by Ruth O’Reilly on French horn and Stella Page on violin, they were also briefly re-joined by Archer after Connolly suffered nerve damage.
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. Tom Simpson left the band in August 2013. 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, alongside Miriam Kaufmann (keys, glockenspiel, vocals) who had toured with the band between 2006 and 2013, O’Reilly and Page, both returned alongside trumpeter, Colm MacAthlaoich, second violinist Jote Osahn, violaist Vince Greene and cellist Ivan Hussey.
In 2023, the band parted ways with both Quinn and Wilson, Quinn departed due to tensions with McDaid, and Wilson to focus on his heavy metal project, Above as Below.
Members
Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsStudio release contributionsGary Lightbody1994–presentall releases Nathan Connolly2002–presentall releases from Final Straw (2003) onwardsJohnny McDaid2011–presentall releases from Fallen Empires (2011) onwards
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsStudio release contributionsMark McClelland 1994–2005all releases until Final Straw (2003)Michael Morrison1994–1996The Yogurt vs. Yogurt Debate (1995)Jonny Quinn 1997–2023all releases from Songs for Polarbears (1998) to Wildness (2018)Tom Simpson2005–2013 all releases from Eyes Open (2006) to Fallen Empires (2011) Paul Wilson 2005–2023 all releases from Eyes Open (2006) to Wildness (2018)
Session/touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsStudio release contributionsRichard Colburn Iain Archer Colm MacAthlaoichtrumpet noneMiriam KaufmannGraham Hopkins2007drumsTroy Stewart2008–2013additional guitarsRuth O’ReillyStella PageJote Osahn 2019Vince Greene viola Ivan HusseycelloBen Epstein2024–presentThe Forest Is the Path (2024)Ash Soandrums
Timeline
Line-ups PeriodMembersStudio releasesearly 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 Richard Colburn – drums, keyboards Starfighter Pilot (1997) Songs for Polarbears (1998) mid 1997 – early 2001 Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, keyboards Mark McClelland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion Songs for Polarbears (1998) 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 Jonny Quinn – drums, percussion Iain Archer – guitar, backing vocals spring 2002 – March 2005 Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, keyboards Mark McClelland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Tom Simpson – keyboards, piano, samples 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 Ash Soan – drums The Forest Is the Path (2024)
References