47 Facts About Gary Lightbody

Gareth John Lightbody was born on 15 June 1976 and is a Northern Irish musician.

Gary Lightbody is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol.

Gary Lightbody has founded the musical supergroups the Reindeer Section and Tired Pony.

Gareth John Gary Lightbody was born in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, to Lynne and Jack Gary Lightbody.

Jack Gary Lightbody has been an independent business owner and has roots in Rosemount, Derry.

Gary Lightbody attended Rathmore Primary School, Rockport School and Campbell College, where he was first introduced to the writings of Seamus Heaney which inspired him to write his own poetry and songs.

In 1994, Gary Lightbody left home for Scotland to study English literature at the University of Dundee, where he was a keen hockey player, often being dragged from his bed on a Saturday morning to play matches.

Gary Lightbody formed a band with Mark McClelland and drummer Michael Morrison in 1994, called Shrug.

Gary Lightbody used to hold a job at the Nice n Sleazy's Bar in Sauchiehall Street.

Today, Gary Lightbody owns a small place in Glasgow and says he will never leave the country behind, though he resides in Belfast.

Gary Lightbody feels an attachment to the place, as it gave him his first taste of success.

Gary Lightbody had become frustrated by Snow Patrol's lack of financial success and felt lost and aimless.

Gary Lightbody started cursing at the audience and demolishing the band's equipment.

Gary Lightbody found himself breaking guitars they could not afford.

Gary Lightbody later gave up drinking and now does it "for fun" and credits his bandmates for the turnaround.

Gary Lightbody later co-wrote "What Are You Waiting For" on the album Strangest Things, with Anu Pillai for Freeform Five.

Gary Lightbody has filled in for DJ Zane Lowe on his BBC radio show on one occasion during the 2007 takeovers.

Gary Lightbody was voted the best fill-in DJ amongst them by the listeners.

Gary Lightbody has compiled two DJ mix albums, one in The Trip series: The Trip: Created by Snow Patrol, and another with bandmate Tom Simpson, called Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol on the Late Night Tales series.

Gary Lightbody made a cameo appearance in the Game of Thrones episode, "Walk of Punishment", playing a Bolton soldier who begins singing, "The Bear and the Maiden Fair".

Gary Lightbody writes for various music magazines and newspapers like Q magazine and previously wrote for The Irish Times music section as guest-editor.

Gary Lightbody started writing songs at the age of 15, in a little room under the kitchen of the family's house.

Gary Lightbody had few guitar lessons where he learned the basics of the instrument but did not continue them, as he felt that one should not know any instrument "inside-out".

Gary Lightbody preferred to invent rather than use a formula.

Gary Lightbody feels the best way to write an honest song is to be simple, and that trying to complicate matters distorts the intended message.

Gary Lightbody believes the band has always tried to keep things as "simple and pure" as possible and has written from the heart.

Gary Lightbody has said that all of the songs from the first two albums; Songs for Polarbears and When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up were written from personal experience.

Gary Lightbody has cited "Chocolate" as an example, which he wrote after cheating on his girlfriend.

Gary Lightbody considers writing a sort of "therapy" for himself.

Gary Lightbody compared their work to that of artists like Frank Sinatra and the Beatles.

Gary Lightbody realises this and cites performances of their songs on reality TV shows as an example.

Gary Lightbody believes if the current state of the industry continues, it would become impossible for bands starting out to become full-time.

Gary Lightbody is a supporter of Manchester United and has been known to support both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland national football teams.

Gary Lightbody is a fan of the X-Men, particularly Wolverine, and owns a stack of comics.

Gary Lightbody bought several comics as a child and has some that he has never opened, hoping they would become rare collectibles someday; in a later interview, he light-heartedly mentioned that they could earn him a small pension.

Gary Lightbody has been in many doomed relationships, and he blames their failure on only himself, considering himself "rubbish with women".

Gary Lightbody quit drinking alcohol in 2016 before recording the album Wildness.

Gary Lightbody has been involved in numerous causes, mostly related to music and football.

Gary Lightbody is on the board of directors of the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Northern Ireland, a project set up to give young artists a place where they can share ideas and kick-start their music careers, as often is the trend of talent leaving the country from lack of appraisal.

Gary Lightbody is one of the supporting voices for the growing music-scene in Belfast in Northern Ireland and once stated in an interview to have grown up as an "Indie rock kid" inspired to become a musician through influences of artists and acts such as Kurt Cobain, Super Furry Animals, and Sebadoh.

In July 2019, Gary Lightbody set up the Gary Lightbody Foundation to support charities across Northern Ireland and the rest of the world.

Gary Lightbody has worked with the aid organisation Save the Children in Uganda, an experience on which he has written in New Statesman.

Gary Lightbody has been involved in raising awareness of depression, a condition that he himself has struggled with.

In July 2012, Gary Lightbody received an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from the University of Ulster at a ceremony in the Millennium Forum, Derry.

Gary Lightbody was honoured in November 2018 at the Northern Ireland Music Prize with an award for outstanding contribution to music.

Gary Lightbody was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to music and to charity in Northern Ireland.

Gary Lightbody was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Ards and North Down on 30 August 2022.