14 Facts About Simon Tong

Simon Tong was born on 9 July 1972 and is an English guitarist and keyboardist who was a member of the Verve between 1996 and 1999.

From 1996 to 1999, Simon Tong was a guitarist and keyboardist for The Verve.

Simon Tong was brought in to replace lead guitarist Nick McCabe after the band's first short-lived split, but remained with them when McCabe returned, and Tong acted as rhythm guitarist while McCabe as lead guitarist like he did before.

Simon Tong continued the relationship formed with frontman Damon Albarn by contributing guitar to Gorillaz' 2005 album Demon Days and playing guitar in the Gorillaz live band for the Demon Days Live performances.

Simon Tong contributed guitar to Gorillaz' 2010 album Plastic Beach and substituted for lead guitarist Jeff Wootton on certain dates of the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour.

In 2021, Simon Tong contributed to Damon Albarn's solo album, The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows.

Simon Tong co-created The Magnetic North with Erland Cooper of Erland and the Carnival, and Hannah Peel of John Foxx and the Maths.

Simon Tong set up a record label with Youth called Butterfly Recordings.

In 2012 Simon Tong contributed to the recording of the Dr Dee soundtrack, written by Damon Albarn, which was released on 7 May 2012.

Simon Tong was a member of the band Transmission with Youth, Paul Ferguson and Tim Bran which has released a single called "Noctolucent" and an album, Beyond Light, in 2006.

Simon Tong has played guitar on several tracks on the 2007 Client album Heartland.

Simon Tong was asked to play guitar on the album Apriti sesamo by Italian composer Franco Battiato.

In 2020 Simon Tong was involved in a project called Mirry with his brother-in-law Tom Fraser and Kirsteen McNish.

Simon Tong grew up with fellow Verve member Richard Ashcroft and went to school with other members of The Verve.