Richard Archer

Richard Archer (born 18 January 1977 ) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist.

He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter and main composer of indie rock band Hard-Fi.

Hard-Fi have produced several top 10 hits and two No. 1 albums.

The influence of Archer's hometown of Staines is often evident in his lyrics.

He fronted a band called Contempo from 1997 until 2001.

Archer was born in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey.

He is a music graduate from Kingston University.

He grew up in Staines, a suburban location of North West Surrey which is a huge influence in the lyrics of the songs he has written with band Hard-Fi.

Archer explains, "There's no record shops, there's no decent pubs, there's no venues, there's no decent clothes shops. Look around, it's quite pleasant but if you're a young person living here then you're into a certain type of music – chart house – and a certain fashion, and if you're not into that there is nothing here for you. Here, you can't get home if you're out in central London after eleven. There's no night bus, there's no late train, you have to get a cab if you can find one and that'll charge you eighty quid to get home from central London. A lot of people live like that."

Contempo formed in Staines-upon-Thames during the summer of 1997, originally going by the name "Parachute".

Mick Jones produced demos that were intended to be released as an album in 2000 but whose release was delayed and eventually cancelled.

Some of these tracks have been reworked as Hard-Fi songs.

Contempo's first release was a limited 7" vinyl on the Blue Dog label with the tracks "On The Floor" and "Stronger" (the latter also released as a b-side for the Hard-Fi single Hard to Beat).

In November 2000 Contempo announced they had left London Records after months of a mutually tense relationship.

After these events, Contempo released a six track EP called "This Is Contempo", which featured the ska song "Ain't Going Out Tonight" on their own label "Nu-Suburban Sounds".

Another album, "Contempo – The Demos", was a bootleg CD featuring demos of what would become Hard-Fi tracks: "Better Do Better", "Can't Get Along (Without You)", "Living for the Weekend", "Move On Now" and "Unnecessary Trouble".

Archer asked his publishers for some money to record new songs that he had written, but they terminated his contract instead.

Archer went back to his home town of Staines, "I moved back to Staines because I ran out of money and it was quite a shock," he says.

"There's no record shops, there's no decent pubs, there's no venues, there's no decent clothes shops. Look around, it's quite pleasant but if you're a young person living here then you're into a certain type of music – chart house – and a certain fashion, and if you're not into that there is nothing here for you. Here, you can't get home if you're out in central London after eleven. There's no night bus, there's no late train, you have to get a cab if you can find one and that'll charge you eighty quid to get home from central London. A lot of people live like that."

Archer formed Hard-Fi whose line up includes Ross Phillips on lead guitar, Kai Stephens on bass, and Steve Kemp on drums, who also provided drums for Contempo as their career was coming to an end.

In the wake of Contempo splitting up, Archer claims that music business insiders tried to dissuade the band's manager Warren Clarke (not the actor of the same name) from managing him.

"People told him, don't bother with Archer, he's damaged goods, you're wasting your time'."

When talking about how the band met, Archer said:

I kind of started the band.

I got introduced to the drummer by a guy who remixed our debut album.

We then put an ad in the NME, Loot and all the places to find musicians.

Loads of people got back to us.

None of them were right.

Some of them literally couldn't play a note.

I knew Kai from back in Staines.

After a bit of ringing around I got in contact with him.

He still played bass but worked for Rentokill.

He turned up at our studio a few days later having learnt all the songs I sent him.

He was great and he was in!

Also he had a van to move stuff about.

You can't get clamped in a Rentokill van!

Ross worked in the local Hi-Fi store.

I'd go in there to listen to my mixes.

One day he came over to me and said "who's playing guitar on this?"

It's me.