All The Babes
Louise Wener
Career
Active 1993 – present
Biography
About Louise Wener
Louise Wener has a slim build, brown hair, and brown eyes, a look that fits her dual careers as author and musician. The British singer-songwriter was born in Ilford, London, England, and began her professional journey in 1993 at age 26. She fronted the Britpop band Sleeper, one of the leading acts of the 1990s alongside Oasis, Blur, Suede, Pulp, and Elastica. Sleeper recorded three albums before splitting in 1998: Smart, The It Girl, and Pleased to Meet You.
After the band ended, Wener turned to writing. She has authored four novels: Goodnight Steve McQueen, The Big Blind (also known as The Perfect Play), The Half Life of Stars, and Worldwide Adventures In Love. Her autobiography, Different for Girls: My True-life Adventures in Pop (also known as Just For One Day: Adventures in Britpop), came out in June 2010. She also co-wrote the BBC Radio 4 drama series Queens of Noise with Roy Boulter of The Farm, which ran for two five-programme series in the Woman's Hour drama slot. Wener has taught novel-writing as well.
She formed another band, Huge Advance, with her partner Andy Maclure, Sleeper's drummer. That project stayed local, playing only in and around Crouch End. By 2011, the couple had married and moved to Brighton, where Maclure teaches at a music college. They have a son and a daughter. Wener wrote an article about motherhood for The Guardian. Sleeper reformed in 2017 for Star Shaped Festival shows and later released two new albums: The Modern Age in March 2019 and This Time Tomorrow in December 2020. Her Instagram following stands at 11k, and she remains active from 1993 to the present.
Record
Profile details
Frequently asked
How did Louise Wener transition from music to writing?
After Sleeper split in 1998, Wener began a writing career, publishing four novels and one autobiography. That shift marked a second professional act alongside her earlier success as a Britpop musician.
What other band did she form with Andy Maclure?
With her partner Andy Maclure, Sleeper's drummer, Wener formed the band Huge Advance. They played only in and around Crouch End rather than touring widely.
How many novels has she written?
Wener has written four novels: Goodnight Steve McQueen, The Big Blind (also known as The Perfect Play), The Half Life of Stars, and Worldwide Adventures In Love.
Did you know
- Sleeper recorded three full-length albums before their 1998 split: Smart, The It Girl, and Pleased to Meet You.
- Wener co-wrote the BBC Radio 4 drama series Queens of Noise with Roy Boulter of The Farm.
- She has taught novel-writing in addition to writing books herself.
- By 2011, she and Andy Maclure were married and had moved to Brighton, where he teaches at a music college.
- Sleeper released two new albums after reforming in 2017: The Modern Age (2019) and This Time Tomorrow (2020).
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