Russ Pritchard talks The Zutons, ‘Valerie’ and life on festival stages.
Students at BIMM recently welcomed bassist Russ Pritchard, best known for his work with The Zutons and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, for an honest and insightful masterclass exploring songwriting, touring and building a long-term music career.
Russ traced his journey right back to his teens in Liverpool, where picking up the bass wasn’t part of a grand plan, but simply a way to play music with his older brother. From the start, it was less about technical perfection and more about being part of something collective.
“My older brother played guitar, so it was like, ‘right, I’ll play bass.’ It wasn’t about being amazing – I just wanted to be in a band.”
Rather than lessons or formal training, he learned by ear, rehearsing constantly and figuring songs out with friends. Being surrounded by stronger musicians pushed him to improve quickly, and he encouraged students to put themselves in rooms that challenge them creatively.
Songwriting became another key theme. In The Zutons’ early days, the band once presented a set of demos they thought were ready to become an album, only to be told to go away and write more. Frustrating at the time, it proved to be a turning point that sharpened their craft and ultimately led to stronger material.
That extra work eventually produced one of the band’s most recognisable tracks, ‘Valerie’, which grew organically from a rehearsal jam before taking on a life of its own. The song later reached an even wider audience through Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse’s celebrated version – something Russ views with pride rather than frustration.
“I just feel love for it. We wrote that song. To be part of something that’s crossed into the collective consciousness forever – how could you not be proud?”
Our student audience was particularly struck by how his next big opportunity came about. After hearing Noel Gallagher was forming a new project, Russ didn’t wait for an introduction or audition – he just reached out directly. That message led to years of touring the world with High Flying Birds, performing Oasis classics to packed arenas and festival crowds.
“If he says no, fine. But the other answer is yes. So I just texted him.”
Playing those songs live, he explained, is unlike anything else, with thousands of voices singing every word back at the band. One standout moment was stepping onto the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival ahead of Paul McCartney, a surreal full-circle experience for someone who grew up learning Beatles basslines at home.
Throughout the session, Russ kept returning to one guiding principle that applies whether you’re rehearsing in a practice room or playing to tens of thousands.
“You’ve always got to serve the song. Sometimes the best thing you can do is play less.”
A huge thanks to Russ for sharing his stories and advice with our students. There’s nothing more inspiring than seeing how far a career in the music industry can take you when you make the most of every opportunity.
