List of Waterboys members

Left to right: Richard Naiff, Mike Scott, Geoff Dugmore, Brad Waissman and Steve Wickham
left to right: Richard Naiff (off left), Steve Wickham, Mike Scott, Damon Wilson, Mark Smith
left to right: Melvyn Duffy, Mike Scott, Marc Arciero, Ralph Salmins and James Hallawell (Steve Wickham not shown)
left to right: Steve Wickham, Ralph Salmins, Mike Scott, Aongus Ralston and Brother Paul Brown.
left to right: Eamon Ferris, Brother Paul Brown, Aongus Ralston, Mike Scott and James Hallawell
The Waterboys performing in 2003, 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2023

The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of Scottish, Irish, English, Welsh and American musicians, with Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York and Findhorn serving as a base for the group. They have explored a number of different styles, dissolved in 1993 when Scott departed to pursue a solo career and then reformed in 2000. They continue to release albums and tour worldwide. World Party was made up of former Waterboys members.[a]

Over 85 musicians have performed live as a Waterboy.[1][2] Some have spent only a short time with the band, contributing to a single tour or album, while others have been long-term members with significant contributions. Scott has stated that "We’ve had more members I believe than any other band in rock history" and believes that the nearest challengers are Santana and The Fall.[3]

The Waterboys have gone through different musical phases as well as line-ups. In 2019 Scott wrote "The Waterboys is a timeless, genre-confounding band. We belong in no box."[4]


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  1. ^ "67 Waterboys (2)". Mike Scott on Twitter. Retrieved 15 April 2013
  2. ^ "Past and Present Waterboys". mikescottwaterboys.com. Retrieved 19 April 2013
  3. ^ "The Waterboys: The 13th Floor Interview Archived 15 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. 13th Floor. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. ^ [1]. Mike Scott (@mickpuck) on Twitter, 5:37pm, 27 Sep 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.