Gordon Moakes
Gordon Peter Moakes (born 22 June 1976) is an English musician, best known as the bassist of rock band Young Legionnaire and former member of indie rock band Bloc Party.
Bloc Party
Moakes became a member of Bloc Party after responding to an advertisement placed in the NME music magazine by Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack, who were seeking a bassist. Although not originally a bassist, Moakes was the only player the band auditioned who was able to play the bassline for a song that Okereke and Lissack had presented. In 2002, Moakes, Lissack, and Okereke formed the first incarnation of Bloc Party — then known as The Angel Range — and played shows across London. Moakes also ran and updated the band's website at the time.
Moakes shared co-writing credits with Okereke on some of the band's earlier lyrics. In the early days of the band, he contributed lyrics mostly to the band's more political songs, and he composed the song "Diet". Moakes added new instruments to his repertoire on Bloc Party's second and third albums, A Weekend in the City and Intimacy respectively. He played drums on "Sunday", electronic drums on "Ares", glockenspiel on "Waiting for the 7.18" and "SRXT" and a microKORG synthesizer on "Flux". His voice can be heard in many of the band's songs, often in contrast with Okereke's lead vocals.
