Steven Stapleton

{{short description|British musician (born 1957)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|name = Steven P. Stapleton

|image = Steve Stapleton.jpg

|caption = Steven Stapleton live with Nurse with Wound at Avantgarde Festival 2008, Schiphorst

|background = solo_singer

|birth_name = Steven Peter Stapleton

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|2|3|df=y}}

|birth_place = Finchley, Middlesex, England

|origin =

|genre = {{flatlist|

• Experimental
• avant-garde
• industrial
• post-industrial{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000039245|accessdate=24 March 2021|first=John|last=Bush}}
• dark ambient
• noise}}

|years_active = 1975–present

|associated_acts = Nurse with Wound
Current 93
Foetus
Whitehouse

}}

Steven Peter Stapleton (born 3 February 1957) is an English musician who is best known as the only constant member of experimental improv outfit Nurse with Wound. He is often seen as one of the pioneers of the British industrial music scene, alongside bands such as Throbbing Gristle, Monte Cazazza and Cabaret Voltaire, although in his music he has explored a wide range of styles, including free-form improvisation, folk, and even Latin American dance rhythms.{{cite web|url=http://deafireland.com/blog/deaf-events/nurse-with-wound-stephen-omalley|title=Nurse with Wound + Stephen O'Malley [SUNN 0)))]|publisher=Deaf Ireland|accessdate=24 March 2021}}

Nurse with Wound, originally a three-piece ensemble, is Stapleton's main outlet for his musical work, occasionally in collaboration with other musicians such as Foetus or William Bennett (of Whitehouse). He has also appeared on records by other artists and worked as a producer. He runs the United Dairies record label, which apart from the NWW output released records by Current 93, the Lemon Kittens and Volcano the Bear, as well as krautrock and several experimental artists.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigtakeover.com/interviews/an-interview-with-steven-stapleton-nurse-with-wound-part-two|last=Bugbee|first=Tim|title=Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) - Part Two|magazine=The Big Takeover|date=30 August 2008}} Stapleton is also a graphic artist and painter, and has designed album sleeves and book covers.{{cite web|url=http://zeroequalstwo.net/current-93-coil-collaborator-stephen-stapleton-gets-solo-exhibit/|title=Current 93, Coil Collaborator Stephen Stapleton Gets Solo Exhibit|website=Zero Equals Two|date=26 May 2017|accessdate=24 March 2021}}

Under the name "Babs Santini", Stapleton has created the artwork for most of the Nurse with Wound recordings, as well as for other artists, such as Coil, the Legendary Pink Dots and Current 93.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/6426-current-93/|title=Current 93|website=Pitchfork|date=11 September 2006|accessdate=24 March 2021}} He has exhibited the originals of his works widely, the last show being held at GalleryX in Dublin.{{cite web|url=https://galleryx.ie/exhibitions.shtml|title=GalleryX Exhibitions|website=GalleryX|date=19 May 2023|accessdate=29 January 2024}}

Stapleton lives with his long-term partner and wife Sarah Redpath. The family live in the townland of Cooloorta in The Burren, Ireland, on a piece of land with houses and caravans hand-built and decorated by Stapleton. Stapleton is a fan of the Third Ear Band.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/interviews/invisible-jukebox_current-93|title=Invisible Jukebox: Current 93|magazine=The Wire|last=Barnes|first=Mike}}