Barry Adamson (born in Moss Side, Manchester,[1] 11 June 1958)[2] is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic. He has also worked on film soundtracks for David Lynch, and released numerous solo recordings.
Biography
Early life
He read comic books from an early age. In school he absorbed himself in art, music and film, writing his first song, "Brain Pain", at the age of 10. His musical influences were diverse, ranging from Alice Cooper to Motown to David Bowie.
Career
Adamson left school and shifted into graphic design attending Stockport Art College[3] but quit shortly after, favouring to venture into the exploding punk rock scene of the late 1970s. He joined ex-Buzzcocks singer Howard Devoto's band Magazine, playing bass guitar, scoring one chart single, "Shot by Both Sides"; in late 1977, he also joined Buzzcocks, as a short-time replacement of Garth Smith. He played on all of Magazine's albums, and contributed to Devoto's solo album and his next band, Luxuria. He also contributed to the studio-based band Visage, playing on the ensemble's first two albums, Visage and The Anvil.
After Magazine broke up, Adamson worked with another ex-Buzzcock, Pete Shelley, before joining Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He appeared on four of that band's albums: From Her to Eternity, The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against the Pricks and Your Funeral, My Trial. After his stint in the band, he went solo, releasing an EP, The Man with the Golden Arm in 1988, and his first solo album, Moss Side Story, the following year, the soundtrack to a non-existent film noir.[4] The album incorporated newscasts and sampled sound effects and featured guest musicians Marcia Schofield (of The Fall), Diamanda Galas, and former colleagues from the Bad Seeds.[4] Adamson's second solo album was the soundtrack to a real film this time - Carl Colpaert's Delusion, and he would go on to provide sountracks for several other films.[4]
Adamson's third album, Soul Murder, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 1992.[4][5]
His solo work is influenced by John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Ennio Morricone. Later works have included jazz, electronica, soul, funk, and dub styles.
In 2002, Adamson left his long-term label, Mute Records, and started his own 'production home', Central Control International. In 2006, he released Stranger on the Sofa, first for his Central Control International imprint, to critical acclaim. Back To The Cat, his second album for the label, was released in March 2008.[1]
In 2007 it was announced that Magazine would reform for concerts in 2008. Adamson will be part of this and the same line up that recorded Secondhand Daylight will reform, with the exception of the late John McGeoch. McGeoch will be replaced by Luxuria/Apollo 440 member Noko.
Film soundtracks
His "Refugee Song" was included in Derek Jarman's The Last of England. Adamson also contributed soundtrack material to Gas Food Lodging, David Lynch's Lost Highway and Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers.
Instruments
In the earliest Real Life Magazine videos Adamson is seen using a Rickenbacker JG, (although possibly a 4001 or 4003 model) and in Secondhand Daylight, a Gibson SG. However, his primary bass during Magazine was an Ovation Magnum 2. For the Magazine 2009 concerts he alternates between the Ovation, a Fender Artist and a Fender Jaguar.
Discography
Albums
| Year |
Title |
| 2008 |
Back To The Cat |
| 2006 |
Stranger on the Sofa |
| 2002 |
King of Nothing Hill |
| 1999 |
The Murky World of Barry Adamson (compilation) |
| 1998 |
As Above, So Below |
| 1996 |
Oedipus Schmoedipus |
| 1993 |
The Negro Inside Me |
| 1992 |
Soul Murder |
| 1989 |
Moss Side Story |
EP's
| Year |
Title |
| 1998 |
Can't Get Loose |
| 1996 |
Achieved In The Valley Of The Dolls |
| 1995 |
The Big Bamboozle |
| 1995 |
Movieology |
| 1992 |
Cinema Is King |
| 1989 |
Taming of the Shrewd |
Singles
| Year |
Title |
| 2008 |
"Straight 'til Sunrise" (download only) |
| 2006 |
"The Long Way Back Again" (CD and 7") |
| 2002 |
"Whispering Streets" |
| 2002 |
"Black Amour" |
| 2001 |
"Motorlab #3" (with Pan Sonic) |
| 1999 |
"The Crime Scene" |
| 1998 |
"Jazz Devil" |
| 1998 |
"What it Means" |
| 1991 |
"These Boots Are Made For Walking" (with Anita Lane) |
| 1988 |
"The Man With The Golden Arm" |
Soundtracks
References
- ^ a b Unterberger, Richie "Barry Adamson Biography", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- ^ [1] Barry Adamson was born and bred in Moss Side, Manchester on 11 June 1958
- ^ Bracewell, Michael (1997) "The Mancunian Candidate", Frieze Magazine, Issue 32, Jan-Feb 1997
- ^ a b c d Larkin, Colin (ed.) (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave, Virgin Books, ISBN 0 7535 0231 3
- ^ Mercury prize website
External links
