He formed the musical group Nu-Sonics in 1976, which became Orange Juice in 1979. Critically admired within independent rock circles, Orange Juice are perhaps best known for their #8 hit single, "Rip It Up", their only UK Top 40 single and biggest commercial success. In 1985, Orange Juice disbanded, and Collins has since then pursued a solo career.
Collins is best known for his 1994 single, "A Girl Like You", which was a hit in both the UK and the U.S. and was featured in the films Empire Records and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and for "Magic Piper of Love", a 1997 single that featured on the soundtrack of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
Collins' music is mostly electric guitar-driven pop. His songwriting and vocal delivery range from the acerbically satirical to the soulfully tender - though he is probably better known for the former.[citation needed]
He built his own recording studio in 1994 and produced his own third solo album, Gorgeous George. He has also worked extensively as a record producer with other artists, including The Proclaimers, A House, Robert Forster, The Cribs, and Little Barrie. In 2005 Collins produced the The New Fellas album recorded by The Cribs.
Collins also produced and starred in the Channel 4 sitcom, West Heath Yard.
Collins is to release his first book of illustrations with Morel Books in april.
[edit] Personal life
Collins lives with his wife, Grace Maxwell, who is also his manager. The couple, who live in London, have one son, William, who is his father's webmaster.[2]
In a BBC 6 Music radio interview on 18 February 2005, Collins had said he felt unwell, but ascribed the nausea and vertigo to food poisoning. Two days later he was admitted to intensive care in London's Royal Free Hospital after apparently suffering a major cerebral hemorrhage. On 25 February, he underwent an operation, reportedly after suffering a second hemorrhage. The procedure was successful, and Collins is currently working on a lengthy programme of neurological rehabilitation.[3] He has right sided weakness affecting his hand and arm which prevents him from playing the guitar, and also affects his gait.
Collins released his sixth solo album in September 2007 on Heavenly Records entitled Home Again.[1] The album was recorded before his illness but mixed after his discharge from hospital. Collins is still on the road to recovery, and he has recently returned to singing live, including playing a gig at The Arts Theatre in London. A tribute song, celebrating his return, was recorded by the Indiepop band The Candy Twins. Edwyn Collins is back - The Candy Twins
A BBC Scotland documentary, Edwyn Collins:Home Again, was broadcast on 19 May 2008 and narrated by Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos. Filmed during 2007 it followed his progress in recovering from his illness, and his first return to live performance at the BBC Electric Proms. He also performed at the Glastonbury Festival, broadcast on 28 June 2008 on BBC Two.
[edit] Solo discography Hope and Despair - Demon, 1989 Hellbent on Compromise - Diablo, 1990 Gorgeous George - Setanta, 1994, UK #8, US #183 I'm Not Following You - Epic, 1997, UK #55 Doctor Syntax - Setanta, 2002 A Casual Introduction 1981/2001 - Setanta, 2002 (collection of Orange Juice and solo work) Home Again - Heavenly Records, 2007, UK #90
[edit] See also List of Scottish musicians List of 1990s one-hit wonders in the United States List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s List of British pop musicians of the 1990s List of British comedians Empire Records
[edit] References ^ a b Allmusic biography ^ Blogs.Guardian.co.uk article ^ Music.Guardian.co.uk article
