Barry Adamson (born in Moss Side, Manchester,[1] 1 June 1958) is an English 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.Contents [hide] 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Career 1.2.1 Film soundtracks 2 Instruments 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 EP's 3.3 Singles 3.4 Soundtracks 4 References 5 External links
[edit] Biography
[edit] 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.
[edit] Career
Adamson left school and shifted into graphic design attending Stockport Art College[2] 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3]
Adamson's third album, Soul Murder, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 1992.[3][4]
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Instruments
Accoding to some fans, during his days in Magazine and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, he used a Rickenbacker JG, but it could be a 4001 or 4003 model.
[edit] Discography
[edit] AlbumsYear 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
[edit] EP'sYear 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
[edit] SinglesYear 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"
[edit] SoundtracksYear Title 2001 The World Of Interiors 2000 The Beach 1997 To Have And To Hold 1997 Lost Highway 1994 Natural Born Killers 1991 Delusion
