Gavin Friday

Country of origin:

Ireland

Type of music generally:

Eclectic, Cabaret

Status:

Most recent release, Catholic (2011)

See also:

Gavin Friday's site

Used to be the lead singer of the Virgin Prunes, a goth band.

Comparisons:

Bono of U2.

Covers/own material:

Own material, covers include 'Next' by Jacques Brel, 'Death is not the End' by Bob Dylan, 'Slider' by T. Rex and 'Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves' by Oscar Wilde

General comments:

Gavin Friday is an interesting character musically. He has an intensely sexy voice, deep and smoky, and he knows how to use it. His incredible range is what drew me in, from electronica-ish music to just him and the piano, and his ability to do all of it so well. He's about ten years ahead of his time, bands are just now getting around to doing what his former band, the Virgin Prunes, were doing decades ago. (sketches@earthlink.net)

Recommended first album:

Shag Tobacco (easiest to find)

Recordings:

• Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves (1989)
• Adam and Eve (1992)
• Shag Tobacco (1995)
• Catholic (2011)

Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves

Release info:

1989—Island—CID 9925

Availability:

limited (dropped from label)

Ecto priority:

Recommended for fans only

Group members:

Gavin Friday—vocals
Maurice Seezer—piano, keyboards, accordion, organ

Guest artists:

Bill Frisell—guitar
Marc Ribot—guitar, banjo
Fernando Saunders—bass, guitars, double bass
Michael Blair—drums, percussion, E flat horn
Hank Roberts—cello, electronics
Howard Kaylan—vocals
Mark Volman—vocals

Produced by:

Hal Willner

Comments:

A little more difficult to get into than his other two albums. Contains more covers, like of Oscar Wilde, Jacques Brel and Bob Dylan. It's slightly more melancholic than his others, and it drags a tad. This is more like his work with the Virgin Prunes. (sketches@earthlink.net)

Adam and Eve

Release info:

1992—Island—314-512 090-2

Availability:

limited (dropped from label)

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Gavin Friday—vocals, windchimes
Maurice Seezer—keyboards, strings, guitar, piano, hammond organ, percussion, tack piano, piano, organ, brass, vocals, plucked piano strings

Guest artists:

Maria McKee—vocals
Eric Sanko—bass guitar, double bass, acoustic guitar
The B.V.'s—vocals
Ian Bryan—percussion
Jimmy Braylower—percussion
Paul Barrett—percussion, keyboards
Mikey Wilson—drums
Sarah Homer—saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, tin whistles
Chris Cunningham—guitars, mandolin
Dave Tronzo—dobro, slide guitar, wah wah guitar,
Michael Blair—percussion
Howard Kaylin—vocals
Mark Volman—vocals
Dave Bascombe—backing vocals
NBC Orchestra—strings
Des O'Byrne—guitars
Miriam Blennerhassett—soprano
Flood—drums
Colm McCaughey—fiddles, violins
Ally McErlaine—swamp guitar

Produced by:

Flood, Hal Willner, Dave Bascombe

Comments:

a very eclectic mix between songs, musically very complicated and well arranged. not his best as far as songwriting goes, but it's an upbeat album. Maria McKee sings backup on one song and duets with gavin on a second. (sketches@earthlink.net)

Shag Tobacco

Release info:

1995—Island Records—CID 8036 524 126-2

Availability:

Limited (dropped from label)

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Gavin Friday—vocals, stronzophone
Maurice Seezer—vocals, accordion, keyboards, piano, drum programming, omnichord, organ, bass, guitar, clavinet

Guest artists:

Bono and Edge of U2—backing vocals
Renaud Pion—EWI, bass clarinet, B flat clarinet, jaws harp, bass flute, baritone sax, toy sax, violin
Erik Sanko—bass, rhythm bass, electric guitar
Chris Cunningham—guitars, mandolin
Dave Clayton—Keyboards, bass, strings
Danny Cummings—percussion
Tim Simeon—drum programming, turntables
Don Hozz—omnichord, system 700 programming
Loretta Heywood—backing vocals
Mr. Pussy—spoken word

Produced by:

Tim Simenon

Comments:

Gavin's most cohesive album to date. It's an absolutely delight to listen to, a very strong record. I would recommend it to anyone, not just fans. This is also probably the best introduction to Gavin's music. This album seems to be what he was trying to accomplish with his others, but didn't quite accomplish. It also feels like the first album that wasn't an offshoot of the Virgin Prunes. This is more his own style instead of the Prunes. Absolutely a brilliant album. (sketches@earthlink.net)

Further info:

Gavin Friday has a mailing list, Heaven. To subscribe, write to majordomo@oudenaarden.nl with subscribe heaven-l in the body of the message.

Gavin's work can also be found on soundtracks such as Romeo and Juliet, In the Name of the Father, Angel Baby, The Boxer, Basquiat, and Mission: Impossible. He is also on such compilations as Closed on Account of Rabies, No Talking, Just Heads, and provides backing vocals on the U2 cover of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love".

Thanks to Jessica Crispin for work on this entry.